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Goal
To answer common questions and give us clarity about what happens between now and the end of the age.
List some common questions
Work through the answers in relevant Scriptures
Focus on the Parable of the Wise and Foolish Virgins
1. Some Common Questions
Before the Last Day:
Could Jesus come tonight? Could he come in secret?
Will there be a “Secret Rapture” before the end?
If I die before Christ’s return, what will happen to me?
What about Near Death Experiences?
Day of Judgement
Will Christians be judged?
What of people who love God but never heard of Jesus?
Is there a reward? and for what?
Heaven
Will we have material bodies?
What will we do with our time?
Will married people still be married? male/female?
Will we recognize each other?
The same personalities (including irritating parts?)
Matthew 24
For just like the lightning comes from the east and flashes to the west, so the coming of the Son of Man will be.…
“Immediately after the suffering of those days, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of heaven will be shaken.
Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and all the tribes of the earth will mourn. They will see the Son of Man arriving on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.
And he will send his angels with a loud trumpet blast, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.
Matthew 24 cont’d
For just like the days of Noah were, so the coming of the Son of Man will be.
For in those days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day Noah entered the ark.
And they knew nothing until the flood came and took them all away. It will be the same at the coming of the Son of Man.
Matthew 24 cont’d
Then there will be two men in the field; one will be taken and one left.
There will be two women grinding grain with a mill; one will be taken and one left.
“Therefore stay alert, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come.
And he will send his angels with a loud trumpet blast, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.
Day of Judgement
Will Christians be judged?
What of people who love God but never heard of Jesus?
Is there a reward? and for what?
Matthew 25:31–46
1 John 4
Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God,
and whoever loves has been born of God
and knows God.
And we have come to know
and to believe the love that God has in us.
God is love,
and the one who resides in love
resides in God, and God resides in him.
By this love is brought to completion with us,
so that we may have confidence in the day of judgment,
because just as Jesus is, so also are we in this world.
Heaven
Will we have material bodies?
What will we do with our time?
Will married people still be married? male/female?
Will we recognize each other?
The same personalities? (including irritating parts?)
Goal
To answer common questions and give us clarity about what happens between now and the end of the age.
List some common questions
Work through the answers in relevant Scriptures
Focus on the Parable of the Wise and Foolish Virgins
Matthew 25
At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom.
Five of them were foolish, and five were wise.
When the foolish ones took their lamps, they did not take extra olive oil with them.
But the wise ones took flasks of olive oil with their lamps.
When the bridegroom was delayed a long time, they all became drowsy and fell asleep.
But at midnight there was a shout, ‘Look, the bridegroom is here! Come out to meet him.’
Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps.
Matthew 25 cont’d
The foolish ones said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, because our lamps are going out.’
‘No,’ they replied. ‘There won’t be enough for you and for us. Go instead to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.’
But while they had gone to buy it, the bridegroom arrived, and those who were ready went inside with him to the wedding banquet. Then the door was shut.
Later, the other virgins came too, saying, ‘Lord, lord! Let us in!’
But he replied, ‘I tell you the truth, I do not know you!’
Therefore stay alert, because you do not know the day or the hour.
Questions
What is the cultural background?
What does the oil represent?
Who do the foolish virgins represent?
What are we supposed to learn?
The foolish virgins
The foolish virgins had missed the whole point of what their purpose was.
They were joining God’s people outwardly, but had not even thought through why they were there.
They don’t represent Christians, but those who are caught up in the Christian lifestyle but are not actually ready to meet God.
How foolish is that!
Meaning of the Parable
Wisdom is defined by being prepared for the age to come.
So what is wisdom?
“Living as a wise human means being prepared for God’s reign.
Readiness is an attitude, a commitment, and a lifestyle.
It means living in ways that comport with the character of the kindom and being faithful at all times.”
Stories with Intent by Klyne R. Snodgrass, (Eerdmans 2008) p.518
How do we get oil?
Mormon President Spencer W. Kimball:
“In our lives the oil of preparedness is accumulated drop by drop in righteous living. Attendance at sacrament meetings adds oil to our lamps, drop by drop over the years. Fasting, family prayer, home teaching, control of bodily appetites…”
Revelation ends with something very different:
“The Spirit and the Bride say, “Come.” And let the one who hears say, “Come.” And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who desires take the water of life without price…”
He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!