BEHOLD THE BRIDEGROOM COMETH

Transcription

1 BEHOLD THE BRIDEGROOM COMETH The parable of the Bridegroom coming to the wedding as recorded in Matthew 25 gives us more detail on the all-encompassing truth which is both the foundation and central pillar of the Advent faith...the declaration Unto two thousand and three hundred days; then shall the sanctuary be cleansed. Ref. GC p.409. This parable is linked to the cleansing of the sanctuary along with other related scriptures. GC p.426 tells us, The coming of Christ as our high priest to the most holy place, for the cleansing of the sanctuary, brought to view in Daniel 8:14; the coming of the Son of man to the Ancient of days, as presented in Daniel 7:13; and the coming of the Lord to His temple, foretold by Malachi, are descriptions of the same event; and this is also represented by the coming of the bridegroom to the marriage, described by Christ in the parable of the ten virgins, of Matthew 25. The parable of the ten virgins waiting for the coming of the Bridegroom is actually dealing with the call to gather to the sanctuary for the judgment and great day of atonement. This parable adds several details regarding the experience that will come to God s professed people at that time. One detail is the element of surprise. The Bridegroom comes suddenly and unexpectedly. All the virgins were waiting for Him to come, but they didn t expect Him just then. Both the wise and foolish were taken by surprise. But the wise had been daily adding oil to their vessels which prepared them for the sudden emergency. Yet they were not as alert as they should have been. They needed a spiritual revival and awakening and to trim their lamps before they could go into the wedding. It is always dangerous to become drowsy in our religious experience. Christ has admonished us to watch and pray and be ready at all times. 9T p.48 reaffirms Christ s warning. It tells us Be ye always ready, in the evening, in the morning, and at noon, that when the cry is heard, "Behold, the Bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet Him," you may, even though awakened out of sleep, go forth to meet Him with your lamps trimmed and burning. The wedding represents the at-one-ment, the union between Christ and His people which takes place in the most holy place. By the marriage is represented the union of humanity with divinity COL p.307. It is a spiritual representation of what happens in an earthly wedding. Ephesians 5:31tells us, For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh. This parable had its first fulfillment in the summer of 1844, at the Adventist camp meeting in Exeter, N.H. It was at that camp meeting that Samuel Snow came galloping on horseback to bring to the Advent believers the news that the Bridegroom would come back to earth on October 22 of that year. The time charts that he had drawn up to verify his calculations were convincing and it sparked a mighty revival and awakening that spread to every part of the America. It was one of the most glorious movements ever witnessed since Pentecost. All the sleeping virgins were awakened by the call Behold the Bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet Him. Inspiration tells us that this parable will be fulfilled again and will be present truth till the end of time. 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 Aug.19, If Christ sent an awakening message to awaken His people before the judgment began for the dead, would we not expect that He would also send a message to awaken His people just before the judgment of the living begins? In RH Feb.11, 1896 we read, My mind was carried to the future, when the signal will be given. "Behold, the Bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him." But some will have delayed to obtain the oil for replenishing their lamps, and too late they will find that character, which is represented by the oil, is not transferable. And when it 1

2 comes again, we can expect that it will come suddenly. That is what we read in Malachi 3:1-3, which is the same event as the parable of the ten virgins, according to GC p.426. 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' soap: 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." And when the call is given to meet the Bridegroom, it finds a class of foolish virgins as well as the wise. We are inclined to think that the foolish virgins were hypocrites who put on a pretense of religious piety while their hearts were not inclined to following the truth. But as we study further the reason why many were unprepared for the midnight call, we will find a wide range of characters among professed believers. In COL p.311 we read, The class represented by the foolish virgins are not hypocrites. They have a regard for the truth, they have advocated the truth, they are attracted to those who believe the truth; but they have not yielded themselves to the Holy Spirit's working. They have not fallen upon the Rock, Christ Jesus, and permitted their old nature to be broken up. They could be represented by those described in Maranatha p.46 which tells us that Many will be lost while hoping and desiring to be Christians; but they made no earnest effort, therefore they will be weighed in the balances and found wanting. Others were procrastinators. They intended to get their lives in order and be ready for the Bridegroom, but they somehow never found the time. They had good intentions but didn t sense the urgency for earnest prayer and filling their minds with the truths of God s word. Consequently they never had their vessels supplied with the graces of the Holy Spirit. They seemed to be constantly overcharged with the cares and pleasures of life, and the midnight hour found them without the necessary oil in their vessels. Some will be playing church. They have a form of godliness, but do not have the power thereof. There will be those who will claim admission to Christ s kingdom, saying Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Thy name? and in Thy name have cast out devils? and in Thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from Me, ye that work iniquity" Matthew 7:22&23. These will be left outside the banquet hall, in the darkness of midnight. The foolish virgins are also represented as those Laodiceans who are neither cold nor hot. They occupy a neutral position, and at the same time flatter themselves that they are in need of nothing They are neither unconcerned nor selfishly stubborn. They do not engage thoroughly and heartily in the work of God, identifying themselves with its interests; but they hold aloof and are ready to leave their posts when their worldly personal interests demand it 4T p.87. Among the foolish virgins are those who rest their hearts in carnal security. This is the class that in time of peril are found crying, Peace and safety. They lull their hearts into security, and dream not of danger. When startled from their lethargy, they discern their destitution, and entreat others to supply their lack; but in spiritual things no man can make up another's deficiency COL p.411. The parable tells us that even the wise were overtaken with slumber and were in danger of being unprepared for the sudden call at midnight. 1 Peter 4:17&18 tells us that judgment begins at the house of God and then adds these words of warning. And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear? In other words, the righteous come close to being among the foolish in this final crisis. The message that needs to be heeded by all the virgins is found in Zephaniah 3:1-3. Gather yourselves together, yea, gather together, O nation not desired; Before the decree bring forth, before the day pass as the chaff, before the fierce anger of the LORD come upon you, before the day of the LORD'S anger come upon you. Seek ye the LORD, all ye meek of the earth, which have wrought his judgment; seek righteousness, seek meekness: it may be ye shall be hid in the day of the LORD'S anger. Here again we read the warning words, it may be ye shall be hid in the day of the LORD'S anger. No one is safe in considering themselves saved or secure as they approach the final crisis. In the judg- 2

3 ment scene described in Zechariah 3:1-5, those who are accepted in the judgment are declared by Christ to be brands plucked out of the fire. So it is important that all the virgins do what it says in Philippians 2:12: work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. We are given several insights into what happens when the call at midnight awakens the drowsy virgins. The first one is from 5BC p.1099 which describes the experience of those who were wise. All who wait for the heavenly Bridegroom are represented in the parable as slumbering because their Lord delayed His coming; but the wise roused themselves at the message of His approach, and responded to the message, and their spiritual discernment was not all gone, and they sprang into line. As they took hold of the grace of Christ, their religious experience became vigorous and abundant, and their affections were set upon things above. They discerned where was the source of their supply, and appreciated the love that God had for them. They opened their hearts to receive the Holy Spirit, by which the love of God was shed abroad in their hearts. Their lights were trimmed and burning, and sent forth steady rays into the moral darkness of the world. They glorified God, because they had the oil of grace in their hearts, and did the very work that their Master did before them--went forth to seek and to save those who were lost. We see in the above passage that even though the wise had been in a slumbering state, they still had enough spiritual discernment to take hold of the grace that Christ offers to His people from the most holy place. Their spiritual experience was revived and became vigorous and abundant. This final revival brought all the wise up to a preparation to receive the refreshing latter rain by which they were enabled to go forth to seek and save those who were lost. Another passage from Inspiration reveals some additional details of the judgment scene and the different experience between the wise and the foolish at that time. I was in my dream a few nights since talking with you who were assembled. A large congregation was before me. I talked, I wept, I prayed, and some seemed to be as unimpressible as the granite rocks, but there was a mighty revealing of the Spirit of God. Jesus walked through our midst, he touched one and another, and still another, and how their faces lighted up! They praised God with joyful hearts. Some were passed by. Light was shining, everywhere, but some poor souls Jesus looked upon with pity; they slunk into dark corners, they did not try to come to the light, while others rushed from the darkness, forcing their way, as tho it was life or death with them, and the cry went forth as I never heard it before, "What shall I do to be saved?" There were confessions of sins; there was rejoicing of sins forgiven. It seemed to me they were reigned up before the Judgment. But all did not participate. They had not been walking in the company of Jesus, but apart from him, and they did not realize his presence. They seemed to think it was not Jesus. Alas! they did not know him! What a solemn impression was left upon minds! New York Indicator, March 7, This vision is in many ways similar to the vision of the shaking recorded in EW p.269. Here we are shown the decisive impact that the last call will have on the ten virgins. For the wise, it was a mighty awakening and revival that brought to them great light and rejoicing. They are pictured as repenting and confessing their sins and afflicting their souls as called for on the great day of atonement. And they rejoiced in the assurance of their acceptance because at this time Christ asks for His people pardon and justification, full and complete. Ref. GC p.484. But for the foolish virgins, it was a different story. They hadn t been walking in close association with Jesus. They hadn t heeded the voice of the Spirit calling them to repentance and searching of heart. When the last call came, they didn t recognize the voice of the Savior. They moved away from the light and slunk into dark corners. Every professing believer will fall into one of these categories. Either they will be among the wise who are accepted to enter the banquet hall, or they will be among those who are almost saved but wholly lost. They 3

4 may be among those who had a false experience, but who felt they were rendering valuable service to God in the wonderful works they were doing. To late they realize that they have been led by a deceiving spirit which made them feel secure in their acceptance before God. Too late, the foolish virgins realize that We cannot be ready to meet the Lord by waking up at the last minute, when the cry is heard, "Behold, the Bridegroom cometh," gathering up our lamps, from which the oil has burned away, and thinking then to have them replenished. Our only hope is daily to love God, to love the truth, not for the sake of its clear arguments, but for truth's sake alone RH Aug.6,,1894. We are also told in GC p. 428 that the parable of the call to the marriage supper recorded in Matthew 22 is describing the same event as the parable of the wedding found in Matthew 25. It tells us that In the parable of Matthew 22 the same figure of the marriage is introduced, and the investigative Judgment is clearly represented as taking place before the marriage. In both parables, there are wise virgins and foolish virgins. Not all who come to the wedding are accepted. There will be some who were confident that they were among the faithful and wise because they did great service for the Lord. But in the following passage, we read of the sad disappointment that will come to many who were professed believers, but who did not have the inward working of the Holy Spirit upon their hearts. To the marriage supper of the Lamb will come many who have not on the wedding garment,--the robe purchased for them with His life-blood. From lips that never make a mistake come the words, "Friend, how camest thou in hither not having on the wedding garment?" Those addressed are speechless. They know that words would be useless. The truth, with its sanctifying power, has not been brought into the soul, and the tongue that once spoke so readily of the truth is now silent. The words are spoken, "Take them out of My presence. They are not worthy to taste of My supper." As they are separated from the loyal ones, Christ looks upon them with deep sorrow. They occupied high positions of trust in God's work, but they have not the life insurance policy that would have entitled them to eternal life. From the quivering lips of Christ come the mournful words of regret, "I loved them; I gave My life for them; but they persisted in rejecting My pleadings, and continued in sin. O that thou hadst known, even thou, in this thy day, the things which belong to thy peace! But now they are hid from thine eyes. Today Christ is looking with sadness upon those whose characters He must at last refuse to acknowledge. Inflated with self-sufficiency, they hope that it will be well with their souls. But at the last great day the mirror of detection reveals to them the evil that their hearts have practised, and shows to them at the same time the impossibility of reform. Every effort was made to bring them to repentance. But they refused to humble their hearts. Now the bitter lamentation is heard, The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and my soul is not saved. Christ tells us how in the last great day ministers, elders, evangelists, physicians, teachers, will confront Him with their claims. They will plead how they have led the singers in their songs of praise, how they have waved the palm branches, how they have spoken of Him before thousands. Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Thy name, they say, and in Thy name done many wonderful works? But Christ says, Then will I profess unto them, I never knew you; depart from Me, ye that work iniquity. O that you had known, even in the day of your visitation, when like sweetest music, mercy's voice fell upon your ears, the things that belonged unto your peace. But you were not ready. If you had been faithful to the warnings of the word; if you had dismissed Satan, instead of linking your arm in his; if you had preserved untarnished the principles of right; if you had obeyed My commandments, broken with ungodly advisers, scorned their impious bribes, which tempted you to worldly honor; if you had lifted the cross, and followed Jesus in self-denial, I could have welcomed you into My presence. But you have not cared for My society, and now you have no power to go from the snare. I offered you My saving grace, but you refused it, and chose the side of the enemy, even as the priests and rulers did. You refused to be touched by My dying agony on the cross, and mocked at My humiliation. So will I refuse to 4

5 acknowledge you. I weep for your future, but you have not cared to weep for yourselves. I was pledged to bear you and care for you, even as a father beareth and loveth his own son that serveth him. But you would not harmonize with Me. The precious invitation was often given, 'Let him take hold of My strength, that he may make peace with Me, and he shall make peace with Me.' But you would none of My counsel. You have caused many to follow your sinful ways, and now your punishment has come. You will receive as your works have been. You must lose everlasting life. You have chosen your own ways, and with such ways, such sentiments, such characters, you could not enter the gates of the Holy city. What a scene is this! I pass over the ground again and again, bowed down in an agony that no tongue can express, as I see the end of the many, many who have refused to receive their Saviour. Justice will take the throne, and the arm strong to save will show itself strong to smite and destroy the enemies of the kingdom of God. Christ will lay bare the motives and deeds of every one. Every hidden action will stand out as clearly before the doer as if proclaimed before the universe PHO58, Sanitarium, Calif In view of the sad end of those who proved to be foolish virgins, we all need to heed the following inspired counsel that will prevent us from sharing the fearful doom of those who might have been saved but were wholly lost. A solemn responsibility rests upon those who know the truth, that all their works shall correspond with their faith, and that their lives shall be refined and sanctified, and they be prepared for the work that must rapidly be done in these closing days of the message. They have no time or strength to spend in the indulgence of appetite. The words should come to us now with impelling earnestness: Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord Acts 3:19. There are many among us who are deficient in spirituality and who, unless they are wholly converted, will certainly be lost. Can you afford to run the risk? Pride and weakness of faith are depriving many of the rich blessings of God. There are many who, unless they humble their hearts before the Lord, will be surprised and disappointed when the cry is heard: Behold, the Bridegroom cometh Matthew 25:6. They have the theory of the truth, but they have no oil in their vessels with their lamps. Our faith at this time must not stop with an assent to, or belief in, the theory of the third angel's message. We must have the oil of the grace of Christ that will feed the lamp and cause the light of life to shine forth, showing the way to those who are in darkness 9T p.154,155. 5