Randall Caselman
Bella Vista Church of Christ
February 3, 2002 PM
Ready For His Second Coming
Reading - Matthew 25.1-13
Both our lessons today have been centered around the Second Coming. The Second Coming of Christ is the next great event on the calendar of God. One out of every 25 verses in the whole Bible is about His Coming. The second coming of Jesus is mentioned 318 times in the New Testament alone. That makes seven out of every ten verses of the New Testament refer to His coming. Every chapter of First and Second Thessalonians closes with a reference to His coming.
Jesus said... "Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going." Thomas said to him, "Lord, we don't know where you are going, so how can we know the way?" Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
The angelic message from the Mount of Olives was... Men of Galilee, why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.
Paul wrote plainly about the second coming to the church at Thessalonica.... The Lord will punish those who are troubling you, and give relief to you who are troubled, and to us as well. This will happen when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven in blazing fire with his powerful angels. He will punish those who do not know God and do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. They will be punished with everlasting destruction and shut out from the presence of the Lord and from the majesty of his power... For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore encourage each other with these words.
Paul continues to give us insight to the events of the second coming as he writes of the resurrection in First Corinthians 15.50-57... I declare to you, brothers, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed-- in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: "Death has been swallowed up in victory." "Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?" The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.
Peter writes concerning His coming and the end of our world... You must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires. They will say, "Where is this 'coming' he promised? Ever since our fathers died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation." But they deliberately forget that long ago by God's word the heavens existed and the earth was formed out of water and by water. By these waters also the world of that time was deluged and destroyed. By the same word the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men. But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare. Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat.
Then... In the great apocalypse that closes our Bibles... John was instructed to write... "Behold, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to everyone according to what he has done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End. Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life and may go through the gates into the city.
In our lesson this morning... We talked about a correct understanding of this important Bible doctrine. However... As we closed that lesson... The main point was... And is always to be this... ARE WE READY FOR HIS COMING? This is our subject tonight as we examine this parable of Jesus. Open your worship bulletin and let's work our way through this outline together... seeing what this parable teaches us concerning His coming.
First... We note the similarity of those waiting on the bridegroom. Notice that all were virgins... All had lamps... And all went out to meet the bridegroom. Virgins here mean bridesmaids. They were to keep the bride company until the bridegroom arrived. One of the exciting elements of the wedding in Bible times was the arrival of the bridegroom. The bridegroom kept the time of his arrival secret. The atmosphere at the wedding was one of anticipation and excitement.
Here are ten virgins... They all looked alike in that...
- Each had a lamp.
- Each was dressed in the garment of a bridesmaid.
- Each claimed to have been invited.
- In the narrative... They all had the same behavior.
- They all had the same purpose.
- None suspected that there was anything wrong with any of the others.
Perhaps... This is a picture of the visible church today with its members. ALL people, who claim to be Christians, look pretty much the same outwardly... Right? They all claim to believe in Jesus. They all claim to be working for God, and outwardly appear to be doing so. They all claim to be a part of the saved... Those going with Jesus when He comes.
I am sure that if a person were to take a casual look at Noah and the people in the day of the flood, that there would be some difficulty determining who was right with God and who was not. Church... We must know tonight that the outward signs of Christianity can be imitated. However... God does not look on the outward man... But looks into the heart. This was God's message to Samuel as a new king was being selected for Israel.
The important concept tonight is... Am I ready... Am I prepared for Jesus' Second Coming?
Ours audience... Is not to judge others, but ourselves. This parable is about introspection.
ARE WE READY FOR HIS COMING??
Secondly... We notice their differences. They all looked alike but there was a difference. There is a difference between the saved and the unsaved. WHAT WAS THAT DIFFERENCE? The foolish bridesmaids had no oil. Lamps are of no use without oil.
It's interesting to note that sometimes in the Bible oil is used as a symbol of the Holy Spirit and the sanctification made possible through His dwelling in us.
- Leviticus 8:12 speaks of Aaron being anointed with oil to sanctify him.
- David, in the 23rd Psalm said... Thou anointest my head with oil... (Perhaps representing Sonship... Forgiveness... Cleansing... Sanctification.)
- Ephesians 5.18 says... Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit.
- In 2 Corinthians 1.21-22... Paul speaks of our being Anointed... Sealed... Secured... Guaranteed by the Holy Spirit.
- Jesus tells us how this is done... Sanctify them through thy truth... Thy word is truth.
- Ephesians 5.26 says... He sanctifies and cleanse us with the washing of water by the word.
- I John 2.20-26 teaches us that our eternal salvation is made possible through our keeping the truth of the Holy Spirit in us.
- Paul tells us in Roman 8.9 that we must become Spirit led people, that if His spirit is not in us we are none of His.
If we are not Spirit Led... If His Spirit is not in us... Then we are false... fake... counterfeit. You see there was a difference between the foolish and the wise. That difference was the oil... The abiding Holy Spirit. The five foolish bridesmaids were without the Spirit of God in their lives. They were not Spirit led people.
Today we may claim we are a part of the wedding party... A part of the church... But are we? We are... ONLY.... ONLY... If we are Spirit Led individuals.
Church... Listen to these recent statistics that may indicate that some who claim to be his bridesmaids... May not be at all....
- 95% of Americans reported a belief in God, but most said their belief had no effect on
their business or politics.
- You see... Only one American out of twelve attends church regularly.
- 7 out of 10 children quit church before the age of 15.
- 20% of those who claim church membership never pray.
- 25% never read their Bibles.
- 30% never attend church.
- 50% never attend any Bible class
- 60% never attend Sunday evening services.
- 70% never contribute to any kind of mission effort
- 80% never go to Wednesday evening services.
- 95% never win anyone to Jesus.
Truly... Truly... There is a difference between those who claimed to be in the wedding party... And those among the saved. Think about it... Are we ready for His coming... Because we are being continually sanctified... cleansed by His blood... Because we are walking in the truth... In His word daily.
Next... Let's take note of their sleep. They all gave up the hope of His coming and went to sleep. The thing to notice is... How many went to sleep... ALL DID... RIGHT?? The wise and the foolish bridesmaids alike went to sleep.
Is this a picture of the church in the last days? Have we as a brotherhood... As a church... As individuals gone to sleep? ARE WE all PRONE TO FORGET the LORD'S promised return?
Here it is folk... The second coming of Christ was the hope of the early church. Titus 2.13 says that the coming of Christ is the blessed hope of the church. The word on the lips of the first century church was Maranatha... Come O Lord... or... Lord come quickly. The early church wanted... waited for His coming... They lived in anxious anticipation. Do we??... Do we??... I meet Christians every day that do not even know that MARANATHA is a word that is found in our King James Bibles. It is... First Corinthians 16.22... Go home and check it out.
Peter says... An anticipation of His coming... Living with His return in mind will change our life. Church... If we really thought Jesus would come before midnight tonight... What would we be found doing after this service is over?... WELL, HE MAY!! You see... What we believe about His coming has a lot to do with the kind of people we are.
- Perhaps we are not the people we ought to be...
- Perhaps our priorities are not what they should be...
- Perhaps we are not as evangelistic as we could be...
Because we don't really expect Jesus to come today. Here it is folk... Isn't it time we restore this hope of his coming in our churches today?
Then there is the SHOUT... Perhaps more important the time of the shout. What time was it?... Midnight. Paul tells us that Jesus will come with a shout of the archangel... And the trumpet call of God. Peter says... With a loud noise and a roar. No one knows just what this means... Nor does anybody know the exact time.
The Bible does not tell us when the return of the Lord will come.
- Jesus tells us in Mark 13.32 that... That information is known only by the Father.
- Matthew 24.44 tells us that it will be when we least expect it.
- Paul says... As a thief in the night... As labor pains on an expectant mother.
- Second Peter 3... Says it will be sudden & unexpected... As the flood in Noah's day
I want us to consider that perhaps midnight here represents two concepts...
1. At the darkest hour... When it seems as if sin has taken over the world.
2. At the last hour... The end of the age... When time is no more.
Again... Ours is not to discern the time... But (WHAT??)... Our readiness.
His coming will bring Judgment. In our parable, those ready... prepared for His coming went in to the feast with the bridegroom... Then the King will say to those on his right, Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world.
While those not ready... Those who were not living in anticipation of His coming were bared from enjoying that prepared by God from the beginning for His faithful... He will punish those who do not know God and do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. They will be punished with everlasting destruction and shut out from the presence of the Lord and from the majesty of his power
The great sheep and goat judgment of Matthew chapter 25 ends with these worlds... Then they will go away to eternal punishment... But the righteous to eternal life.
Church... Make no mistake about it... His second coming will bring JUDGMENT!!
Well... What is the solution... What must we do to be ready for His coming?
First ... We must WATCH!!
Matthew 24.42 says... Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come.
Secondly... We must prepare... Be ready!!
Matthew 24.44 reads... So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.
Thirdly... We must accept and obey Jesus.
Listen to these familiar verses quoted together....
- Unless you believe that I am He... You will die in your sins.
- He that believes and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believes not shall be damned.
- Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord... That they may rest from their labors.
Are we ready for His coming?
- You can be ready tonight... Right now by faith... Repentance... and New Testament baptism... Immersion in water for the forgiveness of sins.
- Perhaps as a child of God... We have gone to sleep... We are no longer living in anticipation of his coming... Hey... If there is sin in your life... Acknowledge it to God and He will forgive you... This is the promise of 1 John 1.9.
Dean Farrar tells a story of how Queen Victoria heard one of her chaplains preach on the second coming at Windsor... and exclaimed... Oh, how I wish that the Lord would come in my lifetime!!. When asked WHY?... without a moment of delay she exclaimed... Because I would love to lay my crown at His feet.
QUESTION TONIGHT!!...
- Will we lay the crown of our will at His feet tonight?
- Will we allow him to rule as King of Kings... Lord of Lords over every arena of your life?
- Will we make our lives ready for His coming...
Be ready for His coming... As we stand and sing this invitation song together...
Will you come??
