Are you Ready for Christ’s Return?
John 14:1-3 tells us “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.”
Jesus Christ will return to the Earth one day to retrieve His bride, the Church. Are you ready for His return? Today we discuss the parable of the ten virgins from Matthew 25:25. Is there oil in your lamp? Is the Holy Spirit guiding your life? Or are you relying on your relationship with the Church and other Christians to get you to Heaven?
Do you have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ? Or will He tell you He never knew YOU as He says in Matthew 7:21-23, "Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven."
Christ will appear at an unknown hour... are you ready?
Scripture Reference
John 3:29New International Version
29 The bride belongs to the bridegroom.(A) The friend who attends the bridegroom waits and listens for him, and is full of joy when he hears the bridegroom’s voice. That joy is mine, and it is now complete.(B)
1 Peter 2:9New International Version
9 But you are a chosen people,(A) a royal priesthood,(B) a holy nation,(C)God’s special possession,(D) that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.(E)
Revelation 22:17New International Version
17 The Spirit(A) and the bride(B) say, “Come!” And let the one who hears say, “Come!” Let the one who is thirsty come; and let the one who wishes take the free gift of the water of life.(C
Luke 12:35-40New International Version
Watchfulness(A)(B)
35 “Be dressed ready for service and keep your lamps burning, 36 like servants waiting for their master to return from a wedding banquet, so that when he comes and knocks they can immediately open the door for him. 37 It will be good for those servants whose master finds them watching when he comes.(C) Truly I tell you, he will dress himself to serve, will have them recline at the table and will come and wait on them.(D) 38 It will be good for those servants whose master finds them ready, even if he comes in the middle of the night or toward daybreak. 39 But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what hour the thief(E) was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into. 40 You also must be ready,(F) because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.”
Titus 2:11-14New International Version
11 For the grace(A) of God has appeared(B) that offers salvation to all people.(C) 12 It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions,(D) and to live self-controlled,(E)upright and godly lives(F) in this present age, 13 while we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing(G) of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ,(H) 14 who gave himself for us(I) to redeem us from all wickedness(J) and to purify(K) for himself a people that are his very own,(L) eager to do what is good.(M)
Galatians 5:22-23New International Version
22 But the fruit(A) of the Spirit is love,(B)joy, peace,(C) forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control.(D) Against such things there is no law.(E)
Mark 2:19-20New International Version
19 Jesus answered, “How can the guests of the bridegroom fast while he is with them? They cannot, so long as they have him with them. 20 But the time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them,(A) and on that day they will fast.
Ephesians 5:25New International Version
25 Husbands, love your wives,(A) just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her(B)
2 Corinthians 11:2New International Version
2 I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy. I promised you to one husband,(A) to Christ, so that I might present you(B) as a pure virgin to him.
Ephesians 5:24New International Version
24 Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands(A) in everything.
Revelation 21:2New International Version
2 I saw the Holy City,(A) the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God,(B) prepared as a bride(C) beautifully dressed for her husband.
2 Peter 3:10-12New International Version
10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief.(A) The heavens will disappear with a roar;(B) the elements will be destroyed by fire,(C) and the earth and everything done in it will be laid bare.[a](D)
11 Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives 12 as you look forward(E) to the day of God and speed its coming.[b](F) That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat.
Matthew 25:1-13English Standard Version
The Parable of the Ten Virgins
25 “Then the kingdom of heaven will be like (A)ten virgins who took their lamps[a] and went to meet (B)the bridegroom.[b] 2 Five of them were foolish, and five were (C)wise. 3 For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them, 4 but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps.5 As the bridegroom (D)was delayed, they all became drowsy and slept.6 But (E)at midnight there was a cry, ‘Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.’ 7 Then all those virgins rose and (F)trimmed their lamps. 8 And the foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ 9 But the wise answered, saying, ‘Since there will not be enough for us and for you, go rather to the dealers and buy for yourselves.’10 And while they were going to buy, the bridegroom came, and (G)those who were ready went in with him to (H)the marriage feast, and (I)the door was shut. 11 Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, (J)‘Lord, lord, open to us.’ 12 (K)But he answered, ‘Truly, I say to you, (L)I do not know you.’ 13 (M)Watch therefore, for you (N)know neither the day nor the hour.