For the coming Marriage Supper of the Lamb, the Lord's bride is expected to prepare herself, to make herself ready, for His soon appearing (Rev. 19:7). Jesus describes some of this preparation in Mt. 25:1-13. In this parable of the ten virgins who all awaited the Bridegroom, Jesus referred to five as "wise", and five as "foolish". The difference between the two groups is that, although both groups slept and slumbered, the first group who were wise, had enough oil with them to keep their lamps lighted as they went out to meet the Bridegroom when He came. The second, or foolish, group did not, and their lamps went out. Consequently, because they had not been properly prepared, they missed the coming of the Bridegroom, and the entrance into the marriage feast. Therefore, an important part in becoming prepared for the marriage to the Lamb, is to be wise, to be "lighted" with lamps and abundant oil.
As our nation is torn apart with racial hatred, violence, and ungodly acts, which are capturing headlines daily, and as the signs of the end of the age are becoming apparent, are we, the Church, lighting our spiritual lamps, shining with the wisdom of God? It doesn't appear to be the case. The Church is strangely silent, not bringing forth that light of wisdom. Wisdom can shine a warning light that leads others to salvation. The Church, without its lighted lamps, cannot be distinguished from the surrounding spiritual darkness.
The prophet Daniel, recounting the visions God showed him of end time turmoil and tribulation that comes upon the whole earth, also prophesies the role of the shining Wise during this time. He describes a terrible fourth beast of iron, who rules over this age:
"After this I saw in the night visions, and behold, a fourth beast, dreadful and terrible, and strong exceedingly; and it had great iron teeth: it devoured and brake in pieces, and stamped the residue with the feet of it: and it was divers ("shena"- altered, changed, transformed) from all the beasts that were before it; and it had ten horns... strong as iron:
forasmuch as iron breaketh in pieces and subdueth all things: and as iron that breaketh all these, shall it break in pieces and bruise." Dan. 7:7, 2:40
This terrible, altered fourth beast has mingled with the seed of men (Dan. 2:41-43), and as a result, the same manner in which this beast is altered or diverse, men have become altered in spiritual character, and twisted in understanding by their association with it (Rom. 1:21-32). In its diverse state, the beast seeks to alter all around it. It even seeks to change times (set time, season, appointed time, stated time, fixed time) and laws (decrees of kings, laws of God, religion, system of religion, plan, purpose, commandment, statute) (Dan. 7:25). Like never before, we are seeing this come to pass in our time. Even as this fourth beast of Daniel is described as speaking great words against the Most High, we are seeing God purposefully removed from every section of society in our nation. Many men no longer revere God, or His Word.
Daniel said that the whole earth would be under the destructive power of this beast:
"...The fourth beast ...shall devour the whole earth, and shall tread it down, and break it in pieces." Dan. 7:23
However, its greatest fury is reserved for the saints of God:
"...made war with the saints, and prevailed against them...and shall wear out the saints of the Most High..." Dan. 7:21, 25 (excerpts)
Even as the saints are worn out by this beast, and it seems that the beast is prevailing against them, the saints, the Wise, begin to shine:
"Many shall be purified, and made white, and tried; but the wicked shall do wickedly: and none of the wicked shall understand; but the wise shall understand...And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness, as the stars for ever and ever...but the people that do know their God shall be strong and do exploits. And they that understand among the people shall instruct many..."
Dan. 12:10, 3, 11:32-33)
Though the toll is heavy, as the Wise shine through this trying time, even leading many others into righteousness, the Kingdom of God rises up and overcomes the beast that sought to destroy the saints and the whole earth:
"And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever...the Ancient of Days came and judgment was given to the saints of the Most High; and the time came that the saints possessed the kingdom...the saints of the Most High shall take the kingdom, and possess the kingdom for ever, even for ever and ever...the judgment shall sit, and they (the saints) shall take away his (the beast's) dominion, to consume, and to destroy it unto the end. And the kingdom and the dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people of the saints of the Most High, whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey Him." Dan.2:44, 7:22, 18, 26-27
Whether because we are seeing how all of these things which Daniel
prophesied are now manifesting throughout the earth, or because we understand that the return of our Lord and Bridegroom is upon us, in both cases, the wise are called upon to prepare themselves with oil, to wake up, to light their lamps and shine with the wisdom and salvation of the kingdom of God in the earth. It is time for complaisance, slumber, and compromise and collaboration with the spirit of this world to end.
"And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven saying, "The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of His Christ; and He shall reign for ever and ever." Rev. 11:15
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