1. Eschatology, a Broad Perspective
From Genesis to Revelation
8/7/2016

2. Our Considerations The Northern Invasion: Ezek 38-39
Conditions at the Time of the End: Matt 24-25, Mk 13, Lk 21
The Great Apostasy: II Thess 2, II Tim 3, II Pet 3
The Rapture of the Church: I Thess 4, I Cor 15, Rev 4:1
Christ with His Church in the Parable of the Wedding Feast
The Book of Revelation

3. When will the end come?

4. Rapture & Second Coming Are Separate Events
The Rapture of the Church
The Second Coming of Christ
Christ returns in the air (I Thess 4:17)
The Rapture brings comfort (I Thess 4:18)
The Rapture concerns the church – “In Christ” (I Thess 4:14,16)
The Rapture changes the bodies of believers (I Cor 15:51-53)
Christ returns to the earth (Zech 14:4,5)
The Second Coming brings judgment (Rev 19:15)
The Second Coming concerns Israel & the nations (Zech 12:2-9)
The Second Coming changes the hearts of Jews (Zech 12:10)
8/7/2016

5. Avoiding the Tribulation - Mark Lowry
11/16/2018

6. Matthew 25:1-13
Then the kingdom of heaven will be comparable to ten virgins, who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish, and five were prudent. For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them, but the prudent took oil in flasks along with their lamps. Now while the bridegroom was delaying, they all got drowsy and began to sleep. But at midnight there was a shout, ‘Behold, the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.’ Then all those virgins rose and trimmed their lamps. The foolish said to the prudent, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’
11/16/2018

7. Matthew 25:1-13 (cont’d)
But the prudent answered, ‘No, there will not be enough for us and you too; go instead to the dealers and buy some for yourselves.’ And while they were going away to make the purchase, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding feast; and the door was shut. Later the other virgins also came, saying, ‘Lord, lord, open up for us.’ But he answered, ‘Truly I say to you, I do not know you.’ Be on the alert then, for you do not know the day nor the hour.
11/16/2018

8. A Jewish Wedding A young man selects the woman he or his father wanted
He comes to her house with a marriage contract defining the terms of marriage, including the bride price
Bride price paid the girl’s father for labor of daughter and loss of a son who would have been more helpful in the heavy work of farming
Christ’s offer of Himself to Israel as their Messiah and King
Girl & her father consider the offer & if they agree, bride & groom drink a cup of wine together sealing the arrangement
Cup of the New Covenant at the last supper
Groom pays the price for his bride, which might be substantial to ensure the groom’s commitment to his bride to be
Christ’s death on the cross to save his people from their sin
Groom leaves and says that, “I go to prepare a place for you.”
Christ’s return to heaven at the ascension
A Christian Love Story by Zola Levit
Ref: A Christian Love Story
by Zola Levitt
11/16/2018

9. Preparing a Place (Jn 14:2-3)
Groom would return home to build bridal chamber, where they would spend their honeymoon of seven days
A separate building on his father’s property or an extension on his father’s house
Includes provisions for the bridal week which they would spend together alone in the room while the wedding feast went on
Father of the groom is the one to approve the son’s work before he could get his bride
God the Father’s command for Christ to return for the church
The bride would wait for the groom to come
Would have a lamp ready for a night time arrival of the groom
Was set apart or consecrated to her groom as one “bought with a price”
Would also wear a veil showing publically that she was taken
Church’s preparation for the rapture and the Lord’s return for us
11/16/2018

10. Waiting for the Groom
Bride assemble her sisters & bridesmaids who would also have oil lamps ready for a night time visitation
When the chamber was complete, groom & his men would come suddenly at night to get bride & her attendants
Try to surprise her and steal her away to the wedding
Bride would sleep in her wedding dress to be ready
Church’s readiness and anticipation of the Lord’s return
Groom would give a shout to announce his midnight coming
“For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet of God; and the dead in Christ shall rise first.” (1 Thess 4:16)
11/16/2018

11. Five Wise Virgins Provided oil for their lamps Fell asleep
Bridegroom was away for a long time
It has been a long time since the ascension
Responded quickly to the bridegroom’s call
Refused the plea of their five foolish friends
Were ready at the moment of the announcement having been prepared well before
Went in to the wedding
11/16/2018

12. Five Foolish Virgins Provided no reserve of oil for their lamps
Fell asleep
Were late in responding to the bridegroom’s call
Asked five wise virgins for an allocation of their oil, but their refusal required them to go to market and buy more
Were excluded from the wedding.
Door was shut and their relationship with bridegroom & wedding party denied
Jesus’ words “I never knew you” are hard, denying even a relationship with the five unwise virgins
Strong warning – Keep watch you don’t know the day or the hour (also in Matt 24:42)
11/16/2018

13. Take-aways Jesus is coming again We don’t know when We are His bride
We must be ready
For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord.
1 Thess 4:16-17
11/16/2018

14. The Next Several Weeks
Aug 14 TBD Chris Aug 21 21st century Missions Tom A Aug 28 TBD And then begins the Revelation of John

15. See you NEXT week!

16. 11/16/2018

17. When will the end come?