The Signs of His Coming –

Behold, the Bridegroom Cometh

And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him. (Matthew 25:6) 10:1)

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Behold

   It is amazing how the Holy Spirit of God works through the entire Bible as an endless thread weaving the tapestry of God’s divine will. The word behold is used many times in the Scriptures, and in some instances, it is capitalized (beyond the beginning of a statement) to enforce the mind of the Spirit on what is to come. The word behold wants us to turn our head and see, turn our hearts and believe, and enjoy the endless teaching of the Spirit of God through the entire declaration of the word of God. This is the only time in the entire Bible that this phrase Behold, the bridegroom cometh is used because this event is stupendous and extremely far-reaching for both Israel and for the Church. Notice, where this is placed, and again, I remind you that this is the only place in Scripture where this phrase is used, and it is in the gospel of Matthew. This is the gospel of the King and of His kingdom: the kingdom and realm of the Lord Jesus Christ. This should get our attention. Let us begin at verse 1 through verse 13.

Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom. (Matthew 25:1)

And five of them were wise, and five were foolish. (Matthew 25:2)

They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them: (Matthew 25:3)

But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. (Matthew 25:4)

While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept. (Matthew 25:5)

And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him. (Matthew 25:6)

Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps.  (Matthew 25:7)

And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out. (Matthew 25:8)

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. (Matthew 25:9)

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. (Matthew 25:10)

Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. (Matthew 25:11)

But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not. (Matthew 25:12)　

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

   There are two phrases in this section of Scripture that ties the Son of God to the earth, or we might say to His second advent, or His second coming. The first one is our key phrase, Behold, the bridegroom cometh, and the second phrase is the Son of man cometh which ends our Scripture portion. Is it a coincidence, or is it the purpose of the Spirit of God that the first phrase, Behold, the bridegroom cometh contains four words, and the number four is related to the earth and its four corners, north, south, east and west? The second phrase has five words, the Son of man cometh, this leads us to the grace that has been shed upon man through the finished work of the Son of God who is the Son of man. It will be the Son of man who comes to deliver Israel. He will come in His full manifestation as this same Jesus who ascended on high to sit at the right hand of the majesty on high.

   In the very beginning of our portion of Scripture we are introduced to the kingdom of heaven. It is an endless far-reaching kingdom. The Lord Jesus Christ is an Eternal King meaning that His kingdom was BEFORE creation, and will last when all creation has been dissolved, and a new heaven and a new earth are formed. Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, [be] honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen. (1^st Timothy 1:17) Everything in heaven (both seen and unseen, and all that is under the rays of the sun, and all of His created beings) is His dominion and under His creatorial power. In heaven, He created the angels, and the beasts; and on earth, He created the beasts, and created Adam and Eve in His own image. This was His delight.

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The First Commandment Broken

   As God looked on His creation, and on the two who He had created, He saw that all was very good. And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, [it was] very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day. (Genesis 1:31) They would dwell in divine surroundings in a garden that God Himself had created for them. This garden contained all the pleasantries to maintain and further their lives. The garden was full of all measure of fruit. And the greatest fruit of all was that God walked with man and personally fed the spirit of man with the spiritual foods of God. There was communion and fellowship with the Creator of all things, and man had nothing to fear, and nothing to bring sorrow into his life. Then man disobeyed and rebelled against his Creator. The first commandment to man was But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.

And  the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: (Genesis 2:16) But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die. (Genesis 2:17)

   It is not only the fruit of the tree, but the rebellion from the heart that took place prior to the fruit of the tree. The prince of darkness (Satan) in an image that apparently delighted both Adam and Eve with a soothing voice, oh, so comforting and calming, hiding the heart of disobedience. Man had viewed and enjoyed all the wonders that God had created for him in the garden and had sublimely experienced communion with his Creator. Within the garden there were neither hills nor valleys, there were no storms of lightning and thunder, there was no burning sun upon their skins, nor freezing cold, but only the cool of the evening. There was no pain, nor sorrow. There were no lies, nor envy. There was light and there was no terrible darkness. I call it the blackness of darkness, you know, that darkness that sends a chill within your bones. However, man (in rebellion) disobeyed God, and listened to the prince of darkness and believed his lie. We know from the gospel of John, Chapter 8, verse 44 that Satan is not only the prince of darkness, but he is the prince of all lies. Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it. For unbelief and rebellion is within his heart, and this is the heart of a murderer from the beginning. Man (in Adam) believed the lie of Satan and gave up all that he had for the darkness of sin and death. Now he would be cast out of his pristine garden into an arid land of thorns and thistles, hills, and valleys under the heat of the sun, and the cold of the night. (The words thorns and thistles are mentioned together only once in the Old Testament in Genesis 3:18, Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field; and only once in the New Testament in Matthew 7:16, Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?) From now on mankind would suffer pain and sorrow, and he would continue to follow the path of the father of lies, the devil.

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God Divides

   When we come to the ten virgins in the gospel of Matthew, we see a division. All ten had been under the influence of the light of life from the Lord. We can compare these ten virgins to the parable of the Sower ((Matthew 13:3; Mark 4:3; Luke 8:5), and this would give us more understanding of the mind and thoughts of all the ten virgins. God elevates these ten virgins for ALL ten had been under the influence of God’s light and truth. They were all outstanding morally for they had not been defiled by man. They, all ten, had kept themselves for the bridegroom, however, five belonged to the bridegroom, and five did not. Five were living in the presence of the Spirit of Christ, and five were living in the spirit of man.  They were all equal in keeping the Law and their obedience to the Law was outstanding, however, five were under grace, and five were under the Law. Five were brought in by the sufferings of Christ, and five were self-righteous, and believed within themselves that they did not need the oil of gladness. And this is very important, for God does not only deal with self-righteous man, but He also deals with self-righteous women. Remember that it was Eve who heard the lie of the serpent first, and she believed the lie, and was divided from her husband, Adam. She (Eve) was not separated in her heart from the bridegroom; however, she, being deceived, passed the evil on to her husband, and he did eat, and sin and death came into the world. After they had partaken of the forbidden knowledge and that which was produced by the tree of good and evil (the fruit) their beings were completely changed. Their desires were different, and now they operated with the desires and intents stimulated by an evil heart. Notice that after they had partaken of the fruit and had brought sin into the world, that the devil did not repeat his lie, Ye shall not surely die. For death had already come for the wages of sin is death; the curtain of blackness descended on their hearts, for now there was no light within them. They both knew that they were naked because the darkness of sin and death had opened their eyes to evil, and the glory of God that had previously surrounded them had departed. The first thing that we see in the Scriptures after our parents sinned was that they could not look on each other. It wasn’t only because they had rebelled against God, but they had rebelled against each other. A third party had corrupted them both, and now they had to cover themselves from each other, and from God. From that moment in time, the rift between women and men would remain as an open wound until time is no more. They covered themselves with fig leaves sown together showing the works of man in his self-righteousness attempting to cover his sins by the things that are cursed. Man trying to hide his sin from God, and not understanding that the eyes of God are a piercing fire that not only SEES man’s sin but knows all the intents and thoughts of man’s evil heart. On man’s part, he wants to hide from God: hide his sin in the treasure chest of sin, his heart of wickedness. No matter what man does, he cannot hide himself from a holy and righteous God who created him.

And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat. (Genesis 3:6)

And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons. (Genesis 3:7)

And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God amongst the trees of the garden. (Genesis 3:8)

And the LORD God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou? (Genesis 3:9)

   In the days of the Lord Jesus, the Pharisees and Sadducees under the same sin and death of Adam LOVED their garments of self-righteousness, and because they had perverted God’s Law and God’s truth, they used their religion, which was not of God, to outwardly display their own self-righteousness through their religious garments; thus, they also covered themselves with fig leaves sewn by sin and because of sin. This is all of mankind trying to elevate himself from sin to righteousness. This is impossible. As Adam and Eve tried to replace the glory of God with the shroud of fig leaves from the earth, they still, however, hid themselves among the trees from the Almighty God. They once had the image of God stamped on them because they were created in His image, but this image was no more. The glory had departed. Icabod was now imprinted on all of mankind. So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. (Genesis 1:27) Both Adam and Eve were well aware that their image had changed from the glory of God to the vile image of sin and death.

   The Son of God was manifested upon the earth in the image of the invisible God. This was Adam’s Creator, and He had to partake of flesh in the similitude of mankind. When in the garden, He found man hiding, and already experiencing the guilt of sin for there was no more life and light of God in them. And truly, when God looked upon them, He was grieved for He knew that in their condition, that they could not remain in the garden with access to the tree of life. Sin must not be allowed to exist in timelessness. They would have to leave, in fact, they would be driven out for they resisted and rebelled in their departure. They did not resist the devil in his lie, but they resisted a righteous God, their Creator. So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life. (Genesis 3:24) And to prevent man from entering back into the garden, the Almighty placed a flaming sword of judgment at the entrance to the garden, and the Cherubims of glory were placed there to prevent man from sneaking back into the garden to partake of the tree of life. God then reveals FIRE, the fire of judgment to the man who had sinned. The flaming sword was not a symbol of love, it was not the fire on the altar when God had offered Himself as a sacrifice for them in love. Now they would behold the flame of judgment against their sin, this was all a prelude to the final judgment of man in the lake of fire where the angels will witness God’s judgment against sin and against sinful man.

And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. (Revelation 20:11)

And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. (Revelation 20:12)

And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. (Revelation 20:13)

And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. (Revelation 20:14)

And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire. (Revelation 20:15)

   This revealing of the sword of judgment was to protect the tree of life. In Matthew Chapter 25, we are dealing with the kingdom of heaven, and with those who are on earth. All ten of these virgins are on the earth waiting for the Lord. Therefore, ALL ten had heard the truth, and they were traveling together in their journey through life, however, five had the oil of gladness not only without, but oil within. The other five had the oil of the earth, the outward life of mere profession, but NO oil within. But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. (Romans 8:9) Five will not enter in because there is no sustaining oil within them. In these ten virgins, we should see the position of the gospel of Matthew; it embraced the kingdom of God IN BOTH heaven and IN earth. Matthew reveals the second advent of the Lord Jesus Christ, His millennial kingdom, and His reign as Lord of lords, and King of kings over the nation of Israel and over the world. This is where heaven will be opened to His throne on earth, as the Son of man, and the angels will be descending and ascending on both the Son of God, the Son of man. And he saith unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Hereafter ye shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man. (John 1:51)

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The Third Day in Prophecy

of the Coming of the Bridegroom for Israel

   In the gospel of John, the second Chapter begins with the marriage in Cana of Galilee. And the third day there was a marriage in Cana of Galilee; and the mother of Jesus was there: (John 2:1) Notice the first four words, And the third day, what does this tell us? A little-known prophecy from the book of Hosea describes a very important day for Israel.

Come, and let us return unto the LORD: for he hath torn, and he will heal us; he hath smitten, and he will bind us up. (Hosea 6:1)

After two days will he revive us : in the third day he will raise us up, and we shall live in his sight. (Hosea 6:2)

Then shall we know, if we follow on to know the LORD: his going forth is prepared as the morning; and he shall come unto us as the rain, as the latter and former rain unto the earth. (Hosea 6:3)

   Now here is a determined time that He, the Lord Jesus Christ, will gather Israel unto Himself. It will be AFTER the second day. It will be in the midst of the THIRD DAY, and once again, He will marry Israel, as a husband, and she (Israel) will be once again be betrothed to her heavenly bridegroom. Let’s compare another Scripture in the book of Hosea.

And in that day will I make a covenant for them with the beasts of the field, and with the fowls of heaven, and with the creeping things of the ground: and I will break the bow and the sword and the battle out of the earth, and will make them to lie down safely. (Hosea 2:18)

And I will betroth thee unto me for ever; yea, I will betroth thee unto me in righteousness, and in judgment, and in lovingkindness, and in mercies.(Hosea 2:19)

I will even betroth thee unto me in faithfulness: and thou shalt know the LORD. (Hosea 2:20)

And it shall come to pass in that day, I will hear, saith the LORD, I will hear the heavens, and they shall hear the earth; (Hosea 2:21)

Turn, O backsliding children, saith the LORD; for I am married unto you: and I will take you one of a city, and two of a family, and I will bring you to Zion: (Jeremiah 3:14)

Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they brake, although I was an husband unto them, saith the LORD: (Jeremiah 31:32)

    This time period in the second manifestation of the Lord Jesus Christ will bring to an end the trials of Israel. She will be in the presence of her King. He will be sitting upon His throne as King of kings, and Lord of lords, and His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom.

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The In-Gathering

to the Bridegroom

   The ten virgins represent those who are waiting for the Lord from heaven in two ways: First, the kingdom of heaven is more than just a throne on a tangible earth. It is the very presence of Him who IS the kingdom of heaven. No other monarch or king has ever held this high position over all of creation, AND OVER ETERNITY. The union of Israel with Christ will be again His desire of the whole earth. Israel will be His people, and He will be their God. There is a similitude of both Israel and the Church, however, they share different realms. Christ will be on the throne of Israel on a tangible earth where He has gathered them in Himself and led them through the fires of persecution and sorrow. There will be a great ingathering of Israel from the four corners of the earth. Secondly, there will be a great ingathering of the Church, or the Body of Christ. These are heavenly people and will be gathered into heaven. This will be the translation of the saints at the end of the Church Age when a remnant out of Laodicea and out of Philadelphia will be called up as overcomers. It will be a great calling caught up to heaven. The Church, or Body of Christ, has never been an earthly people, but we are a heavenly people, and we belong to heavenly people.

Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth. (Revelation 3:10)

Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown. (Revelation 3:11)

Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name. (Revelation 3:12)

He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches. (Revelation 3:13)

   One of the great fallacies that men have created concerning the seven letters to the seven churches is that there are two groups of Christians represented, when the truth is that there is only one group, and they are the overcomers who have overcome the world. This is another division. There are Christians, and then there are those who call themselves Christians who are not. There are those who have the oil of gladness within, and there are those whose lamps are empty.

I write unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I write unto you, young men, because ye have overcome the wicked one. I write unto you, little children, because ye have known the Father. (1^st John 2:13)

I have written unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I have written unto you, young men, because ye are strong, and the word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one. (1^st John 2:14)

Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. (1^st John 2:15)

For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. (1^st John 2:16)

And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever. (1^st John 2:17)

For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. (1^st John 5:14)

  We are the overcomers who have given our lives to the Lord Jesus Christ through faith and have received the grace of God through Jesus Christ. We are the ones who enter into the presence of the Lord, while on the outside of the veil of grace the professing multitude cry out, Lord, Lord. There has always been a great division between light and darkness, between the overcomer and the mere professor. The overcomer has oil in their lamps and is waiting for the Lord to come whether it will be for His millennial kingdom, or the translation of His Church, the Body of Christ.

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The Kingdom of Heaven

of the Bridegroom

   In every great epic of the history of mankind through the divine Scriptures, mankind has failed. MAN failed in the garden. Man failed under the Law of sin and death. Man failed in a new world given to him by God through the covenant of the bow in the sky. MAN failed under Abraham and his descendants, and was led into captivity in Egypt, but God, loving man and being long suffering, led the children of Israel out of Egypt by His servant Moses, and by God’s STRONG RIGHT HAND. The Law, given of God, was to direct man in the path of righteousness, however, it was also there to mirror the heart of man under his sinful condition. As man still could not keep God’s Law, man would also NOT admit to his total depravity and degradation; therefore, mankind because of his enmity against God could not keep the Law. Sin would not let man abide by the Law or by the precepts of sacrifice. Since Adam’s sin mankind has been tied and glued to the earth. All those who profess and do not possess the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ are still tied to the earth. The mere professor doesn’t want to leave for he has seen the things of the earth and loves the things of the earth. Although he has been in the presence of light and those who abide by the presence of light, the professor of Christianity is still behind the veil of darkness for he has not the Spirit of Christ within. He has no oil of gladness. (Romans 8:9) The Law showed mankind all his failures, but the majority of mankind remains blind to all of them. Man, in general, even today, does not see the urgency of eternity because of their condition under sin and death. They block out the good so that they might enjoy the evil and the testimony thereof. Believers not only have the Spirit of God within, but God has sent the glory and the Spirit of Christ into the true believers’ heart. And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. (Galatians 4:6) The Spirit within testifies of Christ. It is the Spirit of God IN Jesus Christ that is within the believer. He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given. (Matthew 13:11) What we need to harvest from this verse is that there is more than one mystery when it comes to the kingdom of heaven. This phrase the kingdom of heaven is only mentioned in the gospel of Matthew. It is not mentioned in the Old Testament, nor in any New Testament book, except for the gospel of Matthew. This phrase is recorded in 32 verses. The first mention is in Matthew 3:2, And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. The last mention is in Matthew 25:14, For [the kingdom of heaven is] as a man travelling into a far country, [who] called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods. Although it is recorded in 32 verses, the kingdom of heaven is mentioned 33 times. The numbers add up. In the first mention in 3:2, the Lord dynamically proclamation the kingdom of heaven is at hand. He was not speaking of a distant place. He was speaking about His own presence in the manifest image of God. The kingdom of heaven had arrived in Jesus Christ our Lord. In the last mention in Matthew 25:14, see how the numbers add up? In the number 2 we have witness, in the number 5 we have grace, a combination of the witness of grace, and in the number 14 we have two sevens’, a double testimony to the perfection of God. For [the kingdom of heaven is] as a man travelling into a far country, [who] called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods. (Matthew 25:14) Do you see the wonder of God’s word? It is that the presence of Christ manifested the kingdom of heaven. He presented to them His very kingdom, they rejected Him, and because of His rejection, He has gone into a far country, or heaven, to be at the right hand of God. Isn’t this nice? What an unfolding of some of the mysteries of God of the mysteries of the kingdom.

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Meeting the Bridegroom

   Let us return to the coming of the Bridegroom. In principle, those in the Body of Christ can embrace His coming. We embrace His coming for the Church in the air at the end of Church history. We embrace His second advent when He comes to unify and reign over Israel as an earthly people, and over the world for they will be in subjection to Israel and their Sovereign which is the Lord Jesus Christ. We, as the children of God, today are waiting for the translation of our bodies when they will be changed, and we will be received by Christ Himself in the midst of the air. We will be complete in our spiritual bodies of eternity. The flesh of Adam will be left behind.

Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. (Romans 8:21)

For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. (Romans 8:22)

And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body. (Romans 8:23)

   When we are translated to be with the Lord, we shall be kept from the hour of temptation which shall come upon the whole world better known as the seven years of tribulation divided into 3 ½ years. The first 3 ½ years will be God’s dealing with mankind upon the earth, and man’s tribulation. The last 3 ½ years, will be the man of sin in power and authority, and the time of Jacob’s trouble when the Jews will be persecuted more than they have ever been before. It will only be because of God’s divine hand that any of Jacob’s descendants will survive. Concerning the translation of the Church, we do have a sure word of prophecy in 1^st Thessalonians, and also in 1^st Corinthians. In 1^st Thessalonians 4:13 -18.

But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. (1^st Thessalonians 4:13)

For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. (1^st Thessalonians 4:14)

For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. (1^st Thessalonians 4:15)

For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: (1^st Thessalonians 4:16)

Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. (1^st Thessalonians 4:17)

Wherefore comfort one another with these words. (1^st Thessalonians 4:18)

   Although these verses are self-explanatory, let us, however, still ease through them. There is going to be a resurrection of the saints who are asleep in Jesus. They will be called first. Then, those who are alive will be caught up together with them, and there in the air (unified together) both the dead and the living we will meet the Lord in the air. There is no door that is opened for us or closed for us for we are caught up IN THE AIR because of the personal possession of Christ within our hearts. Not only will we go to heaven, for we are a heavenly people, but we FOREVER will be with the Lord. The fulfillment of our present condition will be accomplished because God has already translated us into the kingdom of His dear Son. Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: (Colossians 1:13)

   No one can truly understand the work of the Spirit of Christ. Yes, we have some revelations, and these revelations are of the truth. They are revelations of Christ Himself, and those who He possesses, those who are the sheep of His pasture, but being of flesh on earth we can never go past our pay grade.

The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven. (1^st Corinthians 15:47)

As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly. (1^st Corinthians 15:48)

And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly. (1^st Corinthians 15:49)

Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption. (1^st Corinthians 15:50)

Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, (1^st Corinthians 15:51)

In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. (1^st Corinthians 15:52)

For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. (1^st Corinthians 15:53)

So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. (1^st Corinthians 15:54)

O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? (1^st Corinthians 15:55)

The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. (1^st Corinthians 15:56)

But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. (1^st Corinthians 15:57)

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The Bridegroom is the Center of all Revelation

   Yes, we KNOW the great truths or mysteries, but we know them ONLY through the revelation of the Word of God. The mind of the Spirit of Christ gives us understanding of these verses. It is THROUGH salvation and being born of the Spirit that you receive the mind of Christ. Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: (Philippians 2:5) To have the mind of Christ one must be possessed BY Christ. This is not a choice of the believer to have the mind of Christ. It was in the determinate counsels of God that upon salvation you receive the presence of the Spirit of Christ and of the mind of Christ. For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ. (1^st Corinthians 2:16) Having the mind of Christ unravels the mysteries that have been hid from the foundation of the world. Are there other mysteries that are not written in the Word of God? I am sure that there is, and they will be revealed to us AFTER our translation and when we are home with Christ. It could be that we will learn of these mysteries progressively through eternity with Christ. Just as we progressively grow in grace in the faith of the Lord Jesus Christ. Look at all that He has revealed to the children of God over the past two thousand years plus, and yet, there are mysteries in the heavenlies, and mysteries in the Godhead. God will unravel these mysteries, not only on earth, but in heaven as well. I’m still trying to figure out the mystery of Michael Haigh. I have some parts, but not all . . . . well, that’s enough about self. It is Christ who we love and want to know more about. Learning of the Lord Jesus is also progressive. The Lord Himself instructed us to learn of Him. He is the Center of the counsels of God. We see more into God’s will by seeing more of Christ.

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Signs of the Approaching Bridegroom

   The gospel of Matthew is the gospel of the kingdom. It is the gospel specifically to Israel and is finalized by Christ’s kingdom to come. In principle the ten virgins are subject to both Israel and the Church, for both have to have oil in their lamps. The lampstand in the Tabernacle had seven branches. These seven branches speak of the fullness of Christ. The gold that the lampstand was made from (one beaten piece of gold) speaks of the righteousness of Christ, and the fulfillment of that righteousness in His manifestation, His walk upon the earth, and His sacrificial death upon the cross. The oil in the lampstand speaks of the power of the Spirit of God who is over both Israel and the Church. Although we are separated as peoples, we are joined together by the Spirit of grace in Jesus Christ. The future millennial kingdom of Jesus Christ will not only be over Israel, but also over the world and its nations. The Lord will come as lightning from the east, and He will make His physical appearance in His second advent upon the earth. This will be the Lord’s second advent, or second manifestation, as this same Jesus who was caught up to God as documented in the book of Acts Chapter 1, verses 9 -11.

And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight.  (Acts 1:9)

And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; (Acts 1:10)

Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven. (Acts 1:11)

   This same Jesus who ascended on high will yet return. But when? The answer is not with man, but with God. And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power. (Acts 1:7) You see there are still mysteries, and this is one of them. We can discern the skies, “Red sky at night, sailor’s delight, Red sky in the morning, sailors take warning.” When we speak of the Lord’s coming, whether it is for His Church, or for Israel, and the millennial kingdom, we must leave the time and season to God Almighty. He answered and said unto them, When it is evening, ye say, It will be fair weather: for the sky is red. (Matthew 16:2) And in the morning, It will be foul weather to day: for the sky is red and lowring. O ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky; but can ye not discern the signs of the times? (Matthew 16:3) Sure, there are warning signs; however, they must be put in proper perspective. We must always remember that God is long suffering to mankind. The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. (2^nd Peter 3:9)

   Each and every believer is encouraged by Scripture to be looking for the return of the Lord, and the calling home of the Church at any moment in time. Even Paul anticipated the coming of the Lord in his day. So, it is not wrong to look into the pages of Scripture in our anticipation of being caught up to God. In John 1:51, we have angels ascending and descending upon the Son of man, which will take place in His millennial kingdom.

   Chapter 2 of the gospel of John, begins with the third day, and a marriage in Israel, once again, this takes us back to the prophecy of Hosea. And I will betroth thee unto me for ever; yea, I will betroth thee unto me in righteousness, and in judgment, and in lovingkindness, and in mercies. (Hosea 2:19) I will even betroth thee unto me in faithfulness: and thou shalt know the LORD. (Hosea 2:20) God is going to raise up Israel in the midst of the third day. After two days will he revive us: in the third day he will raise us up, and we shall live in his sight. (Hoses 6:2) And be ready against the third day: for the third day the LORD will come down in the sight of all the people upon mount Sinai.(Exodus 19:11)

Then Joshua commanded the officers of the people, saying,  (Joshua 1:10)

Pass through the host, and command the people, saying, Prepare you victuals; for within three days ye shall pass over this Jordan, to go in to possess the land, which the LORD your God giveth you to possess it.(Joshua 1:11)

And it came to pass after three days, that the officers went through the host; (Joshua 3:2)

And they commanded the people, saying, When ye see the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God, and the priests the Levites bearing it, then ye shall remove from your place, and go after it. (Joshua 3:3)

Yet there shall be a space between you and it, about two thousand cubits by measure: come not near unto it, that ye may know the way by which ye must go: for ye have not passed this way heretofore. (Joshua 3:4)

  Christ arose from the dead and from the tomb of darkness on the third day. Can you see a pattern here in God’s plan and purpose? And what about Peter’s declaration in 2^nd Peter 3:8, But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.  Now remember that we are speaking about the Lord’s SECOND advent. On the third day He arose from the dead. Christ revealed Himself to whom? It was to Mary, (although this was not His mother that He encountered in the garden of the tomb, it is however, a connection to her name, a mother in Israel). On the third day as it was prophesied in the book of Hosea, or after two days and in the midst of the third day, He will raise up Israel, and they will live in His sight.

After two days will he revive us: in the third day he will raise us up, and we shall live in his sight.  (Hosea 6:2) Then shall we know, if we follow on to know the LORD: his going forth is prepared as the morning; and he shall come unto us as the rain, as the latter and former rain unto the earth. (Hosea 6:3)

And I will give her her vineyards from thence, and the valley of Achor for a door of hope: and she shall sing there, as in the days of her youth, and as in the day when she came up out of the land of Egypt. (Hosea 2:15)

And it shall be at that day, saith the LORD, that thou shalt call me Ishi; and shalt call me no more Baali. (Hosea 2:16)

For I will take away the names of Baalim out of her mouth, and they shall no more be remembered by their name. (Hosea 2:17)

And in that day will I make a covenant for them with the beasts of the field, and with the fowls of heaven, and with the creeping things of the ground: and I will break the bow and the sword and the battle out of the earth, and will make them to lie down safely. (Hosea 2:18)

And I will betroth thee unto me for ever; yea, I will betroth thee unto me in righteousness, and in judgment, and in lovingkindness, and in mercies. (Hosea 2:19)

I will even betroth thee unto me in faithfulness: and thou shalt know the LORD.(Hosea 2:20)

And it shall come to pass in that day, I will hear, saith the LORD, I will hear the heavens, and they shall hear the earth; (Hosea 2:21)

For the children of Israel shall abide many days without a king, and without a prince, and without a sacrifice, and without an image, and without an ephod, and without teraphim: (Hosea 3:4)  Afterward shall the children of Israel return, and seek the LORD their God, and David their king; and shall fear the LORD and his goodness in the latter days. (Hosea 3:5)　

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The Bridegroom Comes for Israel

The Son of Man Comes for the Church

  In the parable of the ten virgins, we have five who enter in to be with the Lord and five who are rejected. There is also another division or separation that the Lord Jesus spoke of in Matthew, the book of the kingdom.

But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. (Matthew 24:37)

For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, (Matthew 24:38)

And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.  (Matthew 24:39)

Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left. (Matthew 24:40)

Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left. (Matthew 24:41)　

Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come. (Matthew 24:42)

   This event that the Lord spoke of is of Israel, and the second advent. (This is not the translation of the Church, but this is about Israel.) Speaking of Israel and the second advent, there are two working in the field, one is taken, and one is left. This is a principle of the separation of God’s people in Jesus Christ whether in the Church or the millennial kingdom. In fact, this principle goes all the way back to Cain and Abel where we see the children of God in Abel, and the children of the devil in Cain separated by God from each other through a forced exile of Cain. Nevertheless, the Lord supplied another righteous seed in Seth.

   Once again, I will state that we should realize that the Church, the Body of Christ, has a heavenly realm and not an earthly realm. Although we are not angels, we will dwell among them. Our earthly days will be over when we either fall asleep in Jesus or are caught up in the clouds to be with Him, and I like this part: for once we are caught up or raised from the ground, we will ever be WITH the Lord, never to be separated from Him, and always in communion with Him. It is not heaven that we desire, it is not eternity that we look forward to, it is forever dwelling with our Lord and Savior Himself.

Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. (1^st Thessalonians 4:17) Wherefore comfort one another with these words. (1^st Thessalonians 4:18)

   There are no physical signs or road maps in the past history of mankind that would give us the time of our translation, in the air to meet the Lord. If you are of Christ, then the Spirit of Christ must dwell within you, and your anticipation should be waiting for that call by the shout of the archangel, and the blast of the trumpet as we see in1st Thessalonians 4:16, For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: (1^st Thessalonians 4:16) We should realize what important parts the angelic hosts play in the history of mankind. It was the angel of God who announced to Mary that she would conceive and bring forth that holy thing, who would be the Son of God. It was an angel who announced to the shepherds that a Savior was born.

And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. (Luke 2:10) For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. (Luke 2:11)

   We are waiting for that shout. Will it be, “Come up hither” as in Revelation 4:1 when John heard the voice as a trumpet, and then the call came, Come up hither. Could this be a prelude to our call by the voice of the archangel? Remember, it will ONLY be to them who have oil in their lamps, who have the Spirit of Christ within. And they will ever share the oil of gladness in the presence of their Lord. Again, everything that we desire, everything that we are, and ever will be is centered in the Person of Christ for He was anointed with the oil of gladness above all others.

But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom. (Hebrews 1:8) Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.(Hebrews 1:9)

Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: the sceptre of thy kingdom is a right sceptre. (Psalm 45:6) Thou lovest righteousness, and hatest wickedness: therefore God, thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows. (Psalm 45:7)

   These things are all spiritual, they are of the heavenly mind, the mind of Christ and these are the very thoughts of those who are redeemed by the blood of Christ. We need to also consider the Song of Songs by Solomon. The pen of a king listened to the words of God and showed us this wonderful heavenly song. In the Song of Solomon, we can see God’s beloved, Israel, and her love for her bridegroom and betrothed.

Because of the savour of thy good ointments thy name [is as] ointment poured forth, therefore do the virgins love thee. (Song 1:3) To read more of this verse, click HERE.

My beloved spake, and said unto me, Rise up, my love, my fair one, and come away.  (Song 2:10)

Thou [art] all fair, my love; [there is] no spot in thee.  (Song 4:7)

How fair is thy love, my sister, [my] spouse! how much better is thy love than wine! and the smell of thine ointments than all spices!  (Song 4:10)

   We see the bride in anticipation of the bridegroom, we see a love so deep for her beloved that tears flowed from her heart. Oh, that we as the children of God today could lay hold of such love for the One who gave Himself for us and came to earth out of God’s eternal love to redeem us to God by His blood. Let this sink deep into our hearts, and I urge you to read the Song of Solomon with that same intent of heart.

   The book of the Song of Solomon is placed in such a way that it ends the poetic side of God’s heart before the prophetic writings begin. It is placed as a book of communion with God, and the Bride waiting and anticipating being under His banner of love for ever. It is not just writing for the mind. It is a book of the heart. And the heart must have the Spirit of Christ within to see the glories and the mysteries that are hid within this song. Read it, meditate over it, and pray that God would reveal its mysteries to your heart. And remember we are the heavenly side, we are the ones who will be caught up to God, whether we sleep in Jesus, or are alive, we will all hear that voice, Come up hither.

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The Bridegroom – Light and Life

   In the world that we dwell in it is truly hard to hear the Spirit’s voice in spiritual things. We live in a world FULL of Satan’s chatter. He clutters all communication with his voice of deception and evil. Satan has his own world. It is a false spiritual world. He uses it to fog the minds of men with the evils of this satanic world. He is the prince of darkness, and there is NO light in him, he is the prince of this world, and he is joined to Adam and Adam’s sin. Yes, this is that old serpent, the devil.

Hereafter I will not talk much with you: for the prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in me. (John 14:30)

And said, O full of all subtilty and all mischief, thou child of the devil, thou enemy of all righteousness, wilt thou not cease to pervert the right ways of the Lord? (Acts 13:10)

   Darkness has power over mankind because Satan, his fallen angels, and mankind have one common thread, and this is sin. God calls Satan or Lucifer, a sinner in 1^st John 3:8. He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil. This would explain the spiritual death of Adam at the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Remember that when Satan and his angels sinned in the heaven’s Satan LOST his glory and was CAST OUT. When Adam embraced sin, and the lie of the serpent, Adam LOST his glory and became sinful flesh, and the glory of God departed. The Bible declares that the Lord Jesus came in the LIKENESS of sinful flesh, NOT sinful flesh, but a similitude of sinful flesh to redeem mankind OUT of sinful flesh and to redeem them onto God where the final outcome when they are home with the Lord, will be a return of that glory which Adam lost at the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Christ will restore THAT glory and we will be like Him. This is why we are a different race. We are born of God THROUGH Jesus Christ to be changed into His image, and His glory will surround us, and we will be like Him.

Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. (1st John 3:1)

Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.  (1st John 3:2)

And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure. (1st John 3:3)

   The angels who rebelled with Lucifer in the book of Isaiah, Chapter 14 were cast down to hell, and they were shackled with chains . . . . ALL of them. Not one escaped. For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment; (2^nd Peter 2:4) This is an enlightening verse. In 1^st John 3:8 Lucifer, the devil, is called a sinner. In 2^nd Peter 2:4, his angels are also called sinners in that they have sinned. This explains the rebellion of Lucifer in Isaiah 14, and in Ezekiel Chapter 28 verses 11 – 19.

Moreover the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, (Ezekiel 28:11)

Son of man, take up a lamentation upon the king of Tyrus, and say unto him, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Thou sealest up the sum, full of wisdom, and perfect in beauty. (Ezekiel 28:12)

Thou hast been in Eden the garden of God; every precious stone was thy covering, the sardius, topaz, and the diamond, the beryl, the onyx, and the jasper, the sapphire, the emerald, and the carbuncle, and gold: the workmanship of thy tabrets and of thy pipes was prepared in thee in the day that thou wast created. (Ezekiel 28:13)

Thou art the anointed cherub that covereth; and I have set thee so: thou wast upon the holy mountain of God; thou hast walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire. (Ezekiel 28:14)

Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee. (Ezekiel 28:15)

By the multitude of thy merchandise they have filled the midst of thee with violence, and thou hast sinned: therefore I will cast thee as profane out of the mountain of God: and I will destroy thee, O covering cherub, from the midst of the stones of fire. (Ezekiel 28:16)

Thine heart was lifted up because of thy beauty, thou hast corrupted thy wisdom by reason of thy brightness: I will cast thee to the ground, I will lay thee before kings, that they may behold thee. (Ezekiel 28:17)

Thou hast defiled thy sanctuaries by the multitude of thine iniquities, by the iniquity of thy traffick; therefore will I bring forth a fire from the midst of thee, it shall devour thee, and I will bring thee to ashes upon the earth in the sight of all them that behold thee. (Ezekiel 28:18)

All they that know thee among the people shall be astonished at thee: thou shalt be a terror, and never shalt thou be any more. (Ezekiel 28:19)

  It does not take long to see the flow of sin, and the result of sin from Lucifer to the angels; from Lucifer to mankind, all is centered around the lie of Satan, and we know from John 8:44 that Satan is a liar from the beginning. Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it. (John 8:44)

   This lie of Satan (ye shall be as gods) took hold of Adam’s heart, and from Adam has spread through all of mankind. In Genesis Chapter 3, we have a lie in two parts: First, ye shall not surely die. We know that this is a lie because all men from Adam have passed into death, except two: Enoch and Elijah, who were both prophets of God. The second part of the lie of Satan was that man shall be as gods. And this is in the heart of every man born of Adam. The proof of this can be found in the first part of Ezekiel Chapter 28, what is so special about Ezekiel Chapter 28 is that the Lord gave a direct revelation to the prophet Ezekiel. This revelation begins with these words in verse 1, The word of the LORD came again unto me, saying. Notice the word saying, God spoke DIRECTLY to Ezekiel, and he wrote EXACTLY what God had said. This was NOT verbal inspiration. It WAS DIRECT COMMUNICATION from the Almighty God. God spoke and His servant wrote. So, what is so important in this particular Chapter? We are introduced to the prince of Tyrus, and we are to notice the impact of the lie of Satan (in verse 2) that is related to us THROUGH this prince of Tyrus. Son of man, say unto the prince of Tyrus, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Because thine heart is lifted up, and thou hast said, I am a God, I sit in the seat of God, in the midst of the seas; yet thou art a man, and not God, though thou set thine heart as the heart of God:

   What do we see in the prince of Tyrus? He is infatuated with himself, and with his own personality. It is man believing the lie of Satan because the same sin of Satan dwells within man; consequently, nothing is beyond the evil imagination of mankind.  And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.(Genesis 6:5)

   The words in Ezekiel speak for themselves, this man elevated himself as being God, as sitting in the seat of God, and yet he is but a man, and NOT God. How many times since Ezekiel wrote these words from the mouth of God has man repeated the same old lies and sin of Satan? God shows us the center where all this evil comes from, God declared Because thine heart is lifted up, and thou hast said, I am a God, I sit in the seat of God, in the midst of the seas (nations). In verse 6 of Ezekiel Chapter 28, the prince of Tyrus is so deceived by sin that he believes in his heart that he is God. Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Because thou hast set thine heart as the heart of God; This belief brings forth the wrath of God, for God is a jealous God, and He will dethrone any of His created beings who attempt to lift themselves above Him or declare that they are equal with Him. For thou shalt worship no other god: for the LORD, whose name [is] Jealous, [is] a jealous God: (Exodus 34:14)

Behold, therefore I will bring strangers upon thee, the terrible of the nations: and they shall draw their swords against the beauty of thy wisdom, and they shall defile thy brightness. (Ezekiel 28:7)

They shall bring thee down to the pit, and thou shalt die the deaths of them that are slain in the midst of the seas. (Ezekiel 28:8)

Wilt thou yet say before him that slayeth thee, I am God? but thou shalt be a man, and no God, in the hand of him that slayeth thee. (Ezekiel 28:9)

Thou shalt die the deaths of the uncircumcised by the hand of strangers: for I have spoken it, saith the Lord GOD. (Ezekiel 28:10)

  The Lord wants us to see how profound these verses are, and His communication to the sons of man. Verse 10 ends with the authority of the word of God confirming these are the very words that God has spoken. Thou shalt die the deaths of the uncircumcised by the hand of strangers: for I have spoken it, saith the Lord GOD. This small section of Scripture reveals the lie of Satan is within every man. Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned: (Romans 5:12)

  Not only has God spoken, but He reaffirms that HE and ONLY HE is the Lord GOD. This would also coincide with the declaration of the Lord Jesus Christ that He is both Lord and God. Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works. (John 14:10) Believe me that I [am] in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works’ sake. (John 14:11) In the gospel of John, Christ continually used the I AM of the burning bush. Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am. (John 8:58) When those in John Chapter 8 heard these words they knew that He said that He was God. And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you. (Exodus 3:14) The words of the Lord Jesus Christ were clear to those who heard Him; that is why they sought to kill Him.

Therefore the Jews sought the more to kill him, because he not only had broken the sabbath, but said also that God was his Father, making himself equal with God. (John 5:18)

The Jews answered him, We have a law, and by our law he ought to die, because he made himself the Son of God. (John 19:7)

   The word simply stating that I AM THAT I AM is incomprehensible to mankind. Why? Because mankind is under the Law of sin and death, and the thoughts of their minds are impure, and their imagination is the imagination of sin. If you do not believe this then look at some of the movies that Hollywood and the ‘entertainment’ world produces, and add to this, the video games of the enchanted world and evil kingdoms and you will find the twisted imagination of mankind.

   Not only does Ezekiel Chapter 28 refer to the prince of Tyrus, but as we see later in this same Chapter, it also refers to the anointed cherub who walked in the garden of God. Now why is this important in dealing with the parable of the ten virgins? First, there are two groups: one with oil in their lamps, or the light of life in Jesus Christ, for in him was life; and the life was the light of men. (John 1:4) The manifestation of the Lord Jesus Christ was a manifestation of separation. He came to separate a people, a race unto Himself, born not of flesh and blood, but of the Spirit of God. In the realm of Adam (mankind), Adam had both light and life BEFORE his encounter with Satan. They met at a convenient spot, at the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. When Adam partook of the fruit of the tree, the light of life went out because he believed the lie of Satan (the serpent) who was full of guile. Satan had lost his war of rebellion against God; he was not just wandering through the garden, he was hunting the man called Adam because God had made Adam the Federal Head over all the created beings, or animals, in the garden, and I presume in the world. The lie that Satan perpetrated has traveled throughout history. The manifestation of the Lord Jesus Christ was not only to destroy death, but to destroy the lie of the devil, ye shall be as gods. Those who believe on the Lord Jesus Christ have both light and life; yet not all will lay hold of the truth because of the lies of Satan. Satan and his satanic world are in league with mankind against all that is of God. Have you ever heard this one from the prince of darkness? Why would a God of love cast anyone into hell, or in the end, in the lake of fire? The answer to this sad demented question came at a place called Calvary on a cross where man in his iniquity and evil heart crucified the Prince of Life. Man is so twisted within his satanical being that he chose death in Barabbas, who was a thief and a murderer, rather than the Prince of Life. The only conclusion that I can see is that man would rather have hell and the lake of fire then eternal life in Jesus Christ our Lord. God did not reject man at the cross, in fact, He ushered the thief into paradise in a moment of time. You see, God did not reject man. Man rejected God; therefore, since man rejects God, they exchange life for sin, death, hell, and the lake of fire. In the ministry of Christ to the Jews and to the Samaritans, they all heard the words of life, light and truth because they were in the very presence of both grace and truth. For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ. (John 1:17)

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The Bridegroom — The Christ

   Let us cull humanity down to ten virgins. Five had the light and believed, and they had enough light and life for their lamps were FULL of oil. The five virgins that were rejected by God had heard the Light, and at the moment that they were called, however, they did not have light for their lamps went out. There was no spiritual life in their hearts concerning the things of God. They were simply religionists following the path of man that leads to destruction and not to glory. Without the oil, the light went out, they were still in darkness so they could not enter in, and the door was shut. In the parable of the sower, we have the same principle given in many applications. The sower went out to sow, and some seeds fell by the wayside, and the fowls of the air devoured them up. And he spake many things unto them in parables, saying, Behold, a sower went forth to sow; (Matthew 13:3) The Lord confirms verse 3 in verse 19 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.

And he spake many things unto them in parables, saying, Behold, a sower went forth to sow; (Matthew 13:3)

And when he sowed, some seeds fell by the way side, and the fowls came and devoured them up: (Matthew 13:4)

Some fell upon stony places, where they had not much earth: and forthwith they sprung up, because they had no deepness of earth: (Matthew 13:5)

And when the sun was up, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away.  (Matthew 13:6)

And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprung up, and choked them: (Matthew 13:7)

But other fell into good ground, and brought forth fruit, some an hundredfold, some sixtyfold, some thirtyfold.  (Matthew 13:8)

    This is the first application of the word of God in the heart of man. This is one of the mysteries of the kingdom, for some of the seed fell on stony ground. This was a place with no nourishment of the word of God. The heart was already hard, but nevertheless, the seed sprang up; yet, because of the condition of the ground being the evil heart, the seed could not maintain life. The answer to this is that without the Spirit of life IN Christ Jesus, there can be no new birth, no everlasting life with God, and no entering into heaven above. The Lord answered this in verses 20 and 21.

But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it; (Matthew 13:20)

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. (Matthew 13:21)

   The next handful of seeds fell into a nest of thorns and thistles, the exact land that Adam was driven into a land of thorns and thistles. Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field; (Genesis 3:18) Now when the seed sprung up, the thorns and thistles of this world strangled the tender plants, they choked all spiritual life, and the outcome was Cain. The one flourishing plant that managed to rise up THROUGH the thorns and THROUGH the thistles (this one seed that God had provided) was Abel, but darkness in Cain could not stand the light, so Cain killed his brother Abel. But this did not end Abel’s testimony, for Abel’s blood still cries out from the ground along with all the righteous prophets who man has killed. And I say this . . . . bringing this up to our time in the history of man; sleep on little children, for the Judge of the whole earth hears your cries. At this very hour, the great God and Savior Jesus Christ is preparing the end judgment upon all of mankind for their murders and lies. 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. (Matthew 13:22) The Lord shows us that a man has to make a choice to follow the evils of the world under Satan’s control with its ruin, or to follow the Lord and cast off the world and its ungodly riches.

  Now we come to the five virgins who had oil in their lamps, and went out to meet the Lord, and went IN and the door was shut. 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 13:23) Now do you see line upon line, and precept upon precept, here a little, there a little that the word of God is a WHOLE, don’t try to divide it. The word of God is like gigantic tapestry woven with the threads of truth from the mind of God. One must possess the Spirit of Christ to have the mind of Christ, and one must possess the oil of gladness in the Spirit of Christ to enter in, and to possess Christ is to be possessed BY Him. We are His, and He is mine; the five virgins without oil did not understand this possession. They turned and went out to buy because they had no oil. How could this be? They had faithfully listened every Sunday to the barkers crying, Here is Christ, This is Christ. Because there are so many different brands of Christ, what did those without oil buy? These barkers are not giving the gospel freely, in many cases there is no gospel at all, it is the worship of mankind and not God. These voices of the devil are selling snake oil, and not the oil of gladness. There is only one place to get the oil of gladness, and that is from the throne of God IN the Lord Jesus Christ. I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. (Galatians 2:20)

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The Power of the Bridegroom

   Through the word of God, the Almighty uses progression as well as will and purpose. Often in the Scriptures a chapter will end as a prelude to the next chapter. Chapter 3 in the book of the Revelation of Jesus Christ ends with the Church in ruin. God is speaking NOT to the Church as a collective gathering, but to the individual member of His body. 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. (Revelation 3:20)

  It is the overcomer of the world who enters into the joy of the Lord, and will hear the words, Well done, good and faithful servant. Chapter 3 ends with the overcomer on earth. Chapter 4 begins with the overcomer caught up to heaven (in the person of John). After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up hither, and I will shew thee things which must be hereafter. (Revelation 4:1) And immediately I was in the spirit: and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and one sat on the throne. (Revelation 4:2)

   Verse 21 of Revelation 3 presents the overcomer to overcome the world, and the Lord said, To him that overcometh 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. John had overcome the world. He was banished to the isle of Patmos for the testimony of Jesus and the word of God. John KNEW in his heart that the world would pass away, but he that does the will of God will abide forever and will never pass away.

   In Revelation Chapter 4 there is a door open in heaven, this again, takes us back to the ten virgins. Five were good and faithful servants, and they entered into the joy of the Lord. Five were not faithful for they had no oil within, and they went away to buy of the world. Now, you can buy friends, you can buy position, and if you are wealthy enough you can buy a country. But you cannot buy God. All ten virgins were in the world, however, only five of these belonged to the Lord Jesus because they were not of this world. The world had no place in their hearts, and they were glad and rejoicing to hear that the bridegroom cometh. For they were watching in anticipation. Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh. (Matthew 25:13) The translation of the body of Christ from the earth does not have a time nor date. So, any type of interpretation or proclamation of a date and time is not up to man for only God the Father in heaven knows the time and the date. However, just as the skies are red in the morning, and the sailors are to take warning, there are warning signs in our day that the hour of departure is close. We know that the masses of society feel that they are bigger and better than God. The politicians of this world are strutting around as if they were gods, and brazenly use their power over life and death. This is the age that we live in. They want to manifest their power in the command over life and death deciding who lives and who dies. This is because of the mind set of Satan. Scripture declares they lie and do not the truth for there is no truth in them. The medical profession has been drifting that way for years, the oath that they take to do no harm means nothing in the abortion clinic, nor in what medication you are allowed to have. Even secular insurance programs take power in determining who lives and who dies. There is a movement and a belief that was first verbalized in the early 50’s by the English monarchy; it was the reduction of world population, not by natural means, but boosted and accomplished by the state. This program is currently in effect in a multitude of governments. Under the deception of lies, governments have been working in specific countries to diminish populations by any means necessary. One can receive a shot of sterilization, or through the rogue armed salesmen, tribes can be armed to fight and slaughter each other. There are medical organizations that full heartedly believe and are helping this system of world depopulation whether it is the heads of the political world, or the financial world, or the medical world, or the scientific world, they are determined to snuff out life from millions to complete their vendetta against their fellow men. What’s interesting is that they do this with a smile. But what is behind that smile? It is the works of the devil. And this is our world today. As it was in the days of Noe, these days are upon us with all moral decay. Just as in the days of Noah, the preacher of righteousness is needed today. I am sure that in the darkest hour of the history of man, God still works through His servants. Many today refer to the Age of Elijah in song and in thought. The Age of Elijah was an age of ruin under Ahab and Jezebel. Ahab did more to provoke the Lord then all the king’s prior, and it is written that Jezebel, a Zidonian princess and worshiper of Baal, stirred up Ahab even more. It is quite evident that Elijah was a solitude man because every time that we see him (through Scripture) he is by himself, standing strong for the Lord, as a loner in this world. This was good . . . for he found his place with God and with God’s will. When you are singing, The Days of Elijah, know something about those days. This prophet of the Lord, this prophet of solitude, took a sword against 450 priests and prophets of Baal and caused their blood to flow in Samaria. As Moses, Elijah had to be taught the way of God in the wilderness. Elijah had to learn solitude by the brook Cherith, and when the water of life from this brook ceased, he moved out of the country of Israel, to Zidon. Arise, get thee to Zarephath, which belongeth to Zidon, and dwell there: behold, I have commanded a widow woman there to sustain thee. (1^st Kings 17:9) In the days of this widow of Zarephath there were no insurance programs, no welfare systems, and in many cases a widow was looked down on. This must have been a strange command to the prophet of solitude. And why shouldn’t it be the same today? We need to THINK about the words of the Spirit of God to the apostle Paul.

But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God. (1^st Corinthians 1:24)

Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men. (1^st Corinthians 1:25)

For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: (1^st Corinthians 1:26)

But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; (1^st Corinthians 1:27)

And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: (1^st Corinthians 1:28)

That no flesh should glory in his presence. (1^st Corinthians 1:29)

But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: (1^st Corinthians 1:30)

That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord. (1^st Corinthians 1:31)

  Elijah knew something about the power of God due to his fervent prayers, Israel (the ten tribes) was in a period of extreme draught that lasted 3 ½ years. 

Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months. (James 5:17) And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit.(James 5:18)

  Elijah neither had the strength of a tangible mighty army, nor any political credentials, and even his genealogy is unknown, and the name of the widow of Zarephath is also unknown to us; yet, behind the scenes the POWER of God is seen and known. All that happened to Elijah and to the widow of Zarephath happened by the POWER of God. It was the power of God that shut the heavens, and it was the POWER of God that maintained and fed His prophet and the widow of Zarepthath. There is no other place to be found then the place of weakness for the servant of God. Moses, although he was a prince in Egypt, was driven into the wilderness to learn his own weakness, and to learn and KNOW the POWER of God. Elijah was like minded. As Moses was called for a specific task, Elijah was also called by the word of God and by His POWER. Listen to what Paul said about his task, as he spoke to the Corinthians.

Since ye seek a proof of Christ speaking in me, which to you-ward is not weak, but is mighty in you. (2^nd Corinthians 13:3)

For though he was crucified through weakness, yet he liveth by the power of God. For we also are weak in him, but we shall live with him by the power of God toward you.  (2^nd Corinthians 13:4)

   Do you see the position of weakness? That none of us has the power within ourselves, it must come from above. Even the Lord Jesus was crucified in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin condemned sin in the flesh. Through the weakness of the cross, He rose again in the POWER of an endless life because He (though crucified in weakness) lives by the POWER of God.

   During Elijah’s time spent at the brook Cherith, and while he was with the widow of Zarephath, King Ahab (with all his hosts) continued seeking to find him, to capture him, and most probably kill him. But what can one man do to stand against evil? Ask Abel. Ask Enoch. Ask Noah. Ask Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Ask Moses. Ask Joshua. Ask a host of the judges, as Gideon and Shamgar. Ask Samuel, or David, or all the prophets. They all had their solitude at certain times in their lives with God Himself. They moved and did the will of God according to God’s POWER in them. When Elijah returned back into the land from Zarephath, he gathered all of Israel to mount Carmel. This was some meeting. Here was one prophet of God among a massive religious gathering to worship Baal. (Jezebel was absolutely furious and wanted the head of Elijah.) The apostate crowd that gathered at Carmel were not friends of Elijah, but they who had sided with Baal. And if this was not enough, the King and his elite guards were also present. The King probably had orders from Jezebel to bring the head of Elijah to her. Most likely all of Israel (Samaria) blamed Elijah for the draught that had all of them in peril. When you have exhausted your cattle, and then eaten the horses and mules because of the earnest prayer of one man, it could very well upset the people, and most likely they all wanted the blood of Elijah. There were many prophets and priests surrounding the altar of Baal, this was a location that Baal took over after the altar of the Lord was torn down. Most likely, on a yearly basis there had been a repetition of the priests of Baal offering sacrifices on this very altar. However, Elijah did not build this altar, he renewed this altar that had been previously sanctified by the Lord. I don’t know who built the altar, it could have been Abraham, Isaac or Jacob. It could have been Joshua, or even Samuel; nevertheless, it had been torn down by God’s enemies. That is what the enemies of God are known for: destroying the things of God. The Baalists: the religious system of that age, is the same system of our day. Religion does not glorify God, in fact, it works hard in the darkness behind the scenes to discredit the Almighty God, and to replace the power of God with the power of man.

   The altar of God in symbol (as the ruined altar at Carmel) has been torn down over the past two thousand years by the false priests and prophets of the religious and denominational systems of this world. Elijah knew that all ten tribes had given themselves over to the worship of Baal; nevertheless, Elijah lived by this theme: if it is new, it isn’t true; and if it is true, then it isn’t new. The old path has not changed. The path of the prophet of yesterday is the same path of God’s servants today.

  Elijah took the twelve stones (one for every tribe of Israel; thus, all twelve sons of Jacob were represented) then he hewed the wood, and hewed the offering, then a ditch was dug around the altar and filled with water (although there was a drought). But that was not all. Elijah doused the sacrifice with water so that it would be impossible for it to burn. What faith in the Almighty God. God answered His humble, yet tenacious servant. All things must be done according to the time and purpose of God because at the exact moment that God acted and sent His fire to consume the sacrifice on the altar at Carmel was the exact time that the evening sacrifice was being offered in Jerusalem. At that exact moment, when the offering was placed on the brazen altar in Jerusalem, fire came down from above and consumed the offering, consumed the wood, consumed the stones, and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench.

And Elijah said unto all the people, Come near unto me. And all the people came near unto him. And he repaired the altar of the LORD that was broken down. (1^st King 18:30)

And Elijah took twelve stones, according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Jacob, unto whom the word of the LORD came, saying, Israel shall be thy name: (1^st King 18:31)

And with the stones he built an altar in the name of the LORD: and he made a trench about the altar, as great as would contain two measures of seed. (1^st King 18:32)

And he put the wood in order, and cut the bullock in pieces, and laid him on the wood, and said, Fill four barrels with water, and pour it on the burnt sacrifice, and on the wood. (1^st King 18:33)

And he said, Do it the second time. And they did it the second time. And he said, Do it the third time. And they did it the third time. (1^st King 18:34)

And the water ran round about the altar; and he filled the trench also with water. (1^st King 18:35)

And it came to pass at the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, that Elijah the prophet came near, and said, LORD God of Abraham, Isaac, and of Israel, let it be known this day that thou art God in Israel, and that I am thy servant, and that I have done all these things at thy word. (1^st King 18:36)

Hear me, O LORD, hear me, that this people may know that thou art the LORD God, and that thou hast turned their heart back again. (1^st King 18:37)

Then the fire of the LORD fell, and consumed the burnt sacrifice, and the wood, and the stones, and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench. (1^st King 18:38)

And when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces: and they said, The LORD, he is the God; the LORD, he is the God. (1^st King 18:39)

And Elijah said unto them, Take the prophets of Baal; let not one of them escape. And they took them: and Elijah brought them down to the brook Kishon, and slew them there. (1^st King 18:40)

   How does this relate to the days in which we live? Well . . . over the last hundred years, there has been a great falling away from spiritual truths. Mankind has been exalting himself in every way. Through his technology, science, education, even his sports and entertainment has exalted mankind to a point that many believe that they are as God. While man has been achieving great wonders, God is being pushed further and further away from man and from his thoughts. They have fallen away from the truth. It is quite evident, even in their religious vocabulary, they claim to be of the New Age of biblical truth and biblical knowledge: and a New Age of Christianity. The more they claim their progressiveness in Christianity, the less is seen of the Lord Jesus Christ. He is only a shadow in their evil imaginations. They use His name for their gain but refuse to walk with Him and to be seen with Him. This is nothing more than the Old Age of Sin masquerading as a New Age of Enlightenment.

   The Pharisees called Him the carpenter’s son, and this same pharisaical heart dwells among us with the same denial of the truth. What does religion teach us? Religion, in the eyes of man, is to substitute the truth of God with the truth of man. We get this with Cain and Abel. Abel sacrificed according to the purpose of God. He offered a SIN OFFERING from his herds. Cain, being of the religious mind, offered the works of his own hands in rebellion against God’s truth. With Abel there could only be one sacrifice, the one who was sanctified by God; however, Cain was not interested in what God thought or God’s truth, or what God wanted. Cain was interested in pleasing himself and making his pathway easier then what God had purposed. Cain wanted to make all the decisions, and to tell God how it should be; consequently, God told Cain that sin lieth at the door.

   Religion brought denominationalism. What is the root of denominationalism? It is many men (like Cain) who cannot agree with God and cannot agree with each other. Each one creating their own system of man’s truth without God’s truth; thus, bringing the works of their hands every Sunday, and placing it in the bag as Judas carries away the riches of this world. The most priceless possession in this world is one’s own soul. It is worth all the silver, all the gold, and all the wealth of this world. Just ONE soul, and God, each and every moment, of each and every day prods many souls to find that one who will be separated unto Him. The religious systems today are more important than the Lord Himself or His people. In many systems the child of God has to leave, or he has been driven out. The systems of these religionists continually tear apart the truth of God and insult the Bible with their own ignorance. They do not have a clue, or a thought of who God is. Their end goal is to remove everything that is of the Lord Jesus and replace God and His Christ with the prince of this world. Yes, you know it well . . . that old serpent, the devil.

   Man is flawed by sin, and sin has destroyed the godly spirit within man. The Scriptures declare that men would rather believe a lie then to believe the truth. The proof of this is found in the news agencies of our day. These propagandists are mere puppets moved by writers and owners to manipulate mankind through lies. A lie is a lie no matter who originates it or whose mouth it spills from. These master liars are without shame. These masked propagandists along with politicians have been moving society away from God at an excelled rate since before WWII. Adam has been manipulated all around the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. You can hear the whispers through their insinuations, and through their stage craft, Come to Satan. They have already given themselves to the prince of this world, the prince of darkness. They have given their hearts because they want the desires of their own hearts. They have given their spirits for they love darkness and not the light. They have given their souls for the price of fame. The political, the propagandists, the religionists, and the merchandisers have united together to turn the masses away from the Almighty God by manipulating the psychology of words and emotions, thus, turning the hearts and minds of entire societies and nations to swallow the bait of treason and rebellion against God: hook, line and sinker. The bigger the fish (the goal of resetting society) the better. We are not only in the Age of the Celebration of Insanity, but we are also in the Age of the Removal of All Truth.

   I will state this profound truth: in the age in which we live there is only ONE place to find the truth, it is in God’s dear Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, and His Word, which is the Living Word of God. The Holy Bible is the pathway of truth, and all other paths are false. There are many mimicking the Word of God. What separated the truth is that the real Word of God speaks to the HEART and gives life. The Bible stands by itself. It does not need man’s approval for it has been sent to us from on high by God Himself. He breathed everlasting life into its pages to the children of God. It is the way of truth explained by the Great Interpreter, the Holy Spirit of God. Understand the world and its systems, in all of its kingdoms and nations can only be accomplished through God’s truth: the Bible. Love not the world, neither the things [that are] in the world is a present reality to every time and purpose under heaven. Every time period through man’s history has those who love not the world, neither the things of the world.

   In the ten virgins, there were five who were wise, not with the wisdom of this world, but with the wisdom of God’s truth. This truth is surrounded by the Spirit of Christ. There were five who were fools, they had heard the call that the bridegroom cometh, but had no oil within themselves. It is the ultimate fool who says in his heart that there is no God. This includes the religious man who denies the will and purpose of God. He is foolish because believing man’s claim against God has influenced the religionist to deny God’s truth.

The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good.(Psalm 14:1)

The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. Corrupt are they, and have done abominable iniquity: there is none that doeth good. (Psalm 53:1)

   When the five foolish virgins returned, they chanted, Lord open unto us. They still, however, had no authority to enter, they were still under the precepts of man and not the precepts of God. When mankind does not obtain the qualifications of God through Jesus Christ, the door will be shut, and the voice that they will hear will say, Depart from me, ye workers of iniquity.

Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. (Matthew 7:21)

Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? (Matthew 7:22)

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

Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: (Matthew 7:24)

  One thing Adam does not contemplate are the rights of the holy Being, THE MOST HIGH GOD, the Lord Jesus Christ. He has all creation at His beck and call, including Adam, so the Lord chooses His sheep, and keeps them separated from the goats. Five went in, and five were rejected. He has the DIVINE RIGHT as the Creator of all things to choose who He will. According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: (Ephesians 1:4) This is foreign to Adam’s race because most of the race of Adam believes that God does not have any rights. Man is so busy guarding his own rights that in these very rights they deny the rights of God. Man is quite bold religiously in his claim that he can come to Christ because of his will to do so without any regard to the will of God. Think how foolish this sounds when man can think that his will is stronger than the will of God. Ask the multitudes, the millions (before the flood) whether or not they believed that their will was stronger than the will of God. We know how that worked out for them, for they all perished in their own will. Only eight souls from millions of souls survived that flood. Do you think it is any different in this world today? The world is in RUIN. It is being strangled by sin and the evil works of Satan. The outward professing Church is in RUIN for sin abounds within. The bottom line is that ALL of mankind is in RUIN without Christ. Man does not set the rules of God’s righteousness. Adam tried and he failed. He brought sin and death upon all of mankind. God’s rule (the number 1 rule) is to be obedient to the Almighty God. This rule or commandment is Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.

Master, which is the great commandment in the law? (Matthew 22:36)

Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. (Matthew 22:37)

This is the first and great commandment. (Matthew 22:38)

This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. (Matthew 15:8) But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. (Matthew 15:9)

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Walking with The Bridegroom

  Again, we see the ten virgins, five were obedient to Matthew 22:37, and totally commited to God in their hearts, spirits and souls. The other five were not obedient to God, they desired the commandments and the doctrines of men; consequently, they heard that voice, as thunder, saying, depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

   What does God require from man? Let us go back to the Old Testament and hear what a prophet of God had to say about what God’s requires.

Will the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams, or with ten thousands of rivers of oil? shall I give my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?  (Micah 6:7)

He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God? (Micah 6:8)

   This is the heart, spirit, and soul of the one who walks with God. The desire of Enoch was to walk with God. The desire of Noah was to walk with God. To walk with God, one must meet the requirements of God and agree with God. Can two walk together, except they be agreed? (Amos 3:3) We are all at the mercy of God. Let’s return to the book of Micah, Chapter 6, and see what happens to those who do not walk with God.

The LORD’S voice crieth unto the city, and the man of wisdom shall see thy name: hear ye the rod, and who hath appointed it. (Micah 6: 9)

Are there yet the treasures of wickedness in the house of the wicked, and the scant measure that is abominable? (Micah 6:10)

Shall I count them pure with the wicked balances, and with the bag of deceitful weights? (Micah 6:11)

For the rich men thereof are full of violence, and the inhabitants thereof have spoken lies, and their tongue is deceitful in their mouth. (Micah 6:12)

Therefore also will I make thee sick in smiting thee, in making thee desolate because of thy sins. (Micah 6:13)

Thou shalt eat, but not be satisfied; and thy casting down shall be in the midst of thee; and thou shalt take hold, but shalt not deliver; and that which thou deliverest will I give up to the sword. (Micah 6:14)

   The wise man will assess the hand of God’s judgment upon this world that they have become foolish in the multitude of religions. They have created many gods, and they have turned away from the will of God. It is not God’s will, but it is that their will be done. With no fear, in their hearts, they have taken the gold to the smith, and said, Make me an idol. They have cut down a tree in their hearts and have taken it to the wood craver and have said, Make me an image. At the same time, they refuse the express image of God in Jesus Christ.

   Once again there were ten virgins: five with oil in their lamps, and five without. Five went into the joy of the Lord, and five were cast into outer darkness without God. As a child of God, I must beseech you, be ye reconciled to God through Jesus Christ. Learn of Him and walk with Him. At this very moment He stands at the door of your heart, Open the door and He will come in and sup with you in eternal communion around the Living Word, the One Lord, the One God, Jesus Christ.

Amen and Amen.

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.  (Revelation 3:20)

I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine. (John 10:14) As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep. (John 10:14) And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd. (John 10:14)

My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: (John 10:27) And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. (John 10:28)

© Copyright 2021, Michael Haigh

This article may be used, but not for gain. Freely ye have received, freely give.

All Scripture references are from the King James Bible. (KJV)