Show the House to the House*

Considering the signs of the times, and what I am seeing in the church, I want to revisit a message I did some time ago titled "Show the House to the House". However, I wanted to revisit the subject again to update it by hearing what the Lord was saying at this time to His House. The LORD spoke to His prophet, Ezekiel, saying: "Thou son of man, shew the (aleph-tav) house to the (aleph-tav) house of Israel, that they may be ashamed of their iniquities: and let them measure the (aleph-tav) pattern. And if they be ashamed of all that they have done, shew them the form of the house, and the fashion thereof, and the goings out thereof, nd the comings in thereof, and all the forms thereof, and all the ordinances thereof, and all the forms thereof, and all the laws thereof: and write it in their sight, that they may keep the whole form thereof, and all the ordinances thereof, and do them. This is the law of the house; Upon the top of the mountain the whole limit thereof round about shall be most holy. Behold, this is the law of the house." (Ezek. 43:10-12). Scripture says that we are the living stones that are being built up into the spiritual house of God. There is a form we are to follow to be that House of God. The presence of the written aleph-tav, the first and last letters of the Hebrew alphabet, noted before some of the words above, causes us to think of the Alpha and Omega, the corresponding first and last letters of the Greek alphabet, by which Jesus identified Himself in Revelation. As with Ezekiel, Isaiah also prophesied of the LORD's mountain and His house: "And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the LORD's house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills.; and all the nations shall flow unto it. And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. And he shall judge among the nations...neither shall they learn war any more. O house of Jacob, come ye, and let us walk in the light of the LORD." (Isa. 2:1-5). Jesus said that we are to be salt and light, walking in His light, to draw the lost. Peter wrote that we are a holy, royal priesthood offering righteous sacrifices before the LORD. Jesus spoke of the faithful servant: "Let your loins be girded about, and your lights burning; and ye yourselves like unto men that wait for their lord, when he will return from the wedding; that when he cometh and knocketh, they may open unto him immediately. Blessed are those servants whom the lord when he cometh shall find watching...Be ye therefore ready also: for the Son of man cometh when ye think not." (Lk. 12:35-40). Being dressed properly, with lights burning, is part of "watching" in expectation and preparation for the Master's return. The master of the parable would not be pleased to find his home dark, and his servants asleep, and unable to open the door for him upon his return from "the wedding". Many, as Peter wrote, mock the idea of the Lord's return with His judgment, but the servants of the house of the Lord are to be expectantly waiting and prepared. Jesus gave us a parable regarding those who were not prepared, who did not have their lamps lit. The parable was about the kingdom of God being like ten virgins who took their lamps, and went to meet the bridegroom (Mt. 25:1-13). In Greek, the word for "lamps" is lampas/lampo, meaning "a lamp whose flame is fed with oil/to shine, give light". Oil is a representation of the Holy Spirit in scripture. Of the ten virgins, five were foolish. They took their lamps, but took no oil with them. Five were wise, having their lamps with the oil needed to light them. The bridegroom was later than expected, so all ten of the virgins fell asleep. Suddenly, at midnight, the cry they had been waiting for is heard: "Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him." (v. 6). All rose and trimmed (kosmeo - to put in order) their lamps (Are you in order?), but the lamps of the five foolish virgins went out for lack of oil. Frantically, they asked the five wise virgins to give them some of their oil, which the wise refused to do. The foolish virgins were told to go buy their own oil from where it could be obtained. While the foolish were doing that, the bridegroom came, and those wise virgins who were ready went into the marriage, and the door was shut (v. 10). Afterwards the foolish virgins arrived and asked the Lord to open the door for them, but the Lord said, "Verily I say unto you, I know you not." Jesus concluded this parable about the kingdom of God saying, "Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh." (v. 13). Again we are told to be prepared, to have our lamps lit. Jesus told His disciples that they were the salt of the earth (Mt. 5:13). But, He said, salt that has lost its savor is good for nothing, except to be thrown into the street. At the same time, Jesus told His disciples: "Ye are the light of the world." He spoke of a lighted city that is set on a hill and cannot be hidden from sight. A candle lit is not put under a bushel, but is lifted high and placed upon a lampstand to light the house. "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven." (v. 16). God's house is bursting with the light of the believers within it. It is a light fueled by the oil of the Holy Spirit, and the shining works inspired by the Holy Spirit. Those works reflect the foundation of the whole law: Thou shalt love the LORD, and thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. As the evil of this world grows darker, God's living house is to grow brighter: "...be blameless and harmless, the sons of God without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world; Holding forth the word of life..." (Phil. 2:15-16). Things done in the flesh just cause men to respond in the flesh, but things done by the oil of the Spirit, and the light of the Word of God, brings forth light and life in return. We saw, in the beginning of this message, how the LORD wanted Ezekiel to show the house to the house of Israel, that they might be ashamed of their iniquities. Isaiah received a similar Word from the LORD: "Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and shew my people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins." (Isa. 58:1). The LORD spoke to the prophet about a people who are covered in sin, yet seek the LORD for His justice as if they were righteous, and not as a nation that had cast off God's ordinances. They would come before Him wanting to know why He hasn't answered them, even though they fasted for an answer (v. 2-3). They had, in reality, moved so far from God that they could not see just how far from God they had gone. The fast in which they had such great religious pride and confidence, by which they thought to make God answer, had nothing to do with the true Spirit of God. They used the fast to feel more righteous than others, the LORD said, to create strife and debate, to point the finger at others, to put on a religious display before men, as well as God (v. 4-5, 9). They even observed the Sabbath in a vain way - outwardly complying, but doing as they pleased on a day set aside in the holiness of God (v. 13). The LORD described the Spirit of His fast, which accomplishes powerful results: "Is not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke? Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? when thou seest the naked, that thou cover him (see also Mt. 25:35-40); and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh? Then shall thy light break forth as the morning, and thine health shall spring forth speedily: and thy righteousness shall go before thee; the glory of the LORD shall be thy rereward...then shall thy light rise in obscurity, and thy darkness be as the noonday..." (v. 6-8, 10). The results of this kind of fast did not end there. The LORD said that He would answer when they called. He would guide them and satisfy their soul: "Thou shalt be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters fail not. And they that shall be of thee shall build the old waste places: thou shalt raise up the foundations of many generations; and thou shalt be called, The repairer of the breach, The restorer of paths to dwell in." (v. 11-12). Also, keeping the Sabbath in its true meaning, rather than in the vanity of their own pleasure, would result in the genuine pleasure found in the LORD: "Then shalt thou delight thyself in the LORD, and I will cause thee to ride upon the high places of the earth, and feed thee with the heritage of Jacob thy father: for the mouth of the LORD has spoken it." (v. 14). Along the same lines, in speaking about those who trusted in their own self-righteousness, Jesus told the parable of two men who came to the house of God to pray. The first man was a Pharisee, someone who would be considered a devout and learned man by others. The second man was a publican, or tax collector, one of those condemned by the people: "The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are...even as this publican. I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all I possess. And the publican, standing a far off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted." (Lk. 18:9-14). Before telling this parable, Jesus spoke of how God would speedily avenge His elect that cry to Him day and night. However, Jesus added this question: "Nevertheless, when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?" (v. 7-8). Many view themselves as the elect of God, but true faith in God, that shines like a light in the darkness, is found in the humble and contrite heart as Jesus said (see also 2 Chron. 7:14). The light of faith, which watches and prepares for the Master's return, looks like this: "Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honor to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready. And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints...Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb...These are the true sayings of God." (Rev. 19:7-9). The Shroud of Turin, which carries the image of the death, burial, and even the resurrection of Jesus, was also of clean, white linen. There is a free book, "The Shroud of Turin: The Perfect Summary", that is available to all who ask. See how to receive your free book in the details below. *Based on Dr. Kenneth E. Stevenson's 5/21/23 message to the church. To contact us, submit a prayer request, give a praise report, or to support this ministry: P.O. Box 154221, Waco, TX, 76705 OR Everlastingcovenant@ymail.com. You can also find us on Facebook, Twitter, theshroudofturin.org, and END TIME SCHOOL, also on Facebook. You can also get a free ebook titled "The Shroud of Turin- A Perfect Summary" at www.TheShroudofTurin.org/freebook.

The Marriage of the Lamb*

 

As we continually see the signs all around us signaling the return of the Lord, the Marriage Supper of the Lamb has a very specific place in these things. God has always wanted to be married to His people, and in scripture He calls Himself a Husband to Israel. The same is true in regards to His Son, Jesus, the Lamb of God:

"And after these things I heard a great voice of much people in heaven, saying, Alleluia; Salvation, and glory, and honour, and power unto the Lord our God...And I heard, as it were, the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying, Alleluia: for the Lord God Omnipotent reigneth. Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready. And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints. And he saith unto me, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God."   Rev. 19:1-9 (excerpt)

The wife making herself ready is tied to our salvation, the kingdom, the rapture, all of these. In Mt. 25, the Lord tells a parable of five wise, and five foolish virgins. The wise virgins were prepared when they were called into the marriage supper. They had oil in their lamps. The oil here represents the Holy Spirit. The foolish virgins had not prepared adequately for the arrival of the bridegroom, and had no oil to light their lamps. The bridegroom came unexpectedly at midnight, when all slept, and the wise virgins who were ready and prepared, quickly rose and were able to go immediately with him, while the foolish virgins rushed to buy oil. By the time the foolish virgins acquired the oil they lacked, the door to the marriage feast had already been shut, and they could not enter. The Lord said to them as they cried out for Him, "I know you not." Jesus warned, "Watch (keep awake, give strict attention to, active, arouse from sleep, stir up, raise up) therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh." (Mt. 25:1-13).

The Church doesn't understand the maturity, unity, and the fullness of the stature of Christ expected of us as taught by those who have been given to us by God to prepare us and make us ready for Jesus' soon coming. If we are all to have "oil", and be doing the work of ministry, why are some content to live however they want? Jesus warned not to let life, and the cares of life catch us unaware in the snare that is meant for all that dwell on the face of the whole earth. He warned again, "Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man." (Lk. 21:34-36).

Revelation describes a horrible scene where people from all walks of life, from the highest to the lowest, beg the rocks to fall on them and cover them, "and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb. For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?" (Rev. 6:15-17). This is the question for each of us to ask ourselves as the hour draws near: "Who shall be able to stand before the Son of man?"

The prophet Malachi asks this same question:

"Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the LORD, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come, saith the LORD of hosts. But who may abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appeareth? for he is like a refiner's fire, and like fullers' sope: and he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the LORD an offering in righteousness."  Mal. 3:1-3

We believers in Christ are called to a royal priesthood, as well. Malachi continues on to describe the corrupt and wicked condition of the priests (v. 5), and speaks of the necessity for this priesthood to be purified and refined in His fire, until all impurities are removed, and the face of the Refiner is reflected in the pure gold and silver that results.

The Church, Christ's royal priesthood, compromises truth, and is filled with impurities and sin, refusing to be purified and refined through repentance, the LORD's refining fire. The Church in many cases accepts what the LORD has forbidden, and encourages others to do so as well. To all of these things, the LORD says:"For I am the LORD, I change not.." (v. 6). He changes not because this is the way He has made to spare us from destruction. 

The LORD saw the hearts of men then, and now, who say to themselves that there is no advantage to the righteousness of keeping the LORD's word. The wicked are happy, prosperous and delivered out of their problems, while the people of God seem to suffer. However, God promises that there is an advantage in every way to seeking His righteousness.

As the priests of the LORD receive the refining and purifying fire of God, they and their land become blessed, and a blessing to others, recognized by all of the nations of the earth (Mal. 3:11-12). This also is the truth of the LORD that will never change.

Jesus told the parable (Mt. 22:1-14) of the king who prepared a marriage banquet for his son, and invited all the guests that one would expect to see at the royal wedding:

"Tell them which are bidden, Behold, I have prepared my dinner: my oxen and my fatlings are killed, and all things are ready: come unto the marriage."  (v. 4).

However, those whom the king honored with his invitation refused to come, too busy with life and business, even doing violence to the servants who brought the invitation. The king then opened the invitation to anyone who would come, regardless of station in life. One man who came, did not have on the proper wedding garments, however. When the king questioned him about it, the man had no answer for the king, and he was ordered bound and thrown "into outer darkness".

We can learn from this parable that as the invited wedding guests try to come to the marriage supper of the Lamb not properly prepared, nor attired in the linen of righteousness (Rev. 19:8), they shall not be accepted into the marriage supper. "There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth." (Mt. 22:13). Jesus concludes by saying, "For many are called, but few are chosen."

The Lord has made it clear as to what He expects from us. We will not enter the marriage supper in any manner that we choose. We will not enter if we have not prepared for it. We will miss the moment, if we are not watching and praying. We will not enter without the proper wedding garments of pure linen, which is the righteousness of the saints. These garments are attained by those who accept the purifying, refining fire of the LORD. If we take the invitation lightly, we will not be ready.

The question being asked of us today, and which we must search ourselves for the answer, is, "Who shall be able to stand before the Son of man? Who can abide His coming? Who shall stand when He appears?

 *The above is based upon the 7/7/19 message to the Church from Dr. Kenneth Stevenson.

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Prayer of Salvation for all who desire to receive Jesus as their Savior: Lord Jesus, I desire to know You, and to know Your salvation. I believe that You died for me, and that You were resurrected for me. Forgive me of my sins. Come into my heart, change me, fill me with Your righteousness. Inscribe my name in the Lamb's book of life. Baptize me in Your Holy Spirit, so that I can learn the truth of Your Word and ways, and be strengthened in my walk all the days of my life. You are the hope of my life, and You are my eternal life. I place my trust in You, Lord, for myself, and my whole household. Use me to do the will of the heavenly Father, Who sent You, in Whose name You came. In Your name, and in thanks and praise I pray, Amen.

 

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Becoming Wise

 

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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It's Time to Wake Up - A Prophetic Alarm

 

One of the great parables of Jesus is found in Mt. 25:1-13. It serves as a wake-up call, as a warning, and as a picture of the miraculous work of the salvation of God through Christ. This parable immediately follows the vivid prophetic description Jesus gives us in Mt. 24, of the tribulation and shakings that will occur at the end of the age, just before His return. It is clearly evident, when we read Mt. 24, that we are seeing in our time these described prophetic signs come to pass. It is at this point, that the parable of the ten virgins and an impending wedding, takes place.

To understand the setting of the parable, it is necessary to understand the Jewish marriage customs at the time of the parable. Two families enter into a covenant of marriage. The bridegroom then goes to prepare a place for himself and his soon bride in his father's house. When the father of the bridegroom is satisfied that all preparations for this bridal chamber have been completed, he tells his son to go and get his bride. The bridegroom then goes to "steal" his bride away from her house, and brings her to their marriage chamber. Jesus describes Himself as this bridegroom according to the Jewish customs, in the following verses:

"Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father's house, are many mansions (dwelling, to wait for, await one, to tarry, to endure, to remain as and not to become something different): if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you unto Myself; that where I am, there ye my be also. And wither I go ye know, and the way ye know. Jn. 14:1-4

Of the timing of His return, Jesus again refers to the Jewish wedding customs when He says:

"...when ye shall see all these things (the prophetic events of Mt. 24), know that is near, even at the doors...But of that day and hour knoweth no man,...but My Father only. But as the days of Noe (Noah) were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be."  Mt. 24:33-37

Since we are seeing the fulfillment of Mt. 24 taking place before our very eyes, it is important to learn from this parable of Mt. 25.

The ten virgins have gone out (Rev. 18:4) to meet the bridegroom, taking their lamps with them. Jesus tells us that five of the ten are wise, because they took an additional vessel of oil (the Holy Spirit, the oil of gladness, the oil of anointing that sets apart, and consecrates) with them, as well as their lamps. The five remaining are called foolish, because they are not well prepared, and have no oil. The bridegroom tarries, is delayed, so the ten virgins, even the wise, fall asleep. At midnight the cry (shriek, scream, Heb. thunderings) sounds, "Behold, the Bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet Him." (v. 6). All ten virgins rise to go out again, and they trim the wicks in their lamps to prepare them for lighting. The five foolish virgins, having been ill-prepared, do not have any oil left with which to light their lamps. Since the Bridegroom was delayed, and didn't appear when they had thought He would, the foolish five, still did not prepare to have the extra oil on hand for the actual coming of the Bridegroom. They had the opportunity to do so, because of the delay, but did not.

The meaning of the word "wise"  used in the parable means to know, to be thoughtful, discreet. It also means to reign in, or curb, feelings and thoughts in order to (properly) perceive and judge. The delay of the Bridegroom served to show who was genuinely prepared for His coming, and who was not. His failure to appear when and how expected caused the unedifying emotions, and preconceived ideas regarding His return, and the timing and the circumstances of His coming, to be exposed in the foolish. Their true feelings were shown in their lack of preparation.
The "wise" virgins, on the other hand, shone in the light of their oil-filled lamps. The wise had prepared themselves, and like the wife in Revelation, "had made herself ready" (Rev. 19:7).The prophet Daniel describes the wise:
"And they that be wise shall shine (send out light, be light) as the brightness of the firmament, and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars forever and ever." 
                                                                                                             Dan. 12:3
The five unprepared, foolish virgins in this parable were not allowed to enter in with the Bridegroom.
Don't be "fooled". The season is upon us. The prophet Daniel tells us that the final portion of the prophetic age began when the Messiah was cut off (Dan. 9:25-26). Jewish Rabbis know that the prophetic timetable has brought near the appearing of the One they await, their Messiah. Matthew 24 tells us the specific signs of the season of His appearing, and the end of the age, which we are seeing fulfilled.
There is another important piece of information in this parable to keep in mind. The cry that the Bridegroom comes came at midnight. The word "midnight" has great spiritual meaning. Many important events in scripture happened at midnight.

There are two Hebrew words used for midnight. One means the depth of night, a season, calamity, misery, protective covering, from a root meaning winding spiral stairs that fold back upon themselves. As in climbing a spiral staircase, facing one direction lay calamity and misery, but at the same time, and in the same space, at the turn of the spiral, a different direction provides a protective covering. The two exist in the one space.
A second Hebrew word for midnight means an arrow dividing, to divide or cut in two, to halve, pierce or sever, to cut off in the midst, be finished. It is a time when there is a division or separation from, when something is cut off or finished.
In Ex. 11:3, the plague of death struck the Egyptian first born at midnight, but passed over the homes of the Hebrews, who had covered their doorposts and lintels with the blood of the lamb. In one direction lay death, and in another came deliverance.
In Judges 16:3, although the enemy had set an ambush for Samson ("like the sun", glittering, shining) outside the city of Gaza (strong, mighty, fierce), Samson tore out the protective gates and posts of the city at midnight, and left it defenseless.
In Ruth 3:8, Boaz awakens at midnight, and finds Ruth at his feet. His personal destiny, and the future line of Messiah, suddenly take a turn.
In 1 Kings 3:20, a dead and living child are switched at midnight, and the wise King Solomon, discerns the true mother's heart by threatening to divide the living child into two halves (see definition of midnight).
Job 34:20 describes a moment, which occurs at midnight, when even the rich and powerful fall into the hands of God, and all of their power becomes useless.
In Psalm 119:62, the psalmist rises, like the ten virgins, to give thanks (yadah) at midnight because of the righteous judgments of God.

When the cry sounds at midnight proclaiming the coming of the Bridegroom, don't let it catch us unprepared. Let us be wise, prepared, and shining with the light of the abundant oil of our lamps, having made ourselves ready.

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