Welcome to Anchors Of Truth
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live from the
3ABN Worship Center.
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Well we've the very conclusion
of this series called,
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Jesus, Radical Teacher.
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And today's subject
is, The Bridegroom Cometh.
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I'm looking forward to it.
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And we have
really appreciated having
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Carol and Ron Halvorsen with us.
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Thank you, Carol, for
bringing Ron to be with us.
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And we do always
enjoy his being here.
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He teases a little bit
about being an old preacher.
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Let me tell you something.
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When God calls you to
preach, it doesn't end at 65.
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There are two things
that you will not find
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in the Bible for preachers.
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One is retirement, and
the other is Sunday worship.
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They're just not there.
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Two things.
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And of course, it's not
just for preachers, but.
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It is a very true
thing that many preachers
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really hit their
stride later in life.
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Now we've got some
great young preachers on 3ABN.
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There are some young men
that I just love to hear preach.
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And there are some middle
aged that I love to hear preach.
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But then I think back to
people like R. Allen Anderson,
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H.M.S. Richards, and I can give
you a list on and on and on,
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of men who preached
far beyond their 60's,
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even beyond their
70's, way into their 80's,
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and some their 90's,
and were still blessing
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in a mighty way.
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In fact, in many ways
it's wonderful to have
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sharing with you someone who has
been by hundreds of bedsides,
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has stood with literally
hundreds of grieving people,
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by hundreds of coffins,
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and have been through
endless counseling sessions with
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those who were
troubled and had need of Jesus.
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You see, all of that
is absorbed in the life
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of a man like Ron Halvorsen.
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We emphasize, we
think about Ron's youth and
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how he grew up in New York City
and how he was a gang leader.
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But very soon, even 16 years of
age, he was carrying his Bible
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and witnessing and preaching.
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God reached down into the
ghetto and grabbed a young man
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by the neck and
said, "You're My man.
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I am going to use you."
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And throughout all of
those years of ministry,
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he has been
faithful, faithful to our Lord.
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Reaching out by faith
to do some things that
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people at times
shook their heads.
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We were just visiting a
moment ago about how he began
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a bus ministry in Texas.
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And how he found a bus
that was marked, "777."
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And that was the number
on the bus, a school bus.
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And he said, "That's
ours. That's got to be ours."
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And no money for it.
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He got his elder to
write a post dated check,
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because the elder didn't
have any money in the bank.
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And they had to
cover that check.
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God did it.
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Not only did it, but gave them
five additional buses later.
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And those buses, I can remember,
that bus ministry was bringing
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about 400 kids to church every
Sabbath and on Wednesday nights.
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You see, a man of
faith reaching out
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and being used by God.
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And so again,
our Anchors series,
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we try to have a balance.
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We try to have some
of the younger fellows.
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And we've got some
lined up for next year
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that we're excited about.
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But I want some of those
seasoned veterans as well.
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Those men who
have so much to share.
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And we appreciate so much
Ron coming and being with us.
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As I mentioned
before, Ron Jr. is the son.
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He's a chip off the old block.
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He's the president
now of the Ohio Conference
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of Seventh-day Adventists.
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And I love Ron Jr.
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I know him and know
him well, and love him.
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Diane, a
chaplain down in Florida
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at Florida Living Center.
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And so these are dedicated
children of Ron and Carol.
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And we appreciate them.
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And so today Ron is going
to be bringing the message,
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The Bridegroom Cometh.
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A great climatic
message of this series.
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Before he comes, our friend
C.A. Murray is going to be
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singing for us, Jesus Lifts Me.
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Pastor Murray.
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He lifts my
burdens whenever I'm down,
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He gives me joy
when I'm wearing a frown.
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He is my hope in
the midst of despair,
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and He, He is my
comfort, for He's always there.
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So I sing, not
because I feel like singing.
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And I praise Him,
though the end I may not see.
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For whenever I
lift the name of Jesus,
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Jesus reaches
down and He lifts me.
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He is the music
that makes my heart glad,
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He whispers peace
whenever I am sad.
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He is the sunshine
that brightens my day,
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and He, He is the
lighthouse to show me the way.
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So I sing, not
because I feel like singing.
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And I praise Him,
though the end I may not see.
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For whenever I
lift the name of Jesus,
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Jesus reaches
down and He lifts me.
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So I sing, not
because I just like singing.
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And I praise Him,
though the end I may not see.
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For whenever I
lift the name of Jesus,
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Jesus reaches
down, turns me around,
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and He plants my
feet on higher ground.
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He reaches down
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and He lifts me.
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Amen, amen. Beautiful.
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Well, good afternoon.
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We're happy to see
you back this afternoon.
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I just want to say
hello to those who are viewing
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our program, Anchors Of Truth.
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And our subject, The
Radical Teachings of Jesus.
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And I want to look
at this subject of,
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The Bridegroom Cometh.
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But first, let's bow our heads
in a word of prayer together.
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Father God, I pray that
You'll send Your Spirit to us.
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Open our eyes that we'll
see, our ears that we'll hear,
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our heart that we'll love.
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We pray, Father, that
we might leave this place
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expecting the
return of our Lord,
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ready for the
return of our Lord.
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We ask it in
Christ's name, amen and amen.
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"But I would not
have you to be ignorant...
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Five times in the
New Testament, Paul says,
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"I would not have you ignorant."
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It's a terrible thing
to be smart and ignorant
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at the same time.
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To know botany but
be ignorant of Jesus,
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who is the Lily of the Valley.
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To know astronomy
and be ignorant of Jesus,
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who is the
Bright and Morning Star.
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I mean, to know biology and
be ignorant of the fact that
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God wrapped Himself in
human flesh and walked among us.
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To know about the rocks
and be ignorant of Jesus,
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who is the Rock of Ages.
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To know world events and be
ignorant of the new world order,
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which will be under the
rule of the Lord Jesus Christ
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when He comes in His kingdom.
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Now let us get some knowledge
about the thing that Paul
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told us not to
be ignorant about.
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And what is this hope?
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The apostle Paul
speaks of here in the verse
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that the hope is the
coming of Jesus Christ,
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the second
coming of Jesus Christ.
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We find strong
evidence and explanation
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of the hope referring
to the return of Christ
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the second time.
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We'll discover the
manner of His return,
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and the urgency of
that return to earth again.
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And one of the parables that's
taught in the book of Matthew,
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one of the radical stories, is
found there in the 25th chapter.
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Now it's important you
understand that Matthew 24
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and Matthew 25 describes in
detail the manner and urgency
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of the return of Christ
to the earth the second time.
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In fact, in order for
us to understand the hope,
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let us go there this afternoon.
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And we will not claim knowledge
at the same time be ignorant
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of His truth.
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Matthew 25
beginning with verse 1.
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Now all students of the
Bible know that a text without a
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context is a pretext.
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And so we want to see
this, the 25th chapter,
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in light of the 24th.
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And we need to stay within
the context of this passage.
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For in the 24th chapter, we
have an eschatological passage.
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It's a prophetic discourse.
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The disciples came to
Jesus and asked the question,
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"What will it be
like, the second coming?"
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Or what will it be
like, the end of the world?
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And so He answers their
question in a 94 verse résumé
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concerning the second
coming of Jesus Christ.
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Now that's clear if you
read carefully and prayerfully
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the 24th chapter of Matthew,
which clearly introduces
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the subject of the
second coming of Jesus.
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In Matthew 25, we have
a parable about His hope.
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It would be entitled,
The Bridegroom Cometh.
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Jesus referred to
Himself as the Bridegroom
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earlier in Matthew.
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"And then came one of the
disciples of John, saying,
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'Why do we and the
Pharisees fast oft,
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but Thy disciples fast not?'
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And Jesus said unto
them, 'Can the children of the
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bride chamber mourn as long as
the bridegroom is with them?'"
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John the Baptist
confirmed the saying of Jesus
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in the book of John.
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In other words, the Bible
clearly teaches us that the
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church is the bride of Christ.
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The apostle Paul
gives that description.
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Now with this
scriptural background,
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it can be clear that the
virgins awaiting the groom
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are symbolic of the
church of Jesus Christ.
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And the Groom is Jesus Christ.
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And with that in mind,
the parable clearly represents
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three very important
facts that we need to see,
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dare we not be
ignorant concerning the
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second coming of Christ.
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First of all, the reasons for
the coming of the Son of God,
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the Bridegroom.
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Secondly, the requirements for
the coming of the Bridegroom.
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Thirdly, for the
readiness for the coming
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of the heavenly Bridegroom.
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The reasons, the
requirements, and the readiness
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for the coming of
this heavenly Bridegroom.
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Now the key text is
found in verse 6 of Matthew.
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Matthew 25 verse 6,
and notice it says this...
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"Behold, the bridegroom cometh.
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Go ye out to meet him."
00:17:31.42\00:17:33.06
Now to appreciate
what the Lord Jesus Christ
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is trying to say to us
here in the 25th chapter,
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in order for us modern people
to understand this ancient
00:17:38.21\00:17:41.75
parable, this ancient story, we
need to catch the significance
00:17:41.78\00:17:45.75
and knowledge about it.
00:17:45.78\00:17:47.73
There's a three-fold
procedure in marriage
00:17:48.23\00:17:50.68
in the New Testament times.
00:17:50.71\00:17:52.45
First of all, the engagement.
00:17:53.39\00:17:55.17
And by the way, that was
when the formal settlement
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was made between
respective fathers, and bride,
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and the bridegroom.
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Secondly, the betrothal.
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A ceremony held in
the home of the bride.
00:18:06.99\00:18:09.51
It was where
presents were exchanged
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and arrangements were
made between both parties.
00:18:11.41\00:18:14.07
The bride and groom had little
to say about their marriage.
00:18:14.31\00:18:17.91
But the families
had a lot to say.
00:18:18.48\00:18:20.50
Anyway, then came the
third, the marriage itself.
00:18:21.32\00:18:23.89
Now this took place about a
year later after the betrothal.
00:18:24.08\00:18:28.39
It was when the bridegroom came
to the friends of the family
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to fetch the bride.
00:18:31.94\00:18:33.39
And they would fetch the
bride and bring the bride
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to the father's house.
00:18:36.42\00:18:37.91
Now it's important for
you to understand that,
00:18:37.94\00:18:39.97
to keep that in mind.
00:18:40.00\00:18:41.18
Lest you be ignorant
concerning the coming of Christ.
00:18:41.21\00:18:44.51
Now Jesus Christ came
first to win His bride.
00:18:45.03\00:18:47.89
Now keep in mind, when
the Lord Jesus Christ came
00:18:48.79\00:18:51.35
the first time, He
came to win His bride.
00:18:51.38\00:18:54.28
And that's the meaning
of the words of the apostle,
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"Christ also loved the church
and He gave Himself for it."
00:18:56.46\00:19:01.04
I'm an evangelist, a pastor.
00:19:01.07\00:19:03.46
And nothing thrills me more
than to preach the gospel of
00:19:03.56\00:19:06.83
Jesus Christ and
invite men and women
00:19:06.86\00:19:09.19
and children and young
people to receive Jesus Christ
00:19:09.22\00:19:12.42
as Lord in their life.
00:19:12.45\00:19:13.89
I mean, God truly saves sinners;
00:19:13.92\00:19:16.17
individually and specifically
and gloriously and redemptively.
00:19:16.20\00:19:20.97
Everywhere,
there's a case in point.
00:19:21.23\00:19:23.89
I remember I was in one city.
00:19:24.26\00:19:26.32
And we always do prayer walking
before we hold an evangelistic
00:19:26.43\00:19:29.85
series of meetings.
00:19:29.88\00:19:31.18
And there was this,
people were praying and walking.
00:19:31.21\00:19:34.42
And so my wife asked me
if she could go shopping.
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She doesn't
shop very often, but.
00:19:37.98\00:19:39.70
There in
Waikiki, it was in Hawaii.
00:19:39.92\00:19:42.39
And my wife wanted to go
to the international mall
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and buy some
things for the grandkids.
00:19:45.45\00:19:47.40
So me being from Mars
and her being from Venus,
00:19:47.50\00:19:50.91
I sent her shopping
and I thought I would walk
00:19:51.79\00:19:54.50
around the international mall.
00:19:54.53\00:19:56.54
And doing it, I would pray.
00:19:56.57\00:19:58.60
Not only teach the
people, but to do it myself.
00:19:58.63\00:20:01.85
And so I started
walking and praying;
00:20:01.88\00:20:03.92
a prayer walk.
00:20:03.95\00:20:05.19
And I noticed that on
every street corner, it seemed,
00:20:05.43\00:20:07.89
there was a prostitute.
00:20:07.92\00:20:09.40
And I thought to
myself, "Oh God."
00:20:09.79\00:20:11.73
When you look through
the eyes of a Christian,
00:20:11.76\00:20:13.45
you see, not a piece of
merchandise, but you see
00:20:13.65\00:20:15.99
someone for whom Christ died.
00:20:16.02\00:20:17.74
It could be your daughter,
save for the grace of God.
00:20:17.77\00:20:20.39
And so I began to pray.
00:20:21.23\00:20:22.64
I said, "Lord, before
these meetings are over,
00:20:22.67\00:20:24.96
I want you to touch
someone on this street.
00:20:24.99\00:20:27.49
I want you to touch
someone who's walking Waikiki
00:20:27.52\00:20:30.58
and bring them to You, and bring
them to purity and holiness."
00:20:30.61\00:20:34.03
That was my prayer.
00:20:34.13\00:20:35.16
Every Thursday I
sent her shopping.
00:20:35.19\00:20:37.03
And I did my walk.
00:20:37.95\00:20:39.38
At the end of the
meeting, God blessed the meeting
00:20:39.97\00:20:41.80
in such a way and we
baptized over 225 people
00:20:41.83\00:20:45.08
in that crusade in the church.
00:20:45.11\00:20:46.79
And a wonderful meeting.
00:20:46.88\00:20:48.35
And after the meetings, a
woman came up to me, she said,
00:20:48.76\00:20:50.95
"I need to talk
to you, Pastor Ron."
00:20:50.98\00:20:52.42
I said, "Fine,"
and so we sat down.
00:20:52.45\00:20:54.72
And she said, "You
know I was baptized."
00:20:54.75\00:20:56.23
I said, "Yeah, you
were in my baptism class.
00:20:56.26\00:20:58.63
And I'm just so excited."
00:20:58.83\00:20:59.97
And she said, "But when
these meetings started,"
00:21:00.00\00:21:02.37
she said, "I
was a streetwalker."
00:21:03.10\00:21:04.95
And I said, "Well, where?"
00:21:06.52\00:21:07.91
And she named the very
street where I had been praying.
00:21:08.47\00:21:13.31
God does save people.
00:21:13.82\00:21:17.45
God does change people.
00:21:17.48\00:21:19.88
A year or so later I
received a beautiful letter
00:21:20.08\00:21:22.75
from this woman.
00:21:23.22\00:21:24.25
She told me how she was sending
her child to church school and
00:21:24.36\00:21:27.88
how she was involved in
Christ, and how that God
00:21:27.91\00:21:30.31
brought her a
Christian man, her husband.
00:21:30.34\00:21:33.55
What a wonderful experience.
00:21:33.66\00:21:35.37
Because God does save people.
00:21:35.40\00:21:37.89
Individually.
00:21:39.08\00:21:40.36
And even in your own life, think
of the time God reached out
00:21:40.92\00:21:43.82
to touch you, to change you.
00:21:43.85\00:21:46.11
That was a miracle of God.
00:21:46.14\00:21:47.68
That's the way He works.
00:21:47.71\00:21:49.10
And when God
seeks you, You can't run
00:21:49.13\00:21:51.13
far enough away from Him.
00:21:51.16\00:21:52.66
You can't hide from Him.
00:21:52.69\00:21:54.15
He saves us from the
gutter most to the uttermost,
00:21:54.18\00:21:57.72
as Peter Marshall said.
00:21:57.75\00:21:59.31
But what God is doing today
is not just saving sinners,
00:22:00.29\00:22:05.91
He's calling a
people out in His name.
00:22:06.22\00:22:10.33
Christ is building the church.
00:22:10.49\00:22:12.85
Therefore, the three
angels' message of Revelation.
00:22:12.88\00:22:16.10
Therefore, the message
of God calling men and women
00:22:16.13\00:22:18.71
to the truth,
calling men and women out.
00:22:18.74\00:22:21.31
Calling them to the
church of Jesus Christ.
00:22:21.34\00:22:24.07
Calling them to be
ready for the advent of Jesus,
00:22:24.10\00:22:26.71
the second coming of Christ.
00:22:26.74\00:22:28.27
Incorporated in our very
name; Seventh-day Adventists.
00:22:28.60\00:22:33.20
We believe strongly in
the soon coming of Christ.
00:22:33.23\00:22:36.82
I remember when I
was young minister,
00:22:36.85\00:22:38.40
I was enthusiastic.
00:22:38.43\00:22:39.97
I met someone I knew
30 years ago, they said,
00:22:42.27\00:22:44.13
"You're still enthusiastic."
00:22:44.16\00:22:45.93
I said, "Well, I'm still saved."
00:22:45.96\00:22:47.98
That doesn't change.
00:22:49.22\00:22:50.85
I'm still saved.
00:22:51.20\00:22:52.28
Well anyway, I was a young
minister and I got a call from
00:22:52.31\00:22:55.33
the Episcopal
seminary there New England,
00:22:55.36\00:22:58.41
one of the high church.
00:22:58.60\00:23:00.52
They wanted me to come and
speak to the seminary students
00:23:00.82\00:23:04.02
about what I believed as a
Seventh-day Adventist Christian.
00:23:04.12\00:23:06.93
I couldn't wait.
00:23:07.89\00:23:09.12
I walked into
that great seminary,
00:23:10.46\00:23:12.85
ivy league seminary, and
climbed up into the pulpit,
00:23:12.95\00:23:16.98
and stood high and lifted up.
00:23:17.01\00:23:18.85
And so I stood up and I
proclaimed I believe the Bible
00:23:20.78\00:23:24.82
to be the inspired word of God.
00:23:24.85\00:23:26.44
It is the infallible
word, the final word of God.
00:23:26.47\00:23:29.57
I stood proudly to
proclaim the gospel of Jesus,
00:23:30.46\00:23:33.77
how Jesus does save sinners.
00:23:33.80\00:23:35.77
And that through His blood
we're cleansed from our sin.
00:23:35.80\00:23:38.82
I talked about
the Ten Commandments,
00:23:38.85\00:23:41.53
the moral law, and
about how the moral law is
00:23:41.56\00:23:44.32
written on our hearts.
00:23:44.35\00:23:45.38
And it's not just a
bunch of rules, but rather
00:23:45.41\00:23:48.15
it's a way of living.
00:23:48.18\00:23:49.51
And then I talked about
the Sabbath as creation.
00:23:50.82\00:23:53.37
I showed them how that
God did everything in order.
00:23:53.47\00:23:57.62
He doesn't create
fish and then create water.
00:23:57.65\00:24:00.22
He doesn't create stars
and then create firmament.
00:24:00.25\00:24:03.32
He doesn't create worship
before He creates the worshiper.
00:24:03.35\00:24:08.10
And I stood up and proclaimed
the Sabbath in the Bible.
00:24:10.98\00:24:13.93
And I went on to the judgment
and the wonderful message
00:24:14.12\00:24:17.41
of the advent judgment.
00:24:17.44\00:24:19.09
And then finally I
saved the best for last.
00:24:19.66\00:24:21.87
I said, "I believe in the
soon coming of Jesus Christ,
00:24:22.51\00:24:25.03
the imminent return of Christ
to the earth the second time."
00:24:25.06\00:24:27.92
I quoted Scripture.
00:24:29.31\00:24:31.04
And when I finished, it
was question and answer time.
00:24:31.34\00:24:33.75
Now I'm always
good at the questions,
00:24:33.78\00:24:35.29
it's the answers I
have problems with.
00:24:35.32\00:24:37.44
That's been my
problem from the beginning.
00:24:38.84\00:24:41.17
I took a sleep apnea test
the day, and I failed that.
00:24:41.20\00:24:44.61
You get the drift, don't you?
00:24:47.28\00:24:48.82
Anyway, a professor in
the back, the head professor
00:24:49.71\00:24:52.51
of the seminary raised his hand.
00:24:52.54\00:24:54.48
He stood up. I said, "Yes, sir."
00:24:54.51\00:24:56.06
He stood up, he introduced
himself; Dr. so and so.
00:24:56.09\00:24:59.44
PhD, ThD, DDT.
00:24:59.47\00:25:03.70
And I was impressed.
00:25:05.56\00:25:07.12
And he said,
"Young man, that could be
00:25:08.18\00:25:11.96
a thousand years from now."
00:25:11.99\00:25:14.87
And he sat down.
00:25:15.62\00:25:16.65
And all the
students were enthralled.
00:25:16.68\00:25:19.63
And I said, "That may.
00:25:19.87\00:25:21.55
But sir, put your
hand on your heart.
00:25:21.58\00:25:24.24
For you it's not a
thousand years from now.
00:25:26.22\00:25:28.52
Be ye ready."
00:25:28.55\00:25:29.92
Be ye ready.
00:25:32.02\00:25:35.39
The purpose of the first
advent was to win His bride.
00:25:36.76\00:25:39.56
He loves the
church so much so that He
00:25:40.47\00:25:42.21
gave His life to save it.
00:25:42.24\00:25:43.98
But this message goes further.
00:25:44.16\00:25:45.81
Not merely saving the church.
00:25:45.84\00:25:47.60
He's coming back
again to take His bride.
00:25:47.63\00:25:50.19
I mean, three things
emerge here concerning it.
00:25:50.47\00:25:52.61
He's coming to take His bride.
00:25:52.64\00:25:54.70
He's coming to wed His bride.
00:25:54.73\00:25:56.43
And He's coming to show
His bride to the universe.
00:25:56.46\00:25:59.86
A great wedding feast.
00:26:00.56\00:26:02.20
I don't know why
the church is so gloomy.
00:26:02.53\00:26:05.16
Everywhere it's a
feast, everywhere it's a party.
00:26:05.94\00:26:08.65
Everywhere they're celebrating.
00:26:08.68\00:26:10.12
And we...
00:26:10.44\00:26:11.47
...go through it
like it's a funeral.
00:26:12.75\00:26:15.22
It's a resurrection,
brother and sister.
00:26:15.25\00:26:17.57
Resurrection.
00:26:18.28\00:26:19.47
I get so excited.
I'm a right brainer.
00:26:20.06\00:26:22.52
Being in a left brain
church being right brained,
00:26:22.55\00:26:24.63
it's terrible, let me tell you.
00:26:24.66\00:26:26.14
I've got to sit on my hands.
00:26:26.17\00:26:28.20
I raised my hand
recently in a church service.
00:26:28.56\00:26:30.94
And the pastor recognized me.
00:26:31.04\00:26:32.33
He said, "Brother Halvorsen,
do you have a question?"
00:26:32.36\00:26:34.50
I said, "No, I have an answer."
00:26:34.61\00:26:36.23
And then I sat on it
the rest of the service.
00:26:36.26\00:26:38.58
I mean, it's
terrible being right brained
00:26:39.18\00:26:40.45
in a left brain church.
00:26:40.48\00:26:41.90
Left brain church.
00:26:42.69\00:26:44.25
But it's a wedding feast.
00:26:44.28\00:26:45.87
It's a great feast.
00:26:46.07\00:26:47.59
And He says
there'll be rejoicing.
00:26:47.79\00:26:49.77
A great wedding.
00:26:49.80\00:26:50.88
And why does the church
act as if they're at a funeral
00:26:51.27\00:26:53.97
instead of a wedding?
00:26:54.00\00:26:55.05
Why does the church
think gloominess is holiness?
00:26:55.53\00:26:58.51
Why doesn't the church
sing in songs from a past era?
00:26:59.16\00:27:02.08
That gifted woman one day
was preaching to an audience.
00:27:02.11\00:27:05.96
And God was
blessing her, as always.
00:27:06.94\00:27:09.58
And she said when she finished,
they broke out in applause.
00:27:10.01\00:27:14.02
And she said this, "I had
never felt closer to heaven
00:27:14.38\00:27:19.39
than when they
broke out in applause."
00:27:20.14\00:27:23.64
Wow, that's for
those who are afraid
00:27:23.90\00:27:27.75
to show their feelings.
00:27:27.78\00:27:29.36
Why don't you quote
some of those quotes to me.
00:27:29.39\00:27:32.49
Joy, the prodigal comes
home and he throws a party.
00:27:33.35\00:27:36.79
Listen to me, the
father throws a party.
00:27:37.43\00:27:40.01
When sinners come to
Christ, there's rejoicing.
00:27:40.66\00:27:43.30
There's a party in heaven every
time a sinner comes to God.
00:27:43.33\00:27:46.57
And so He takes His bride.
00:27:46.92\00:27:48.54
"Behold, the bridegroom cometh.
00:27:48.75\00:27:50.49
Go ye out to meet him."
00:27:50.52\00:27:51.71
I read somewhere, a
tourist in the Middle East
00:27:51.90\00:27:54.26
describes the
procedure he personally observed
00:27:54.29\00:27:57.27
with his own eyes in Palestine.
00:27:57.30\00:27:59.24
He said, "As I approached
the gates of a Galilean town,
00:27:59.50\00:28:02.53
I caught sight of ten maidens.
00:28:02.56\00:28:04.97
They were gaily clad, playing
some type of musical instrument.
00:28:05.21\00:28:08.44
And they danced along
the road in front of the car.
00:28:08.54\00:28:11.60
And when I asked
what they were doing,
00:28:12.36\00:28:13.81
my guide told me they were
going to keep the bride company
00:28:13.84\00:28:17.04
until the
bridegroom comes to get her."
00:28:17.86\00:28:19.86
Wow.
00:28:20.43\00:28:21.48
And he said, "Well,
can I see the wedding?"
00:28:21.90\00:28:23.72
He said, "Well," he
said, "I don't know.
00:28:23.75\00:28:25.49
It may be tonight.
00:28:25.52\00:28:26.93
It may be tomorrow.
It may be next week.
00:28:27.03\00:28:29.18
No one knows."
00:28:29.21\00:28:30.32
In fact, they hire someone
who goes ahead of the bridegroom
00:28:30.35\00:28:33.96
crying, "Behold,
the bridegroom cometh,"
00:28:33.99\00:28:36.20
to wake them up.
00:28:36.23\00:28:37.56
In fact, the one
thing they like to do is
00:28:38.41\00:28:40.70
try to catch the
bridal party sleeping.
00:28:40.73\00:28:44.26
I think it's very clear
what it says, "Be ye ready."
00:28:45.10\00:28:49.28
The bridegroom is required
to send someone to cry out,
00:28:49.95\00:28:54.37
"Behold, the bridegroom..."
00:28:54.40\00:28:55.67
And that may happen any time.
00:28:55.89\00:28:57.58
And so the bride
must be ready at any time.
00:28:57.61\00:29:00.28
The church of Jesus Christ
needs to be ready at any time.
00:29:00.31\00:29:03.66
I mean, Jesus Christ
is only a heartbeat away.
00:29:03.69\00:29:06.60
A heartbeat away.
00:29:07.02\00:29:08.46
Can you now see why the
message of the three angels
00:29:08.49\00:29:10.60
is a loud cry message?
00:29:10.63\00:29:12.32
How important the work of
the Three Angels Broadcast,
00:29:12.35\00:29:15.18
It Is Written, and the
other programs founded to
00:29:15.21\00:29:17.95
proclaim the message of
hope, the coming of Jesus.
00:29:17.98\00:29:20.70
It's preparing men
and women for the coming
00:29:20.73\00:29:24.41
of the heavenly Bridegroom.
00:29:24.44\00:29:25.84
A prophetic mandate.
00:29:26.23\00:29:27.79
Preparing men and
women for His coming.
00:29:27.99\00:29:30.03
Now let's never lose
sight of that great truth.
00:29:30.06\00:29:32.28
The heavenly Bridegroom
is coming to take His bride,
00:29:32.31\00:29:38.40
take His bride home.
00:29:39.54\00:29:40.95
Many times people
question me about why
00:29:41.64\00:29:45.22
my wife and I travel around
the nation so much at our age.
00:29:45.50\00:29:48.75
Two months ago, in a month and
a half we traveled 13,000 miles.
00:29:49.57\00:29:53.79
"Why don't you retire?
00:29:54.80\00:29:56.18
Sit back, relax,
get comfortable?"
00:29:56.86\00:30:01.35
How can we, when the coming
of the Bridegroom is so near
00:30:01.78\00:30:05.03
and there's so many
to warn, to prepare,
00:30:05.06\00:30:08.33
for the coming
of the Bridegroom?
00:30:08.36\00:30:10.03
We will continue as long
as we're allowed to continue
00:30:10.28\00:30:13.10
reaching men, women,
and children for Christ
00:30:13.13\00:30:15.37
inviting them to
the great wedding feast.
00:30:15.40\00:30:17.58
I mean, as long as we're
not home, in our heavenly home,
00:30:17.61\00:30:20.49
we will continue preaching
the message of Jesus Christ.
00:30:20.52\00:30:24.30
We're not home yet.
00:30:24.80\00:30:26.01
I think of the story of the
missionary, Pastor Morrison.
00:30:26.88\00:30:31.33
He was a missionary
in Africa for 30 years.
00:30:31.88\00:30:34.53
He buried two
children in Africa.
00:30:35.10\00:30:37.27
And just before he retired,
he buried his wife in Africa.
00:30:37.92\00:30:43.20
But the mission board
finally got him to come home.
00:30:43.59\00:30:45.90
They said, "You need to
come home, Pastor Morrison.
00:30:45.93\00:30:48.76
It's time for you to retire."
00:30:48.79\00:30:51.10
And so he boarded the ship.
00:30:51.62\00:30:53.17
He boarded the same ship
that Teddy Roosevelt was on.
00:30:53.20\00:30:55.71
You see, Teddy
Roosevelt went to Africa
00:30:55.81\00:30:57.92
for three weeks hunting.
00:30:57.95\00:31:00.49
And now when that ship,
that great ship, came into the
00:31:01.29\00:31:03.75
New York harbor, there were the
fireboats shooting up the water,
00:31:03.78\00:31:07.25
and there were fireworks,
and bands were playing.
00:31:07.28\00:31:09.92
Teddy Roosevelt came off
the ship with his trophies.
00:31:10.61\00:31:14.58
And after the
parade, Pastor Morrison
00:31:15.85\00:31:19.63
made his way off the ship.
00:31:19.66\00:31:21.54
Couldn't even find a cab.
00:31:21.90\00:31:23.57
And he's walking
through the streets of New York.
00:31:24.15\00:31:26.13
First time there
in so many years.
00:31:26.49\00:31:28.82
All alone.
00:31:29.02\00:31:30.26
His family in Africa buried
beneath the soil of Africa.
00:31:30.39\00:31:34.85
And now he says to
himself, "Lord, these years
00:31:35.33\00:31:39.57
I've served You.
00:31:39.60\00:31:40.95
And no one is here
to welcome me home."
00:31:41.34\00:31:43.67
And God said to him,
"Pastor, you're not home yet.
00:31:44.51\00:31:48.98
You're not home yet."
00:31:49.87\00:31:51.35
We are not home yet.
00:31:52.12\00:31:53.78
And that's what the Bible says.
00:31:55.39\00:31:57.42
He's going to come
and fetch His bride.
00:31:58.25\00:32:00.39
Just when that hour will
strike is not known to you,
00:32:00.73\00:32:03.25
it's not known to some preacher,
it's not known to some chart.
00:32:03.28\00:32:06.29
It's only known to
Jesus, to the angels.
00:32:08.30\00:32:11.12
And the angels don't even know.
00:32:11.15\00:32:12.90
The Father alone.
00:32:12.93\00:32:14.38
And it's not for you to
know the time or the seasons.
00:32:14.77\00:32:17.07
And that's why it's imperative
that every believing person
00:32:17.10\00:32:20.25
who hears my voice today,
every person on television
00:32:20.28\00:32:23.46
watching this program,
be ready for the coming
00:32:23.49\00:32:25.78
of the heavenly Bridegroom.
00:32:25.81\00:32:27.28
And to you who are a
stranger to God's grace,
00:32:28.23\00:32:30.39
a stranger to salvation,
you too need to surrender
00:32:30.42\00:32:33.76
and prepare
yourself for the coming
00:32:33.96\00:32:36.09
of the heavenly Bridegroom.
00:32:36.12\00:32:37.49
To be ready knowing
the cleansing of the
00:32:37.52\00:32:39.98
precious blood of Christ.
00:32:40.01\00:32:41.32
Accept Him before it's too late.
00:32:41.35\00:32:43.35
Bow your head before Him and
say, "Lord, come into my heart.
00:32:43.38\00:32:46.77
Lord, change my heart."
00:32:46.80\00:32:48.26
And let God change your heart.
00:32:48.46\00:32:50.55
Get on the phone, call an
Adventist preacher in your city.
00:32:50.84\00:32:53.69
Go to that church, learn what
you can about God in preparation
00:32:53.89\00:32:57.52
for the coming of Jesus Christ.
00:32:57.55\00:32:59.46
The preparation is
going on right now, friend.
00:32:59.82\00:33:02.34
And this is the whole
purpose of the preaching
00:33:02.80\00:33:04.71
of the three angels' message.
00:33:04.74\00:33:06.44
This is the whole
reason we stand up and proclaim
00:33:06.47\00:33:08.93
God's message around the world.
00:33:09.23\00:33:11.16
Seek the face of Christ.
00:33:11.19\00:33:13.07
Recommit
yourself to Jesus Christ.
00:33:13.27\00:33:15.76
Reconsecrate
yourself to Jesus Christ.
00:33:15.86\00:33:18.71
In some corners, I'm told,
the day of evangelism is over.
00:33:18.74\00:33:21.60
Negativism.
00:33:21.80\00:33:23.03
That may be true in
the case of human effort,
00:33:23.06\00:33:25.32
feeble sermons,
Christless sermons.
00:33:25.35\00:33:29.39
But listen to me, but those
who are Holy Spirit filled,
00:33:29.43\00:33:32.20
those men and women
who stand up for God
00:33:32.30\00:33:34.49
full of the Holy
Ghost, it's not over.
00:33:34.52\00:33:36.67
I've had some of my best
meetings since I've retired.
00:33:36.70\00:33:39.27
Baptized 359 in San
Bernardino, California.
00:33:39.30\00:33:43.15
Baptized 200 and some in
Hawaii in the city of Waikiki.
00:33:43.42\00:33:50.46
And it's the best
hour yet for evangelism.
00:33:50.83\00:33:53.91
We need to
stand up and proclaim.
00:33:53.94\00:33:55.62
Why? Because Jesus
said, "Go ye into the world
00:33:55.65\00:33:57.65
and preach the gospel and
lead men and women to God."
00:33:57.68\00:34:01.10
And so the heavenly
Bridegroom is about to come.
00:34:01.54\00:34:04.88
And it will end with glory, and
it will end with great power.
00:34:05.23\00:34:10.15
Today we see a church defiled.
00:34:10.61\00:34:12.39
We see a church defeated.
00:34:12.95\00:34:14.78
We see the church divided.
00:34:15.00\00:34:16.66
Churches self-serving,
and fighting, and faithless.
00:34:16.69\00:34:19.73
But not for long.
00:34:19.76\00:34:20.98
He is coming to wed His church.
00:34:21.01\00:34:23.18
I mean, not only
individually, but collectively
00:34:23.21\00:34:25.45
and corporately.
00:34:25.48\00:34:26.51
Christ loved it. Why?
00:34:26.54\00:34:27.83
Christ loved the church
that He gave Himself for it.
00:34:28.00\00:34:30.93
Why? To sanctify it.
00:34:30.96\00:34:33.00
To set it apart.
00:34:34.18\00:34:35.71
And that's going on right now.
00:34:36.68\00:34:38.17
While I'm speaking to you
right now around the world,
00:34:38.74\00:34:41.08
God is calling a
people out through His name.
00:34:41.18\00:34:43.37
Perhaps God has been
speaking to you through this
00:34:43.50\00:34:45.73
3ABN broadcast for months maybe.
00:34:45.76\00:34:48.46
Maybe even years.
00:34:48.49\00:34:50.03
Don't you think it's time to
come out to the wedding feast?
00:34:50.06\00:34:53.78
To come out to the Bridegroom?
00:34:54.20\00:34:56.43
He said in Matthew 16, "I will
build My church," verse 18...
00:34:56.82\00:35:01.41
No hellions will
prevail against it, by the way.
00:35:09.60\00:35:12.23
She will merge triumphantly.
00:35:12.26\00:35:14.46
So the wedding day is coming.
00:35:15.05\00:35:16.69
The Bridegroom shall
not be confused in any way.
00:35:17.27\00:35:20.64
The Bridegroom
will not be defeated.
00:35:20.67\00:35:23.00
The Bridegroom will
not be disappointed.
00:35:23.28\00:35:25.44
And the heavenly Bridegroom
is coming to take His bride,
00:35:25.86\00:35:28.28
to wed His bride, and
finally to show His bride.
00:35:28.31\00:35:31.50
That's what the Bible says.
00:35:32.36\00:35:33.64
The third point under the
reasons for the coming of the
00:35:34.27\00:35:36.47
Bridegroom is found in 25:1.
00:35:36.50\00:35:38.85
He's coming to show His church.
00:35:38.88\00:35:40.66
Someday the church will be shown
for what it really stands for.
00:35:40.69\00:35:43.73
I mean, here we've
described five wise virgins,
00:35:43.76\00:35:46.06
five foolish virgins.
00:35:46.09\00:35:47.59
Outwardly they are similar.
00:35:47.62\00:35:49.26
I mean, they dress
alike, they talk alike.
00:35:49.29\00:35:51.70
They use the cliché's, you
know, "Happy Sabbath, Brother."
00:35:51.73\00:35:55.04
You know, I mean.
They know all the...
00:35:55.07\00:35:56.64
They know when to stand and
sing, they know when to sit.
00:35:56.67\00:35:59.30
You know, they
have their devotion.
00:35:59.51\00:36:01.87
They go through all the...
00:36:01.90\00:36:03.38
Outwardly they're similar.
00:36:09.14\00:36:10.49
But inwardly they are
fundamentally different.
00:36:11.40\00:36:14.66
That godly woman, Ellen
White, wrote these words.
00:36:15.71\00:36:20.09
"The two classes of watchers
represent the two classes
00:36:20.56\00:36:23.84
who profess to be
waiting for their Lord.
00:36:24.26\00:36:27.48
They're called virgins because
they profess a pure faith."
00:36:27.51\00:36:30.76
They have a pure faith,
but something is lacking.
00:36:30.79\00:36:33.51
It's not a
lacking of the knowledge.
00:36:33.54\00:36:35.19
We think if we can
give them enough knowledge,
00:36:35.22\00:36:37.24
if we can give them five
more texts than they know,
00:36:37.27\00:36:39.78
if we can...then they'll be...
00:36:39.81\00:36:41.26
No, it has
nothing to do with that.
00:36:41.29\00:36:43.42
It's not the
outward expression at all.
00:36:43.45\00:36:45.36
He says no.
00:36:45.56\00:36:46.64
He said this,
that they are alike.
00:36:46.67\00:36:48.76
They look alike, they act alike.
00:36:48.91\00:36:51.02
They have a pure faith.
00:36:51.05\00:36:52.66
But the reason He
comes to show His bride,
00:36:54.53\00:36:57.47
just as the custom
in the East wedding,
00:36:57.50\00:36:59.86
He would then show the bride.
00:36:59.89\00:37:01.39
Show her to the relatives
and friends and neighbors.
00:37:01.42\00:37:04.00
There would be singing
and dancing and feasting, wow.
00:37:04.21\00:37:07.27
The great wedding reception.
00:37:10.92\00:37:12.53
During that time the
bride would be displayed.
00:37:14.70\00:37:17.25
She was addressed as
Princess, by the way.
00:37:18.91\00:37:21.24
The idea conjures up in my mind
the happiest day for the church.
00:37:22.28\00:37:25.59
Jesus, with holy pride, presents
the church to the angels.
00:37:26.24\00:37:29.80
Jesus, with holy
pride, to the unfallen worlds
00:37:33.12\00:37:37.34
His church.
00:37:38.25\00:37:39.72
To the heavenly
Father He shows His church.
00:37:40.80\00:37:43.61
The entire universe rejoices.
00:37:43.64\00:37:45.73
Jude says this in Jude 24,
"Now unto Him that is able..."
00:37:45.76\00:37:51.37
Jude 24.
00:38:00.76\00:38:02.28
And that brings us
to the requirements
00:38:02.91\00:38:05.80
for the coming of
the heavenly Bridegroom.
00:38:06.00\00:38:07.96
Two main requirements.
00:38:08.54\00:38:10.16
First of all, an
outward expression of
00:38:10.61\00:38:12.95
profession of faith.
00:38:12.98\00:38:14.60
The ten virgins took their lamps
and went forth to meet Him.
00:38:15.18\00:38:19.63
The lamps represent
the outward testimony
00:38:20.28\00:38:23.19
of the Word of God.
00:38:23.22\00:38:24.34
The church is called
to a confessing role.
00:38:24.86\00:38:27.67
And she fails in
her responsibility
00:38:27.70\00:38:30.47
if she does not shine
as the light of the world
00:38:30.50\00:38:32.86
and is not the
salt of the earth.
00:38:32.89\00:38:34.85
Ministers have not
been called as referees
00:38:34.88\00:38:37.18
to fight over your infighting.
00:38:37.21\00:38:39.30
Ministers have not been called
to run a corporate business.
00:38:40.61\00:38:43.37
Ministers have not been
called to fill baptisteries,
00:38:44.41\00:38:46.75
set tables, and wait on them.
00:38:46.78\00:38:48.45
They've been called to
preach revival and renewal.
00:38:49.73\00:38:52.40
They've been
called to evangelize,
00:38:52.43\00:38:54.05
to preach Christ, and to
lead men and women to God.
00:38:54.08\00:38:58.19
You must be committed
to a confessing light,
00:38:59.18\00:39:02.75
a confessing faith.
00:39:03.43\00:39:05.13
But the parable goes further.
00:39:05.57\00:39:06.91
It gets down deeper
into the human predicament.
00:39:06.94\00:39:09.68
I mean, it's possible to have
an outward expression of faith
00:39:09.71\00:39:12.87
but not an inward reality.
00:39:13.07\00:39:14.89
It's possible, like
the virgins, to carry lamps
00:39:17.16\00:39:20.35
without the accompanying oil.
00:39:20.65\00:39:22.39
The accompanying oil.
00:39:23.61\00:39:24.91
You remember when our
blessed Lord went to Calvary?
00:39:25.53\00:39:27.63
That was the
place of the winepress.
00:39:27.66\00:39:29.58
That was where
they pressed the wine.
00:39:29.96\00:39:31.56
Remember the blood, the
New Testament wine came;
00:39:31.59\00:39:35.23
the blood of Jesus.
00:39:35.43\00:39:36.58
But before He went to
Calvary, He went to a garden.
00:39:36.61\00:39:38.62
It was called the
garden of Gethsemane.
00:39:38.65\00:39:41.51
It was there, the olive press.
00:39:41.54\00:39:43.65
And they use to
press the olives.
00:39:43.68\00:39:45.50
And you see, before
Jesus ever went to the cross,
00:39:45.53\00:39:48.03
the final test, He went
to the place of the olive.
00:39:48.06\00:39:50.86
He went to the
place of the Holy Spirit.
00:39:50.89\00:39:53.28
And He fell
crushed to the ground.
00:39:53.31\00:39:55.29
The weight of the
world's sins lay upon Jesus,
00:39:55.32\00:39:57.93
and there came forth blood
through the pores of His skin
00:39:57.96\00:40:00.67
like clods to the earth.
00:40:00.86\00:40:02.69
And it's there
that He got the Spirit,
00:40:04.96\00:40:06.58
"Let this cup pass from Me.
00:40:06.61\00:40:08.23
But not My will,
but Thine be done."
00:40:08.26\00:40:10.35
Full of the Holy
Ghost He could face Calvary.
00:40:10.55\00:40:13.48
We cannot face the future save
we're full of the Holy Ghost.
00:40:13.64\00:40:18.32
We will not be
able to face the future
00:40:18.93\00:40:21.27
save we're full
of the Holy Ghost.
00:40:21.85\00:40:24.03
It means you're not...
00:40:24.77\00:40:25.80
The reason they did not
come in, because they're not
00:40:25.83\00:40:29.01
known of the Spirit of God.
00:40:29.04\00:40:30.14
That's the only reason.
00:40:30.21\00:40:31.65
I mean, they've been baptized.
00:40:32.57\00:40:34.10
So have you.
00:40:34.20\00:40:35.31
Good and regular
standing, whatever that means.
00:40:35.85\00:40:38.24
Serving on church boards,
even conference committees.
00:40:38.91\00:40:41.69
But you're not
possessed of the Holy Spirit.
00:40:41.80\00:40:43.72
Would Jesus to break through
the clouds at this very moment,
00:40:43.83\00:40:46.77
at this very day, if He
were to break through the clouds
00:40:46.97\00:40:49.96
today to take His bride,
you would be left behind.
00:40:49.99\00:40:53.43
And if that's the
case, I say, repent.
00:40:55.90\00:40:59.54
Confess your sins.
00:41:00.39\00:41:02.42
Call on the name of the Lord.
00:41:03.39\00:41:04.95
The Holy Spirit is
grieved in this church.
00:41:06.22\00:41:08.61
The Holy Spirit is
grieved in this church.
00:41:09.35\00:41:11.47
And the day of Pentecost
when the Holy Spirit came,
00:41:11.91\00:41:14.24
they were in one
place with one accord.
00:41:14.27\00:41:16.11
Our great problem, we
can't get one accord anywhere.
00:41:16.14\00:41:19.10
We don't have to
have the world fight us.
00:41:21.95\00:41:23.70
We fight ourselves.
00:41:23.73\00:41:25.42
We don't need to be
persecuted by the world.
00:41:26.41\00:41:28.34
We persecute ourselves.
00:41:28.37\00:41:30.34
We need to call upon the Lord.
00:41:34.66\00:41:36.61
The Holy Spirit is
grieved in the church.
00:41:37.72\00:41:39.87
I've been in some board
meetings I knew the Holy Spirit
00:41:41.06\00:41:43.85
wouldn't even
come in the front door.
00:41:43.88\00:41:45.61
One was the fightingest
board I ever met in my life.
00:41:46.82\00:41:49.42
Finally one day, I
hit the table and I said,
00:41:49.45\00:41:52.09
"You want to fight?
I invented that sport."
00:41:52.12\00:41:55.15
How can the Lord
bless the church?
00:41:57.96\00:42:01.86
The fire of the Holy Spirit
is quenched in the church.
00:42:02.88\00:42:04.87
Hypocrisy and insincerity
and unreality in our ranks.
00:42:04.90\00:42:08.77
We must lament as
Horatius Bonar of old, he said,
00:42:09.22\00:42:11.67
"I looked for the church,
and I found it in the world.
00:42:11.70\00:42:14.10
And I looked for the world,
and I found it in the church."
00:42:14.13\00:42:17.37
We have an outward expression,
00:42:20.82\00:42:22.52
but not an inward profession.
00:42:23.74\00:42:25.71
An inward
profession of life, secondly.
00:42:27.36\00:42:29.58
The wise virgins
took oil in their vessels.
00:42:30.21\00:42:32.30
This oil
represents the Holy Spirit.
00:42:32.33\00:42:34.37
The Old Testament reveals
this in the Sanctuary service.
00:42:34.40\00:42:36.87
The oil is ever a
figure of the Holy Spirit.
00:42:36.90\00:42:38.93
In Zechariah,
it's the Holy Spirit.
00:42:38.96\00:42:40.88
In the parable, at the time
of crisis, the foolish virgins
00:42:40.91\00:42:44.00
had no oil to spare.
00:42:44.03\00:42:45.35
Their lamps went out.
00:42:45.38\00:42:46.67
But it's a continuous tense.
00:42:46.70\00:42:48.89
Our lamps are going out.
00:42:48.92\00:42:51.23
They had a little oil.
00:42:51.26\00:42:52.89
They had a little bit of oil,
but finally it was burning up.
00:42:52.92\00:42:55.92
And by the time they
needed it most, it was gone.
00:42:55.95\00:42:58.68
Has the Holy
Spirit withdrawn from you?
00:43:00.20\00:43:02.35
Is your religion just a form?
00:43:04.35\00:43:06.00
You just keep
going because mama goes,
00:43:07.37\00:43:09.40
or because your wife goes?
00:43:09.43\00:43:11.63
You're not known of the Spirit?
00:43:12.69\00:43:14.27
Our lamps are going out.
00:43:15.82\00:43:19.31
The foolish virgins did not know
the experience of a continuing
00:43:20.16\00:43:26.03
indwelling of the
Holy Spirit of God.
00:43:26.21\00:43:28.72
Paul declared, "If any
man have not the Spirit
00:43:29.94\00:43:34.33
of Christ, he is none of His."
00:43:34.68\00:43:38.49
No wonder the foolish
virgins were excluded.
00:43:39.68\00:43:42.01
I mean, they couldn't go into
the feast with the bridegroom.
00:43:42.98\00:43:45.64
They couldn't face the
bridegroom without the oil.
00:43:46.25\00:43:49.42
You can't face the
Bridegroom without the oil.
00:43:49.88\00:43:53.68
And I might add,
their attempt to borrow oil
00:43:54.28\00:43:58.84
at the last
moment ended in failure.
00:43:59.47\00:44:01.41
I've known men and women who
have tried to borrow the oil.
00:44:02.88\00:44:06.10
I mean, they try to borrow
it from their wives who serve
00:44:06.83\00:44:09.39
Christ, or borrow it from
their husbands, or the children
00:44:09.42\00:44:12.71
try to borrow it
from their parents.
00:44:12.74\00:44:14.93
But you can't borrow it.
00:44:16.27\00:44:17.57
You can't borrow it.
00:44:19.09\00:44:20.43
We must walk in the Spirit.
00:44:21.51\00:44:23.54
Remember the day of Pentecost,
they were in one spirit.
00:44:24.44\00:44:27.17
And when they were in one
spirit, the building shook.
00:44:27.39\00:44:29.53
When was the last time we were
preaching and we were worshiping
00:44:29.56\00:44:33.05
and the whole building shook?
00:44:33.08\00:44:35.15
Well it did happen once to me.
00:44:35.77\00:44:36.95
I was in California,
and just at that time
00:44:36.98\00:44:39.56
we had an earthquake.
00:44:39.59\00:44:40.89
Got the message across.
00:44:40.92\00:44:42.39
But when have we
felt the building shake?
00:44:44.55\00:44:46.78
Cloven tongues of fire fall down
00:44:47.15\00:44:49.64
filling them
with the Holy Ghost.
00:44:50.05\00:44:51.45
Those unlearned men,
fishermen, smelly fishermen and
00:44:51.48\00:44:55.45
tax collectors and the riffraff
of the whole Middle East.
00:44:55.65\00:44:59.46
Those men went out
and they shook the world.
00:44:59.49\00:45:02.08
Why? Because of
their education? No.
00:45:03.73\00:45:06.07
Why?
00:45:06.10\00:45:07.27
Because they knew so much
of the 27 fundamental...? No.
00:45:07.30\00:45:11.15
Why?
00:45:11.18\00:45:12.41
Because they were known
to the Holy Spirit of God.
00:45:12.44\00:45:14.44
They were known to the
Spirit of God in their life.
00:45:15.78\00:45:17.94
You know, we hardly talk about
the Holy Spirit in the church.
00:45:18.32\00:45:21.06
I mean, when we do
it's like Holy Spirit 101.
00:45:21.44\00:45:23.85
It's like a class.
00:45:23.88\00:45:25.39
The Holy Spirit isn't a class.
00:45:25.42\00:45:26.91
The Holy Spirit
is an experience.
00:45:26.94\00:45:29.42
And you can't teach the
Holy Spirit in a sense so that
00:45:30.19\00:45:33.55
He comes within you.
00:45:33.58\00:45:34.74
You receive the Holy Spirit
by making yourself available
00:45:34.77\00:45:37.99
to His Spirit, by praying that
God descend His sweet Spirit.
00:45:38.02\00:45:41.22
And then once you're
filled with the Spirit,
00:45:41.25\00:45:43.30
you can go forth and do
great and mighty things for God.
00:45:43.33\00:45:46.35
We must live in the Spirit.
00:45:49.91\00:45:51.33
Or we'll hear the chilling cry
that the foolish virgins heard
00:45:52.33\00:45:56.55
when they said, "Let us
in," banging at the door.
00:45:57.42\00:45:59.46
"Let us in. Let us
in." Banging at the door.
00:45:59.56\00:46:02.67
His reply, "Verily,
verily I say unto you,
00:46:02.70\00:46:05.17
I know you not."
00:46:05.20\00:46:07.24
What a terrible thing.
00:46:09.41\00:46:10.68
What a terrible moment.
00:46:11.99\00:46:13.44
Followed Him for
three and a half years.
00:46:15.56\00:46:17.84
And some longer.
00:46:19.58\00:46:21.06
And then to hear
those chilling words,
00:46:21.86\00:46:23.89
"I know you not."
00:46:24.84\00:46:27.94
"But Lord, haven't I done these
marvelous things in Your name?
00:46:27.97\00:46:30.45
Lord, haven't I built
up the church in Your name?
00:46:30.78\00:46:33.76
I mean, haven't I done
these great things in Your name?
00:46:33.79\00:46:36.14
Haven't I given great
amounts of money in Your name?
00:46:36.17\00:46:39.29
Haven't I..."
00:46:39.32\00:46:40.35
It was the outward expression,
but not the inward possession.
00:46:40.49\00:46:43.43
For what reason?
00:46:44.45\00:46:45.95
For what reason?
00:46:47.20\00:46:48.23
You can do good
things for the wrong reason.
00:46:48.26\00:46:50.64
And how are you
going to discern?
00:46:51.76\00:46:53.44
Only through the Holy Spirit.
00:46:53.90\00:46:55.56
And so we have
seen the reasons for the
00:46:56.05\00:46:57.52
coming of the Bridegroom.
00:46:57.55\00:46:58.95
The requirements for the coming
of the heavenly Bridegroom.
00:46:58.98\00:47:01.77
But finally, we've got to
see the readiness for the coming
00:47:02.12\00:47:05.14
of the heavenly Bridegroom.
00:47:05.17\00:47:06.74
Matthew 5:13,
the Bible tells us...
00:47:06.77\00:47:10.13
Wow.
00:47:24.09\00:47:25.12
The parable of this story ends
with the command to be vigilant,
00:47:25.58\00:47:31.19
to be ready.
00:47:31.52\00:47:32.62
Radical, the words of Jesus.
00:47:32.65\00:47:34.96
"I know you
not." That's radical.
00:47:36.98\00:47:38.90
"You serve Me? I know you not.
00:47:40.24\00:47:42.25
You've done this all
your life? I know you not."
00:47:42.99\00:47:45.75
Readiness.
00:47:46.18\00:47:47.44
It's a command.
00:47:47.64\00:47:49.54
The emphasis is on watching.
00:47:49.75\00:47:52.16
It occurs again and
again, included in this
00:47:53.05\00:47:54.67
94 verse résumé;
chapter 24 and 25.
00:47:54.70\00:47:58.01
The second coming is written
in the chapters of the book.
00:47:58.04\00:48:00.76
In this parable He says,
watch, watch, watch, watch.
00:48:00.79\00:48:04.60
This little word
occurs time and time again.
00:48:04.63\00:48:06.70
It's an action word.
00:48:06.73\00:48:08.65
It suggests three things.
00:48:08.68\00:48:10.00
An upward look of expectation.
00:48:10.03\00:48:11.59
"Watch therefore."
00:48:11.62\00:48:13.00
Look upward. Lift up your eyes.
00:48:13.03\00:48:15.01
Jesus is coming in the clouds.
00:48:15.04\00:48:17.20
"Watch therefore."
00:48:18.25\00:48:19.38
In Scripture, the Christian
is ever and always urged
00:48:19.48\00:48:22.10
to look for the
coming of Christ.
00:48:22.13\00:48:24.04
I mean, Paul defines
the look of expectation
00:48:24.07\00:48:26.65
in terms of
loving His appearing.
00:48:26.68\00:48:28.63
2 Timothy 4 and verse 8.
00:48:28.66\00:48:31.62
It's one thing to believe the
doctrine of the second coming
00:48:32.23\00:48:34.57
of Christ, but quite
another to desire longingly
00:48:34.60\00:48:38.79
for Jesus Christ to come
back again the second time.
00:48:38.82\00:48:41.74
Love His appearing.
00:48:43.03\00:48:44.49
Revelation 22
verse 20 teaches us that.
00:48:44.72\00:48:48.41
Are you longing
for Jesus to come?
00:48:59.59\00:49:01.43
I mean, I have two children.
00:49:02.83\00:49:04.49
My boy Ronnie, my girl Diane.
00:49:05.18\00:49:08.42
They are the pride of my
life, I've got to say that.
00:49:09.40\00:49:11.37
I mean, they're
wonderful children.
00:49:11.40\00:49:13.84
They take after their father.
00:49:13.87\00:49:15.18
But anyway.
00:49:17.96\00:49:19.09
We've traveled a
lot, my wife and I.
00:49:19.19\00:49:21.20
And when they were
growing up, you know, we had
00:49:21.81\00:49:24.55
a beautiful
relationship with Jesus.
00:49:24.58\00:49:26.08
And they had a
beautiful relationship.
00:49:26.11\00:49:27.57
We could go for
six weeks on a crusade
00:49:27.60\00:49:29.88
and leave our teenage children.
00:49:29.91\00:49:31.83
And when we got
back, they were there.
00:49:32.74\00:49:36.16
I mean, they love God.
00:49:36.19\00:49:37.88
I didn't worry about them.
00:49:38.08\00:49:39.30
They didn't worry about us.
00:49:39.71\00:49:41.20
But I remember my wife and I
were making a trip to California
00:49:41.80\00:49:44.22
and we were just going
to be there a short time.
00:49:44.25\00:49:46.67
I had to give
lectures on evangelism.
00:49:46.70\00:49:48.74
So I said to Ronnie, and
this is the first mistake,
00:49:48.91\00:49:52.23
I said, "Ronnie,
you're the oldest."
00:49:52.47\00:49:54.87
He's a year and a
half... What, year and a half?
00:49:55.44\00:49:57.46
Two years?
00:49:58.06\00:49:59.14
Anyway, close enough.
00:49:59.25\00:50:00.36
You were there, I
wasn't. But anyway.
00:50:00.39\00:50:02.55
Literally, I wasn't.
00:50:03.47\00:50:04.50
I was in a crusade in California
when she had my girl, Diane.
00:50:04.53\00:50:08.33
And I didn't see
her for three months.
00:50:08.53\00:50:10.30
She holds that
against me even today.
00:50:11.46\00:50:13.12
But anyway.
00:50:13.15\00:50:14.18
And so I was going to take the
trip, and I said to my son...
00:50:15.36\00:50:18.03
And he got, you know, that
feeling that he was the boss.
00:50:18.42\00:50:22.94
My little girl had to
move out to her friend's house
00:50:24.27\00:50:28.54
to survive while we were gone.
00:50:28.57\00:50:30.04
But anyway, I said, "I'm
going to be back on Thursday.
00:50:30.07\00:50:32.14
I want everything to be
right. You know what I mean."
00:50:32.17\00:50:34.40
And then you put
the ten commandments,
00:50:34.50\00:50:35.96
well 20 or 30
rules, on the refrigerator.
00:50:35.99\00:50:39.26
I said, "Now Thursday
evening I'll be here."
00:50:41.11\00:50:43.06
Then we took off.
00:50:44.19\00:50:45.87
When I got to California,
I noticed on the bulletin
00:50:46.32\00:50:49.72
that I was to speak and I
would be done a day early.
00:50:49.88\00:50:52.46
And I said to my wife, I
said, "Look at this, Hon.
00:50:53.40\00:50:55.93
I'm done a day early.
00:50:56.35\00:50:57.97
Why, let's go home
and surprise the kids."
00:50:58.94\00:51:02.63
And she looked at
me with that look.
00:51:04.71\00:51:06.77
You know the look they give.
00:51:07.38\00:51:09.05
And she said, "I don't know,
Honey, if that's a good idea."
00:51:10.01\00:51:12.34
I thought it was brilliant.
00:51:12.37\00:51:13.84
So you can see who has
the brains in this family.
00:51:14.57\00:51:16.45
But anyway, I thought
this was a great idea.
00:51:16.48\00:51:18.51
I said, "No, no, Honey."
00:51:18.54\00:51:19.65
I said, "This is great.
00:51:19.68\00:51:20.87
I'm going to leave a day early.
00:51:20.90\00:51:22.66
We'll get there and
we'll surprise the kids."
00:51:22.69\00:51:25.28
She shook her head, she
said, "Honey, I don't know."
00:51:26.15\00:51:28.70
But anyway, we got on the plane.
00:51:28.90\00:51:30.44
In those days you
could just change your...
00:51:30.47\00:51:32.02
Now you've got to go through...
00:51:32.22\00:51:33.76
Oh, I won't say what
you have to go through, but.
00:51:34.72\00:51:37.10
It costs you about
300 to 400 dollars more
00:51:37.72\00:51:40.01
by the time you...
00:51:40.25\00:51:41.47
Anyway, we got on the place.
00:51:43.00\00:51:44.54
Flew into Dallas, Texas.
00:51:45.15\00:51:46.35
I was pastor of the
college church there in Keene.
00:51:46.38\00:51:48.69
Got there, it was late at
night, and I said to my wife,
00:51:49.56\00:51:51.63
"We're going to
surprise these kids."
00:51:51.66\00:51:53.08
She said, "Well why don't
you call them from the airport?"
00:51:53.11\00:51:54.81
"Oh no," I said. "No,
we want to surprise them."
00:51:54.84\00:51:57.74
So I called one of my deacons,
a friend of mine, I said,
00:51:57.77\00:52:00.20
"Deacon, we're out here
at the airport in Dallas.
00:52:00.38\00:52:03.17
And would you
come and pick us up?"
00:52:03.53\00:52:06.12
He said, "Why don't
you have one of your..."
00:52:06.88\00:52:08.97
I said, "Oh no, we're going
to surprise them," I told him.
00:52:09.06\00:52:11.12
And there was silence
for the space of a half hour.
00:52:11.32\00:52:13.30
The man couldn't
believe what I was telling him.
00:52:13.33\00:52:15.02
Finally he said, "Alright."
00:52:15.52\00:52:16.55
So he drove out,
picked us up, and we drove
00:52:16.58\00:52:18.34
back into that city.
00:52:18.37\00:52:19.67
Keene, Texas was kind
of a Christian community,
00:52:19.92\00:52:23.06
Adventist Christian community.
00:52:23.09\00:52:24.47
A Christian school and all.
00:52:24.50\00:52:25.96
All the little saints
had said their prayers,
00:52:25.99\00:52:27.71
they were in bed,
the lights were out.
00:52:27.74\00:52:29.22
Drove up in front of my
house, the lights are out.
00:52:29.52\00:52:31.75
I looked at my wife, I
said, "Boy, this is great.
00:52:31.78\00:52:34.05
I'm going to surprise them."
00:52:34.08\00:52:35.50
She said, "Maybe you
should ring the bell."
00:52:37.13\00:52:39.22
I said, "Oh no, no, no.
00:52:39.25\00:52:41.35
I mean, we're this close.
00:52:42.44\00:52:44.25
I mean, we're this close."
00:52:44.55\00:52:46.39
So I opened the door
and turned on the light.
00:52:47.05\00:52:49.53
The living room was just
to the right, and I looked and
00:52:49.56\00:52:51.51
that couldn't have
been my living room.
00:52:51.54\00:52:52.82
I mean, there were sweatshirts
and underwear and socks and
00:52:52.85\00:52:57.63
shoes and sneakers
and sneakers and sneakers.
00:52:57.66\00:53:00.54
I had to move things
to see it was my couch.
00:53:00.83\00:53:03.93
Then I went into the kitchen.
00:53:05.44\00:53:06.58
Now I don't know what
it's like, but I can't imagine.
00:53:07.58\00:53:10.64
We're gone four days.
00:53:11.00\00:53:12.88
And there's a pile of dishes
in the sink you can't believe.
00:53:13.53\00:53:17.94
I mean, for peanut
butter and jelly sandwiches?
00:53:17.97\00:53:20.39
What is this all about?
00:53:20.42\00:53:21.63
And finger marks and
hand marks everywhere.
00:53:21.66\00:53:24.42
So I crept down the hallway.
00:53:26.61\00:53:29.43
Slowly.
00:53:31.37\00:53:32.97
Got to my son's room.
00:53:34.48\00:53:36.07
Quietly opened the door.
00:53:37.43\00:53:39.24
Flipped on the light.
00:53:40.28\00:53:41.87
He sat up rubbing his eyes.
00:53:42.59\00:53:44.74
He said, "Daddy, you're
suppose to come tomorrow."
00:53:44.77\00:53:47.69
I said, "Be ye ready."
00:53:47.72\00:53:49.54
Be ye ready.
00:53:53.14\00:53:54.44
And that's the message
here of the Bridegroom.
00:53:55.61\00:53:57.67
God is trying to tell
us, God is trying to warn us,
00:53:58.36\00:54:00.72
God is trying to prepare us.
00:54:00.75\00:54:02.17
He says be ready
every moment, every day.
00:54:02.20\00:54:04.21
When you open your
eyes in the morning
00:54:04.24\00:54:05.80
look up with expectation,
look upward toward heaven.
00:54:05.83\00:54:08.89
Be ready at all
times for the coming
00:54:08.92\00:54:11.48
of the heavenly Bridegroom.
00:54:11.51\00:54:13.35
And so there's the
inward look of preparation.
00:54:13.38\00:54:15.39
Look at your heart.
00:54:15.42\00:54:16.48
See your heart as it is.
00:54:16.51\00:54:17.82
Call upon Jesus.
00:54:17.85\00:54:19.07
Jesus can be a
resident, but not President.
00:54:19.10\00:54:21.40
You want Him to rule as
President of your heart.
00:54:21.43\00:54:23.67
John, in the epistle, declares,
"Every man that has this hope."
00:54:24.94\00:54:28.46
What hope?
00:54:29.03\00:54:30.29
The coming of the
heavenly Bridegroom.
00:54:30.32\00:54:32.26
And that day will be the
reunion of God's children,
00:54:32.29\00:54:35.43
the church, the
bride, with Jesus Christ.
00:54:35.46\00:54:38.69
Some years ago, my
wife, we were at the seminary.
00:54:39.87\00:54:44.62
We had one boy.
00:54:44.65\00:54:45.93
And you know, we
soon had a girl coming.
00:54:45.96\00:54:48.37
And we had no money.
00:54:48.90\00:54:50.55
And so my wife's uncle
was a doctor in Vermont.
00:54:51.14\00:54:54.33
So I said, "Honey,
maybe the thing to do is,
00:54:54.43\00:54:55.89
you go to
Vermont, have the baby.
00:54:55.92\00:54:57.51
I have to go out to this
field school in California."
00:54:57.54\00:55:00.59
And then... It's
better than Medicare.
00:55:00.79\00:55:03.42
A doctor, uncle doctor, I mean.
00:55:03.45\00:55:05.72
So I put them on the train.
00:55:06.12\00:55:07.75
It was a terrible moment for me.
00:55:07.78\00:55:09.21
We had never been separated.
00:55:09.24\00:55:10.40
And little Ronnie,
he was all excited.
00:55:11.04\00:55:12.48
He had a little
red baseball cap.
00:55:12.51\00:55:13.60
I still can see it.
00:55:13.63\00:55:14.78
And he's excited,
he's going on a big train.
00:55:14.81\00:55:17.19
Sat in the seat
looking out the window waving.
00:55:17.36\00:55:19.71
And I'm crying like a baby.
00:55:19.74\00:55:21.54
I got out to California and we
were in an evangelist meeting.
00:55:22.80\00:55:25.90
And I was sitting on
the platform one night
00:55:25.93\00:55:27.70
and they came with a telegram.
00:55:27.73\00:55:29.67
"Diane Halvorsen, born."
00:55:30.48\00:55:32.89
And it says, eight
pounds three ounces.
00:55:32.92\00:55:34.90
Three pounds,
eight. I don't know, but.
00:55:34.93\00:55:36.39
It's terrible, a telegram.
00:55:36.78\00:55:38.44
Burping a telegram. Come on now.
00:55:38.65\00:55:40.87
But when it came
time for me to get home,
00:55:41.24\00:55:43.01
listen, when I got
there to Andrews University
00:55:43.23\00:55:45.54
and got the car and
drove across Canada...
00:55:45.57\00:55:47.85
My wife had moved
over to the Adirondacks
00:55:47.88\00:55:50.31
where she had been brought up.
00:55:50.34\00:55:51.45
And when I got
going, I got to that house,
00:55:51.48\00:55:53.84
pulled to a stop, jumped
out, and no one was there.
00:55:54.14\00:55:57.10
But then later, two
hours later, the car came in.
00:55:58.23\00:56:00.49
And my little boy got out of the
car and he looked and looked.
00:56:01.17\00:56:03.39
And then he
realized, that's his daddy.
00:56:03.42\00:56:05.39
He ran, jumped in my arms.
00:56:05.42\00:56:06.94
And there was my wife standing
with my little baby girl.
00:56:06.97\00:56:09.77
My Diane.
00:56:10.89\00:56:12.12
What a reunion that was.
00:56:12.59\00:56:14.48
But I cannot
imagine what a reunion
00:56:14.98\00:56:18.59
when Jesus Christ
comes and the dead are raised
00:56:18.91\00:56:22.41
and we see our loved ones again,
and we are in each other's arms.
00:56:22.74\00:56:27.96
I hope I'm in
Brooklyn when Jesus comes.
00:56:27.99\00:56:30.39
And there the resurrection
of my mom and my dad.
00:56:30.59\00:56:32.76
Resurrection of my grandma.
00:56:33.28\00:56:34.93
My grandmother, my grandfather.
00:56:34.96\00:56:37.41
That day will come.
00:56:37.44\00:56:38.87
He that said He
will come, will come.
00:56:38.90\00:56:40.95
And listen to me, church.
00:56:40.98\00:56:42.78
Be you, ye, therefore
ready for the coming of Christ.
00:56:43.27\00:56:48.80
Let's bow our heads
in a word of prayer.
00:56:49.06\00:56:50.93
Gracious Father, I thank
You for the promise made here.
00:56:51.41\00:56:54.53
I pray, Lord, the
church of Jesus Christ,
00:56:55.42\00:56:57.30
that this church might in
all ways prepare itself for the
00:56:57.33\00:57:00.77
coming of Christ.
00:57:00.80\00:57:02.16
That we might be known of
the Holy Spirit in our lives,
00:57:02.43\00:57:05.21
prepared for the
Holy Spirit in our lives.
00:57:05.24\00:57:07.40
And we might live for
You until we live with You.
00:57:07.43\00:57:10.20
We pray it in
Christ's name, amen and amen.
00:57:10.61\00:57:15.47
Remember this, you
leave this place but you never
00:57:15.57\00:57:18.05
leave the presence of God.
00:57:18.08\00:57:19.69
He loves you.
00:57:19.72\00:57:20.93
He'll go on loving you forever.
00:57:20.96\00:57:24.29
God bless you.
00:57:24.85\00:57:25.88
And those who are watching, may
God bless you and your family.
00:57:25.91\00:57:28.88
In Jesus' name.
00:57:29.08\00:57:30.54