The Ten Virgins
The second parable Jesus told about the coming of the kingdom of heaven [Matthew 25:1-13] involved ten virgins which were involved in a bridal celebration. All took lamps, but five only five took extra oil beyond what was currently in their lamp.
The bridegroom didn't come as soon as he was expected and they all slept. At midnight, there was a cry saying the bridegroom was coming and they should go out to greet him. Due to the delay, the five who took no extra oil found their lamps had gone out and implored the wise five to give them some of their oil.
The wise virgins said no and that the foolish virgins should go buy oil on their own (even if it was midnight). When the bridegroom arrived, those who were prepared were allowed to enter into the marriage celebration and to door was shut. When the others returned from shopping they tried to enter but the bridegroom said he didn't know them and refused to allow them entry.
Again, the message is clear. Be ready always. Even if the rapture doesn't happen in this lifetime, you never know when an accident or health event will either end your life or put you in a state of existence from which you can make no conscious decisions to accept Christ as Savior.
If the door closes either due to death, disability, or the rapture, it is closed forever. There is no purgatory or second chance that will be given. God will only be consulting the records of heaven to see if you are known. He won't be looking at church membership, baptismal certificates of any variety, church attendance, or on a more serious note, words written or taught or preached. Jesus will know His own.
The Ten Talents
The last parable about the timing of the rapture, found in Matthew 25:14-30, concerns a man who delivered his goods to servants to mind since he was going on a long journey.
He divided his assets to each of the three mentioned servants according to his perception of their abilities. One got five talents, one got two talents, and one got a single talent.
While he was gone, the servants who had five and two doubled their worth. The third was afraid and hid the lord's money in the ground.
After a long time the man returned and was pleased with the two who had doubled their value, but was wroth with the one that just had buried the money. He told the servant that he could have at least put the money to the loan sharks of the day so he could have gotten interest on the money. I'm not sure what inflation was then, but if it's like today he might have just broken even with the first two and actually ended up with less with the slothful servant.
The talent was taken from the slothful servant and given to the servant who had gained five, and the slothful servant was cast into outer darkness, which seems to be a euphemism for hell.
What can be gleaned by this? We each have been given something we can use to help enlarge God's kingdom. Maybe you're naturally social - I'm not. Maybe you can understand scripture and teach. Maybe you can play an instrument or sing or both. Maybe you're a financial genius and can stretch a dollar to do more.
Whatever ability you have, don't waste it. Time is short.
Events After the Second Coming
Matthew 25:31-46 gives some additional details of prophecy about what Jesus will do once His kingdom is set up on the Earth. It talks about the judgment of the living nations after the time of Christ's second coming. Christ shall set on His throne with the holy angels and judge all the nations, separating them into the evil and the good.
Dake has this comparison and commentary on this judgment time. This is basically quoted, but I expanded the book abbreviations for those not used to scriptural book abbreviations.
Not every person in all nations for many will not know Christ has even landed on the planet earth until later (Isaiah 2:2-24, 66:19-21; Zechariah 8:23). It will be an individual judgment of all involved with Israel, when Christ comes to set up His kingdom and not a judgment of the wicked dead.
Contrasts between the two judgments
| Judgment of nations. (Matthew 25:31-46) | Judgment of wicked (Revelation 20:11-15) |
|---|---|
| Living nations | the wicked dead |
| Before millennium | after millennium |
| Christ the Judge | God the Judge |
| On earth | in heaven |
| Two classes | one class |
| Some saved | none saved |
| Some destroyed | all destroyed |
| No resurrection | a resurrection |
| No books opened | books opened |
| Basis: persecution of Jews | all sins of all kinds of all men |
| One generation | many generations |
| Gentiles only | Jews - Gentiles |
| Angels help | none mentioned |
| Some go to hell | all go to hell |
| Some enter kingdom | none enter it |
| Separation of good from bad | no good judged here |
| To determine who continues to live on earth | none here will ever live on earth again |
| Some enter eternal life | none enter eternal life |
The purpose of this judgment is to determine who shall enter the kingdom (Daniel 7:9-14, 22; Revelation 11:15), and to give the meek the earth as promised. The reason and basis of the judgment of the nations (v. 40). God will curse or bless according to how men have dealt with Israel. He will forever respect and fulfill the Abrahamic covenant (Genesis 12:1-3)...
Continued notes on verse 40 - Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me... The brethren of Jesus according to the flesh (Matthew 10:6; John 1:11; Romans 9:5)
Some will be sent to the lake of fire and eternal punishment (v Matthew 24:41, 46, 13:39-50, 24:51; Revelation 14:9-11, 19:20, 20:10). These will make the first fruits of the second resurrection, which is that of all the wicked dead (Revelation 20:4-6, 11-15). Due to their judgment and entrance into eternal hell here, they will not be resurrected and judged again in Revelation 20:11-15 .
As a final aside, realize that God is watching how you treat others. He notices everything good that you do and everything good that you fail to do. As we do good to others, it is just like we were doing it to Jesus in God's eyes. Every time we don't it is just like we were refusing to do it for Jesus. That puts our Christian life in a much different perspective if we consider all of our actions in that light.
Conclusion About the Olivet Prophecy
The primary nature of these passages clearly point to the second coming and not the rapture of the church. Too often, we hear people talk about the state of the world and say that the rapture is at hand. It may very well be, but the majority of the prophecy by Jesus here concerns the second coming.
You can approximately date the rapture of the church as being around 7 years before the second coming, but that is an indirect accounting. The wars and rumors of wars, earthquakes, and the like should be correctly moved to occurrences during the tribulation period.
All the things like that which occur today are mostly a result of the fallen nature of the creation (and occasionally God's judgment). Once the rapture occurs, then you can start counting this prophecy as coming about directly.
Dake excerpt taken from Dake's Annotated Reference Bible, © 1961, 1963 by Finis Jennings Dake, and is reproduced on our web site with permission from representatives of Dake Publishing.