Matthew 13, The Parable Of The Sower Sowing Seed

Don Gerrity Q&A: Parables Of Jesus, Q&A: Salvation January 24, 2021

“Hear ye therefore the parable of the sower.

When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side.

But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it; Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended.

He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful.

But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.”
(Matthew 13:18-23 KJV)

This is Jesus explaining the parable of the Sower of Seed to His disciples and to us today as well. What is the topic? Jesus said ‘The Word Of The Kingdom’. This is the word and knowledge of the Kingdom Of God and it is what the Gospel is all about. But there are only TWO groups in this parable; the believer and the unbeliever. An important point to grasp.

What Is The Kingdom Of God?

This phrase, ‘Kingdom Of God’ is mentioned many times in the New Testament Gospels. A search of the New Testament King James Version of the Bible shows this phrase 70 times. The number 70 is an interesting number in the Bible. We see this in Daniel’s prophecy of 70 weeks, which is God’s timetable of human history and it is all about ‘completion of righteousness’.

“Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and TO BRING IN EVERLASTING RIGHTEOUSNESS, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy.” (Daniel 9:24 KJV)

It is also very interesting that Jesus spoke 70 parables as we read in the New Testament. We see also that Jesus sent out 70 disciples to preach the Gospel as read in Luke,

“After these things the Lord appointed other seventy also, and sent them two and two before his face into every city and place, whither he himself would come.” (Luke 10:1 KJV)

Isn’t it interesting that when this phrase ‘Kingdom of God’ is used in Scripture, that the number 70 is related to it and which is seemingly having a meaning of the completion of God’s righteousness upon the believing? This is just one of so many amazing things of the Bible. It is not only words of truth. Every single word, number and name has significant meaning and it is all so amazing that it is an enormous testament that the Holy Bible is the true word of the one true God of the entire universe.

The Kingdom Of God Has Two Distinct Parts:

1. The Invisible Kingdom

The Invisible Kingdom consists of every single person who comes to belief in Christ for righteousness, who have been born again from above, in the Spirit. It is the body of believers who are members of this Kingdom, which Christ as the head (Colossians 2).

2. The 1000 Year Kingdom Age On Earth

The 1000 Year Kingdom Age On Earth that is to come after the Tribulation period. This is the Kingdom on Earth where Jesus will be ruling and reigning on Earth. The restoration of the world to the way it was before the fall of Adam and Eve. Everything we now see in today’s world system will be flipped 180 degrees to a Godly standard. We are right now living in the Biblical time known as ‘The Last Days’ and ‘End Times’. Our current dispensation we live in is the Dispensation of Grace which many call ‘The Church Age’. The Church Age is a time from the cross to the Harpazo Rapture and it will end once the last person that decides to accept salvation believes and then the Rapture happens (Romans 11:25-27). Then the next dispensation begins, The Kingdom of God Age, which is soon upon us, as is the Harpazo Rapture, the seven year Tribulation period and the Second Coming Return Of Christ to set His foot on the Earth and setup His 1000 year Earthly Kingdom.

The parable of the Sower sowing seeds is all about this Kingdom Of God. In specific it is about the ‘–word of–‘ the Kingdom Of God. God is letting the world know His plans so that we can each decide to continue living in pride and self-righteousness or to be humble and believe the Gospel. The Sin Of Pride is what started this whole mess we are in when Lucifer, who was closest to God’s Throne, had pride in his heart and wanted to be as God.

In Matthew 13 Jesus is expounding what He has been telling the Jews and the Pharisee leaders all along; that HE IS the foretold Messiah, the Son Of God, who has come at the appointed time (Daniel 9:26). From that time that Jesus spoke this parable and right up until today, the decision to accept this in belief or reject this, is what each person must face and decide upon. It is the most important decision for every person on the planet and it has our individual eternal destiny at stake.

SIDE NOTE: If you have not yet made a decision for Christ and need to know what that is all about, Click Here for a 10 minute read and then return to this article.

We see in this parable of the Sower that:

1. The FIELD is the world full of people.
2. The SOWER is God.
3. The SEED is the Word Of The Kingdom Of God

God wants every person to become a child of God in His Kingdom. This is the heart of the Father (2 Peter 3:9). We are all a creation of God and He created us with a FREE WILL to chose God or reject God. God is an eternal Spiritual being not confined to time and space. In fact, God CREATED the time and space that we live within. In simple terms, Jesus explained this in this way,

“The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him. Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God…Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.” (John 3:2-3, 5-7 KJV)

All human beings were born with a ‘dead Spirit’ since the fall of Adam and Eve who committed the first sin as humans. This sin disease has been passed down through procreation ever since. In the book of Romans, the word SIN is a NOUN, it is a thing, it is this THING in us called sin; not a verb action word. Paul called this ‘The Spirit of Adam’ and a believer’s ‘Old Man’. Through belief on Christ we can be born again, ‘in the Spirit of God’.

Jesus continues in John 3 to explain how a person can be born again in the Spirit and it is not about our being a good person or doing good works to be righteous.

“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. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world THROUGH HIM might be saved. 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 KJV)

This is how a person becomes a child of God and God becomes our Father. It is how a person is Born in the Spirit. It is only by trusting and believing in Christ and His once for all blood atoning sacrifice on the cross (Hebrews 10:10) having paid for all the sin of THE WHOLE WORLD, all of it (1 John 2:2). This is how to become a member of the family of God and how a person gains the inheritance of the Kingdom Of God. The knowledge of the Gospel that saves ‘whosoever will believe’ is the SEED in the Sower of Seed parable by Jesus.

A person only becomes a family member of God if they choose to believe on Christ for righteousness which is the central theme of the entire Holy Scriptures; both Old and New testaments all point to Jesus, The Messiah, The Christ. Belief on Christ is the only way any person can be redeemed in the Spirit.

“Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” (John 14:6 KJV)

“For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.” (Romans 8:14 KJV)

“For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.” (Galatians 3:26 KJV)

Four Things Happen When God Sows His Seed Of The Word Of The Kingdom Of God

1. Those that have, or will, receive the seed by the wayside.

These are people for whatever reason have heard the Gospel truth of God’s grace but the devil comes and snatches away the words of what they heard or read about The Kingdom Of God. Jesus is telling us that not everyone who hears the truth of the Kingdom of God and the Gospel of our salvation will believe it.

Remember Jesus also said this,

“Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, AND MANY there be which go in thereat:” (Matthew 7:13 KJV)

What is the straight gate? It is belief on Christ alone for righteousness and salvation as you just read above from John 14. So what is the WIDE WAY? Do you know that Biblical Christianity is the only teaching salvation by grace and not by works that we do? Every other religion from Hinduism to Islam teach ‘good works required’ to be justified by their god. There are also many FALSE religious organizations calling themselves ‘christian’ and even using ‘the name of Jesus Christ’, that teach works are required and that is NOT Biblical salvation, nor the Gospel. Jesus warned sternly about believing it is our works that will save us in Matthew 7:21-23 and that ‘many wonderful works’ and ‘using the name of Jesus’ will not save ANYONE! On their judgment day before Christ they will hear the scariest words of all in shock,

“…And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.” (Matthew 7:23 KJV)

This ‘depart from me’ is eternal separation from God in condemnation. They thought they were ‘good enough’ people to make it into Heaven. They thought they had ‘more good works than bad works’ and would make it to Heaven. They thought they were close to Jesus because they used His name in these good works even, yet they were never ready for Heaven because one must be born again in the Spirit to be part of God’s family; and that is NOT about good works but belief on what Christ did for us on the cross. The simplicity of the Gospel is mind boggling to many people. Many are okay if you mention ‘God’, but if you mention ‘Jesus’ they get offended. Why? Because to come to salvation through Christ one has to admit they are a dreadful sinner. Please, please, please do not be like that in pride and boasting. Instead, RUN TO Jesus, the Christ and receive full mercy and eternal salvation!

“Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:” (1 Cor. 15:1-4 KJV)

In Galatians Paul taught that anyone teaching works of the Law for salvation are to be accursed! Apostle Paul wrote these verses as well,

“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the GIFT OF GOD: NOT OF WORKS, lest any man should BOAST.” (Ephesians 2:8-9 KJV)

Here we se that salvation is belief on Christ alone as GIFT. A gift is never worked for, otherwise it is EARNED. A gift is either accepted or rejected and that is all. Paul even goes so far to say that believing our good works have ANYTHING to do with being redeemed and born again in the Spirit is all PRIDE and BOASTING.

And look at this passage by Apostle Paul,

“Christ is become of NO EFFECT UNTO YOU, whosoever of you are justified BY THE LAW; ye are FALLEN FROM GRACE. For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness BY FAITH.” (Galatians 5:4-5 KJV)

Following our good works of the Law and Ten Commandments is ‘of no effect unto us’?! Yes, that is correct! Our works do not save us at all. What does saves us? What does MAKE US righteous and a member of God’s family in the Spirit? God’s GRACE through our faith (which in Greek is defined as BELIEF) in Christ.

2. He with no root in themselves.

These are people who at first hear about Jesus and are joyful about it but they never came to a real deep belief. They believed the Gospel intellectually but not real belief. They know and receive the knowledge of the Gospel in their minds but they never had a real deep heart felt belief. And when troubles enter their life they gave up thinking it is all just not enough truth to have a real heart felt belief on Christ. These are people who believe that Jesus was ‘a great teacher of life’ and ‘a prophet come from God’ as Nicodemus did coming to Jesus for help in understanding what His message was about in John 3. Without true belief, the spirit is still The Spirit of Adam, dead in transgressions and sins. Still not part of the family of God by Spiritual rebirth through belief on Christ.

This is why if you hear a preacher or Bible teacher telling you that once you are saved, God will make your life perfectly happy and content, that you should take a pause because Jesus never promised a trouble free life for believers!

“In the world YE SHALL HAVE tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33 KJV)

Just one look at what happen to the Disciples of Christ in the early church testifies this is false. They were martyred for their faith. Killed by the sword, eaten by lions, burned at the stake and worse. Apostle Peter was crucified on an upside down cross. Yet they stayed the course in their belief in persecution. Peter also denied knowing Jesus three times when confronted with persecution, but he still believed in his heart and was eternally saved.

3. The Unfruitful.

Jesus said these are those that hear the words of salvation but the worries an deceitfulness of riches choke it and they are ‘unfruitful’. They are too worldly focused instead of being Kingdom focused as people who are born again and as people looking toward the Kingdom Of God to come; saved people who “…are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.” (John 17:16 KJV).

Using the word ‘unfruitful’ is a tell tale because salvation is never by our works but only by belief and trust in Christ’s work on the cross and His rising from the dead. Every person who is not saved is unfruitful though because they do not have the Holy Spirit indwelling them and God working through their lives in righteousness. I believe these are the people who receive the knowledge of truth and have believed it and are eternally saved, yet their lives are not bearing fruit for God and His Kingdom. They are not helping others in love nor helping others as a witness to come to the knowledge of the truth as Jesus instructed believers to do.

As the half brother of Jesus wrote in James 2,

“For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.” (James 2:26 KJV)

A dead body is pretty much useless to do anything. A dead corpse cannot speak nor move nor write. It is DEAD just as believing and not having works for the Kingdom is DEAD and useless. That is what James meant when he wrote ‘faith without works is dead’. It is not about salvation but how we should be living after we become saved. They have a faith that is without works, a DEAD faith that is, as James wrote, ‘not profitable’ nor fruitful. It is not about salvation but a ‘dead faith’ that is useless for the Kingdom of God.

Jesus told believers to,

“Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.” (Mark 16:15 KJV)

This does not mean every person is to become a preacher or pastor of a church. Yet, as saved believers by the grace of God in great love for us Jesus die on that cross and paid our debt of sins. Should we not in great gratefulness let others know the good news of the Gospel? God could have taken believers off the planet immediately following our belief on Christ but Jesus prayed that the Father would not do that in John 17. Jesus wanted believers to be part of His plan of getting the knowledge of the truth of salvation by grace through Christ crucified. It amazes me that God even wants to use me, how about you? Yet, that is His plan!

“I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil. They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth. As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world.” (John 17:15-17 KJV)

And when Apostle Paul wrote about The Judgement Seat Of Christ For Believers there will be some that have no good works to receive a reward, yet they are eternally saved and already in their raptured and glorified bodies. Speaking about saved believers in Christ Paul wrote,

“If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: BUT HE HIMSELF SHALL BE SAVED; yet so as by fire.” (1 Corinthians 3:15 KJV)

4. Crop Producers For The Harvest Of God’s Kingdom.

This are what believers should be striving to achieve in our Earthly lives. These are those who heard the Gospel and have accepted the Gospel of Salvation through belief on Christ and not by good works.They are born again in The Spirit of God and in great gratitude became learners, and disciples. They have as Paul taught been renewing their mind by God’s Word. They are not focused on this Earthly life as their focus. They know the truth of God’s word and the Kingdom Of God. They listened to Apostle Paul to be “not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind”. This is where a believer need to seek to become in this world!

As we replace wrong thoughts and beliefs in our mind by God’s Word and guidance of the indwelling Holy Spirit (Ephesians 1:13-14), we are actually displacing The Fleshly thoughts and beliefs. The Flesh is where the devil tries to tempt us and if we replace these sin bent beliefs, left from our now DEAD spirit of Adam that always wanted to sin, we will make better decisions which turn into good works outwardly in love towards others.

This is exactly what Paul mean in Ephesians 2 where he states that our works have nothing to do with how we are justified and saved in righteousness but it is from our new Spirit if God, created in Christ, that good works will flow outward into our lives. Not self righteous forced good works for salvation, but good works of God through us.

“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.

For WE ARE HIS WORKMANSHIP, CREATED IN CHRIST JESUS –UNTO– GOOD WORKS, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.” (Ephesians 2:8-10 KJV)

Paul did not write ‘good works FOR salvation’ right? NO, he wrote ‘UNTO GOOD WORKS’. It is all about being born again in the Spirit and now the Holy Spirit resides within a believer and that works outwardly into good works in love for others. It is all about Christ in us and us in Christ, being one with God in the Spirit (John 17:21-26, Colossians 2, 2 Corinthians 5:17-21, Ephesians. 1:13-14, Romans 6, John 15). We should have great gratitude for what God has done and for His amazing grace provided to us.

“…How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. For he that is dead is freed from sin. Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him: Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him. For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God. Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God. For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.” (Romans 6: 2-14 KJV)

I Thought This Parable Was About A person’s Works?

The eternal security of the believer is a foundational truth of Christ Himself (John 3:18, John 6:37-40) and Apostle Paul (Ephesians 1:13-14). Once a person believes in Christ for righteousness, they are sealed and eternally saved and preserved by God in salvation from the moment of BELIEF ON CHRIST. The belief must be a real heart felt belief though; not just intellectual in the mind.

The first two who heard the seed of God’s Kingdom have not yet made a decision to believe the Gospel. They HEARD THE GOSPEL but in the end decided to not believe for the reasons Jesus gave when he explained the parable to the disciples.

Jesus was telling the Jews and Pharisee leaders that the truth is, Jesus is the fortold Messiah (as He proclaimed to the Jews and Pharisee leaders) who has come to pay for the sins of the whole world (1 John 2:2). Yet, some believe that one must –PERSEVERE in faith– in order to keep and have everlasting life, but that is not truth, and also not the truth in the Parable of the Four Soils.

The root, our Spirit, our core being, must be born again by BELIEF in Christ (John 3).

Some take this parable and make salvation about works but that is false. The seed is the Gospel. In context, the Pharisees and the other Jews that Jesus just spoke with had heard Jesus’ words of life (The Gospel of Salvation and the fact that HE IS Messiah), yet will not believe. Jesus describes this to the disciples when they asked Him privately why He is speaking in parables and not straight words.

“For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath.” (Matthew 13:12 KJV)

To those who believe, more truth will be given but to those who refuse to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, what knowledge they heard will be taken away even more. Jesus knew their hearts. Self righteousness is a strong thing in a person and it hardens hearts against God! We must have The Spirit of God, not the old Spirit of Adam. Because regarding our fruit, only those with Christ living in them, and they in Christ, can be fruitful at all.

” I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: FOR WITHOUT ME, YE CAN DO NOTHING.” (John 15:5 KJV)

Salvation is by BELIEF ON CHRIST ALONE as the foretold Messiah, The Christ, the one who was foretold to come at the appointed time (Daniel 9:26) to be the once for all final blood atonement sacrifice (Hebrews 10:10) for the sin of the whole world (1 John 2:2). Our works have NOTHING to do with being saved nor to keep ourselves saved. The belief has to be real and that is the point.

The Sower of seed parable is about the time when a person hears the true Gospel and how the devil tries to take the truth away from them BEFORE they decide to believe or not. Yes, saved people have had their Spirit REBORN. Our old spirit of Adam (a sin nature) DIED WITH CHRIST on that cross (Romans 6, Colossians 2) and we received a NEW CREATURE called The Spirit Of God. It is, RIGHT NOW, the righteousness of God, IN CHRIST and that is not something we work for, it was given to us by God through imputation by the operation of God (2 Cor. 5:17-21, Colossians 2:12). And having been recreated, IN CHRIST in our new born again Spirit, this works outwardly to mind renewing and good works.

Yet, look at the thief on the cross, all he did was BELIEVE JESUS IS who He said He is; God in the Flesh, the Messiah, which the Jews were looking for. He had no time to see his outward fruit change did he? He is in Heaven and saved eternally right? Just keep that truth in mind when reading the Parable of the Sower Sowing Seed.

The change of mind (repenting after salvation,Romans 12, John 17:17) found in the fourth group hearing the Word of the Kingdom, takes time and the amount of time is different for every individual that is saved and born again in the Spirit. And so, fruit bearing is evidence of faith OVER TIME, but we should never judge anyone by their fruit bearing, not necessarily ourselves either.

After all, God works on us inwardly in mind renewing at different paces. It is not our forced works, some 30, some 60 and some 100. It is the amount of knowledge and mind renewing that determines the amount of good works and that comes from God inwardly moving outwardly into our lives in love for others.

Apostle Paul tells us that, for eternally saved believers in Christ,

“…the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.”

This is when we can see how much we really have changed by God’s indwelling Holy Spirit and the Word of God. This is our sanctification (John 17:17).

A believer SHOULD see more and more of these things as our mind is renewed to match up with who God has now MADE US, which is the very righteousness of God, in Christ.

“For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might BE MADE the righteousness of God in him.” (2 Cor. 5:21 KJV)

That is GOD MAKES US RIGHTEOUS the moment we believe on Christ. Fruit bearing SHOULD follow. Why? Because we have been changed in our core being by belief on Christ. But NEVER JUDGE A PERSON regarding their salvation by their outward works. Saul (persecutor and murderer of Christians) became Apostle Paul (who wrote 2/3 of the New Testament and who GOD SENT to preach the Gospel of Grace to the gentiles). NOW THERE IS A CHANGE OF MIND!

But this transformation in our outward living takes time for each person.

Matthew 20: The Parable Of The Worker’s Vineyard. 1st Shall Be Last. Last Shall Be First.

Don Gerrity Matthew, Q&A: Parables Of Jesus February 20, 2020February 18, 2022

“1 For the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which went out early in the morning to hire labourers into his vineyard. 2 And when he had agreed with the labourers for a penny a day, he sent them into his vineyard. 3 And he went out about the third hour, and saw others standing idle in the marketplace, 4 And said unto them; Go ye also into the vineyard, and whatsoever is right I will give you. And they went their way.

5 Again he went out about the sixth and ninth hour, and did likewise. 6 And about the eleventh hour he went out, and found others standing idle, and saith unto them, Why stand ye here all the day idle?

7 They say unto him, Because no man hath hired us. He saith unto them, Go ye also into the vineyard; and whatsoever is right, that shall ye receive.

8 So when even was come, the lord of the vineyard saith unto his steward, Call the labourers, and give them their hire, beginning from the last unto the first.

9 And when they came that were hired about the eleventh hour, they received every man a penny.

10 But when the first came, they supposed that they should have received more; and they likewise received every man a penny.

11 And when they had received it, they murmured against the goodman of the house,

12 Saying, These last have wrought but one hour, and thou hast made them equal unto us, which have borne the burden and heat of the day.

13 But he answered one of them, and said, Friend, I do thee no wrong: didst not thou agree with me for a penny?

14 Take that thine is, and go thy way: I will give unto this last, even as unto thee.

15 Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own? Is thine eye evil, because I am good?

16 So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen.

17 And Jesus going up to Jerusalem took the twelve disciples apart in the way, and said unto them,

18 Behold, we go up to Jerusalem; and the Son of man shall be betrayed unto the chief priests and unto the scribes, and they shall condemn him to death,

19 And shall deliver him to the Gentiles to mock, and to scourge, and to crucify him: and the third day he shall rise again.”
(Matthew 20:1-19 KJV)

Some are using ONLY verse 16 and not using proper context and teaching others that those poor today will be first in Heaven and the rich today will be last in Heaven, or will not even make it to Heaven and lose Salvation. Others teach that this means those who do more good works will be first and those with little good works will be last in Heaven. Is that truth though? Not according to the context of all of Matthew 20.

Looking at just verse 14 alone we see the truth of this parable.

” 14 Take that thine is, and go thy way: I will give unto this last, even as unto thee. ” (Matthew 20:14 KJV)

In the previous chapter of Matthew 19 we see the rich ruler and the disciples in wonder at who then could be saved? The disciples then asked Jesus, what about us? We have been with you all this time. Jesus tells THEM they will be twelve leaders in the future Kingdom Age.

In Matthew 20, Jesus tells a parable to further clarify about Salvation and who will make it to Heaven. The Jews and disciple were taught it is their works and Law of Moses (Ten Commandments and 613 other Laws) following that matter. That those who do more good works, who worked longer and harder than others, would be greater in Heaven. This parable is about Salvation. Jesus is explaining to them about the Jews verses the Gentiles in regards to Salvation. This is not just about personal lives and good works.

Jesus told this parable just before verses 17-19 where we read,

“17 And Jesus going up to Jerusalem took the twelve disciples apart in the way, and said unto them, 18 Behold, we go up to Jerusalem; and the Son of man shall be betrayed unto the chief priests and unto the scribes, and they shall condemn him to death, 19 And shall deliver him to the Gentiles to mock, and to scourge, and to crucify him: and the third day he shall rise again.” (Matthew 20: 17-19 KJV)

He is telling them, right after the Parable that the Jews are going to reject Him and crucify Him to death! So this is a big part of the context too.

This parable is about the Jewish People who rejected Christ and the Church Age believers after the resurrection of Jesus, The Christ. The Jews rejected Christ so Jesus sent Apostle Paul to the gentiles. The gentiles are THE LAST and the Jews are THE FIRST in the parable.

The Last will be the first and the first will be the last and if we look at the dispensations, this is what it will be. We currently live in the ‘times present’ of Ephesians, called the church age, an age of God’s Grace under the New Covenant. This age was a mystery to the Jews at the time of Jesus’ ministry. They lived in what Paul says in Ephesians ‘times past’. They looked for the coming Messiah to setup the Earthly kingdom but instead, they had misinterpreted the Old Testament/Torah prophecies and when Jesus did not immediately take over and save them from the oppressing Romans, they rejected Christ. Of course, not all rejected Him but the majority did. Jesus died on the cross, rose again and ascended. Jesus foretold them that Israel would be invaded and dispersed and that happen in 70AD.

After Jesus’ resurrection and ascension on the road to Damascus, Saul (a well known top persecutor of believers in Christ and an expert of the Law of Moses, who was present at the stoning to death of Stephen) had an encounter with the RISEN Christ. And God sent HIM to preach to the Gentiles the Gospel that saves us today in this dispensation, the Church age (times present).

Once believers are raptured in the future, the church age will END and God will again turn to Israel to save them during and after the Tribulation Period called the time of Jacob’s trouble, as the prophet Daniel foretold in his 70 weeks prophecy. The time of this is ‘future times’.

So, the first will be last; that is, the Jews will be last saved as a people. The Last will be first; that is, the church age believers will be resurrected first at the Rapture before the new dispensation starts and God turns to save the nation Israel and the Jewish peoples.

Also, as with many of Jesus’ parable, we see a double meaning. Believers come to believe in Christ at different stages of our lives. Some when young, others while old, others in the very last few minutes of their life even! Salvation is ONLY by belief in Christ’s finished work on the cross and NOTHING else is REQUIRED for our justification before God (Ephesians 2:8-9, John 3:14-18, Ephesians 1:13-14, Colossians 2, Romans 5 and 6, John 6:37-40, 1 Cor. 15:1-4 etc etc etc). Just like the thief who came to believe on Christ and asked Him to remember in when He enters His kingdom . That man was saved right hen and there just before he died. No change of life in good works required. No water baptism required. Just BELIEF ON CHRIST.

Those coming to belief in Christ who are young are the first. Those coming to believe in Christ when older, having more sins committed are the last. Yet ALL are SAVED COMPLETELY with ALL sins forgiven by Jesus’ payment.

As believers, we are ALL COMPLETE IN CHRIST (Colossians 2:10). It is not that those with more sins than others will be less forgiven. Jesus paid for the sins of the WHOLE WORLD; all sins (1 John 2:2). And that as Jesus stated in John 3,

“…whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16) from the very moment of belief on Christ and His finished work on the cross (Ephesians 1:13-14, Colossians 2 and 3), sealed forever by the indwelling Holy Spirit.

That is the true context of Matthew 20. See how taking just one verse and coming up with opinions does not matter against the true Gospel of our Salvation? The Gospel of God’s Grace Through Christ Crucified, died and risen.

Matthew 22 The Parable Of The Wedding Feast. Who are the called? Who are the chosen?

Don Gerrity Q&A: Parables Of Jesus, Q&A: Salvation, Q&A: The Truth About... November 15, 2019February 18, 2022

“2 The kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain king, which made a marriage for his son,3 And sent forth his servants to call them that were bidden to the wedding: and they would not come. 4 Again, he sent forth other servants, saying, Tell them which are bidden, Behold, I have prepared my dinner: my oxen and my fatlings are killed, and all things are ready: come unto the marriage. 5 But they made light of it, and went their ways, one to his farm, another to his merchandise: 6 And the remnant took his servants, and entreated them spitefully, and slew them. 7 But when the king heard thereof, he was wroth: and he sent forth his armies, and destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city. 8 Then saith he to his servants, The wedding is ready, but they which were bidden were not worthy. 9 Go ye therefore into the highways, and as many as ye shall find, bid to the marriage. 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.” (Matthew 22:2-14 KJV)

Trying to enter Heaven without actually being saved means not having the garment. God chose the nation Israel as His chosen people from the beginning. God announces to them that there will be a Messiah to come that will pay for the sins as the final sacrifice to replace the sacrificial system of the Law. The Pharisees knew this, that is why they sought to kill Jesus for blasphemy stating He is the Messiah foretold.Even after all the miracles and all the prophecies Jesus was fulfilling that identified Him as this very Messiah they believed would one day come, they just refused to believe it was Jesus.

Jesus was speaking to the Pharisees who believed because they were Jewish, and they relied on the fact that God gave Moses the Law, and that believed on their self righteous works to save them. But Jesus comes and starts telling them WRONG. Salvation is not by good works nor because they are Jewish. Jesus tells them He is the Messiah that was to come.We Jesus do this from the very beginning of His ministry at the Synagogue in His home town of Nazareth. Everyone knew Jesus as ‘the Carpenters son’. They sought to stone Him for reading the prophesy about Messiah in the Synagogue and then proclaiming HE WAS THIS MESSIAH NOW COME! (Luke 4:16-21)

The mistreated slaves in the parable in Matthew 22 are the disciples who would one day become Apostles. The very people God chose, the Jews, from the beginning rejected Jesus as Messiah and started persecuting Christians and the Disciples. Christ came and preached to who? The nation Israel – the Jews. In essence, God sent Jesus and prepared a marriage to all those who will believe in Him for righteousness. He was sent to God’s chosen people first, the Jews. What did they do? They mostly rejected Christ. In unbelief the unbelieving Jews did not receive the garment of Salvation through BELIEF ON CHRIST ALONE (John 3:14-18, 6:37-40). In unbelief, the Jews crucified Jesus, The Christ, their own Messiah. God was angered and so he set their cities on fire. That happened in 70 AD after Christ was crucified.

And then God now sends out the marriage invitation to the GENTILES. Non Jews. Now no longer just to the Jews.. but to the MAIN HIGHWAYS.. to EVERYONE. And Gentiles are all of us today. We see later , after Christ is ascended that He sent Apostle Paul to preach the New Covenant of Grace which until then was a mystery. And many of them will come (and still are coming to Christ today) to belief and attend the marriage celebration which will happen after the Rapture of the church, the Bride of Christ.

But anyone that comes to God by any means other than through belief on Christ, will not be allowed. Good works does not give them the wedding garment. They are not saved. They have no GARMENT of Salvation.This person could not even explain WHY he has no garment nor how to get one.

Who are the CHOSEN? All who have accepted and belief on Christ for Salvation. They are the chosen. They have been given the garment of eternal life, in Christ.

The Parable Of The Unforgiving Servant. Proper Application For Believers.

Don Gerrity Q&A: Christian Living, Q&A: Forgiveness, Q&A: Parables Of Jesus April 11, 2016February 18, 2022

“Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times? Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.

Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, which would take account of his servants. And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought unto him, which owed him ten thousand talents. But forasmuch as he had not to pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, and his wife, and children, and all that he had, and payment to be made.

The servant therefore fell down, and worshipped him, saying, Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all. Then the lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt. But the same servant went out, and found one of his fellowservants, which owed him an hundred pence: and he laid hands on him, and took him by the throat, saying, Pay me that thou owest. And his fellowservant fell down at his feet, and besought him, saying, Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all. And he would not: but went and cast him into prison, till he should pay the debt. So when his fellowservants saw what was done, they were very sorry, and came and told unto their lord all that was done. Then his lord, after that he had called him, said unto him, O thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou desiredst me:

Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellowservant, even as I had pity on thee? And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him. So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses.” (Matthew 18: 21-35 KJV)

Context matters greatly when reading difficult verses of Scripture and verse 34-35 are certainly difficult if not using proper context. There are those ignoring the context and focus of the Gospels based on verse 35. You must admit, verse 24-25 are some harsh words from Jesus right? Does this mean if we do not forgive a person as Jesus forgave us that we will be condemned to hell then and lose Salvation? It is so important to understand that the context here matters greatly. And what is the context in Matthew 18?

First we must realize that passages in the Gospels that are before the cross are addressed directly to the Israelites; the Jewish people and Pharisees of that time who were believing that Law keeping is the way to be favored by God. There are certainly learning to be had in this parable for believers about how we should be forgiving others as Christ forgave us but to make verse 34-25 about a believer who loses Salvation is just not in proper context for the Body of Christ.

Jesus is talking to His early disciples (early learners) here. Earlier, Peter is asking Jesus about forgiveness to his brother (fellow believers, starting at verse 22). Just how often am I to forgive a brother who sins against me?

The debt here represents our SINS. It is a debt that we cannot repay. The servant owed 10,000 talents. That is a massive debt, truly massive. That would be like several million dollars today. This shows us just how sinful we are in the God’s sight. We have an absolute impossibility to repay our debt of sins, through our own efforts.

The King/Master is Jesus Christ. This scene looks almost like a court room. The servant is brought in to give an account for his sin debt to God.

The servant owed an enormous debt (had a lifetime of sins) and the King demanded that payment be made but it was such a large debt that the servant could not pay it. The King’s judgment is to sell the servant and his entire family to regain the money owed to him. Not that just the servant will be sold but his entire family. It is a severe judgment. As is judgment for a persons sins. We are all hopelessly guilty before God with no way to repay. God keeps an account of sins and every sin is added to an account and logged.

At the appointed time that God has set, He will open this account to settle it. Each sin debt will either be paid in punishment or forgiven by God. The terms by which this will happen are in perfect alignment to the perfect character of God who never changes. God will ensure that His character remains intact. We have to be accountable to God, but God is accountable to Himself, as there is no other higher being that exists.

In verse 26, the servant pleads to God saying, ‘Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.’ This verse is a tell tale. What I mean is, the servant is saying he will pay back this enormous debt if given more time, as if he could through his own efforts, yet knowing it has already been a long time without repayment because he has been brought before the King.

Again, this parable is addressed to the Jewish people who believed their Law keeping would justify them and gain favour with God by their deeds and self righteous efforts; it is not addressed to believers of the New Covenant of the Grace of God through Christ crucified, died and risen. This servant is not a believer on Christ for Salvation. He is a servant because He is one of God’s chosen people; a Israelite. This particular servant is just like all of us in that we have a huge sin debt against God. But this servant, in his plea for mercy, does not seem to admit that he could never pay back this debt. He outright lies about doing so. It is utterly impossible. Then again, when we first come to the Lord Jesus we may not always see just how bad things really are in God’s sight. Isn’t that true? Yes we acknowledge we have a huge sin debt but I am willing to bet you the debt is MUCH LARGER than we think it really is!

So what does this King do? Remember, the King is really God in this parable. The King forgives his entire debt, all of it! Millions of today’s dollars! And then RELEASES and FREES the servant! The King gives him a free pass! This my friends is the very nature of God and shows how much he loves us in His perfect compassion and love, even when we are yet sinners. Now something to also realize is that it was only after the servant cried out and begged for mercy, in fear of the King’s righteous punishment, that the King was moved to compassion and forgave all this servants debts.

Notice that the King did not PAY for the servants debt in this parable; the king forgave the servants debt. Jesus however PAID for our sin debt completely and this is another point showing that this parable is not addressed to saved believers today nor about a believer’s loss of Salvation as some are teaching. It is addressed to God’s chosen people, the Jews who were under the Old Covenant of Law keeping.

You would think that after being forgiven the debt and being made completely free that this servant would have had some serious gratitude and a very thankful heart. After having been so forgiven while he was seriously guilty of not paying his debts you would think that he would have such compassion on others as well. Unfortunately, this particular servant shown a complete lack of caring, feeling as we see when he runs into another person who owes him just 100 denari, or in the Greek 100 denarius . A denarius was around the equivalent to a days wage being around $20USD. So that equates to just about $2000 USD in today’s modern economy. Now if yo compare the millions of dollars this servant owed and was forgiven of when he asked the King for mercy, what is a debt of $2000? This forgiven servant in anger grabs the guy an demands that he pay him back NOW. The person that owes him money, “…fell down at his feet, and besought him, saying, Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.” Here we see a fellow servant, another person living under the Law of Moses. And did this forgiven servant remember what it was like to owe a debt that you cannot repay yet? I mean, he could never have paid back the millions. Here it is only about 100 days of work. Surely a payment plan could have been arranged over a couple years or more. But what does he do instead? “And he would not: but went and cast him into prison, till he should pay the debt.” He threw this guy in prison! Not nice at all is it?

When the King finds out what he has done (and God knows everything that we have done!) the reaction is swift and harsh indeed.

“Then his lord, after that he had called him, said unto him, O thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou desiredst me: Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellow servant, even as I had pity on thee?”

Does it seem like the King was fair or unfair? Would you say, more than fair? Now we are getting to the bottom of this parable to the disciples. The forgiven servant is now called ‘wicked’. This unforgiving servant has sinned against his fellow Jew and the King’s justice is falling upon him just as the Law requires.

Jesus then says something that we really need to take to heart that is of great importance.

“So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses.”

This parable is not saying that once a person is saved and forgiven their sins through the atonement of Jesus Christ that their Salvation can be revoked. That would go against so many Scriptures that show we are secure in Christ from the moment of our Salvation. That would even contradict the words of Jesus Himself many times in Scripture. Again, all of Matthew 18 is Jesus burying the Jewish peoples in their Law keeping to have favour with God. Jesus is not addressing us today who are saved by the blood of Jesus.

The way the servant asks the King for mercy and the request to give him more time (be patient) to pay back the debt shows that this individual does not grasp the reality of the situation. He thinks he can pay back the debt of sin in self effort but we cannot repay for our sins ourselves. Only Christ accomplished this for us on the cross. And being forgiven by the King, he then thinks arrogantly and that he is better than others who are sinning and have a sin debt, as if he does not have sin still. And treats them harshly based on their debt as a sinner. Too full of PRIDE just like Satan is. The King calls this servant ‘wicked’ and that is not a term ever used for the Body of Christ, for believers in Christ’s atonement.

God forgave us with the blood of His Son, Jesus Christ. It was not just an easy pass. Salvation is a free gift for us to receive without self effort. But for God and Jesus it was hardly free; it was an extremely painful act in love towards us. As a redeemed person we need to have a forgiving heart towards others, even when they sin against you in a vial manner; forgive others to the extreme! Pray that God open their eyes and save them. Only God can do it!

Does Forgive Mean To Forget?

And do not think that to forgive means to forget. Forgive and do not repay them for their wrongdoing, that is forgiveness towards others. It does not mean that you have to go back and continually take abuse of any kind. But just WALK AWAY and know that God is right there with you. Recognize that you too sin against others at times and forgive them. But do not take revenge yourself against such a person,

“Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.” (Romans 12:19 KJV)

Give that task to God but ask Him to forgive them as Stephen did, even while they were stoning him! As Christ did even as they were mocking Him and hanging Him on the cross! Pray for them, pray for even your enemies, and for God to bring them repentance unto Salvation in Christ. In other words, “Let go. And let God.” By doing this you are doing right as a forgiven child of God.

The Tragedy Of The Wicked

“But as for me, my feet were almost gone; my steps had well nigh slipped. For I was envious at the foolish, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked. For there are no bands in their death: but their strength is firm. They are not in trouble as other men; neither are they plagued like other men.” (Psalm 73:2-5 KJV)

Have you ever noticed how the ‘wicked’ and as yet ‘unredeemed’ people of the world tend to have some pretty amazing luck? How many times have you heard a believer ask “I am redeemed through Christ and I try to do good works for the Lord, but why is it I keep having major problems while I see so many wicked evil people doing so well?” It sure does seem that way at times, doesn’t it? This world is being ruled to a certain extent by Satan until Christ’s returns and bounds him for 1000 years. Anything that goes against the world system, or the worlds way, is going against the wind and it causes turbulence.

God loves people unconditionally right? Does he not love a person that is yet, unredeemed and who has not accepted Christ? The Bible is clear that God loves everyone, sinners included, unconditionally. And you know what? If a person is not recognizing their sinfulness and is asking God for mercy, saying to God “I WILL pay you back”, that person is trying to buy their way to freedom from their sin debt. That will NOT save that person. However, does God have the right to help them from their financial situation in compassion? Look at this Scripture,

“Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same? And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so? Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.” (Matthew 5: 43-48 KJV)

These are the very words of Jesus instructing us how to behave and live for God. This is how our attitude should be. He tells us here that God loves the unredeemed too and He sends good things to both the wicked and the good. Jesus is telling us plainly that this is how we should be treating others, both believers and non believers, after our Salvation. Where would we be without the forgiveness that God obtained for us through Jesus Christ? We would be hell bound for eternity my friend. Thank God for His forgiveness, now go and forgive others and God will highly respect that as He works through you to a lost world.

You have trouble while the wicked seem not to have troubles? Understand that God has given you ALL THINGS through Christ. You are Heaven bound forever. But what of the wicked and unredeemed? They may be having it good now but it is fleeting. Be encouraged because Christ said ,

“These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33 KJV).

The word ‘tribulation’ used here in the original Greek is the word ‘thlipsis’ which has a meaning of ‘pressure (what constricts or rubs together), used of a narrow place that “hems someone in”; tribulation, especially internal pressure that causes someone to feel confined, a feeling of no way to escape” .

With the Holy Spirit residing within us we are bound to go against the grain of the world system as it is today because it is an ungodly world system right now. And it will continue to be until Jesus returns to Earth to rule and reign. As believers in Christ, the Holy Spirit guides us and renews our minds over time and we start to see things through God’s eyes and not the worlds eyes. We need to have a heart for the lost. Do you not remember that you were once lost too?

One side of the coin is that the wicked prosper because God is good to the unbeliever and the believer. The other side of the coin at work is Satan and his fallen angels. The Bible calls Satan ‘the ruler of this world’ (John 12:31) And Satan is perfectly fine with a person that either rejects God altogether, or a person that bases his status with God on their own self effort and good works. Satan loves it when people do all kinds of ‘religious things’ and ‘rituals’ and ‘penance for sins’. He loves it when people compare themselves with others as a standard of righteousness instead of comparing against the true standard, our Holy God. He loves it because these people are having the same sin that Satan has; the sin of pride. It is all about self effort and self righteousness. If you think about it a moment; will Satan and his fallen angels work to continue them in prosperity and keep their mind off God, or give them troubles in life?

You see, it is a funny thing about life troubles. Many times it is only in these life troubles that people tend to cry out to God for help. We realize the trouble is way out of our control. When we are at the very bottom , there is only ONE way to look and that is UP! Up to God for help. Satan does not want people turning to God or thinking that maybe there is a God who will help me, who loves me. So, as ruler of this world Satan and his fallen angels may be assisting these people in being successful in the worldly and ungodly system, in which we live. And this being the case, if you are having troubles in life that just seem to gnaw at you and you are fighting one battle and then into another. You need to know where it is coming from. It is like Jesus says,

“Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.” (Matthew 5:11-12 KJV)

Rejoice when you are being persecuted and people say all kinds of evil things about you? When they gossip about you and falsely accuse you? Why rejoice in that? Because God has given you ALL THINGS.

He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? (Romans 8:32 KJV)

At the Rapture you will be as Jesus is! Immortal. Blessed for ever. The wicked do not have this long term blessed hope. All they have is FEAR in what is coming for them. But believers in Christ do! Jesus says to be exceedingly GLAD! GREAT is your reward in heaven!

This world and world system is fleeting. Most people have a life span of maybe 90 years? Most only around 70-80 years. What is that amount of time verses forever and ever and ever in the presence of God, with no more fleshly sinful mind in people? Where everything is a pure blessing. Where there will be no more tears even? At the moment of a persons Salvation our inner nature became a new creation. (2 Corinthians 5:17) A heaven bound creation. We are just waiting for our bodies to be changed and then ZAP!.. we are in the presence of Jesus forever in immortality.

Forgive everyone that sins against you!
Even when it is very hard!
Especially when it is very hard!
Give it to God.
You do the RIGHT thing and leave all the rest to God.

Matthew 18:35 And The Eternal Security Of The Believer

Parable Of The Lost Sheep & The Lost Coin: God Loves You As An Individual

Don Gerrity Q&A: Knowing God, Q&A: Parables Of Jesus April 9, 2016

The Parable of the Lost Sheep

“Then drew near unto him all the publicans and sinners for to hear him. And the Pharisees and scribes murmured, saying, This man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them. And he spake this parable unto them, saying, What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it? And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbours, saying unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost. I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.” (Luke 15:1-7 KJV)

The Parable of the Lost Coin

“Either what woman having ten pieces of silver, if she lose one piece, doth not light a candle, and sweep the house, and seek diligently till she find it? And when she hath found it, she calleth her friends and her neighbours together, saying, Rejoice with me; for I have found the piece which I had lost. Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.” (Luke 15: 8-10 KJV)

How Important Are You, As An INDIVIDUAL to God?

How loved and precious are you to God? Even while a sinner? Just look at what God did; sent His Only Begotten Son, Jesus Christ, to pay the price for your sins in His blood on the cross. That is how much!! Jesus paid the ultimate price for you! All that pain and suffering is how much God loves you, as an individual. If you were the only person on Earth Jesus would still have come and died for you. You are that precious. That important. That LOVED!

The World

“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. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.” (John 3:16-17 KJV)

In John 3 when it speaks of ‘the world’ what or who is that referring to? Let’s look at this from the original Greek.

‘World’ in the original Greek is the word ‘kosmos‘. The definition for the word has different meanings, ‘ the world, universe; worldly affairs; the inhabitants of the world; adornment.’

In John 3:16-17 the meaning is by context. One use is talking about the kosmos- the universe. The other two are talking about ‘the inhabitants of the world’.

So go ahead right now and replace ‘world’ with your name in the following verses. I have placed an underline instead of instances where ‘the world’ means ‘inhabitants of the world’. It is Scriptural and sound. And say it out loud so that you brain hears it externally as well. ‘Faith comes by hearing’.

“For God so loved the –your name here–, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn –your name here– ; but that –your name here– through him might be saved”

Jesus is not RELIGION. Jesus is grace. Jesus does not want you to do all these ‘religious things’ to be accepted and loved by God. Jesus wants to save you from all your sins and have a REAL intimate relationship with you, as an individual.

How awesome is our God ?!?

Matthew 25: The Parable Of The Ten Virgins; Rapture Or The Second Coming?

Don Gerrity Q&A: Bible Prophecy & End Times, Q&A: Parables Of Jesus February 29, 2016April 2, 2022

Each of the four Gospels in the New Testament have a specific focus and different perspectives on the events during Jesus’ Earthly ministry showing us a complete package of truths about the Gospel. In Matthew, Jesus was primarily focused on the Jewish peoples who were believing that the way to be justified with God is by keeping the Law of Moses, which including the Ten Commandments has 613 rules to follow. Keeping them all is REQUIRED for justification and it is clear that it would be a most impossible task to keep them all. Jesus’ brother James even states so in James 2:10,

“For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.” (James 2:10 KJV)

When we are reading Matthew 24 and 25, we need to keep this perspective in sharp focus to see the Prophecies correctly, watching the context closely. The Gospel according to Matthew is aimed primarily at Israel as God’s people, at the Jew, the person familiar with the Old Testament. In Matthew, we see time and time again, that the focus of Jesus teachings is to thwart the wrong idea that Law following will make a person righteous. That is why Jesus is shown to be the Son of David in Matthew (Isaiah 11:1; Matthew 1:1). This unique title shows that Matthew is also about the Kingdom Age to come as Jesus will one day sit on The Throne of David as a fulfilled prophecy to Israel in particular. The Church has NOT replaced Israel as some are teaching in reformed theology today. God gave specific promises to Israel and they have not all been fulfilled. In fact, these promises are not for the Church Age believers but for Israel in the End Times.

In Matthew 24, Jesus was asked by His disciples,

“…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 KJV)

At this point, all the disciple knew about was the foretold coming of Messiah and His Earthly Kingdom Age to come. This Kingdom Age is what the disciples were asking Jesus about. At that point in time, the idea of a Harpazo Rapture was not even known. The risen Christ did not reveal that until after His ascension when He gave the knowledge of the Rapture as a “mystery” revealed to Apostle Paul (1 Cor. 15:51). So Matthew 24 is not addressed to Church Age believers between the cross and the day of the Harpazo Rapture; the quick and forceful snatching away of Church Age believers to meet the Lord in the air. The very context shows this to be truth as well and so Matthew 24, and even Matthew 25, is NOT addressed to the Bride of Christ. Instead it is directed to the Jewish people (and all Gentiles alive at this future time) just prior to, during and after the time of Jacobs Trouble, what we refer to today as The Tribulation Period, and in specific the last 3 1/2 years called The Great Tribulation Period, as foretold through Daniel’s 70 week prophecy from the Old Testament and the Book Of Revelation. The Rapture event will happen before this 7 year period of time begins. The Bride of Christ will be removed before we see the bulk of Matthew 24 and 25 even occurring. A close look at the context makes this truth even more clear. when we keep to a literal interpretation of Scripture.

There are many pulpits and believers teaching that Matthew 25 is all about the Rapture of Church Age believers. Yet, the context shows otherwise. The Parable of the Ten Virgins is not about the Bride of Christ nor the Rapture. The Sheep and Goats Judgment is not about the Bride of Christ either. Just one word, the very first word of Matthew 25 proves the context is not about the Rapture nor the Bride of Christ.

“THEN shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom. And five of them were wise, and five were foolish. They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them: But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.

While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept. And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him. Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps.

And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out. 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. 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.

Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not.

Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.” (Matthew 25:1-14 KJV)

At first glance one might conclude this parable is talking about the Pre-Tribulation Rapture of believers in Christ. However, after closer inspection we can see clearly that this parable is given to those who were left behind at the Pre-Tribulation Rapture of church age believers and Israel left behind at the Rapture. It is referring to those living in what the Bible calls The Tribulation Period, the beginning of Daniel’s 70th week prophesy. A 7 year period of time in the end times between the Pre-Tribulation Rapture and the Second Coming of Christ with His Bride (saved church age believers; us today who believe on Christ for salvation).

Matthew 25 starts with the very first word being, “–THEN–“. I ask you, when is the then? The very first word is showing a very clear context not to be ignored. Remember that the book of Matthew was one continuous work and chapters were added later to the Bible for our referencing. So when is the then? We need to go back into Matthew 24 and follow it back to verse 29:

“Immediately —AFTER THE TRIBULATION– of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken:” (Matthew 24:29 KJV)

Matthew 25 and The Parable of the Ten Virgins is all about and addressing the survivors of the Tribulation Period and not the Church. The parable is not referring to the Pre-Tribulation Rapture at the end of the Church Age, even though many pulpits are teaching such. They are ignoring the very context of the very first word in Matthew 25.

A Quick Brief Overview From Daniel’s Timeline Prophecy Of Human History

If we look at Daniel’s End Time Portion of the 70 weeks that God revealed to him to write down for us today to understand (Daniel did not understand the prophecy but God said it is for those living in the last days to understand), we see that Messiah would be ‘cut off’ and this happened at the exact time Daniel wrote down when Christ died on the cross and paid for the sins of the whole world. This happened at the end of the 69th week of Daniel’s prophecy. Israel had rejected Jesus as the Messiah and crucified Him. Jesus died and paid for the sins of the whole world on that cross (1 John 2:2) and He rose again, and sent His disciples to preach the Gospel of salvation and ascended to the Father.

Jesus later met Saul, the persecutor of Christians, showed him the truth and Paul was saved. Jesus then sent Paul to preach the Gospel of Grace to the Gentiles. The Jews rejected Christ and so now God turns to save the Gentiles (all non Jews). Of course, in the church age, whether a person is Jewish or Gentile; they can both be saved and become part of The Bride Of Christ. The CHURCH AGE had begun, which is a pause in Daniel’s 70 weeks of years prophecy timeline of human history. This age is the age we presently still live within and we are actually living in the very last days of the Church Age.

After the Pre-Tribulation Rapture of church age believers happens, this Church Age will end and Daniel’s 70th week will start. This will be the start of a 7 year period of time known as the Tribulation Period in which is the time of ‘Jacob’s Trouble’. (Jacob means Israel so it is Israel’s trouble’). Once Church age believers are taken off the Earth by the Lord Himself at the Pre-Tribulation Harpazo Rapture Event, He then turns back to save the remnant of Israel and anyone living at that time who will believe Christ is still to come.

We must remember that God made covenants and promises to the Jewish people. He will deliver these promises to Israel after the Rapture as well. God is handling the people of Israel (Jewish peoples) differently than the Christian believers in Christ from our current dispensation and Church Age of Grace. Believers in Christ’s act of atonement on the cross as the only means of receiving salvation will be Raptured 7 years prior to the end of the Tribulation period of the last days. The Tribulation period starts with the Antichrist making a covenant with many nations and not necessarily right at the Rapture.

Because the Jewish people are still looking for their Messiah (that is they do not recognize Jesus as the Messiah yet) they will be left behind at the Rapture just as any person that has not accepted the pardon for sin that Christ offers each of us. God will raise 144,000 Jewish believers in Christ during the Tribulation Period who will start evangelizing those left behind who will announce that Christ’s Second Coming is soon upon them.

It is to the end of the Tribulation Period that this parable in Matthew 25 is referring. Now, I know many people think this parable is all about the church and the soon coming Rapture event. Maybe you were taught that? However, it is not talking about that event. It is talking about a time AFTER the Rapture and at the end of the Tribulation Period. It is talking about those from the Tribulation Period that will be permitted (or not be permitted) to enter the Kingdom Age on Earth (the 1000 year Millennial reign of Christ on Earth starting at the Second Coming.)

Reason Why This Parable Is NOT About The Rapture Event

⇒ First, the parable is talking about “virgins” not the “Bride of Christ”.

Jesus Himself makes it very clear that believers in Christ are the BRIDE OF CHRIST. Believers are married to Christ in a very intimate way. The Holy Spirit resides within a believer and you can’t get much closer.

Many Scriptures in the Bible show the relationship between believers and Christ in our church age as a marriage relationship:

“For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body.” (Ephesians 5:23 KJV)

And Jesus said unto them, Can the children of the bridechamber mourn, as long as the bridegroom is with them? but the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken from them, and then shall they fast.” (Matthew 9:15)

“He that hath the bride is the bridegroom: but the friend of the bridegroom, which standeth and heareth him, rejoiceth greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice: this my joy therefore is fulfilled.” (John 3:29)

“And there came unto me one of the seven angels which had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues, and talked with me, saying, Come hither, I will shew thee the bride, the Lamb’s wife.” (Revelation 21:2)

“Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb.” (Revelation 19:9)

Paul speaking about how believers in Christ are liberated from the curse of the Law says this,

“Know ye not, brethren, (for I speak to them that know the law,) how that the law hath dominion over a man as long as he liveth? For the woman which hath an husband is bound by the law to her husband so long as he liveth; but if the husband be dead, she is loosed from the law of her husband. So then if, while her husband liveth, she be married to another man, she shall be called an adulteress: but if her husband be dead, she is free from that law; so that she is no adulteress, though she be married to another man. Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye SHOULD BE MARRIED TO ANOTHER, EVEN TO HIM (Jesus) who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God.” (Romans 7:1-4 KJV, “(Jesus)” added for clarity)

In Matthew 22, Jesus in another parable talks of a king (God) which made a marriage (with believers, the Bride of Christ), for His son (Jesus):

“The kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain king, which made a marriage for his son, And sent forth his servants to call them that were bidden to the wedding:… ” (Matthew 22:3 KJV)

After the Tribulation period and at the Second Coming of Christ there will be a “Marriage Supper” Of The Lamb (Christ is the Lamb of God that takes away the sins of the world). In Revelation 21, believers Raptured are called the Bride and Lamb’s wife.

“And there came unto me one of the seven angels which had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues, and talked with me, saying, Come hither, I will shew thee the bride, the Lamb’s wife.” (Revelation 21:9 KJV)

There are many more examples in the Scriptures making it clear that our relationship with Jesus is that of a Bride and the Bridegroom being Jesus Christ.

⇒ Second, Believers Are Already Married to Christ at the moment of Salvation.

The parable of the Ten Virgins references “Virgins” and “Bridesmaids” but not “The Bride of Christ”. This is a key point to understanding that this parable of Jesus is not intended for the church age of grace but for the Tribulation Period of time in the last days AFTER the Rapture has already occurred.

Believers become married to Christ at the moment of Salvation when the two, become one.

“And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you. Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also. At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you.” (John 14:16-20 KJV)

Seeing that believers are married to Christ, they are NOT virgins nor Bridesmaids. Throughout the Bible, Believers are called the Bride of Christ and not the Virgins of Christ.

Who Are The Virgins Then?

The interesting fact is that while the believers in Christ, the saved, are called The Bride Of Christ throughout the New Testament, Virgins talk about being Israel in the Old Testament, the Jewish peoples.

In fact, in Jeremiah 31 is a prophecy about the rebirth of Israel as a nation in the end times. Israel was reborn as a nation on May 15, 1948 in our present day and age and is a fulfillment and big sign that we are living in the last days of the age of grace RIGHT NOW! And since that is true, the Pre-Tribulation Rapture is even closer.

“Again I will build thee, and thou shalt be built, O VIRGIN OF ISRAEL: thou shalt again be adorned with thy tabrets, and shalt go forth in the dances of them that make merry. Thou shalt yet plant vines upon the mountains of Samaria: the planters shall plant, and shall eat them as common things. For there shall be a day, that the watchmen upon the mount Ephraim shall cry, Arise ye, and let us go up to Zion unto the Lord our God. For thus saith the Lord; Sing with gladness for Jacob, and shout among the chief of the nations: publish ye, praise ye, and say, O Lord, save thy people, the remnant of Israel. Behold, I will bring them from the north country, and gather them from the coasts of the earth, and with them the blind and the lame, the woman with child and her that travaileth with child together: a great company shall return thither. They shall come with weeping, and with supplications will I lead them: I will cause them to walk by the rivers of waters in a straight way, wherein they shall not stumble: for I am a father to Israel, and Ephraim is my firstborn. Hear the word of the Lord, O ye nations, and declare it in the isles afar off, and say, He that scattered Israel will gather him, and keep him, as a shepherd doth his flock. For the Lord hath redeemed Jacob, and ransomed him from the hand of him that was stronger than he. Therefore they shall come and sing in the height of Zion, and shall flow together to the goodness of the Lord, for wheat, and for wine, and for oil, and for the young of the flock and of the herd: and their soul shall be as a watered garden; and they shall not sorrow any more at all.

(Verse 13=>) Then shall THE VIRGIN rejoice in the dance, both young men and old together: for I will turn their mourning into joy, and will comfort them, and make them rejoice from their sorrow.” (Jeremiah 31: 1-13 KJV)

You can see in the 13th verse it says “THEN SHALL THE VIRGIN REJOICE…”. That is all inhabitants of the end time reborn Nation of Israel are called “virgins”. The Virgins are clearly people left behind at the Rapture. This includes, the Jewish peoples and proclaiming Christians, (went to church, did good works but never accepted Christ’s atonement by faith).

Jesus warned proclaiming Christians sternly that their good works will not save them in Matthew 7:21-23, not even ‘many wonderful works’ they did in their life will save them. Instead, at the Great White Throne Judgment Seat they will hear the scariest words of all by Christ, “I never knew you” as they are condemned for rejected Christ’s gift of salvation (Eph. 2:8-9) and eternal life by belief on him (John 3:14-18, 36, John 6:37-40) and HIS ‘once for all’ final blood atonement (Hebrews 10:10) for the sins of the whole world (1 John 2:2).

They will have believed Satan’s greatest deception; that we are saved because we were a ‘good person’. Because they attended church services and did many wonderful works and even used the name of Jesus. Outwardly they looked like saved people but they never trusted in Christ alone for salvation. We see this is rampant in these last days in organized church religions. The false ‘Works for Salvation’ false gospel. Yes, true believers have good works but those come only from Christ living within us (Ephesians 2:10) by the new creation in our Spirit (2 Cor. 5:17-21). Our wonderful good works never save us nor keep us saved (Galatians 3, 5:4-5); only belief on Christ and HIS FINISHED WORK paying for or sins on the cross saves us.

During The Tribulation Period (after the Rapture event has occurred) the Bible describes how the Antichrist will take control of the world with a worldwide government and will eventually proclaim himself to be God. He will deceive the world into believing He is the Messiah come as prophesied. There will be Jewish and Christian (in profession only) peoples that will be deceived into believing this. Bible prophecy gives us a very clear timetable of when the Second Coming of Christ will happen but not to the precise day from the signing of the Antichrist’s covenant with many. So why is this event taking them by surprise?

God will be sending up 144,000 Jews, who become believers in Christ and Two high profile Witnesses (Moses and Elijah), with great signs and wonders, who are sent to proclaim the truth about Christ and His soon Second Coming. To preach that the Antichrist is NOT God. So to this group of believers during the Tribulation Period, it will not come as a surprise when Christ returns to the Earth.

However, for the vast majority alive during the Tribulation Period, who were deceived by the Antichrist and turned not to Christ in belief, His Second Coming will come as a complete SHOCK. They won’t be looking for Christ because they believe the Antichrist is the God-man, already come. They will in fact be shocked and later when Christ “closes the door” to the Marriage Supper of the Lamb they will realize the truth and in desperation knock on the door to enter. But it is too late and they will hear instead the words of Christ “I never KNEW you” on their judgment day.

Lamps, Oil and Extra Oil

LAMPS: The Prophetic Word Of God

To understand the parable you need to understand that the LAMP is the WORD OF GOD, or to the Jewish peoples called the “Torah” and all the prophecies about what will happen in the time of the Tribulation – just as Jesus stated in Matthew 24. Again for real understanding in God’s word, we must look at other Scriptures to see what is meant by the word LAMP.

Here is two verses telling us what the LAMP represents from the Old Testament (Torah):

“Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.” (Psalm 119:105 KJV)

“For thou art my lamp, O Lord: and the Lord will lighten my darkness.” (2 Samuel 22:29 KJV)

A lamp is a LIGHT. The prophetic word of God is the lamp that shows us the truth in the darkness of the world. The Psalms have lots to say about the Tribulation period for Israel and so it is a PROPHETIC LAMP. Here in Matthew 24 and 25 it is all about the darkness of the Tribulation Period. To watch and NOT be deceived by the Antichrist. So the lamp is the PROPHETIC Word of God. Many will fall for the lie that Antichrist is God returned; their Messiah. They will think they were right that Jesus was not the Messiah 2000 years ago. And instead be deceived into believing the Antichrist is God.

The Holy Spirit within believers and working through believers, leaves Earth at the Pre-Tribulation Rapture. After that the Holy Spirit works with men as in the days of the Old Testament. Tribulation believers will not be indwelt by the Holy Spirit as we are today in the Church Age of God’s Grace, as Apostle Paul taught. And for those in the time of the Tribulation prophetically they will be taught by the 144,000 evangelists to not fall for the lie of the Antichrist.

OIL: The Holy Spirit & The Need For Enduring In Belief

What does the oil reference then? Are they willing to take heed to the PROPHETIC TRUTH of Scripture (The LAMP) regarding the Second coming of Christ or not? The LAMP holds the oil. The Lamp IS the prophetic Scripture. The 144,000 evangelists will be preaching the true prophetic Scripture to show the people not to worship the Antichrist nor take the Mark of the Beast. To tell the people not to believe the twisting of the Prophetic Scriptures which the Antichrist has been preaching. The Prophetic Scripture that Jesus is the true Messiah and He will still be coming soon. I believe that how much oil is related to how much is the nation Israel heeding the prophetic Scripture regarding this time during the Tribulation and after the Tribulation (Matthew 24:29).

You can see in Matthew 25:3 that the “foolish virgins” took their lamps. That is they studied and know that in the Torah, are PROPHETIC SCRIPTURES about the event of the Second Coming of Christ. They have the PROPHETIC WORD. But do they believe He is coming back or is the Antichrist God returned already?

In the Tribulation Period, the 144,000 Evangelized Jews believing Jesus is the TRUE Messiah, and NOT the Antichrist, will be sharing the truth of the PROPHETIC SCRIPTURE, warning the people to not be deceived by the Antichrist to take the Mark of the beast nor to worship him! That is, they were presented with the Gospel of Christ and His soon coming 1000 year Kingdom Age on Earth and believed on Christ as Lord and Savior. The foolish virgins did not believe until the end when Christ actually returns at the Second Coming event but it will be too late and they will find themselves shut out of the 1000 year Kingdom Age, the 1000 year rule of Christ on Earth.

Throughout Scripture OIL is a term used to represent the Holy Spirit. For us today, living in the Church Age, when we believe in Christ for Salvation, we are SEALED with the indwelling Holy Spirit (Ephesians 1:13-14, 2 Corinthians 1:22, 2 Cor. 5:17-21, Colossians 2). However, after the Rapture, the church age will end and those left behind and living during the 7 year Tribulation Period, and afterwards, will have the Holy Spirit working with them as it was before the church age began in Old Testament times. Those who become believers during the Tribulation Period and before Christ’s return will need to endure the persecution of the Antichrist, and yet remain believing to be spared. They will need to ‘endure to the end’ as we see in Revelation 14:12 and 16:15.

“Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.” (Revelation 14:12 KJV)

“Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame.” (Revelation 16:15 KJV)

Some are teaching these verses apply to The Church Age believers today but that is not correct by Paul’s teachings of the Gospel of Grace for our current dispensation of time. These verses are about those living in and after the Tribulation Period. Apparently, some will believe on Christ but with such tremendous persecution and pressure from others they know who are worshipping the Antichrist as God, will not endure in their belief in Christ and His soon return. They have knowledge of the LAMP (prophetic Word of God) but they ran out of OIL (the Holy Spirit in Belief) !

Those Jews that believe the Antichrist is the Messiah returned have ALREADY TAKEN the Mark of the Beast. They have no hope now. That is why the wise Virgins (those who heeded the prophetic Scriptures) tell the foolish to go and BUY MORE OIL for themselves. The Antichrist made it so that no man could buy or sell unless they had the mark of the beast right? The wise will be saying to them, you had your chance and you left us and chose Antichrist. In the end of Matthew 24, we see they will actually smite their fellow Jewish wise virgins! The foolish people, separated from the wise believing people and choose the Antichrist. They have been duped into believing the Antichrist is the Messiah returned.

So these are the people who did not endure and eventually took the Mark and then here in Matthew 25 they find that they see the Second Coming of Jesus coming from the Heavens. And in panic they go back to the wise Virgins (those who heeded the prophetic Scriptures and remained obeying the truth and belief on Christ) asking them for help because they do not have enough oil to make it when Jesus returns in judgment. But the Lord returned while they left to follow the Antichrist and when they came back they found everyone was gone inside and the door was SHUT. Just as in the time of Noah and the flood, the day came when GOD SHUT THE DOOR and all left outside in unbelief, were swept away into judgment. Just as Jesus said in Matthew 24,

“But as the DAYS OF NOAH were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.” (Matthew 24: 37 KJV)

When Christ returns at the Second Coming after the great Tribulation period the foolish virgins have run out of the required oil of enduring in their faith in Christ. The 5 foolish Virgins have not endured in their belief and instead went to the ‘dark side’ of the Antichrist, deceived and now lost forever.

Today, here in the age of grace, before the Rapture, a person who comes to believe on Christ is eternally saved by the Grace of God. Such a person is from the very moment of belief on Christ, SEALED until the day of the Rapture. That is we have an “earnest” which is a ‘guaranteed down payment’ until our bodily Resurrection (see Ephesians 1:13-14 KJV). But during the Tribulation period, those left behind at the Rapture have no such guarantee and must endure in their faith in God’s prophetic Word, through all the hardships of the Tribulation Period, until the day of the Second Coming of Christ to rule and reign on Earth (Revelation 14:12, 16:15).

EXTRA OIL

The wise virgins are those in the Tribulation Period that have the Torah prophetic Word of Truth (lamp). They are people who are the remnant of Israel; true believers in Christ who have endured to the end in belief in Christ’s Second Coming and the prophetic Scriptures. They have the oil in belief. Notice that all Ten Virgins fell asleep, and they were all being pressured and persecuted by the Antichrist. But only the 5 Wise Virgins have the one extra required item that permits them access to the Kingdom of God; extra oil. The Extra oil is the enduring belief and trust in the Bible and the Gospel of Jesus Christ until the end when the Second Coming event actually happens. These wise virgins are the people that received the teaching of the 144,000 Jewish Jewish believers and the Two Witnesses that will be clearly seen by the whole world. They are believers in Christ who have enough oil, who endured until the end and kept the faith in Christ despite all that has happened to the world and to them personally during the Tribulation Period and shortly afterwards, before Christ’s Return.

The foolish Virgins who did not endure and keep their belief on Christ alone for Salvation have chosen the Antichrist and will see that Christ is coming but it is too late. They ask the true remnant believers for their oil. The remnant believers refuse because it is theirs and their Salvation is at hand. The wise Virgins cannot give them the extra oil that saves because they already rejected it. The foolish virgins go to get more oil but by the time they try to come back to belief it is too late. They likely (just speculation by me) already took the Mark of the Beast, a badge of servitude to the Antichrist.

Both the wise and unwise HAD THE LAMP! They both HAD and knew the prophetic Scriptures and warnings about the Antichrist as taught by the 144,000 Jewish Evangelists. It was a CLEAR DECISION MADE for both the wise and unwise.

God has an appointed specific date for the Rapture of believers, beyond which anyone who has not put their faith on Christ alone for Salvation will be left behind to endure the Tribulation Period. Likewise, God has also set an appointed specific date for the Second Coming Of Christ Event; beyond which a person living in the time of the Tribulation Period, who did not endure in believing on Christ alone for Salvation, will not be permitted to enter the 1000 year Kingdom age.

The End Game. Time Is Very Short!

The Parable of the Ten Virgins spoken by Jesus is NOT about the Rapture, although the Rapture must happen before the event described actually occurs. The Pre-Tribulation Rapture was revealed by Paul as a mystery unknown in 1 Thessalonians 4. Matthew 24 is about the Second Coming and addresses the Jewish people, and any gentile who come to belief on Christ in the Tribulation Period. This parable in Matthew 25 is a continuing on that truth. Jesus spoke this to the Jewish people of Israel, the disciples, and it applies to the Jews in the end times. At the time they asked Christ when He would return, they knew nothing about the Pre-Tribulation Rapture as that was a ‘mystery revealed’ by Apostle Paul after Christ ascended. In Matthew 24, they were asking Jesus about the Second Coming Event and the Kingdom Age to come, which is all they knew about.

The Bible talks about the 10 lost tribes of Israel. The 10 virgins are being regathered into modern day Israel right now from all four corners of the world into which they were dispersed. A Bible Prophesy that is the number one sign that the time period called the “End Times” and “Last Days” is the time in which you and I are living in.

The Five Wise Virgins is speaking about the remnant of Israel who will believe on Christ and any gentile living in the Tribulation Period that will believe.

Jesus gives a strong warning to those who will be living in the time of the Tribulation Period and in specific to the Nation of Israel, the Jewish people of THAT future time.

“Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.” (Matthew 25:13 KJV)

1. WATCH. What the prophetic Scriptures state MUST happen (Matthew 24:6), and will happen. Jesus said it MUST happen.

2. When Jesus comes at the Second Coming, they will know the season by the prophetic Word of God. But they will not know the exact Day nor Hour. But Jesus WILL return shortly after the Tribulation Period ends. Jesus is warning them to heed the prophetic Scriptures regarding this event and that Jesus is the REAL Messiah and Lord.

But What About The 1260 Days & Abomination Of Desolation Daniel Wrote About?

From Daniel’s Prophecy of timeline of human history, we know that the first half of the Tribulation Period is 1260 days from when a covenant is confirmed with the Antichrist as we read in Daniel 9:27. From this point on will be another 1260 days, giving us 7 years (two 3.5 year time frames within the Tribulation Period). Because Daniel tells us that once the covenant with many is confirmed, it seems to show that Christ will return in 1260 days from that point. Yet, if Matthew 24 and 25 are about the Second Coming, why would it state that no one knows the day nor hour?

No where does this state that Christ returns the very moment the Tribulation Period ends. This is showing when the Tribulation Period Ends only. Also if we continue reading Daniel’s Prophecy we see this prophetic statement,

“And from the time that the daily sacrifice shall be taken away, and the abomination that maketh desolate set up, there shall be a thousand two hundred and ninety days.” (Daniel 12:11 KJV)

We see here that from the time of the abomination of desolation being setup to some unnamed point there will be 1290 days. Not 1260 days. It continues and states that those who are alive on the 1335th day from this event are going to be blessed. I personally believe this is the start day of the promised 1000 Year Kingdom Age.

So there seems to be a time gap here after the Tribulation Period. So during this 75 days (maybe less, we do not know) most will not have any idea the true Christ is returning. Also, true believers will be looking for Christ’s Return as the 144,000 Evangelists and Two Witnesses were preaching during the Tribulation Period. But they are not the only ones who survived the Tribulation Judgments and there are also those (Jews and Gentiles) who took the Mark believing the Antichrist is the Messiah. The fact is, that there will be way more in the Antichrist camp than the believer camp. The general consensus, even to Jews who chose the Antichrist, is that they will not even be looking for the Second Coming of Christ. They believe he already came in the Antichrist. However, Believers will know that the Second Coming Event could come at anytime after the Tribulation Period ends. They know He is coming but will have to remain in that belief until He actually does appear in the clouds. Notice Jesus stated that at that time ‘no man will know the DAY NOR HOUR’ of the Second Coming Return of Christ. He did not mention YEAR! Even so, some believers will falter in their belief and not endure until the end (the 5 unwise virgins) and we see that in the parable of the Ten Virgins in Matthew 25. But again most on Earth who survive the Tribulation will not even be looking for the Second Coming Event!

“And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.” (Matthew 24:30 KJV)

Notice it reads ALL THE TRIBES Of THE EARTH – that means everyone alive regardless of where they live or what tribe they belong too. When this happens and they see Christ coming, it is not in an instant like the Rapture event, they have time to mourn because most have chosen the Antichrist wrongly as God and now they see what the 144,000 and to witnesses were preaching is true. All the unbelievers have then will be fear and they will try to hide themselves.

Remember, Matthew 25 is just a continuation of Jesus’ answer to the disciples in Matthew 24. At the end of Matthew 24, we see a warning for the unwise virgin in the parable that Jesus is about to mention starting in Matthew 25,

“48 But and if that evil servant shall say in his heart, My lord DELAYETH his coming; 49 And shall begin to smite his FELLOWSERVANTS, and to eat and drink WITH THE DRUNKEN; 50 The lord of that servant shall come in a day when he LOOKETH NOT FOR HIM, and in an hour that he is NOT AWARE OF, 51 And shall cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” (Matthew 24:48-51 KJV)

Do you see it now by context? A servant who believed the 144,000 evangelists that the Antichrist is not God, but who did not ENDURE in that belief but instead changes to belief in the Antichrist! Why? Because he believes the Lord’s Second Coming is being delayed, falters in their belief and then instead ‘smite his fellowservants’ and ‘drink with the drunken’. That is to say, that they turned from the belief in Christ coming soon and instead go and join the Antichrist in worship and start persecuting the believers in Jesus’s soon coming. They have rejected the true Christ! It is after this statement that Jesus tells the Parable of the Ten Virgins. This is what triggered me to understand the parable better and believe me I struggled with this parable a long time.

This is exactly how Jesus goes on in the parable of the Ten Virgins in Matthew 25 in describing the ‘unwise virgins’. They did not have the required ‘extra oil’, to enter the Kingdom Age that God prepared for all who would believe on Him under such great persecution and judgments of the Tribulation Period.

Parable Of The Fig Tree: The Last Days. How Close Are They?

Don Gerrity Q&A: Bible Prophecy & End Times, Q&A: Parables Of Jesus January 31, 2016

At least one third of the Bible is related to prophecy of future events. Some prophecies have been fulfilled exactly as foretold while others are still to be fulfilled in our future. Bible prophecy FULFILLED in specific detail is one of the main reasons we can know that the Bible is the true word of the true God.

“Remember the former things of old; for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me, declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure. (Isaiah 46:9-10)

In fact, God Himself says to false religions and false prophets,

“Present your case’, says the Lord. ‘Set forth your arguments,’ says Jacob’s King. ‘Bring in your idols, to tell us what is going to happen. Tell us what the former things were, so that we may consider them and know them and know their final outcome. Or declare to us the things to come, tell us what the future holds, so we may know that you are gods…” (Isaiah 41:22-23 )

This is how we know that the Bible is the true word of the True God. NO other religion has prophecy fulfilled in specific detail like the Bible does. Every prophecy has come true except those to yet be fulfilled. This fact is what made a believer out of me and since accepting Christ as my personal savior my knowledge of God has and continues to grow exponentially.

Eventually, I will start adding to a new articles in the category “Bible Prophecies For Our Time”, but for now let’s just get a quick and single prophecy that tells us how close we are to the Second Coming of Christ and the Rapture.

In Matthew 24 the apostles asked Jesus when would be the time of His coming and the sign of His coming again.

Jesus mentioned many various things which you can read for yourself in Matthew 24 such as wars and rumors of wars, earth quakes in diverse places, pestilences increasing, kingdom shall rise against kingdom (ex: Christian verses Islam/ east verses west)

All of these describe today but also other times in the past. But then Jesus gets very specific…

“Now learn this parable from the fig tree: When its branch has already become tender and puts forth leaves, you know that summer is near. So you also, when you see all these things, know that it is near—at the doors! Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all these things take place.” (Matthew 24:32-34)

What does that mean? Well if you read the Bible it is very clear throughout the old and New Testament that Israel has always been known as “the fig tree”. So when the fig tree starts showing leaves (arises again as a nation) then Christ’s return is at the door. We also see a prophesy of the same event in Isaiah 35:1 where the desert blossoms as a rose. (Today Israel which was once just dry desert is blossoming! So much so they are one of the largest producers of fruit.)

Understand that Israel was not a nation for thousands of years and on May 14, 1948 Israel became a nation once again. In fact, there is a huge exodus from around the world as millions of Jews are returning to Israel (another prophecy fulfilled by the way, Deuteronomy 30:3-4, Isaiah 11:11-12, Amos 9:14-15)

So all the Bible prophesies, yet unfulfilled, that Jesus spoke of will be fulfilled in our generation. Here we are in 2014. So it has been 60+ years already since this HUGE sign pointing us and showing us that the time has come and we are already in the last days! In fact, we are like near the end of the last days and what do we see happening?

Bible Prophecies are being fulfilled almost monthly now. Daniels vision of seventy weeks is being setup for the last week. Economic world collapse, forming of a world wide economy (the new world order – NWO), famines, sea and waves roaring, large Earthquakes in diverse places, the Islamic goals for a Caliphate, ISIS in Iraq and their goal for the world, the Countries forming against Israel to wipe them off the planet – the same nations the Bible says would be doing so in the Last Days. (Psalm 83), nation rising against nation and kingdom against kingdom (Islam verses Christianity and the Jewish faiths, East against West), the rise of Christian persecution by Muslim extremists, the falling away of the true Biblical Gospel of Jesus Christ in western nations… it is all here in front of our eyes. It seems everyday more of what the Bible says is going to happen in the Last Days is already started and in full swing to be 100% fulfilled.

Jesus Is Returning Soon

The Rapture event can occur at any moment now. Do not delay, accept Christ into your life. Ask Him for forgiveness before it is too late. He is waiting for you to return to Him. Come as you are.

Are You Ready For The Return Of Christ?

>>> Take The Test.