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Posts Tagged ‘Matthew 25’

A Look at the Ten Virgins

Posted in Christian Walk, tagged , , , , on April 30, 2024| Leave a Comment »

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Scripture reading: Matthew 25:1-13

Let us look today at the parable of ten virgins from Matthew 25. The ten virgins represent the true Church. They were all well dressed and waiting for the Bridegroom. The one point of difference between the five wise and the five foolish virgins was that the wise had oil in their lamps and oil in their vessels. The foolish only had oil in their lamps, and none in their vessels.

Proverbs 20:27 tells us that “The spirit of man is the lamp of God.” We all know that “oil” in Scripture is symbolic of “the Holy Spirit,” therefore, “oil in the lamp” means “the Spirit of God in man’s spirit.” Symbolically, “vessel” means “soul,” as well as “body.” In the same way, “oil in the vessel” means “the Spirit of God in man’s soul.”

The five wise virgins, therefore, became the Bride of Christ, and at the moment of the union between God and man, the five foolish virgins lost their position. The Scripture declares, however, that they went out and “purchased” oil. What is the price that the wise virgins paid to receive their oil in their souls? The Word says, “They loved not their lives unto the death.” In order that the life or Spirit of God might enter into a person’s soul, that person must first give up his own life to Christ. This is so, because in order to be filled with Christ, one must be emptied of all else.

“But the court which is without the temple leave out, and measure it not; for it is given unto the Gentiles: and the holy city shall they tread under foot forty and two months” (Revelation 11:2).

It is very clear here, that those who are not submitted to the headship of Christ will not be in the class of the Bride, and that is what the Scriptures describe as it refers to the door as being “shut.” The fact, however, that they got oil and were knocking at the door, tells us that they had the Holy Spirit, but that they would be killed for their testimony of Jesus. They represent the Outer Court, which are the “foolish virgins.”

“And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them” (Revelation 13:7).

The rest of the quotation is found in Daniel 7:22, “Until the Ancient of days came, and judgment was given to the saints of the Most High; and the time came that the saints possessed the kingdom.”

The conclusion is that the “foolish virgins” will be saved through death, while the wise will become like Jesus Christ, minister for three and one half years, and then give their lives and be resurrected after three and one half days.

May the Lord richly bless His Word to your hearts.

(Excerpt from The Omega Message, April 1992)

Thought for today: Let us submit to the headship of Christ so that we may be added to the class of the Bride.

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The Third World Crisis

Posted in Time of the End, tagged , , , , , on April 18, 2024| Leave a Comment »

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Scripture reading: Matthew 25:6

At this time we are again two thousand years from the last Crisis from which the coming of Jesus Christ saved the world. Only this time again – evil, the population, and violence are increased out of all proportion. We are at the place now where the arsenals of the nations are so powerful that they could destroy life from the planet. God is holding back the forces of destruction, but very soon they will be unleashed.

The mighty cities of the world are the pride of man. Millions of people live in metropolitan areas, stacked upon each other in tall buildings, so that all the people of the city could not hold in the streets at the same time, neither could all the cars fit into streets at the same time. In the event of a crisis where people would be fleeing to get out of the cities, all the streets would be jammed so that no one would get out, and those who try to get out on foot would be overwhelmed by the crowds. The cities would become a death trap. The large metropolitan areas of the world are destined to become the funeral pyre of millions.

The deck is stacked against humanity. The people, who live in large cities, if they believe this to be the word of God, will begin to seek ways of relocating without panic. Those who do not believe will continue to build their roots in the cities. The time of this occurrence can be delayed, but the “…vision is certain and the interpretation thereof sure.” (Daniel 2:45b)

When God cast the angel Heylel out of the second heaven realm (where he dwelt before he became Satan), the Almighty cut him off from his source of food and energy. God is the source of all life, and nothing can live or move, or have being outside of God. The plight of devils, therefore, was profound; they were starved and weak. Adam, in his fall, changed this situation, and provided a ready source of food for Satan. God had cursed the Devil and said to him, “Dust shall be thy meat.” (Genesis 3:14) This dust is “Adam”, but the question is how do devils feed on humans? God breathed the breath of life into man, and the man became a living soul. The blood of man contains the breath of God, or in other words, the life of man is in his blood. When a man submits to a devil, he loses energy, and when a man’s blood is spilled, it give off life which devils feed upon. This is the reason why so many peculiar accidents occur and why they seem to occur in series. This is why there are so many murders and slayings and wars throughout the earth: Satan and his hosts are feeding upon humanity. Those who walk in the Spirit will have no problem with this, and if you do have a problem, then ask God.

How can we escape then? We must hear from God and obey. The first thing is that we must believe that we are in a time of crisis and that this is the crisis of the end of time; that this is not a time for us to have fun and do our thing, but that we must now find out the will of God for our lives and that of our families. When we know the truth, then God is expecting us to find out what He wants us to do individually and corporately, and ACT. Scripture records that there was a “…cry made, Behold the bridegroom cometh.” (Matthew 25:6) Those that heard the cry arose from their sleep, began to trim their lamps, and went out to meet Him. There must be action after direction. We are guilty of receiving direction and having no appropriate action. Some are guilty of action without direction. May God help us.

Do not say, “We will be in Crisis,” but say, “We are in Crisis.” Unfortunately some of us are still asleep, but thank God the bride is gradually awaking. May God bless this word to our hearts.

(Excerpt from The Omega Message, August 1987)

Thought for today: How can we escape the third world crisis? We must hear from God and obey.

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How to Make God Your Firm Foundation

Posted in Christian Walk, tagged , , on March 26, 2024| Leave a Comment »

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Scripture reading: Psalm 15:5

He That Does Not Put Out His Money to Usury

The question that is being asked is, “Is it putting my money out to usury if I deposit it in a bank and receive interest?”

In Matthew 25:27 in the Parable of the Talents, Jesus said to the servant who buried his talent, “Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received usury.” Here Jesus was giving a parable which must show a true picture of the heavenly position. The word for the exchangers could correctly be translated bankers and the word for usury just means interest.

We can see therefore that the Law properly interpreted would refer to the using of money to oppress others with excessive interest, more than saying you should not put your money into the bank and receive interest.

The letter of the law will bring death, it is the spirit of what God is saying that brings life.

Nor Taketh Reward Against the Innocent

This is actually a Word of God against BRIBERY which is also illegal in the United States.

Exodus 23:8, “And thou shalt take no gift: for the gift blindeth the wise, and perverteth the words of the righteous.”

One does not feel the evil force of a bribe until you become the victim of a bribe. As an officer of the courts I was once involved in a case where a man committed murder and was set free because the jury was bribed. In this case those who receive the bribe became murderers after the fact.

When we apply this to the Spirit, the bribe does not have to be money or for that matter anything material, but if we pervert justice through friendship or love of praise, etc., we become guilty equally with the guilty and partake of his judgment, and nobody escapes the judgments of God, no matter how long it takes.

The Conclusion of Psalm 15

Psalm 15:5c, “He that doeth these things shall never be moved.”

The picture this scripture suggests is that one who lives according to Psalm 15 will have God as a firm foundation and will never be moved by the Mover but will stand when others fall.

(Excerpt from The Omega Message, October 1983)

Thought for today: Let us live by the instructions laid out in Psalm 15 so that we can make God our firm foundation and stand when others fall.

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How Shall We Escape the Judgment?

Posted in Christian Walk, tagged , , , , , on March 11, 2024| Leave a Comment »

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Scripture reading: Ezekiel 9:6

Ezekiel 9:6, “Slay utterly old and young, both maids, and little children, and women: but come not near any man upon whom is the mark; and begin at my sanctuary. Then they began at the ancient men which were before the house.”

The picture of Ezekiel 9 is the same picture of the Ten Virgins in Matthew 25 from another angle. In the dark hour of God’s judgment He will make a difference between sheep and sheep and shepherd and shepherd. While one group is protected and safe with the Lord, the other will be out in the darkness probably sealing their testimonies with their blood. In the verse quoted above, the situation is put in all its rawness and for the person who does not understand the language of God, it would be hard to see in these words a loving and merciful God. In spite of this the explanation is however, that those who are outside of OBEDIENCE to God in the moment of crisis, stand in an indefensible position, and not even God Himself can break His own rules to save them. This is the reason it is written in Revelations 11:2 that the “Outer Court” will be utterly destroyed. THE MARK IN THE FOREHEAD, which in symbolic language means the Mind of Christ in our minds, will be the saving portion in the day of God’s judgment.

Many times the Scripture describes God’s judgment as nothing more than retribution being brought upon man by his own actions, and in some cases the army of the heathen coming against his people who were not able to win because their God had withdrawn from them. Actually, they were not better fighters than the heathen around them, and their victories only came through their obedience to God. It would therefore be natural that when the Lord withdrew from them that the enemy would overcome them, and that would be their punishment for disobedience. NEVERTHELESS IN GOD’S JUDGMENT ON HIS CHURCH there never was utter destruction and there never will be. “God will save her and that right early.” (Psalm 46:5).

The judgments of God are upon us, and there will be a continuous increase of God’s judgment upon the church unto a final cataclysmic end, when the church will be purified:

Malachi 3:3, “And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: And he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the Lord an offering in righteousness.”

It is not all bad news – THE GOOD NEWS FAR OUTWEIGHS the bad. This will produce the greatest revival of righteousness in the earth.

Daniel 12:1, “And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people:  and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that time:  and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book.”

I believe we are living in the time when the Great Accountant of Heaven is making a final balancing of His accounts. Any of our work, which is not motivated by righteousness, will be burnt up as hay, wood, and stubble. Those works, which are ordered and directed by the Holy Spirit, are gold, silver, and precious stones; that is all that matters. Many little Christians shut away in some non-descript corner will be receiving great rewards for their obedience in prayer, while some of the mighty men in the limelight of Christianity will only be saved as if by fire. May the Lord bless you to be among those who God honors at the final summation.

(Excerpt from The Omega Message, June 1982)

Thought for today: Only those works, which are ordered and directed by the Holy Spirit, are gold, silver, and precious stones; that is all that matters.

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Where Judgment Begins

Posted in Christian Walk, tagged , , , , , on March 8, 2024| 1 Comment »

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Scripture reading: I Peter 4:17

The children of God who believe in justice and mercy, must agree that a loving God who is abundant in mercy must judge the children of His household before He judges the world.

I Peter 4:17, “For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?”

God’s judgments take many different forms, some of which include the allowing of His enemies to come against His people to punish them. One of the staunchest laws of God is the law of Sowing and Reaping.

Galatians 6:7, “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.”

Only the Blood of Jesus Christ remits sin, otherwise all sin must be punished. Sometimes we only see the effects on the outward man, and we tend to wonder why would God allow this? But we should never forget that God is righteous and whatsoever is done of God is righteousness.

As an accountant it is very easy for me to understand that there must be a time of reckoning when all the accounts must be balanced. At the end of the business year there is a time of reckoning, but if the business is being liquidated, then all the accounts must be closed at the same time. This concept is the one which the Scripture speaks of in I Peter 4:17.  – The time is come – for what? – for the judgment of the Church.

It is not enough to accept Jesus as Saviour, we should know him as Lord and follow Him. The majority of Christians dwell in the realm of accepting Jesus as Saviour, but following foolish shepherds who are not following the Lord or who follow Him afar off. The present darkness into which the world is entering demands that we follow Jesus the whole way in order to overcome.

Midnight, as mentioned in Matthew 25, is going to separate those who had the work of God done in their souls from those who frustrated the Holy Spirit, not allowing him to do the transformation within the area of the soul. Jesus Christ redeemed our souls by His death, and he came to save our souls. If in the final analysis, we reject the completion of this work in the soul, then the mind and the emotions will remain unregenerated and we will fail to overcome Satan in the power of his strength.

(Excerpt from The Omega Message, June 1982)

Thought for today: It is not enough to accept Jesus as Saviour, we must know Him as Lord and follow Him.

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