[Donald Ward] The title today: Laodicea and the Olivet Prophecy. A sub-title or perhaps even a more descriptive title would be The Olivet Prophecy – The Antidote (An-tie-dote) – The Antidote for Laodiceanism.

Today is October 28, 2017, and in three days and two months 2017 will be history. Have you slept through the first ten months of this year? The events of the past ten months, and especially the last ten years, have been mind-boggling, to say the least. We've been shocked so many times in so many different ways by a barrage of world changing events that we seem to be inured – hardened – to the realities of the day. And perhaps we're saying, by our actions, “My Lord delays His coming.” The peoples of the world are indeed running to and fro, being tossed about with every wind of doctrine. They try just about every form of escapism that can be imagined, ranging from the occult to atheism. And at this juncture, it seems that the occult is winning. On the one hand, people say that they are concerned about the direction that the whole spectrum of human events is turning, but on the other hand, for the most part, they remain in a state of denial and continue on the hedonistic path of satisfying the lust of the flesh, the pride of the eyes, and pride of life. The preacher man talks about the end of times and the atheists curse God – deny even that He exists.

The words of the apostle Peter are applicable at this time. If you would, turn to 2 Peter, chapter 3 – one of the most sobering passages in the entire Bible – 2 Peter, chapter 3, and verse 1:

2 Peter 3:1-4 – This second epistle, beloved, I now write unto you, in which I stir up your pure minds by way of remembrance, that ye may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us, the apostles of the Lord and Savior. Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, and saying, “Where is the promise of his coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.” All things continue as they were from the beginning. We're just going through another cycle. We have seen during the first seventeen years of the 21st century – hearkening back especially to 9/11 – that all things did not continue as from the beginning. I don't think any of us – I know as I…no telling how many sermons I've given, Bible studies, classes I've taught, as I gave those things in the 70's and the 80's and the 90's – that we would be facing a world like we're facing today. Yet, the prophecies were really there, if we have ears to hear and eyes to see, and we thought we would be, in one sense, way farther down the road than we really are at the present time.

The asymmetrical warfare. Asymmetrical means, obviously, just what it says – that there’s no symmetry in it. There is terrorism here, with people being shot or blown up. And there is cyber warfare. There is economic warfare. There is warfare in so many different ways and so many different directions that this asymmetrical warfare has changed the world. And it's being waged, as I said, on every front and it's changed the world forever.

We're in a different world than we were just a few years ago. The incredibly insidious changes of this century…. Insidious is a word that means more dangerous than it seems. The insidious changes of this century are indeed frightening to consider. As it says in Revelation 12:9 – Revelation 12:9 says that Satan is deceiving the whole world. And while Satan is deceiving the whole world, it seems that Americans have their head buried in the sand, waiting for the next movie to come out, the next ball game to be played, and the next this or that, in which they can escape. They are all ill-informed. They know very little about God, church and family. And when I say they are all ill-informed, that is not true in the absolute sense. There are people who are sober, watchful, wakeful, and they know what's going on. And there are voices crying out, both religiously and secular voices that are crying out. But for the most part you can watch the Watter's World, or some of those kind of things, with people asking school teachers just very simple questions. When was the War Between the States fought? or what was the War Between the States? or just any kind of question in history – and it can even be recent history – and they have no clue.

In Hosea 4:6, it says:

Hosea 4:6 – My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge – and especially, lack of knowledge of God. And even those who profess to know something about the Bible and God  don't really understand the plan and purpose of God.

Who is God? What is God? What is His purpose? The same thing with man. Who is man? What is man? What is his purpose? So we ask ourselves – and I have really been doing soul searching this past year – am I asleep? Are you asleep? Have you slept through ten months of this year?

The parable of the ten virgins draws toward the midnight hour. Today I want us to examine ourselves, and ask ourselves in every facet of our being – spiritually, physically, mentally, emotionally, socially – are we hot or cold? Or are we lukewarm?

Let's go to Revelation 3. Revelation 2 and 3, as you know, contains the messages to the seven churches that were in Asia Minor. They were on a mail route. Some of these were in rather close proximity to the other. Colossi and Laodicea were…there's not a message here to Colossi, per se, but there is an epistle to Colossi. And Paul mentions Colossi. He mentions Laodicea twice in his epistle to the Colossians. In Colossians 2:1 and in Colossians 4:16, he mentions Colossi. But here we have the message to Laodicea, the seventh of the seven churches that are sent these messages – specific messages to them. In Revelation 3, and verse 14:

Revelation 3:14-16 – And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write: These things says the Amen – and with every message to each of the seven churches, you have these characteristics of Jesus –  These things says the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God. Laodicea was built by Antiochus II, and he named it after his wife, Laodice, and so put an “a” on it – Laodicea, from Laodice, the wife of Antiochus II. I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou were cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spew thee out of my mouth. And we will have a lot more to say about Laodicea and Laodiceaism as we go along. But God says, “I would that you were hot or cold.” He doesn't want us to be lukewarm. He said if you are lukewarm, He will spew you out of His mouth. And in times past, before the modern era of m medicine, doctors would give warm water to get people to throw up. So He says He will spew you, or vomit you, out of His mouth.

So are we responding as we should be? Of course God wants us hot. He wants us zealous. He wants us filled with zeal, but He would rather we be even cold than to be lukewarm. Lukewarm sort of gives the indication, “Well, I'm sort of with it. I'm sort of not with it. You know, I could sort of take it or leave it, I'm waiting to see what happens” – that kind of thing. Do we discern the signs of the time? In today's world, the response of the populace does not fit the situation. People tend to fiddle as Rome burns. One reason that people are asleep, they've been so conditioned and desensitized by Satan's agents to the point that evil is called good and good is called evil by educators, politicians, scientists, religious people, psychologists, sociologists. And Isaiah 5 addresses this. “Woe to those who call good evil and evil good.”

Many psychological experiments have been conducted with monkeys and dogs, in which they were taught to distinguish between circles and ellipses. As the differences between circles and ellipses became less and less, they showed signs of distress, and eventually became apathetic and gave up, because they were conditioned by reward – positive or negative reward – and they became confused to the point that they just gave up.

Today the lines between good and evil are becoming more and more difficult for those who have not been taught the true values of right and wrong to discern – to discern between the circles and the ellipses. Society is now to the point that toleration is espoused as the key to peace. Actually, it is the recipe for chaos and confusion. If you don't believe we have chaos and confusion, just listen to the news. Just read the newspaper. Are we going in the right direction? Chaos and confusion is the hallmark of the day, and God is not the author of confusion.

They also conducted similar experiments, in which punishment rewards were administered in no certain order, and the animals became apathetic, and most of them giving up. On television and radio, death and weather and commercials are announced in the same tone and breath. “In downtown Paris today, a bomb exploded in a crowded train depot, killing twelve. We'll be back after this message.” “Today in Los Angeles on a crowded street a lone gunman opened fire on innocent bystanders. Three people were killed. Four others were critically wounded. The temperature in downtown Los Angeles is 99. We will be right back after this message.” Yes, it does get to be 99 in downtown Los Angeles. It was 103 for one of the ball games – World Series – this past week.

So we've been overstimulated, in no certain order, to the point that we're behaving like the dogs and monkeys described in the experiments. When man is bombarded with stimuli that come in no certain order with no certain reward, the result is weird, aberrant behavior. We're having alarm reactions physically – heart attacks, ulcers, hypertension. We're anxious and abnormally frightened. Emotional and psychological breakdowns are epidemic. We're increasingly vacillating, pacing back and forth with little to show for our efforts, expending energy in a state of indecision. “And a double minded person is unstable in all his or her ways.” Some have become apathetic and given up. Suicide is epidemic, especially among those under thirty years of age. Perverted sexual behavior continues to explode – infidelity, perverted forms of sexual behavior, and of course, the LGBT agenda. And it goes on and on.

In addition to Satan, society, and self, there are other reasons that may be even more detrimental to us as we are standing, as you heard in the sermonette, before the judgment seat of Christ on a daily basis. One is not doing what we know to do. In James 4, verse 17, it says:

James 4:17 – To him that knows to do good, and does it not, to him it is a sin. I would say of the sins of “converted people,” that perhaps sins of omission are greater than those of commission. I know in my case, that is the case. Sins of omission – not doing what you should have done at the right time.

Another is: Because sentence is not executed speedily, therefore the sons of men heart is continually set on evil. That's Ecclesiastes 8:11.

Human reasoning – let's turn to this one, instead of just quoting it – Psalms 50, beginning in verse 17. A lot of people make this mistake, and a lot of people who leave the church and sort of become their own arbiter of good and evil, and “try to be good people” somewhat apart from God, begin to think maybe that God is like them – reasons the way they do. But look at this. This addresses that. In Psalm 50, and we’ll start in verse 16:

Psalm 50:16-23 – But unto the wicked God says, “What hast you to do to declare my statutes, or that you should take my covenant in thy mouth? Seeing you hate instruction, and cast my words behind you. When you saw a thief, then you consented with him, and hast been partaker with adulterers. You give your mouth to evil, and your tongue frames deceit. You sit and speak against your brother. You slander your own mother's son. These things hast you done, and I kept silence. You thought that I was altogether such an one as yourself! Ha! He is not! He is not. “Be not deceived. God is not mocked. Whatsoever man sows, that shall he also reap.” And you thought I was altogether such an one as yourself. But I will reprove you, and set them in order before your eyes. Now consider this, you that forget God, lest I tear you in pieces, and there be none to deliver. Whoso offers praise glorifies me: and to him that orders his conduct aright will I shew the salvation of God. So, to get into this frame of mind of, “God is like us” and we can sort of reason around God, is one of the great mistakes that people can make.

Another is “safety in groups” kind of reasoning. Young people, especially,” use this kind of reasoning. “Everybody else is doing it. Everybody else's parents is letting them do it. Why can't I?” Matthew 24:12 says:

Matthew 24:12 – And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.

Another reason is, you get weary, sort of like we read from 2 Peter, chapter 3 – “All things continue as from the beginning.” And then some people – Israel did this with regard to the Tabernacle, as they came into the Promised Land. The Tabernacle was finished in Shiloh. “You know, God is not going to destroy Shiloh for our wickedness. That's where He's placed His presence.” Later when Solomon's temple was built, they said the same thing. Jeremiah came on the scene. He began to cry out, “Repent! Do the things that are right!” And they said, “Oh well, God's not going to do anything. The temple is here.” And he said, “Well, go take a look at Shiloh. See what happened down there.”

In Ecclesiastes 3, Solomon speaks of a time for every purpose under the heaven, but there is never a time to be apathetic and lukewarm.” I would that you were either hot or cold – not lukewarm.”

Now, let's look more at Laodicea. Laodicea literally means “judgment of the people”. Let's describe a little bit about Laodicea. Laodicea was known for the following things. A lot of wealthy Jews had settled in that area. Laodicea served as a banking center for that area. It was said that they were in possession of a lot of gold. They were known for producing a black, shiny wool from which shiny garments were made – or expensive garments. It was known as the seat of the god of medicine, Asclepius. And they're specialty was, they were known for a medicine for the eyes, called Phrygian powder. And from one perspective they were rich and increased with goods. Of course, the more direct application to that for us is, are we saying that we are spiritually rich and increased with goods and in need of nothing? But one essential element necessary for life was missing in Laodicea. Laodicea had no natural water supply of her own. In contrast, Colossi had refreshing cold springs. And in contrast with another place, Hierapolis, which was noted for its hot springs and the medicinal quality of the soothing hot springs to heal various illnesses. But water had to come via a viaduct to Laodicea, and then it was through concrete pipes that it was then brought into the city. And by the time it got to the city, it was lukewarm. As you know, water is symbolic of the Holy Spirit.

So we go back now to Revelation, chapter 3. We left off reading in verse 16, we'll pick up with 17.

Revelation 3:17 – Because thou say, “I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing…. Of course, they had need of the water, which they had to bring in from another place. And that can be applied in both physical and spiritual terms. “Oh, I've heard all of this. I know all of this. I've heard it for fifty years, sixty years, or however many years.” Because thou say, “I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing, and know not that you art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked.” And each one of these has something with regard to the physical and the spiritual. “Know you not that you are wretched, and miserable” – because it says they didn't know. And oftentimes people don't know. And that's why the Bible says, in several places, “Examine yourself.” Poor – “that you are poor.” Well they had a banking center and they had gold. And blind – well, they had a god of medicine – supposedly headquarters there – and they had the famous eye powder. And naked – and they had sheep or goats – I don't know for sure which one it was – that produced the black wool from which they made beautiful garments. But in view of that, because you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked, I counsel you to buy gold tried in the fire.

See when it comes to spiritual things – hold your place there and look at 1 Peter, chapter 1, verse 6 and 7. This is where character…you talk about developing character…we follow what God says to do and He, through His Spirit, the grace of God is shed abroad in our hearts. In 1 Peter 1:6:

1 Peter 1:6-7 – Whereby we greatly rejoice now, though for a season, if need be, we are in heaviness through manifold trials – that the trying of your faith being much more precious than of gold that perishes, though it be tried with fire – you know, it says in 1 Corinthians 3 that every man's work will be tried by fire – of what material he's built of – whether it be wood, hay, stubble or precious stones, precious metals. …be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honor and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ.

So, back in Revelation 3:18:

Revelation 3:18 – I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire. See, you can't buy this on the precious metals market. This is earned, as it were, in the arena of life. You may be rich; and white raiment – oh, you may have and be famous for the black, shiny wool and the garments you make from that, but you need white raiment – that thou may be clothed – that is, clothed spiritually.

Hold your place here and turn forward to Revelation 19. You'll see that the white linen…. In Revelation 19, and verse 8:

Revelation 19:8 – And to her was granted that – that is, the Lamb's wife. And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints. It's not a physical garment. Now back in Revelation 3:

Revelation 3:18-22 – That thou may be rich; and white raiment, that thou may be clothed that the shame of your nakedness – that is spiritual nakedness. See, in Genesis 3, Adam and Eve were naked and were not ashamed. But when they sinned, they tried to cover it up. So nakedness can represent sin. …the shame of your nakedness does not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eye salve. In John, chapter 1, it says – Jesus Christ says – “I am the light of the world.” In Psalm 119, verse105, “Your word is a light unto my path and a lamp unto my feet.” Anoint your eyes with eye salve that you may see – spiritually. As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Be zealous therefore – be on fire! – and repent. Behold, I stand at the door and knock. See, we're going to read from the Olivet Prophecy, at midnight the knock is made on the door. The bridegroom is at the door. Then, if you wait to answer that knock – and of course they did – five wise, five foolish. Five had oil in their lamps. Five did not have enough. Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. To him that overcomes will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne. He that has an ear to hear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.

So we see here, from one perspective, they were rich and increased with goods, but from another perspective, God said, “You are naked, blind, and miserable, and you need these things spiritually.” So where do each one of us stand with regard to the parable of the ten virgins? Do our actions show that we're saying, “My Lord delays His coming?” Or do our actions say, “My lamp is filled with oil?”

So let's turn now to Matthew 24. Laodiceanism – the antidote: the Olivet Prophecy. We have seen some of the antidote already, but let's look at the Olivet Prophecy. Most people look at this just trying to figure out when the end of time is kind of thing. But that's really not the main purpose for the prophecy. The prophecy really begins here in…let's read the last verse of 23 and read into this – in 23:39:

Matthew 23:39 – For I say unto you, “You shall not see me henceforth, till ye shall say, ‘Blessed is he that comes in the name of the Lord.’”

Matthew 24:1-4 – And Jesus went out and departed from the Temple and His disciples came to Him for to show Him the buildings of the Temple. And Jesus said unto them, “See ye not all these things? Verily I say unto you, There shall not be left here one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down. And as he sat upon the mount of ….” So here's really where this prophecy begins. That's why it's called the Olivet Prophecy. And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, “Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the age?” Jesus answered and said unto them, “Take heed that no man deceive you.”

Then He begins to give several signs – that we have heard over and over of these signs. Verse 5 and 6 taken up there with many coming in My name saying that I am the Christ. Verse 7: nation against nation, kingdom against kingdom, famine, pestilence, earthquakes in different places.

V-8 -15– All these things are the beginning of sorrows. Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name's sake. And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another.One of the primary reasons apparently would be to save their own skin, as in the case of when the great persecution came upon the Jews in Nazi Germany, the people would turn in their relatives to save their own skin. And many people have done that through the ages – betraying one another. And many false prophets shall arise, and shall deceive many. This we will talk about a little more. See, one of the great warnings in this whole thing is deception. The deception is going to be so great that if it were possible – and we'll read this in a minute – the very elect would be deceived. And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. That's the 'Everybody else is doing it. Why can't I?' But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved – faithful to the very end. Those who are with Him are called, chosen and faithful. That's in Revelation 17:14, with a picture of Jesus Christ returning. Those with Him are called, chosen, and faithful. This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come. When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet – so the prophecies of Daniel are given validation by Jesus Christ – stand in the holy place, (whoso reads, let him understand.) And perhaps the sign of signs, that you could really see, would be the abomination of desolation. And the forerunner of abomination of desolation was Antiochus Epiphanes, who offered swine's blood on the altar and set up an idol in the temple and desecrated the temple. But there is an end time fulfillment coming of this as well.

So by their actions, many have the idea that the trial will be announced and they will have plenty of time to prepare when it becomes evident that the great trial is near. He or she will know it is time to become zealous – to be hot. “I can be lukewarm until I see certain things. When I see certain things, I am going to really get with it.” When the knock comes at the door at midnight, it will be too late – become zealous or hot – it will be too late then.

Each one us should ask himself, herself, “Am I using my perceived understanding of prophecy to play it as close to the cliff as I dare?” I've seen some people – maybe even sort of sub-consciously – do that. For some sort of hang around the church and sort of stay in contact with it, waiting for the sign. What is the sign? Perhaps the abomination of desolation would be one of the greatest, as I've already mentioned. In other words, some are saying if things get bad enough, I'll be hot and filled with zeal. God says that a Christian must declare himself hot or cold and be all the way with Him. There is no middle ground with God . Scriptures clearly say, “He who is not with Me is against Me.” Scriptures say that “a double minded man is unstable in all his ways. Neither indeed can be.” Or, some think that if they are in attendance with church people, somehow they would sort of glide on in. Whereas, spiritual accountability, as you heard in the sermonette, is individual and specific. And we're all going to be held responsible. I can't stand for you and you can't stand for me. The wedding garment is individual and specific.

Look at Matthew 23 – I mean 22 – just back a page or two, if you want to hold your place here. In Matthew 22, the parable of the wedding garment – where they went out and invited all such to come to the marriage supper. And they came, and there was one there who did not have on a wedding garment. Matthew 22:14. I need to back up to 11:

Matthew 22:11-14 – And when the king came to see the guests, he saw that there was a man that did not have on a wedding garment. And he said unto him, “Friend, how come you came in here not having on a wedding garment?” And he was speechless. 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. For many are called, but few are chosen. Of course, you have most of 2 Peter, chapter 1, taken up with “make your calling an election sure.”

So let's now look at the major themes that run through this Olivet Prophecy. Once again, the two great questions of the prophecy are: What is the sign of Your coming and the end of the age? It seems to me, once again, that the sign – one of the greatest signs – would be the abomination of desolation. And of course, people argue about that – what is it? It says, “When you see the abomination of desolation stand in the Holy Place” – and that word for place literally means a marked off place – “let him who reads understand.”

So in the major themes here – we're going to look at four major themes – and then we're going to come back and summarize things. First of all, we'll look at the warning. The warning that is given is, don't be deceived. We've already read two places. Let's read those again. In Matthew 24, and verse 4:

Matthew 24:4 – And Jesus answered and said unto them, “Take heed that no man deceive you.” In verse 11:

V-11 – And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. Then we drop down to 22:

V-22-24 – And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened. Now there seems to be a difference between for the elect's sake and the elect. Then if any man say unto you, “Lo, here is Christ, or there is Christ,” believe it not. For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders – insomuch that, if it were possible…. See, it's just not by human doings that you are not deceived. …if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect. “The very elect” – the very elect, God keeps them from being deceived. Obviously you have to do your part, but even in doing your part, it reads like there is another dimension to this – that you are so close to God that He also…He is the great Deliverer – God and Christ. So “if it were possible, the very elect would be deceived.”

Because iniquity shall abound the love of many shall wax cold – we read that – Matthew 24;12. Be ready at all times. The warning is given: Be ready at all times. So we look at Matthew 24:36:

Matthew 24:36-39 – But of that day and hour knows no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only. But as the days of Noah were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. For as in the days that were before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ark, and knew not until the flood came, and took them all away. So shall also the coming of the Son of man be. But yet, we are told to cry aloud, to spare not. And even the two witnesses prophesy from Jerusalem for three and a half years. And even we have the messages of the angels that go out described in Revelation chapter 16 and 14 – well, 14. So we see here that you have to be ready. The warning is given to be ready. And this warning to be ready is related to the when. And the when, as we read there, no man knows the day nor hour.

Now continuing with that when, let's look at verse 42. So what do you do in view of that?

V-42-44 – Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord comes. But know this, that if the good man of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered – permitted - his house to be broken up. Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man comes. So you have that warning.

So let's read on down with regard to the warning and the antidote with regard to being ready all the time. Continuing with verse 45:

V-45-51 – Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season? Blessed is that servant, whom his lord, when he comes, shall find so doing. There is never a time to go to sleep. There is never a time to take a rest – a vacation from the vocation that we're called to. …his lord, when He comes, shall find so doing. Verily I say unto you, that he shall make him ruler over all his goods. But and if that evil servant shall say in his heart, “My lord delays his coming” – see, it's in his heart, He says. It's not that he is verbalizing – although some might verbalize. It is through actions. And what are some of these principal actions? And shall begin to smite his fellow servants, and to eat and drink with the drunken. The lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looks not for him, and in an hour that he is not aware of, and shall cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites. There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Then – when? See, this prophecy continues through chapter 25, to the first verse of 26.

Matthew 25:1 – Then – when that is going in – Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom. So the message there, obviously, is to be continually ready. The bridegroom comes when they are all asleep. They , slumbered and slept, as we'll read in a moment. But the wise are ready, even though they are asleep, because they have their lamps filled with oil.

So we continue here in Matthew 25, verse 2:

V-2-10 – 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. So we ask the question upfront. Are we asleep? Have we slept through 2017? Have we slept through the 21st century so far? Seventeen years already gone in the 21st century. And at midnight there was a cry made, “Behold, the bridegroom comes! Go you out to meet him.” See, right now he's standing at the door and knocking, and saying “If any man will open I will come unto him and sup with him.” We read that verse earlier. And at midnight there was a cry made, “Behold, the bridegroom comes! Go you 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.” As we mentioned earlier, actually this oil cannot be bought and sold with money. The Laodiceans had money. But the admonition was go you and buy these things – the things that we've already mentioned. You need white linen – the righteousness of the saints. You need light – the word of God. You need the Spirit of God. You need to become filled with the Holy Spirit. You need to be hot. And then what happens? Verse 10: 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. We just read from Matthew 22, verses 8, 9, 10 and 11. Well actually, we started, I think, in 11 and read through 14. You have to have a garment – a wedding garment.

V-11-13 – 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 comes.

So we see that theme of…so far we've seen the warning, and we've seen the when. The warning centers to a large degree on deception. The when centers largely on you don't know when. And the antidote has been: be you ready, for you know not.

And there is another theme running here – and that is rulership. We have read one of those verses, but we'll read it again. Look at Matthew 24:47 – rulership – reward – rulership. In Matthew 24, verse 47:
Matthew 24:47 – Verily I say unto you, That he shall make him ruler over all his goods.

Then in Matthew 25, and verse 10, with regard to the parable of the talents – we're going to look more closely at the parable of the talents – but here we're looking at rulership. In Matthew 25, and verse 10…is that of the…we have to back up. In verse 10 – reward and rulership:

Matthew 25:10 – 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.

Then in verses 21 and 23 is that of the talents. In verse 21 – I'm sorry, verse 23 – once again, I want to start in 21.

V-21-23 – His lord said unto him, “Well done, you good and faithful servant: you hast been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter you into the joy of your lord.” And then the same thing is repeated when another one came and said that he had had increased. Verse 23: His lord said unto him, “Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter you into the joy of your lord.”

Then in verse 3:

V-37-41 – Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, “Lord, when saw we you hungry and fed you? or thirsty and gave you drink? When saw we you a stranger, and took you in? or naked, and clothed you? Or. when saw we you sick, or in prison, and came unto you?” And the King shall answer and say unto them, “Verily I say unto you, ‘Inasmuch as you have done it unto one of the least of these, my brethren, you have done it unto me.’” Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, “Depart from me, you cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels.

V-44-45 – Then shall they also answer him, saying, “Lord, when saw we thee an hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee?” Then shall he answer them, saying, “Verily I say unto you, ‘Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it unto me.’”

Then going hand in glove with this rulership, the contrast is the punishment. So we go back and pick up punishment in chapter 24 again – back to verse 50.

Matthew 24:50-51 – The lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looks not for him, and in an hour that he is not aware of, And shall cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Then in chapter 25, and verse 11 – those that did not have their lamps filled with oil:

Matthew 25:11-13 – 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 comes.

Then in 25, and verse 41 – of course, we've already read it, but we're talking about the punishment phase now.
Matthew 25:41 – Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, “Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels.”

Now verse 46:

V-46 – And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.

The key and the meaning to the entire prophecy has to do with “who is a faithful and wise servant.” The faithful and wise servant is the one in Matthew 24:46 – the one who is found so doing when He comes. The attitude of attitudes that must be avoided is: how would you fill in the blank? The attitude of attitudes that must be avoided: “my Lord delays His coming.” When people are saying – by their actions – “My Lord delays His coming, and are smiting their fellow servants,” then the Kingdom of God is likened to three parables. When that is happened, it is likened to these three parables, that are applicable at all times, but especially when people begin to say in their heart – maybe not verbally – “My Lord delays His coming.” The parables identify the faithful and wise servant and tell you how to be zealous – on fire – and avoid being lukewarm – also how to maintain an attitude of readiness and the correct response to the stimuli, so you will not grow cold because of iniquity.

First of all, in Matthew 25, the parable of the ten virgins focuses on your spiritual life in relationship with God. How do you keep your lamp full of oil? Obey, ask God, plead with God, pray, study, fast, meditate on God's will, fill your mind with His word. Listen to what is preached and taught. Search the scriptures daily whether these things be true. Do what you know to do. He that does what he knows to do is righteous. That is the opposite of what James says – I mean it is the complement of what James says. “He that knows to do good and does it not, to him it is sin.” On the other hand, if you do what you know to do, then it is counted as righteousness. Hide the word of God in your heart. You must go and buy and sell for yourselves. Lamps are individual and specific. You'll have to go into the arena of life – which we're in now – and fight the good fight of faith. You'll be tried. You'll be tested. No one can do it for you. You must be ready when the announcement is made that the bridegroom is coming. You must not be lukewarm.

The second parable tells us how to use the gifts of the Holy Spirit and talents that God has so graciously given you. It warms my heart, and I know it warms the heart of God and Christ, when they see you sacrificing and using your talents to edify, comfort, and exhort the body of Christ. We see it here Sabbath after Sabbath with special music and other service that is performed from those who labor during the week, various serving opportunities they have to those who prepare food, who serve it – do more than is required – go beyond the call of duty. I read one time, years ago, “Do your duty in all things. You should never seek to do less. You can never do more.” Well really, you can't do more than that which is just outlined, and a lot of people here do that. God has given you whatever you have, both physically and spiritually. You are the steward and you are responsible. Remember the one who buried his talent? Well, the one who buried his talent, he went away into a bad place. When he buried his talent he went into a bad place – verse 30 of Matthew 25.

Matthew 25:30 – And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”

You'll notice in the punishment phase, if you don't have your lamps filled with oil, if you don't use your talents, if you don't serve your brothers, the punishment is the same for all three. You can lose it either way.

So Christ gives us definite signs that would allow one to know what is going to happen just before it happens. But if you wait, if I wait, for the definite sign to occur, there will not be enough time to make preparation that you should have been making all along. So the attitude must continually be that of ready and watching. If a man had known what hour the thief was coming, he would not have allowed it. And the way that you can always know is to always be ready. Right now each one of us has the attitude – and it’s through action – that “my Lord delays His coming,” or you have the attitude that “now is the time for me to be the most diligent I've ever been.” Now is the time, as never before, to be zealous – diligently seeking to grow in grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. We're living in a time that truly tries one's soul, yet you have pretty normal lives – very normal lives by comparison. But you also remember the sighing and crying. But keep in mind the fantastic opportunities that we have – every one of us – the chance to show God that there are still some Josephs left in the land. See, Joseph was given free ride of his master's house. He could have gone to bed with his master's wife and no one would have ever known, except Joseph and God. What would you do if you were in Joseph's shoes? Joseph did not use his freedom as license to sin, which so many so called New Covenant Christians have done. After Joseph passed his test, God blessed Joseph and all his work.

Satan is bombarding society, and man is being over stimulated, and man is not being rewarded according to his works. Sadly, if they were, we would have a lot more in prison than we have. And we lead the world in ratio of prisoners to population – one of our sad statistics. I hope and pray that we'll all wake up – we'll all become zealous. So our response must suit the stimulus. We must call evil evil and good good. “Lift up your voice, cry aloud, spare not.” “Call evil evil, good good.” Proverbs 8:13 says, “the fear of God is to hate evil.” Another verse says, “God is angry with the wicked every day.” “Oh, I'm not going to get mad.” It says God is angry with the wicked every day. “Be you angry and sin not.” Realize that man's nature, as man, does not change. No, we have not moved into the age of enlightened enlightenment in the Godly sense. God's law does not change. The values that were true yesterday and yesteryear are just as true today as ever were. One of our great mottoes in the church and the college: “recapture true values.” God says, “Hold fast that which is good.” “Endure to the end.” “He that endures to the end the same shall be saved.” We didn't read that verse until now – Matthew 24:14. Endure to the end and when Jesus Christ, the righteous judge, shall come He will say to you, “Welldone you good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a few things. I will make you ruler over many things. Enter you into the joy of your Lord.”