Foolish Virgins - Part 43 of Riddles, Enigmas & Eosteric Imagery of Revelation

In this series about the Wedding Garment that began with Part 34, we have begun to open our eyes  slightly to a clearer understanding of the Parable of the Wise & Foolish Virgins, by defining the symbolism accurately. When we were last together I asked, "Are you a wise or foolish virgin?"

In the parable of the Wise & Foolish Virgins Matt. 25:1-13, verse 8 says...and the foolish said to the wise, "Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out." Notice how their lamps are going out, they have not gone out. Oil symbolizes the Holy Spirit, so we know He dwelled in the foolish virgins. So how could the Holy Spirit's power diminish in the life of a Christian?

The Apostle Paul told Timothy...stir up the gift of God which is in you...II Tim. 1:6. The word stir in the original Greek language means - rekindle. Paul says to rekindle the gift of God in us. Think of your fireplace ablaze with several logs of wood - soon the wood burns up leaving only glowing embers. When you add more wood, the fire is rekindled, and the blaze becomes vibrant once again. Each Christian is responsible for rekindling his own spiritual fire.

How does the oil in our spiritual lamps grow dim? It happens so gradually, because the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful...Matt. 13:22. The fruits of the Spirit are love, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control...Gal. 5:22.

The Apostle Paul says...examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith...II Cor. 13:5. Since we cannot be objective, we must spend time with the Holy Spirit who will examine our lives objectively so that we can make spiritual adjustments on this earthly journey of faith. Each believer in Christ has an assignment from the Lord - a calling - for which He equips him to accomplish. This "work" a believer is assigned to accomplish is an opportunity to develop the fruits of the Spirit.

The actual "work" we accomplish on the earth will die on the earth. When we stand before Jesus at the Great White Throne Judgment, our "work" will be judged - the house we built on the earth. Only the fruits of the Spirit developed in us - character of Christ - will not burn up at His Throne - because we will be like Him.

How many churches keep their congregants busy doing functions for the growth of the church? I know I was often exhausted doing busy "works" for the church, believing I was fulfilling my "calling" from the Lord. But my Christ-character was being neglected. I would get up early and spend time with the Lord and He would show me changes to make - if I would do so He would be glorified.

Everyone likes to fit in, so they go along to get along to please the leaders in a church body, while intimacy with the Holy Spirit is set on a shelf. As I was struggling for more intimacy with the Lord, so He could reveal my many flaws, and help me develop the fruits of the Spirit, my pastor asked me to be his superintendent of the Sunday school. When I told him I needed to pray and see if God wanted me to devote the time needed to fulfill this position, he was aghast - he said he knew best.

As you begin your quest to become more like Christ - shunning the adulation and praise of human beings - believe me you will not be popular. When I turned down the position, the cold shoulder was evident.

The foolish virgins were so busy in the world educating themselves about Jesus, they really didn't know Jesus intimately - which is the only way a believer can be transformed into humble, loving servants of the Living God. Attending to the things of the world - receiving praise and credit for your works - means that you neglected to attend to the One who gave you the free gift of salvation.

The oil in their lamps was nearly out when the bridegroom came, unable to take them into the Wedding Hall. Instead He says...assuredly, I say to you, I do not know you...verse 12. Profound loss!They had built their house (works) from wood, hay, and stubble, so it burned up at the Throne on Judgment Day. Since they had no righteous works Jesus could not give them His reward - fine linen Wedding Garment - woven from the righteous acts of the saints...Rev. 19:8.

While each believer is part of the body of Christ, and we must work together as lights in a dark sinful world offering Him as the only way to God, it must never be at the expense of an intimate relationship with Him - this takes time away from other things. Precedence goes to the Holy Spirit!

Who are the wise virgins who were ushered into the Wedding Hall when the Bridegroom arrived? Stay tuned...

God's sheep question the doctrines of men...sheeple will follow without question...



Profound Loss of a Believer on Judgment Day - Part 42 of Riddles, Enigmas & Esoteric Imagery of Revelation

In over 40 years of church involvement not once did any Bible teacher teach about the Wedding Garment, nor could they explain what garment Jesus gave to His wife who already was wearing the Garment of Salvation or she couldn't have been in Heaven...the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready...and to her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints...blessed are those who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb!...Rev. 19:7-9.

In this series about the Wedding Garment, beginning in Part 34, we have discussed at length the Parable of the Wedding Feast where a man entered the Wedding Hall not wearing a Wedding Garment, so was cast out of the hall into outer darkness.

The very last verse of this parable explains that not all believers will attend the Wedding of God's Son...for many are called, but few are chosen...Matt. 22:14. Sadly, this verse has been taken out of the context of the Wedding Hall and interpreted as, many people are called to salvation, but few are chosen.

In ancient times of Israel, the High Priest of the temple could not come into the presence of God by his own will - God told him when he could enter the Holy of Holies. When he presented himself to God on behalf of the people, he was required to wear holy garments of pure white linen. these garments were made from a fine, light colored, plant fiber called flax. Pure white linen symbolizes the virtuous acts of a sinless heart - Robe of Righteousness...Is. 61.10.

When the High Priest left the Holy of Holies, he was required to remove his holy garments, preventing them from becoming defiled when he ministered to sinners in the outer court. Outer court symbolizes the world. The Holy of Holies is where God dwells. The Wedding Hall in the Parable of the Wedding Feast symbolizes the Holy of Holies - where God dwells. No defilement is allowed in this Holy Place.

When Jesus returns for His Bride, she will need to be garbed in the fine linen garment - Wedding Garment - in order to enter the Wedding Hall - Holy of Holies - and participate in the marriage of the Lamb. If a believer builds his house on the earth from defiled materials, his house will burn up at the Great White Throne Judgment - no defilement is allowed in the Holy of Holies - Wedding Hall.

This believer will suffer profound loss when he finds out that he will not be allowed to enter the Holy of Holies and participate in the Marriage of the Lamb - there will be weeping and wailing and gnashing of teeth.

Let's take a look at the prophetic Parable of the Wise & Foolish Virgins...Matt. 25:1-13. I was taught in church that 5 virgins went to Heaven and 5 went to Hell. But is this really what the parable teaches?

First of all we must determine the subject of the parable, which in reality isn't the ten virgins. In light of this series on the Wedding Garment the subject of this parable is in verse 10...the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with Him to the wedding; and the door was shut. This description says nothing about the saved or unsaved. It is about who is ready to attend the Wedding. Those who were not ready, found the door shut to the Wedding Hall.

Before we go any further in understanding the message in this prophetic parable, we must define the symbolism of the virgins. In this parable the word virgins symbolizes believers in Jesus Christ, who have been cleansed and purified from the original sin of Adam and Eve by the blood of Jesus Christ. Jesus has called them...out of darkness into His marvelous light...I Peter 2:9.

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; old things have passed away, behold, all things have become new...II Cor. 5:17. In this text, the Apostle Paul is explaining to believers what happened to their spirit when they received Jesus as their Savior. Their new spiritual life with Christ began the moment they repented of their sins and received Him as their Savior.

They became new creatures - transformed into undefiled spiritual virgins - human beings cleansed from sin, purified by the blood of Jesus Christ. They get to begin all over again - virgins. By defining the symbolism we now understand that all ten virgins in the parable are Christians - followers of the Lamb.

God does not choose who attends His Son's Wedding - each Christian believer in Jesus Christ chooses for himself - revealed by his works on the earth - materials that he uses to build his house/temple on the foundation of salvation. Are you a wise virgin or foolish virgin? Stay tuned...

God's sheep question the doctrines of men...sheeple follow without question...



Weeping & Gnashing of Teeth - Part 41 of Riddles, Enigmas & Esoteric Imagery of Revelation

At the end of my blog I always make the statement "God's sheep question the doctrines of men...sheeple follow without question." In over 40 years attending church in America, I have found very few people questioning the doctrines presented by the pastor, Bible teacher, evangelist, or prophet. What they have believed for decades must be the truth because no one has presented anything different. Yet, if someone presents something different he/she is marginalized, rather than considered.

Let me give you an example. When I first published my book in 2008 on the subject of my blog, which solves the riddles, enigmas & esoteric imagery of Revelation, while proving through historical documentation that most of Daniel, Olivet Discourse, and Revelation have been fulfilled, all Christian bookstores kicked me out, refusing to even read it - none would put it on their shelves.

We must look at the scriptures with new eyes and let them speak for themselves, not what tradition dictates. The only unity that I have seen in the mainstream denominations is their agreement on the modern end-time doctrine - a false doctrine outlined in the Scofield Study Bible, published in 1909 and integrated into the curriculum of Bible schools all over America within a decade. Scofield's end-time doctrine contradicted 1800 years of understanding on this subject. 

When we were last together, we were studying the prophecy of Jesus Christ in the Parable of the Wedding Feast. I asked, "Why did God call the man without the Wedding Garment - friend?" When God came into the Wedding Hall...he saw a man there who did not have on a wedding garment...so he said to him, friend, how did you come in here without a wedding garment?...Matt. 22:12.

The word friend in the original Greek language is hetairos meaning:  clansman - tribe. By calling this man friend God was acknowledging him as part of His heavenly family - tribe. But since he was not wearing a Wedding Garment - robe of righteousness - he could not participate in the marriage supper of the Lamb.

God had to call His servants to unceremoniously escort the improperly clothed friend out of the Wedding Hall - then the king said to the servants, bind him hand and foot, take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth...Matt. 22:13. I was taught that this man was cast into Hell, but my question bothered and stymied my Bible teachers - "How did this man wander into the Wedding Hall if he wasn't a resident of Heaven?"

What is the meaning of the symbolism bind him hand and foot? Metaphorically, binding the man hand and foot symbolizes the bondage he still experiences, though he is in Heaven, because he did not pursue the righteousness of God while he lived on the earth.

Only by renewing his mind to the things of God could this believer be set free from the bondage of the world, and its enticements that made him earthly minded, rather than heavenly minded...as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall bear the image of the heavenly Man...I Cor. 15:49.

Although this man is saved, the house he built on the earth burned up at the Great White Throne judgment, because he did not bear the image of the heavenly Man. God was not glorified by the works accomplished by this believer when he was on the earth. No darkness of error is able to survive the brilliance of the glory of God, so this believer, who wasted his life on the earth, squandering the talents God had given him, was cast into outer darkness - exterior of Heaven - far from the brilliance of the Throne of God.

I explained in my last blog that outer darkness is not Hell or the Lake of Fire like I had been taught by my denomination - I looked up the Greek meaning of the words, prompting more investigation for the truth. When a believer stands before Jesus Christ at the Great White Throne Judgment, all secrets are revealed by His penetrating gaze - who knows all things.

If the house this believer built on the earth burns up in the presence of His brilliant glory - he will be cast into outer darkness - where he will suffer great loss...I Cor. 3:15. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth...Matt. 22:13. What is the great loss that could cause such intense sobbing, inconsolable sorrow, mourning, grief and rage - after all, he is in Heaven.

Believers have always told me they don't care about anything else, rewards and the like, just seeing the face of Jesus is enough. If seeing Jesus face-to-face could cause great loss I must find out what is the great loss that I could suffer, and how to prevent it. I don't want to see this face of Jesus!

I already know that the great loss is being denied the privilege of attending the Wedding of God's Son - will historical documentation and scripture prove my claim? Stay tuned...

God's sheep question the doctrines of men...sheeple follow without question...



God Separates Sheep from Goats - Part 40 of Riddles, Enigmas & Esoteric Imagery of Revelation

Geese

 

When we were last together studying the series on the Wedding Garment, I asked, "What loss will this believer experience on Judgment Day that would cause weeping and gnashing of teeth?" I will have to postpone that answer until my next blog, because I find there is a bit more scripture to consider before we can describe the loss in depth.

 

And I saw the dead, small and great. standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life...and the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books...Rev. 20:12. On this Day, all human beings ever born on the earth are standing at the Great White Throne Judgment. We see one book - Book of Life. Then we see books in which "works" are written to be judged.

 

When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory...all nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats...and He will set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left...Matt. 25:31-33.

 

Did you ever wonder why on Judgment Day that Jesus separated the masses of humanity in this manner? I did, so I will share with you the very important answer. Sheep symbolize believers in Jesus Christ, and are placed on His right hand of power and authority.  Goats symbolize those who rejected Jesus Christ, and are placed on His left. The pagan Greeks believed the left side was lucky for them.

 

How does Jesus know with billions of people standing before Him, who are the sheep and who are the goats?  Is it because He is God, or is there a fair and just strategy being employed that will leave no doubt in the minds of the masses, who are the sheep and who are the goats?

 

Do you remember in my Jan-Feb 2014 blogs I explained how a name is written in the Book of Life and how it is removed? If you do remember, it will help you understand God's strategy with the separation of the sheep and the goats.

 

First, Jesus will open the Book of Life. Each human that appears before him will have a chance to see Him look into the Book of Life for his name. If it is there he will be placed on the right hand of God...whew! This means that this person is a believer in Christ, so his name is preserved by the Blood in the Book and cannot be blotted out.

 

If his name is not in the Book, he will be placed on the left hand of God. His name was written in the Book of Life the moment he was conceived by his parents on the earth, but since he rejected Jesus Christ, there is no blood to preserve his name in God's book, so it was blotted out...Ex. 32:31-33.

 

Since this person was blotted out of the Book, there isn't "another book" for him.The sum total of the works of an unbeliever is rejecting Jesus Christ as Savior, so he has no foundation of salvation on which to build a house - he has no house - no righteous works to be judged on Judgment Day. This is why the separation of the sheep and goats must take place first, so through this process all will understand clearly.  

 

What happens to the goats? Then He will say to those on the left hand, Depart from Me you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels...Matt. 25:41. The goats have now departed from the Great White Throne Judgment.

 

Who are still standing there? The sheep are still standing at the Throne, waiting for the "other books" to be opened which will reveal their "works" - whether or not they built their house from gold, silver & precious stones - or - from wood, hay & stubble. Did the sheep build their house with righteous works or with unrighteous works?

 

When Jesus Christ looks in the "other books" and determines there are no righteous works to warrant His reward, He will pronounce this believer an unprofitable servant who will be cast into outer darkness - the exterior of Heaven. While this certainly will be a loss, there is a profound loss that will cause weeping and gnashing of teeth.

 

In the prophetic Parable of the Wedding Feast (Matt. 22:1-14), we read that at the end of the world God comes into the Wedding Hall to see who has arrived to attend the Wedding of His Son - he saw a man there who did not have on a wedding garment...so he said to him, friend, how did you come in here without a wedding garment? And he was speechless...Matt. 22:11-12.

 

This prophetic parable delineates - step by step - what happens to people after God first invites Israel to receive Jesus Christ as the Messiah - then invites all people. The man who walked into the Wedding Hall without a Wedding Garment, could not answer as to why he did not have on a Wedding Garment - he was speechless. Why was he speechless - shocked? Because no one told him that he needed a Wedding Garment to attend the Marriage of the Lamb - so he had no righteous works to weave his Wedding Garment - the reward Jesus brings at His coming.

 

Why did God this man "friend" before He cast him into outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth? Stay tuned...

 

God's sheep question the doctrines of men...sheeple follow without question...