Bible Prophecy Watcher

Is Your Lamp Full of Oil? Do You Have Extra? What If You Don’t? And What is This Oil?

“And five of them were wise, and five were foolish. They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them: … 10- And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut.” -Matt 25:2-3, 10 (KJV)

Jesus gave us a unique parable about who would be able to enter the Kingdom of Heaven. He said it would be like 10 virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. There were 5 wise who took extra oil with them and there were 5 foolish that just took their lamps with little to no oil. The lamps would be used to light the procession to the bride’s house for the ceremony and then back to the groom’s house for the festivities. You see they all looked the part, dressed similar, lamps in hand with good intentions but their were 5 that seemingly only “played” the part in their relationship to the Bridegroom – Yeshua  HaMashiach (Jesus Christ the Messiah). This parallels people (“Christians”) who attend church services weekly in our society now. Some are followers of Christ – real followers, while others just play the part and seek no relationship with Jesus. I can think of several of these types of people right now and even in my own family!

All the virgins or bridesmaids fell asleep because the bridegroom tarried. Then the cry went out that the bridegroom had arrived. The virgins got up and trimmed (refilled) their lamps (or torches) and prepared to meet him. However, by this time the oil that was in their lamps burned off and so they had to rely on the extra oil they brought. The wise virgins were prepared, but the foolish, since they brought no extra, were in big trouble. Plus the bridegroom said this, which should be a WAKE-UP call for all Christians!!

Today’s message is of preparation and where you and I are at concerning the arrival of Jesus Christ, the Bridegroom.

You see the wise bridesmaids were ready and prepared to light the way for the wedding party and therefore were allowed into the marriage feast. The foolish … well, the door was shut in their faces. They would not be allowed to enter So based on this parable, where are you at in preparing for the Lord’s return?

Prepared and wise or foolish and lacking?

And what does this preparation involve?

Did the foolish procrastinate and fail to take oil because they thought He really wouldn’t come? Did they just want to be part of the crowd? Maybe they paid no attention to the signs that He was coming. Maybe they were just lazy or didn’t care. Or maybe they thought they could borrow some oil, if needed, from the other wise and prepared virgins… The bottom-line: they failed to prepare for the bridegroom’s arrival, even though they were in the group of 10 that knew He was coming and even went out to meet Him – but they failed miserably! And the door was shut in their faces!!

So in light of this parable from Jesus how does it apply to us Christians in 2023?

Obviously, today, we don’t carry lamps to light our way but what about how we prepare and what kind of relationship do we have in anticipation of the Lord’s return? This is what defines the oil of preparation. These points are serious and deserve ALL of our focus and attention.

• Do we study our Bibles – daily – to learn as much as possible about when and how? If you don’t read His word you will be in the camp of those that reject it or despise His word and therefore … well, just read what is written about these kind of people in Psa 50:17; Jer 6:10; 2 Chron 36:16.
• Do we desire the real meat of His word – 1 Cor 3:2-3.
• Do we pray seeking the Lord’s face for wisdom in understanding His word?
• Do we pray for others?
• Do we fast (if we can)? Food isn’t the only way we can use to fast.
• Do we live a holy life? (Holiness before a righteous God is of extreme importance.)
• Do we believe on the Lord and His word? No doubt, no unbelief.
• Are we witnessing to others?
• Do we confess our sins to the Lord and seek repentance amending our ways – as often as needed?
• Are we watching with eagerness for His return? Seriously watching and waiting.

Note: Just going to church every Sunday or confessing your sins to a priest (mere man), or having a Bible on your coffee table or shelf, or singing in the choir, or even being a pastor or elder will not save you. You must KNOW the Lord personally and He must know you.

DO NOT take these next verses lightly!

These are some ways that we keep our lamps full of oil ready to meet Him when He returns? There are many more ways but these, I think, are the key ones. So, have you extra oil available ready to trim your lamp when the Lord arrives? Please read this next verse with utmost attention and concern for it is the Lord’s reply to those that were not ready nor prepared for His arrival:

“Later the rest of the virgins also came and said, ‘Master, master, open up for us!’  “But he replied, ‘I assure you: I do not know you!’” -Matt 25:11-12 (ESV)

Are you waiting with anticipation for His return. Heb 9:28 says:

“so Christ also, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time for salvation without reference to sin, to those who eagerly await Him.” -Heb 9:28 (NASB)

Please read this verse carefully and also do not take it lightly. Does it say to you that when the Lord returns to catch away His Bride (rapture the real Christians) that only those who are waiting expectantly will see Him? Mull this around in your mind, read scripture and see what it is saying to you. It is of utmost importance!

Friends, it’s time to start paying attention to the signs occurring all around us fulfilling Bible Prophecy in these last days. It’s time to stay awake and not sleep. It’s time to watch. It’s time to be ready and study our Bibles knowing the time we are living in according to the Lord’s timeline. It’s time to prepare for His return. Keep your lamps topped off with oil, keep extra oil always with you and be ready at any time for His return.

Are you ready and prepared? Are you in the camp of the wise or the foolish? Will you be welcomed into the wedding or denied entrance for your lack of preparation? Get your life ready friends!

“Be on the alert then, for you do not know the day nor the hour.” -Matt 25:13 (NASB)

Grace and peace 

-BPWatcher, Internet Preacher and Bible Prophecy Watchman

All Glory To YAHWEH – God’s Real Name in Hebrew

Days of Noah

“And just as it happened in the days of Noah, so will it also be in the days of the Son of Man: 27 people were eating, they were drinking, they were marrying, and they were being given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all.” -Luke 17:26-27 (NASB)

We are living now in the “last days” before Christ’s return and it’s now more than ever critical that we pay close attention to what His word (the Bible) says about the days we are in now and those prophesied for us approaching at breakneck speed.

The Bible tells us that the days before the Lord’s return and the very difficult days leading up to it would be as it was in the days of Noah and Lot – Luke 17. People were doing their thing and living life as it was. Noah did preach righteousness to them for approximately 120 years (2 Peter 2:5 ), but in the end , out of the perhaps millions of people living in those days, just eight (8) were saved from the flood’s destruction. Yes, just 8!

So what’s that tell you?

Is this being repeated today, obviously, there are many more people on the earth now but will it be proportionately similar to Noah’s day? In other words, will only a few be saved (Luke 13:23), rescued from the terrible Day of the Lord? I think you’ll find the answer, referenced in Scripture – to be only a few will be saved.

So what’s this mean to you and I?

Are we watching for the Lord’s return and the times leading up to His arrival? Are we faithful in reading and studying His word so as to alert others on what’s coming? Or are we resting in the things of the world for our security and strength? Is our faith built upon worldly stuff or on Almighty God and His Son, Jesus Christ? Friends, these are no-kidding questions that we must ask ourselves in order to be ready for the “rain”.

But … who’s watching and waiting? Who’s got their spare oil ready to light the way for the Bridegroom when He comes for His Bride (Matt 25)? Who’s heeding the very words of Jesus while He was on the earth to “WATCH”? (Luke 12:35-36; Luke 12:40; Mark 13:33-34; Mark 13:35-37; Luke 21:31, 34, 36). For Jesus Himself says…

“Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man” (Luke 21:36)

No … seriously …  who’s watching, who’s ready, who’s paying attention to the signs right before our eyes in the things happening now in the world – war, rumors thereof, violence, crime, hate, persecution, famine, food costs skyrocketing, resources becoming more scarce, global unrest, financial systems ready to collapse, supply chain problems, diseases, pestilences, etc. Many events foretold us in the Bible are before our eyes now and getting worse. Will you and I be ready for the Lord when He comes or calls our name to come and be with Him? Are we praying now for our family members to receive the free gift of salvation? Let’s not be silent in these days but try and spread the word of His arrival and lead others to the Rock of our salvation.

Don’t be caught sleeping and unaware of what the Bible says will precede the Lord’s return. Tell others and be not silent for eternity is at stake.

 

-BPWatcher, Internet Preacher and Bible Prophecy Watchman

“Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?” -2 Peter 3:11-12

GLORY TO GOD!