Running on Empty.
I have often looked at the parable of the virgins in Matthew 25 countless time.
But it was when I heard it was fulfilled in the Millerite History and also when I heard that the Millerite History would repeat to the very letter; when I also have seen the hard evidence of Islam being restrained in the 1840 by the world powers which is the very Millerite History also and saw that Islam was restrained just recently. My heart jump.
This put full meaning on the phrase “This the history (Millerites 1840-1844) will repeat to the very letter. Now I see the virgins in a whole new light. I now see the characteristics of the virgins in my church. The virgins are growing up right before me. You will soon understand what I mean by this.
This tells me that events leading up to and during the Millerites History will happen and is happening as we speak.
This friend is a sobering taught knowing full well that the virgins are in the congregations at this time waiting for the call “Behold the Bridegroom cometh”.
Know this you are one of them!
I want to stay focus on not so much the fact that 5 were wise and 5 were foolish but more on the fact that why 5 were saved and why 5 were lost.
Some will say out rightly they did have the oil and that is correct, Lets dive a little deeper, can we?
Matthew. 25:1-3
1 Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom.2 And five of them were wise, and five were foolish.3 They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them:
Pen of Inspiration says: “The two classes of watchers [in the parable of the ten virgins] represent the two classes who profess to be waiting for their Lord. They are called virgins because they profess a pure faith. By the lamps is represented the Word of God. . . . The oil is a symbol of the Holy Spirit. . . .
{Gods amazing Grace 214.2}
But there is more:
The book Christian Service says:
“The oil of grace gives to men the courage, and supplies to them the motives, for doing every day the work that God appoints to them. The five foolish virgins had lamps (this means a knowledge of Scripture truth), but they had not the grace of Christ. Day by day they went through a round of ceremonies and external duties, but their service was lifeless, devoid of the righteousness of Christ. The Sun of Righteousness did not shine in their hearts and minds, and they had not the love of the truth which conforms to the life and character, the image and superscription, of Christ. The oil of grace was not mingled with their endeavors. Their religion was a dry husk without the true kernel. They held fast to forms of doctrines, but they were deceived in their Christian life, full of self-righteousness, and failing to learn lessons in the school of Christ, which, if practiced, would have made them wise unto salvation.-- Review and Herald, March 27, 1894. {ChS 263.1}
Note:
1. All the virgins had lamps (this means a knowledge of Scripture truth)
1. Don’t we all have our Bibles?
2. Psalms 119:105 Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.
3. We all have the lamps do we not? Yes this is not only talking about Christians in general, but those who have access to light. Bible truth. I would go on as to say even present truth. Now that’s sobering,even to preachers of present truth like myself.
4. They are virgins they professed a pure faith. My Friends these are no one but those who resides within the borders of truth may I say SDA’s. SDA’s you say ? Noticed Rev 14:4.
5. Note : Revelation 14:4 These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins.
The fact that they are virgins suggest they are a particular group of “Christians” let me submit to you those who reside within the boundaries of truth .SDA’s. Don’t get confuse as to think .Well Rev 14:4 talks about virgins and these virgins in Mathew 25 are different because some were lost.. Virgins are virgins. Anyway you slice it,but that did even the parable tells us that some were lost and some were saved. The aim is to know why..What are the reasons for these two results?
Residing in truth does not save you ..Point blank.
And as I said in the sermon regular church attendance will not save you.
Associating with right living people don’t save you.
The first elder can’t save you.
Need the president of the conference.
Being a Seventh day Adventist does not guarantee you being saved.
There is a group in the world that has the truth. The last Bastian of pure religion exist at this time .
• this group is making known who is the Beast of Rev 13 & Rev 17
• They know three fold Union of the Dragon, the Beast and False prophet.
• This group is making clear the Sabbath vs Sunday sacredness.
• The is making know the errors of the state of the dead.
• In this group some people have seen the evidence. (Falling towers 911, sons of Ishmael = Islam Medianites =strife= Abaddon and Apollyon which by the way means Destruction (Rev 9:11). Genes 16:12
• This same group the truth seen in the parallel lines of Reformation from Moses to Miller .
• Testimonies to the church Vol 9 ,page 11-15. mentions also Financial Crisis in James 5 just after the fall of towers.
• This group has taken notice that the signs of the Latter rain is here we are just experiencing the sprinkling.
• Some have seen the signs and are move by the events of the closing moments. the earthquake the famine ,the floods ,the pestilences, Members in this group notices all these precious trues..
But still yet this group of virgins are divided into too classes, saved and lost. Why? Because although we have Lamps, “MANY OF US DON’T HAVE OIL.” we are not saved by groups!
What makes the difference between the two classes within the borders of truth.
It is the Oil !
What is the Oil? Strait off we know the Oil is the Holy Spirit.
But the Holy Spirit moves upon all. He convicts of sin righteousness and judgment John 16:8-11.
But is there more to the oil that meets the eye?
Quote : “The oil of grace gives to men the courage, and supplies to them the motives, for doing every day the work that God appoints to them. The five foolish virgins had lamps (this means a knowledge of Scripture truth), but they had not the grace of Christ. Day by day they went through a round of ceremonies and external duties, but their service was lifeless, devoid of the righteousness of Christ. The Sun of Righteousness did not shine in their hearts and minds, and they had not the love of the truth which conforms to the life and character, the image and superscription, of Christ. The oil of grace was not mingled with their endeavors. Their religion was a dry husk without the true kernel. They held fast to forms of doctrines, but they were deceived in their Christian life, full of self-righteousness, and failing to learn lessons in the school of Christ, which, if practiced, would have made them wise unto salvation.—
Review and Herald, March 27, 1894. {ChS 263.1}
The oil of grace, The oil of grace, The oil of grace, The oil of grace, let this sink in..
Grace is not only unmerited favor.
Lets see what else Grace does.
Where sin abounds What ? Grace much more abound.
Romans 5:20 Moreover the law entered, that the offense might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound:
Strongs says: Grace means charis
Pronnced khar'-ece : the divine influence upon the heart, and its reflection in the life.
Simply put, overcoming power!
Now take any scripture with Grace in it and replace it by overcoming power.
Genesis 6:8 But Noah found grace “overcoming power” !
2Corinthians 12:9 And he said unto me, My grace “overcoming power” is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
Ephesians 1:7 In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace “overcoming power”;
Now we can see what the Oil meant.. The overcoming power used not available but used to overcome.
Do you know that many think that we don’t need to be overcomes of sin to make it into the kingdom.. many believe they will slide into heaven with faults.
Notice: Matthew 25:3 They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them:
• They ( We) knew they were going to meet the Bridegroom = Christ was coming.
• They ( We) knew that it was a night journey “Darkness coming = uncertainty was coming,
• darkness was in the horizon they knew Zephaniah 1:14-17, Daniel 12:1mathew24 :21-26,Luke 21.
• They knew that if they have “The Truth” = lamp (yet some in Adventism boast) without oil it was useless.
Now some think the time of trouble is only bloodshed and war!Thre is more than that.
The virgins and darkness:
Remember the virgins were to go with lamps into darkness or into the soon coming darkness night was an in our case is approaching.
Notice with me : Zephaniah 1: 14 The great day of the LORD is near, it is near, and hasteth greatly, even the voice of the day of the LORD: the mighty man shall cry there bitterly.
15 That day is a day of wrath, a day of trouble and distress, a day of wasteness and desolation, a day of darkness and gloominess, a day of clouds and thick darkness,
16 A day of the trumpet and alarm against the fenced cities, and against the high towers.
17 And I will bring distress upon men, that they shall walk like blind men, because they have sinned against the LORD: and their blood shall be poured out as dust, and their flesh as the dung.
Remember the topic is still NO OIL.
Now that “darkness and gloominess, a day of clouds and thick darkness” Represent a day of spiritual confusion, all winds of doctrine will be flying at this time. Note that this time is the time when distress is upon the land. This is the little time of trouble judgments famine ,disasters will be falling on the earth.
This is the time when people will be seeking to explain the reason for the judgments. Now the reason for the media hype and the propagation of this 2012 doomsday scenario seems to seem to make sense. All sorts of religious and spins will be made of the things that are falling upon the earth when mens heart will be failing them for fear (Luke 21:26).
At this time the 3angels message truth just before the close of probation and has to be given in time of trouble.the work that has not been done in time of peace would have to be done now. Just before the great time of trouble then the plagues will be poured out.
Acts of the Apostle
“All who in that evil day would fearlessly serve God according to the dictates of conscience, will need courage, firmness, and a knowledge of God and His word; for those who are true to God will be persecuted, their motives will be impugned, their best efforts misinterpreted, and their names cast out as evil. Satan will work with all his deceptive power to influence the heart and becloud the understanding, to make evil appear good, and good evil. The stronger and purer the faith of God's people, and the firmer their determination to obey Him, the more fiercely will Satan strive to stir up against them the rage of those who, while claiming to be righteous, trample upon the law of God. It will require the firmest trust, the most heroic purpose, to hold fast the faith once delivered to the saints. {AA 431.1}
God desires His people to prepare for the soon-coming crisis.
Prepared or unprepared, they must all meet it; and those only who have brought their lives into conformity to the divine standard, will stand firm at that time of test and trial. When secular rulers unite with ministers of religion to dictate in matters of conscience, then it will be seen who really fear and serve God. When the darkness is deepest, the light of a godlike character will shine the brightest. When every other trust fails, then it will be seen who have an abiding trust in Jehovah. And while the enemies of truth are on every side, watching the Lord's servants for evil, God will watch over them for good. He will be to them as the shadow of a great rock in a weary land. {AA 431.2}
.
Spiritual darkness and confusion will be upon the land mixed that with Terror by the War horses of the woes of Islam which will be in action Gen 16:12.
Do you have the spiritual oil to withstand the confusion and Darkness?
Many will stand in our pulpits with the torch of false prophecy in their hands, kindled from the hellish torch of Satan. . . . {Last Days Events 179.3}
Now note the history of 1840-44 that would be repeat
Not all was lost, some will have oil.
History has show: The Danger of Orthodoxy
• When John the Baptist preached the coming Savoir the orthodox Jews the “hierarchy of the Seventh day Adventist” resisted it.
• When Miller preached Christ Return in 1844 the other the Orthodox churches resisted. Why ? not that the date was incorrect but that they didn’t want Christ to come.Much evidence came to the people but they denied the light so .Darkness overtook them.
• When the latter rain goes forth (and brethren the sprinkling has started) the Orthodox church will resist the truth of the events to soon fall on this world. Many of us don’t want Christ to come. we don’t want to see the light .
• We don’t want to put away sin or the things of this world.The same is happening now.
• These are the ones without oil then and these are the one that will be found without oil verry soon.
The things of the past are the mirror image of that of the past.
Past Experiences Prepare for Future.
Again and again I have been shown that the past experiences of God's people are not to be counted as dead facts. We are not to treat the record of these experiences as we would treat a last year's almanac. The record is to be kept in mind, for history will repeat itself. The darkness of the mysteries of the night is to be illuminated with the light of heaven. . . . {PM 175.3}
Remember: Ecclesiastes 1:
9 The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun.
Listen to this statement:
“When the third angel's message is preached as it should be, power attends its proclamation, and it becomes an abiding influence. It must be attended with divine power, or it will accomplish nothing. I am often referred to the parable of the ten virgins, five of whom were wise, and five foolish. This parable has been and will be fulfilled to the very letter, for it has a special application to this time, and, like the third angel's message, has been fulfilled and will continue to be present truth till the close of time.
{RH, August 19, 1890 par. 3}
Many of Gods people would not be ready because they have not been daily advancing in Christian virtues .And because they do not heed to simple prompting of the spirit in simple test and temptations they will not hear the voice of the Same God who seeks to give them the latter rain message.
Those who take lightly the message of John the Baptist, receive not Christ into there hearts. Thus they were not benefited by the Pentecost. A similar scene will take place in our time.
Many will not discern the latter-rain .
Only those who are living up to the light they have, will receive greater light. Unless we are daily advancing in the exemplification of the active Christian virtues, we shall not recognize the manifestations of the Holy Spirit in the latter rain. It may be falling on hearts all around us, but we shall not discern or receive it.
{FLB 333.6}
Many Adventists Brace Themselves Against the Light why ?
Day would be in darkness without oil.
There is to be in the [Seventh-day Adventist] churches a wonderful manifestation of the power of God, but it will not move upon those who have not humbled themselves before the Lord, and opened the door of the heart by confession and repentance. In the manifestation of that power which lightens the earth with the glory of God, they will see only something which in their blindness they think dangerous, something which will arouse their fears, and they will brace themselves to resist it. Because the Lord does not work according to their ideas and expectations they will oppose the work. "Why," they say, "should we not know the Spirit of God, when we have been in the work so many years?"--RH Extra, Dec. 23, 1890. {LDE 209.3} The third angel's message will not be comprehended, the light which will lighten the earth with its glory will be called a false light, by those who refuse to walk in its advancing glory.--RH May 27, 1890. {LDE 210.1}
{LHU 375.1}
God leads His people on, step by step. He brings them up to different points calculated to manifest what is in the heart. Some endure at one point, but fall off at the next. At every advanced point the heart is tested and tried a little closer. If the professed people of God find their hearts opposed to this straight work, it should convince them that they have a work to do to overcome, if they would not be spewed out of the mouth of the Lord. Said the angel: "God will bring His work closer and closer to test and prove every one of His people." Some are willing to receive one point; but when God brings them to another testing point, they shrink from it and stand back, because they find that it strikes directly at some cherished idol. Here they have opportunity to see what is in their hearts that shuts out Jesus. They prize something higher than the truth, and their hearts are not prepared to receive Jesus. Individuals are tested and proved a length of time to see if they will sacrifice their idols and heed the counsel of the True Witness. . . . Those who come up to every point, and stand every test, and overcome, be the price what it may, have heeded the counsel of the True Witness, and they will receive the latter rain, and thus be fitted for translation.
In Closing.
“ In the parable, all the ten virgins went out to meet the bridegroom. All had lamps and vessels for oil. For a time there was seen no difference between them. So with the church that lives just before Christ's second coming. All have a knowledge of the Scriptures. All have heard the message of Christ's near approach, and confidently expect His appearing. But as in the parable, so it is now. A time of waiting intervenes, faith is tried; and when the cry is heard, "Behold, the Bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him," many are unready. . . . They are destitute of the Holy Spirit. Without the Spirit of God a knowledge of His Word is of no avail. The theory of truth, unaccompanied by the Holy Spirit, cannot quicken the soul or sanctify the heart. . . . Without the enlightenment of the Spirit, men will not be able to distinguish truth from error, and they will fall under the masterful temptations of Satan. . .
The grace of God has been freely offered to every soul. . . . But character is not transferable. No man can believe for another. . . . No man can impart to another the character which is the fruit of the Spirit's working. . . . {AG 214.4}
We cannot be ready to meet the Lord by waking when the cry is heard, "Behold, the Bridegroom!" and then gathering up our empty lamps to have them replenished. . . . In the parable the wise virgins had oil in their vessels with their lamps. Their light burned with undimmed flame through the night of watching. . . . So the followers of Christ are to shed light into the darkness of the world. Through the Holy Spirit, God's word is a light as it becomes a transforming power in the life of the receiver. By implanting in their hearts the principles of His word, the Holy Spirit develops in men the attributes of God. The light of His glory--His character--is to shine forth in His followers. {AG 214.5}
Ask God to give you much of the oil of His grace. {AG 214.6}
Would Ceremonies and external duties alone characterize journey then your loss?
Would lifeless service ! be your testimony ?
Would your life have a from of godliness yet it is devoid of the righteousness of Christ ?
Would your character be developed from a lack of love of the truth which conforms us into Christ likeness?
Appeal
Even at this time Wise and foolish virgins are formed. It’s not too late. Nothing is set in stone yet. The fact that The Holy Spirit has not cease its work.
Two classes of men.
No you cant see the heart of another.
Examine your self. Amen
The History to Be Repeated.--Near the close of this earth's history Satan will work with all his powers in the same manner and with the same temptations wherewith he tempted ancient Israel just before their entering the Land of Promise. He will lay snares for those who claim to keep the commandments of God, and who are almost on the borders of the heavenly Canaan. He will use his powers to their utmost in order to entrap souls and to take God's professed people upon their weakest points.
