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that you would speak to every heart that's here. People have come in the middle of their week and stopped everything because church is so important, dear God, because the Bible is so important. And I just pray that you would give them a blessing for being here tonight, dear God. And in Jesus' name I pray, amen. Now, the story in Matthew 25 is a continuation of what we saw last week in Matthew 24. Matthew 23, of course, was where Jesus preached to the Pharisees and he ends up saying pretty much, I'm through dealing with you. In Matthew 24, he preaches to his disciples. He walks out of the temple, he goes aside, preaches to his disciples what's known as the Olivet Discourse, which is basically a sermon and a chronology of the end times of what's going to happen next and what the first things are going to be about the tribulation, about the rapture, about those various things. He doesn't really go much into the wrath of God in that one because he's talking more to the believers and to their aspect of it. But in chapter 25, he kind of gets a little more into the unbeliever aspect of it. Now, in Matthew 24, we were dealing with the seven years, which is commonly known as the tribulation, although that's not an accurate name for it at all. And so that seven-year period, the seventh week, or I'm sorry, the 70th week of the Book of Daniel, is the culmination of all the events of the human life and everything and the whole history of the world culminates in the seven years of tribulation and then God pouring out his wrath in what's called the day of the Lord. And at the end of that time is going to be what we're dealing with in chapter number 25. He jumps into these parables, which are all dealing with the second coming of Jesus Christ, that are all dealing with actually the end of that seven-year period and the beginning of what's called the millennium, which is where Jesus Christ will physically rule and reign on this earth for a thousand years. Now, let me show you these parables. There's two parables, and then there's a story in here. Look at verse number one. The Bible reads, Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins. Notice the word then. I would say that the word then is a chronological word. I mean, it's a word that has to do with past, then, now. So if something happens and then something happens, to me it shows a little bit of chronology. And what I want you to realize is that the events in chapter 25 all come after the events in chapter 24. And I'm going to prove that to you. But look in verse number one. Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps and went forth to meet the bridegroom. And five of them were wise, and five were foolish. They that were foolish took their lamps and took no oil with them. But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept. And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh. Go ye out to meet him. Then all those virgins arose and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil, for our lamps are gone out. But the wise answered, saying, Not so, lest there be not enough for us and you. But go ye rather to them that sell and buy for yourselves. Say, Let me stop right here and say, Why, don't you love that attitude there? You say, Wait a minute, that's not right. Barney told me, Barney and Friends said, that sharing means caring. And I'm reading here in the Bible where the foolish are the ones who have no oil in their lamps and the wise have plenty of oil in their lamps. And the Barney and Friends foolish virgins say, Can you share with us? Can we have some too? I know we didn't buy it. I know we were lazy. I know we were sleeping when we should have been ready. But can we just have some of yours too? I mean, come on, the world owes us a living after all. And that's the mentality of the foolish world that we live in. That's the mentality of the foolish United States that we live in where everybody thinks that the government owes them a free handout. Hey, listen, the government doesn't owe you any handout. They owe me something because they took a whole lot out of my paycheck last year and took it and stole it from me. And they give it out to somebody else and that's wrong. It's a sin. Yes, it's a sin. It is a sin to take my money out of my check and to give it to somebody else. That's wrong. If a person doesn't have oil in their lamp, they need to go to them to sell and buy for themselves. That's what the Bible says. And that may rub you the wrong way, but God's not a socialist and God's not a communist and God is not Franklin Delano Roosevelt. God is not the New Deal. God is somebody who says that if a man won't work, neither should he eat. And so the Bible says that people should pay their own bills, make their own way, and not expect the person who goes out and works hard and spends their own hard-earned money to carry them through life. That is an ungodly philosophy. You'll not find it in the Bible. You'll find it in the books like the Communist Manifesto by Karl Marx. But if you're reading the Bible, you'll read about people buying things themselves and people sitting down every man under his own vine and under his own fig tree. And that's the way that God intends things to be. But that has nothing to do with the sermon. Look at verse number 10. The Bible says, and while they came to buy, although I'm sorry, while they went to buy, the bridegroom came. And they that were ready went in with him to the marriage. And the door was shut afterward. So after the door shut came also the other virgins saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. But he answered and said, barely I said to you, I know you're not. Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of Man cometh. Now we saw last week that the Bible says that we do know the times and the seasons when he's coming. Because he says, when you see all these come to pass, you can know that it's nigh even at the doors. But we know no man knoweth the day or the hour. Nobody knows exactly when Jesus Christ is coming back. You know, signs a lot of people have theories. And they'll say, the Jehovah's Witnesses, for example, predicted six times that Jesus Christ was coming back on a certain day at a certain time. And six times it turned out to be fake, of course. And this is what they claim. Well, he only came to us. He just came, like, and it was in New York. And we were up in the skyscraper in New York. And he just came and met with us privately. We thought he was coming back, like, for good. But it turned out he just came and just talked to us. And here's what he told us. OK, that's literally what they said. And they've done that six times in the early part of this century and in the 1800s. Now I guess they just figured out what's the use. Yeah, that's not going to work anymore. We already wore that one out after the sixth time. But anyway, people are always predicting. You know, I've seen these books. There was a book by this idiot named Harold Camping in Sacramento, California, who's this Calvinist teaching that, you know, well, you know, God might have just chose you to be damned. And there's nothing you can do about it, because God picks who goes to heaven and hell. And this guy, he wrote a book called 1984, question mark? You know, it was like all the reasons why Jesus is coming back in 1984. I mean, just on and on and on. And then he actually said, well, maybe it's 1985, because I was one year off in my calculation. But then that didn't work out either. So I don't think that book's in print anymore. I think if you go to Amazon.com, it'll probably say, like, this title's unavailable. It's out of print. But nobody knows the day nor the hour. He says, when these things begin to come to pass, then you'll be able to see and watch. And you'll know that these things are at the door. But even then, you're not going to know the day or the hour, he says. You're never going to, it's going to come suddenly, Jesus Christ returned to this earth. But the Bible says, watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour, wherein the Son of Man cometh. Now, let me teach you something about interpreting the Bible. Look, if you would, and I want you to see this verse, because it's one of the most important verses I could show you about studying the Bible. Flip over to 1 Corinthians chapter 2. 1 Corinthians chapter number 2. 1 Corinthians chapter 2. Just a few books forward in the New Testament. And by the way, if you didn't understand what I was saying a little earlier, because sometimes I have a way of not saying things real bluntly and clearly like I want to. I'm against all the welfare programs that our government has. I'm against every single one of them. You know who used to take care of people when they were in trouble? The local church. And in order for people to get that help, you know what they had to do? They had to show up and get that help. And then maybe you could get them saved. Or maybe you could actually have some accountability, like, hey, you sorry bum, you sorry rascal. You know, some man, some able-bodied man comes in and asks for money. You think that some hair-legged preacher is going to just, oh, sure, God bless you, buddy. He's going to say, get out of my sight and get to work. That's what he'd say. But see, when it's just some office somewhere where there's no accountability, they're just handing out checks like they're candy so that they can get you to vote for them. That's really why. Because if they pay you off enough, then you'll vote for them. And so, yes, I'm against every single welfare program that our government has. All of them. You mean this? Yes, I mean that. I mean all of them. All the handouts are wrong. OK, 1 Corinthians chapter 2. Look at verse number 14 of 1 Corinthians 2. I'm sorry, verse 13. And this will tell you how to understand the Bible better. The Bible reads here, Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth, comparing spiritual things with spiritual. He says, as a preacher, I try not to preach with the words that man's wisdom teaches. He says, I want to teach with the words that the Holy Ghost teaches, but notice that last phrase, comparing spiritual things with spiritual. Now, if I open up Matthew 25 and I read it, then I say, boy, I don't really understand this chapter very well. I think I'm going to go get this commentary. I think I'm going to go to this study Bible that explains everything in the column. And I compare the column notes with what I'm reading in the text. Am I comparing spiritual things with spiritual? No, because that's the words which man's wisdom teacheth. That's why when you want to understand something from the Bible, the last thing you should do is go to some theology book. The last thing you should do is go to some commentary. I mean, the last thing you should do is read all the little notes in the column where it explains it to you. No, compare spiritual with spiritual. I compare the Bible with the Bible. Now, as I was studying Matthew 25, and I don't know if I can show all this to you just for the sake of time, but as I compared spiritual things with spiritual, I was just sent all over the Bible. And it was just amazing to me how consistent the Bible was on these subjects. Like, I would look up the same parable in the book of Matthew and in the book of Luke. You know, and then I'd go over here to the book of Revelation where the same thing was mentioned. And then I'd go over here to the book of Isaiah where the same... And I kept just seeing so many patterns and so many similarities, and it just made perfect total sense to me. Now, obviously, we're never going to understand the Bible completely, but I understood it a whole lot more just from comparing Bible with Bible. Now, if you just read some commentary, how do you know that that guy's not a false teacher? How do you know he's not lying to you? And not only that, but God said that that's not the way you're going to understand the Bible. He said the way to understand the Bible, the way to teach the Bible, is to compare spiritual things with spiritual. Now, in this story, we have the ten virgins. Now, anybody can say what they want. Well, this is what I think it's about. This is what I think the oil on the lamps is. You know, this is what I think, this and that. But the only way we're really going to know is if we compare spiritual things with spiritual. So if you would, keep your finger in Matthew 25 and look at Luke chapter number 12. Luke chapter number 12, and we'll see some more preaching on the same subject from Jesus. And you'll see some of the similarities here. Look at Luke 12, 35. And there's so much. I have this giant long list of stuff here written down. I'm hoping to get to as much of it as I can because there's so much in this chapter and there's so many of these cross-references. But look at Luke 12, verse number 35. The Bible says, Let your loins be girded about, and your lights burning. So there's the reference, of course, to the lamps with oil on them that are lit, as opposed to a lamp that's dead, that has no light in it. And the Bible says, And ye yourselves liken to men that wait for their Lord, when he will return from the wedding, that when he cometh and knocketh, they may open unto him immediately. Remember when the bridegroom came back and he was come to the marriage? And it says that the five virgins that did not have their lights burning, remember how they knocked? And he said, Verily I say unto you, I know ye not, whence ye are. See, that's exactly what's talked about here. He says, you want to have your light burning so that when Jesus Christ comes back, you know, he'll open to you immediately. You see that? And so go on and read. The Bible says, Be ye therefore ready also, for the Son of Man cometh at an hour when ye think not. Then Peter said unto him, Lord, speakest thou this parable unto us, or even to all? Now, I want you to understand that this parable, that God's talking about here, he's referring to in Matthew 25, a lot of this is directed at the nation of Israel, and we're going to see that in a little bit. See, let me, I have to, I have so many things written down, I'm getting a little mixed up here with what I wanted to go to next. Look at Luke chapter 13, just one page over. I'm going to show you this. Here we go, yeah, this is what I was looking for. Luke chapter 13, the Bible says in verse 23. So we saw that in Matthew 25, that there are these five virgins, there was oil in their lamps, they're ready because their lights are burning. The bridegroom comes back, that's Jesus Christ's return, they're ready, they knock, he opens unto them immediately. Then we saw the same thing in Luke chapter 12, where their lights are burning, they're watching, and it says that they're his servants that are waiting and watching, and they knock and he lets them right in. Now look, if you would, at Luke chapter 13, verse 23. Then said one unto him, Lord, are there a few that be saved? And he said unto them, Strive to enter in at the straight gate, for many I say unto you will seek to enter in and shall not be able. See the same concept being brought up again? When once the master of the house is risen up and hath shut to the door. See, that's the same thing about that door being shut. Too late to get in, right? Same thing consistently. And he began to stand without it to knock at the door saying, Lord, Lord, open unto us. Okay, flip back to Matthew 25. And you'll see in verse number 11, afterward, this is after the door is shut, just like in Luke 13, afterward came also the other virgins saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. See the exact same words? Okay, flip back to Luke 13. We're in Luke 13, verse 25. And to knock at the door saying, Lord, Lord, open unto us. And he shall answer and say unto you, I know you not when she are. Now, flip back to Matthew 7. Keep your finger in Matthew 25, go to Matthew 7. We'll see the same thing here in Matthew 7. Look at verse number 21. Matthew 7, 21, the Bible reads, Not everyone that sayeth unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven. See, there's that same thing, Lord, Lord, open to us. But he that doeth the will of my Father which is in its heaven, many will say to me in that day, 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. See the same exact words, I never knew you, depart from me, ye that work iniquity. See, here, people are coming to Jesus Christ and there's a little more light shed on what their thought process is. When they knock on the door and they say, Lord, Lord, open to us. Have we not prophesied in thy name? I mean, haven't we preached about you? He says, and in thy name have cast out devils, and in thy name done many wonderful works? They said, Jesus Christ, look at all the wonderful things that we've served you. I mean, we've done this for you. We've served you in this way. We've prophesied, we've preached. We've cast out devils. We've done many wonderful works. And Jesus says, depart from me, I never knew you. He says, it's not the works that you've done. It doesn't matter how many works you've done. It doesn't matter how many times you've invoked the name of Jesus Christ for what you felt like to be service to him. He says, if I don't know you, then I don't know you, and I'm going to shut the door and bolt it after it and you're not going to come in. See, the only way that you're going to be saved is if Jesus Christ knows you and you know him. You say, well, how am I going to have that kind of a relationship with Jesus Christ where he knows me? Well, you can think about what Paul said, that I may know him, and the power of his resurrection. I'm sorry. The Bible says, the verse before that, and being found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith, that I may know him. You see that? So he's saying, I don't have my own righteousness. My righteousnesses are as filthy rags, the Bible says, but I have the righteousness of Jesus Christ, and so Jesus Christ has declared me to be righteous because I have his righteousness by faith, the righteousness which is of God by faith. So because of our faith in Jesus Christ is the only way that we're going to be known of God. See, that's why the Bible says, believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, but then it goes on in John 1-12 to say, but as many as received him, to them he gave power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name. Now, do I know my sons? Of course I know my sons. I mean, I probably know them almost better than I know anybody. And see, once you're in the family, I mean, you're going to know your family. When they knock on the door, you know, if some distant relative from some distant city that you grew up with comes and knocks on your door, you're not going to say, I know you're not. You know, depart from me. Come on in, buddy. Great to see you again. And so it all matters whether you've been born into the family of God. So when you're born again, Jesus Christ knows you. It's not based on wonderful works that you've done. And he'll open to you immediately, the Bible says. So we see right away, just from doing a little bit of study of the Bible, we can see right away that these five virgins who did not have their lamps lit, who are they? They're unsaved people who thought that they were saved. Do you see that? I mean, they're unsaved people who thought they were saved. That's why they said, Lord, Lord, open to us. We expected to be let in. I mean, they didn't think, oh, there's no way I'm going in there. They thought, of course he's going to let us in after everything we've done for him, after all we've served him, after all the wonderful works we've done. Of course. Hey, let me tell you something. There's going to be a lot of people. He said, not everyone that's sayeth unto me, Lord, Lord, so enter into the kingdom of heaven. There are going to be a lot of people who get to this day that we're talking about here, and they're going to be surprised that they didn't make it to heaven because they thought it was based on works, and it was based on whether Jesus Christ knew them and whether they knew Jesus Christ based on that blood relationship of father to son or father to daughter. That's how you're going to get in, my friend, and that's the only way you're going to get in. Otherwise, you're going to be standing out in the cold. But it goes a little bit deeper than that. Flip over one page from Matthew 7 to Matthew 8, and I know I'm going to a lot of scriptures, but believe it or not, I'm leaving out a lot of this because there's so much interesting cross-reference where he repeats the same phrases over and over about Lord, Lord, open to us. I know you're not. And by the way, before we look at Matthew 8, think about what Jesus said in Matthew 7. I never knew you. Okay? So are these five virgins who didn't have oil in their lamps? Did they used to be saved, but they weren't watching. They weren't ready. They weren't ready when he came. Now they're not saved anymore. No. He said, I never knew you because anybody who goes to hell, it's because Jesus never knew them. See, he doesn't say, well, I used to know you, but then you got out of church and then you stopped believing in me because you can't lose your salvation. So that's why every unsaved person is, depart from me, I never knew you. And so we know that these people are not Christians because he never knew them. They did not have oil in their lamps. What does oil represent in the Bible? Well, if you study the Bible, the oil represents the Holy Spirit throughout the Bible. When a person in the Old Testament was anointed with oil, you remember when David was anointed with oil, for example, in 1 Samuel 16, the Bible talks about how the Spirit of the Lord departed from Saul, the anointing, not the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, but actually the Holy Spirit upon you, as we've talked about in other sermons, but like in Matthew chapter 9 in that sermon. But the Holy Spirit upon him departed from him. He didn't have the power of God on his life anymore. And when Samuel anointed David with the oil, remember the Holy Spirit came upon David. And the Bible talks about the oil of gladness in Hebrews chapter 1, referring to the Holy Spirit. And on and on throughout the Bible, you'll see that oil is a picture of the Holy Spirit. Now, do you have oil in your lamp? That's the question. Are you saved? Do you have the Holy Spirit living inside of you? Man, there's so many things I want to show you. There's all these great verses popping in my mind from my lesson, but I've got to keep a logical thought here. Look at Matthew chapter 8 and look at verse number 10. Again, the same concept. When Jesus heard it, he marveled and said to them that followed, this is Matthew 8-10, Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith. See, that's the key, believing on Jesus Christ, faith in Jesus Christ. I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel. And I say unto you that many shall come from the east and west and shall sit down with Abraham and Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven. Okay, so where did he not find the faith? He said, I can't find it in Israel. He said, he came unto his own and his own received him not, the Bible says in John 1-11. He came to his own people, he came to the children of Israel, he came to his chosen people and they received him not. He says, I have not found so great faith in Israel. But he contrasts that in verse number 11 of Matthew 8 where he says, many shall come from the east and west. He said, my people come from all over the world. Many shall come from the east and west and shall sit down with Abraham and Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven. It's talking about the millennial kingdom of Christ. He says, they're going to come and sit down and be talking with Abraham and Isaac and Jacob in the promised land. And then look at the next verse. But the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness. The children of the kingdom referring to the Jews. The children of the earthly kingdom in Jerusalem. The kingdom here of Israel was originally where David literally ruled. He says, in the second coming when Jesus Christ comes back, he says the children of the kingdom are going to be cast in outer darkness because they rejected me. He says, there's going to be all these people coming from east and west, sitting down with Abraham and Isaac and Jacob from all over the world. Gentiles, every race, every kindred, every nation, every tongue. But then the children of Israel, the children of the kingdom are going to be cast out into outer darkness. Boy, whenever I read that I think it's great that I get to sit down with these Bibles. Isn't that going to be great? We get to sit down with Abraham or sit down with your favorite Bible character and just talk to them. Isn't that great? We get to meet them and just sit down and chat. I mean, it's going to be great. It's going to be exciting. But what a shame for these people, the children of Israel, who were supposedly looking for Jesus' coming, you know, the Messiah, who knew the whole Old Testament. I mean, they loved the stories about Moses. They loved the stories about Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. They probably would have loved to sit down with them. He says, you're not going to sit down with them. He says, you don't have the faith to believe on me and so you're going to be cast into outer darkness. And these people from all over the world are going to be sitting down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. And you're going to be cast out. And the Bible says in verse number 13, And Jesus said unto the centurion, Go thy way, and as thou hast believed, so be it done unto thee. And the servant was healed in the same hour. So we see here, it sheds a little light on the story, doesn't it? In Matthew 25. Now it makes a lot of sense, doesn't it? Jesus comes back. He finds five that have oil in their vessel with their lamp. Their lights are burning. They've got the Holy Spirit living inside of them. And they walk up. They knock on that door. Come on in. I know you. Of course I know you. You're my son. Come on in. And then there's the five that come afterward who had no oil in their lamp. And notice, why didn't they have oil in their lamp? See, it says, like, they were trying to buy it. Did you notice that? See, the five that had it, they just took oil in their vessel with their lamp. They already had it. But then the other five had none, and they're like, I think I'll go buy it. Did you notice that? And while they went to buy, it's like, sorry. You started earning your salvation. You paid for about .0001% of it. And he came back too soon because he didn't have a chance to earn it because you can't earn it. It's too expensive. And so they went to buy it, and they said, they said, God, I've been baptized. Hey, I said I've done many wonderful works, huh? You know, no, you can't buy it, friend. You know, it's got to be given to you. It's got to be given to you, and it's paid for by the blood of Jesus Christ. It doesn't need to be paid for. And so that was where these five virgins missed the boat. They're trying to pay for it. And then they didn't have it. And then they stood at the door. They said, Lord, Lord, we love you. We followed you. We served you. And he says, no, I don't know you. Get out of here. And so that's what the meaning of that parable is. Now, look at the next story here. That's the parable number one in this story, and it's talking about the Second Coming. Look at verse number 14, and we'll go into that in a little more detail in a few minutes. But verse 14 of Matthew 25, back in Matthew 25, verse 14, the Bible says, For the kingdom of heaven is as a man traveling into a far country, who called his own servants and delivered unto them his goods. And unto one he gave five talents to another two and to another one, to every man according to his several ability, and straightway took his journey. Then he that had received the five talents went and traded with the same and made them other five talents. And likewise, he that had received two, he also gained other two. But he that had received one went and digged in the earth and hid his Lord's money. After a long time, the Lord of those servants cometh and reckoneth with them. And so he that had received the five talents came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five talents. Behold, I have gained beside them five talents more. And then we see that he says in verse 21, His Lord said unto them, Well done, thou good and faithful servant. Thou hast been faithful over a few things. I will make thee ruler over many things. Enter thou into the joy of thy Lord. Let me stop right there and say this. If you're faithful in the little things, God will make you ruler over a big thing. Don't ever think that anything's a little thing. Sometimes I remember I'd fall into the trap when I first started going to an independent fundamental Baptist church and I'd listen to some of the preaching and I'd hear some of the subjects that were preached and I'd say, yeah, it's such a little thing. Why did I make such a big deal out of it? What's the big deal about the way I dress? Or what's the big deal about the music I listen to? There's so much more to life than that. What's the big deal? I mean, you know, I miss church Wednesday night or whatever. Hey, what's the big deal? But see, God says, I'm testing you with little things. You know, you think about children. Children don't have a lot of responsibility, but I want to say to every child that's here, whatever responsibility you do have, be faithful with it and God will give you something bigger. If you can't keep your room clean, how are you going to keep your house clean someday? If you're not in the habit of keeping your room clean and your house is going to be a pig's side. You know, if you can't tithe when mom gives you a dollar and you put a dime in, how are you going to tithe when you've made a thousand dollars? I remember the best thing my parents ever did to me was they gave me an allowance my whole life. I can remember getting an allowance of 50 cents and tithing five cents every week. And my parents taught me to do that. I praise the Lord for that. And so maybe that's why I'm tithing today because I was faithful in the little things and then God allowed me to be faithful in the greater things. And so don't ever minimize anything. Everything is important. Everything. Everything about your life, from the time you wake up to the time you go to bed, it's important. Nothing should just be by chance. Nothing should just be... You ever meet these people who just live through life by the seat of their pants? Sounds like I feel like that's me. I mean, people who just, no plan, just, what do you want to do today? Whatever, you know, we could do this, we could go here. What do you feel like doing? Hey, look, have a purpose for your life. Have something that you're doing. Have something that you're working toward. Have some kind of a plan, some kind of a structure in your life. You'll be a lot happier, I'll guarantee you. And don't just live life because these little things, little time that you waste, if you think about that. Little time that you're not faithful with. You know, when you're standing in line at the bank, you're standing in line at DMV, God forbid. But let's say you're standing in line... Is it called DMV in Arizona? What do they call it? MBD. MBD. Everybody has to be different. BMB, DMB, every state I've lived in it's been different, but not that I've lived in that many. I've only lived in two, but it's my third one. But anyway, when you're standing in line, hey, pull out your Bible verses. You know, have a note card with your Bible verses. You could be learning the Bible. You could be praying. You know, there's always something you could be doing. Use your time wisely. Be faithful with every little thing, and someday maybe God will give you something big to be faithful with. And you say, I don't make enough money. Are you faithful with the money that God gives you or do you just blow it on dumb things? Because maybe if you're faithful with it, you get a little bit more. Not that that's the goal or anything, but you could get a little bit more money to meet your needs if you're faithful with what you got. But if God sees you using it on stupid things, why would he give you more? And so don't ever think that something's little and try to discount it. But he says, you've been faithful with a few things. He said, I gave you these five talents. It wasn't a big deal, but you've doubled my money. He says, that was a great investment. He says, I will make thee ruler over many things. He's like, if you can double five talents, then if I give you something big, you could probably double that too. And then the next one, the next servant comes. He gave him two talents. Again, he doubles it. He tells him the same thing. Well done, thou good and faithful servant. Thou hast been faithful over a few things. I will make thee ruler over many things. Enter thou into the joy of thy Lord. Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown and gathering where thou hast not strawed. And I was afraid and went and hid thy talent in the earth. Lo, there thou hast, that is thine. His Lord answered and said unto him, thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knowest that I reap where I sow not and gather where I have not strawed. Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then in my coming, I should have received mine own with usury. Take therefore the talent from him and give it unto him which hath ten talents. For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance. But from him that hath not shall be taken away, even that which he hath. And cast thee, the unprofitable servant, into outer darkness. There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Now here we have this unprofitable servant. Now you say, where was this unprofitable servant a Christian? Well, look at the last verse that we just read in verse number 30. And cast thee, the unprofitable servant, into outer darkness. There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Now the only time that word is ever used, there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth, is talking about hell. It's the only time it's ever used. Now this is again talking about the second coming. We've got to keep the chronology right. This is talking about when Jesus Christ comes back and sets up his kingdom on this earth. Let me show you a few things about this one. Number one, the fact that he's called a servant in the story does not mean that he's a Christian, does not make him save. Remember all the people in the first parable that we read about? They thought they were serving God. I mean, they probably some of them were serving God. I mean, don't you think there have been people who've come to an independent fundamental Baptist church that's really a great kind of a church? That's really a soul-willing kind of church, and have actually maybe put money in the offering plate, or maybe they swept the floor, or cleaned the rug, or maybe they even helped prepare food for an event, or did any kind of service. And you know what? They were doing service for God. I mean, they did something for God. Is that going to get them to heaven? Is serving God going to get you to heaven? No. Look at this. Let me show you a few things. Well, I'll just tell you these. I don't have time to turn there, but in Jeremiah 25, 9 and in Jeremiah 43, 10, God calls Nebuchadnezzar a wicked king. He says, Nebuchadnezzar, my servant, is going to come and destroy you. In John 15, he says to the apostles, he says, henceforth call I you no more servants. He says, I've called you friends. So he says, sometimes, you know, servants, sometimes Christians are not called servants, and sometimes ungodly people are called God's servants if he uses them or if they do something for him. But turn, if you would, to Revelation 11, 18. And I'm going to show you some things about the Millennium. This kind of picks up where we left off last week, where we talked about the Tribulation, and then we talked about the Great Tribulation. Basically, here's what happened, just a quick review. The first three and a half years there was the Tribulation, where the Antichrist was persecuting all the saints and causing them to receive a mark in their right hand or in their head, and none of the saved Christians, they all refused to receive it, the Bible says, and they were being persecuted and killed. And then halfway through that seven-year period, the Antichrist, something called the Abomination of Desolation, happens where he goes and sits in the temple of God and says that he's God. And then the Bible says, then there's Great Tribulation against the saints, and then right away, Jesus Christ comes and stops that by returning and blowing the trumpet and gathers all his elect from the four winds, the rapture occurs, and then God pours out his wrath on this earth. Now, at the end of God pouring out his wrath, and if you were here last week, you'll remember that Revelation 11 was the end of one of the two chronologies we saw. Remember it was Revelation 1 through 11, kind of leads us right up to where the Millennium starts, and then it starts over in Revelation 12 with Jesus being born, and then goes all the way to the Millennium and to the new heaven and the new earth. We'll look at Revelation 11, 18. Actually, put your finger on verse 18 and look at verse number 15, and we'll see how this is the beginning of the Millennium. The Bible says, and the seventh angel sounded. This is the last trumpet. This is after all of God's judgments are over. And the Bible says, and the seventh angel sounded, and there were great voices in heaven saying, the kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord and of his Christ, and he shall reign forever and ever. So now Jesus Christ is coming to the earth to reign on this earth physically. And the Bible says, and the four and 20 elders which sat before God on their seats fell upon their faces and worshiped God. Look at verse 18. And the nations were angry, and thy wrath has come, and the time of the dead that they should be judged, and, now notice this, that thou shouldest give rewards unto thy servants the prophets, this is who God's going to reward, thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear thy name small and great, and shouldest destroy them which destroy the earth. So here the Bible says Jesus Christ, he's finished all his wrath on everybody, now it's come the time where he's going to set up his kingdom and reign on the earth, and it says that all the nations were angry, and it says his wrath has come, the time of the dead that they should be judged, and that thou shouldest give rewards unto the prophets, I mean preachers, he says he's going to reward the saints, he says he's going to reward everyone who fears the name of God small and great. I mean from the most lame Christian in the world to the greatest Christian in the world, small and great, everyone is going to receive a reward from God at this time for what good that they did do in their lifetime. Flip forward in your Bible, then we get into chapter 12, it starts over, go back in your Bible now to chapter 19, the same point in the chronology where Jesus is coming back, this great judgment of the nations is going to occur, and I'm trying to get to all this material, but look at Revelation 19, verse number 7. The Bible says in Revelation 19, 7, let us be glad and rejoice and give honor to him. I'm sorry, the end of the verse before that says the Lord God omnipotent reigneth, that's him setting up his kingdom. Let us be glad and rejoice and give honor to him, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and his wife hath made herself ready. And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white, for the fine linen is the righteousness of the saints. Now what's their righteousness, is it their own righteousness? No, remember it was the righteousness of Jesus Christ. And the Bible says they were all given this clean white linen to wear for the fine linen is the righteousness of the saints, and he saith unto them, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb, and he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God. So here we have at the end of God's wrath being poured out, we have the millennium started, and it said in the other passage in Revelation 11 that all the saints are being rewarded greatly, everybody who fears God small and great, everybody who's saved is being rewarded. Then he says here that the marriage of the Lamb has come, his wife hath made herself ready, and to her was granted she should be arrayed in linen, clean and white, for the fine linen is the righteousness of who? Of saints, everybody who's saved. Now look, who's this bride? Who's this bride of Christ here that's mentioned? Well, I'll read it for you, you don't have to turn there, but I'll read this for you in Ephesians 5, 25, where the Bible says, Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church and gave himself for it, so we're talking about the church here, is like the wife of Jesus Christ, that he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, that he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle, or any such thing that it should be holy and without blemish. So the Bible says in Ephesians 5 that one day Jesus Christ is going to take the church, and he's going to present it to himself as a bride, and it says it's going to be holy, without spot, without blemish, I mean a perfect bride for him is going to be the church. Now you say, wait a minute, saved Christians are not perfect. The only reason that we're not perfect, and I'm going to have to skip this part of the sermon, but the only reason we're not perfect is because of the flesh that we live in. Remember that sermon on the reset button where I talked about how it's really just because we're living in the sinful flesh is the only reason we sin, but thanks be to God the moment that we pass on to be with the Lord and our body dies, we'll never sin again. And so that's why Jesus Christ is able to present us here in Revelation 19 as a perfect bride, and I think when the Bible says without spot, without blemish, completely holy, clothed in white and fine linen and clean, I think it means that it's perfection that he's presenting. Now, there is no universal church right now. There are local churches throughout the world, but when the rapture occurs at this point, the marriage supper of the Lamb, every believer who's ever lived is going to be assembled together at this marriage supper. Then it's going to be one church. I mean, one congregation of every believer. One church is going to be there. It's called the Church of the Firstborn, and we're going to be there in our perfected, glorified state, never to sin again. We're going to be presented to Jesus Christ. That's in chapter 19. Now that was verses, numbers, let's see, that was verse number 7 and 8. Look at verse 14. The Bible says in the armies, it's talking about Jesus coming back on a horse with the flaming fire, taking vengeance on them that know not God. Verse 14, it says, And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, what are they wearing, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. See, it's the same people. He's coming back with all the saved Christians when he comes to be glorified in his saints and to be admired in all them that believe, because our testimony among you was believed in that day. So he's coming back, Jesus Christ, on a white horse with all the saints behind him, clothed in fine and white linen. Look down, if you would, at verse number 19. So here he comes. He's on the horse. He's got all these saints behind him, and it says, And I saw the beast and the kings of the earth, and their armies gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse. So all these nations, all the ungodly nations that were left behind after this rapture occurred earlier on in the book, they're all left behind, and they've come to make war with Jesus Christ, who has come back and poured out his wrath on them. And it says in verse number 19, I saw the beast and the kings of the earth and their armies, so great armies are gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse and against his army. And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast and them that worshiped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire, burning with brimstone. And the remnant were slain with the sword of him that sat upon the horse, which sword proceeded out of his mouth, and all the fowls were filled with their flesh. So what happened? Here comes this great army of God's people, clothed in white and fine linen, no longer sinners. I mean, the sin is gone because their body has died, and they've been given a new glorified body, never to sin again. They're clothed in fine linen, which is not their righteousness. It's the righteousness of Jesus Christ. And they're coming on horses. They face this great army of the people who just finished having years of God just pouring out his wrath on them, you know, that we talked about last week. They've just been getting more and more angry, the Bible says. They did not repent of their witchcraft. They did not repent of not believing on Jesus Christ. They just did not get it after they saw Jesus Christ and he poured out his wrath on them. Now they're saying, we're going to fight against him. And they gather this giant army together of all nations and people, and they come and they face off with Jesus Christ, and he's got all the saints behind him. It's these two armies that are facing off. And the Bible says that he took the Antichrist, who's their leader, and he throws them into the lake of fire. By the way, that's the first time anybody goes to the lake of fire, because hell later is going to be in the lake of fire, but this is a new place that God has created. He says that he throws the Antichrist in the lake of fire, then he takes the false prophet and throws him into the lake of fire, and then the remnant, look at verse 21, this is important, and the remnant were slain with the sword of him that sat upon the horse. Who's sitting on the horse? Jesus Christ. So Jesus Christ has a sword coming out of his mouth, the Bible said earlier in the story, and he takes that sword and he kills the rest of this army with his sword. The sword was preceded out of his mouth, and all the fowls were filled with their flesh. Now go down to Revelation 20, verse 4. And I saw thrones and they sat upon them. Who? Who are the they? See, it doesn't give us an antecedent in verse 20. It just says, I saw thrones and they sat upon them. Who? Well, it's the people that came with Jesus Christ on these horses. And judgment was given unto them. So everyone who came on the horses with Jesus Christ is given some authority. They're given some judgment. And the Bible says, And I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshiped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads or in their hands. These are the people that came out of the tribulation. Or in their hands, and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years, but the rest of the dead, this is all the dead people that were just killed in the verse before, and all the dead, unsaved people from all time, lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection, on such the second dead hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years. And of course, in Revelation 1, the Bible says that he's made us to be priests unto God and unto Christ, in chapter number 1 of Revelation. Don't have time to turn there. And so we see this great second coming of Jesus Christ where he defeats these enemies. Now, keep your finger there. Go back to Luke where we were. Remember we were looking at Luke, which was like a parallel passage of Matthew? Go to Luke, chapter 13. Luke 13, we stopped reading at verse number 25 of Luke, chapter 13. And the Bible says, Then shall ye begin to say, in verse 26, Then shall ye begin to say, We've eaten and drunk in thy presence, and now is taught in our streets. But he shall say, I tell you, I know ye not when she are. Depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity, and there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when ye shall see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, and ye yourselves thrust out. Who's the you yourselves? The Jews that rejected Jesus. Remember, the children of the kingdom, as it called them. And they shall come from the east, and from the west, and from the north, and from the south, and shall sit down in the kingdom of God. And behold, there are last which be first, and there are first which shall be last. Now flip forward in your Bible to Luke 19. Still in the book of Luke. We're going to see the same story in Luke 19, 11. The same story about the talents, the men who received the talents from God. Luke 19, verse 11, as they heard these things, he added and spake a parable, because he was nigh to Jerusalem. So this parable is about the Jews. Again, it's about the nation of Israel. And because they thought that the kingdom of God should immediately appear. So he's saying, this isn't around the corner. There's a few things that have to happen first. In verse 12 he says, he said, therefore a certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom and to return. And he called his ten servants and delivered them ten pounds, and said to them, occupy till I come. Look at verse 14. But his citizens hated him. These are the people that lived in his city. But his citizens hated him and sent a message after him saying, we will not have this man to reign over us. So you've got to try to understand this story. Here's a man who is a king over a certain area. And he goes out and he says, I want to expand my kingdom to greater, further distances. And when he leaves to do that, his citizens said, we will not have this man to rule over us. This is talking about the nation of Israel, where God was originally focusing most of his attention on the nation of Israel in the Old Testament. Then he says, you know what, I'm going to expand that out. I'm going to go out and reach all nations. And while he's doing that, the nation that was his citizens, they said, we will not have this man to rule over us. Now, on and on, he tells the same story about how the different servants got the money. And some of the servants did right with it, and some of them didn't. But look at the last verse that I want to show you of this parable. Look at verse number, see I wrote it down here. Look at verse number 27. The Bible says, but those mine enemies, which would not that I should reign over them, bring hither and slay them before me. You see that? He says, bring that nation to me that rejected me, the nation of Israel, and he says, I want you to kill them right now in front of me. He said, I want you to take a sword and kill them. There's another place, and I don't have time to turn there again, Matthew chapter 21, we already preached on it a few weeks ago, where basically there are servants who are left in charge of a vineyard, and they begin to abuse their power. And the Bible says that that vineyard was the nation of Israel in Isaiah 5. They begin to abuse what they've been given. They're just using it for themselves. They say, our master's not coming back. He delays his coming. We got all the time we need. And it says they started to beat the servants, which is talking about them beating and killing the prophets which were sent to them. And at the end of the story, he takes that servant, he came to him when he wasn't ready, and he took a sword, and it says that he cut him asunder. He chopped him up. He sliced him in half. And that's exactly what this is talking about. And consistently throughout the Bible, you'll see this at the second coming. Now let me ask you something. If the servant that's cut in half and thrown into outer darkness is a Christian who hid their talent, whatever that means, and he's going to kill this Christian and send him to hell, it doesn't even make sense because you've got to remember that this is at the end of the great wrath of God. What already happened before God's wrath even started? The rapture. When every Christian was taken out, and I don't have time to show you, but people are not going to be saved during God's wrath being poured out at all. They're going to be rejecting God. God's going to send them delusion. They're going to hate God. They're going to be against God. And by the way, who would get them saved? There's no Christians left to win them to Christ. There's nobody even telling them the gospel. Okay, you understand what I'm saying? I mean, when that rapture occurs, he says, the door's going to be shut, friend. And I'm just trying to help you to understand the rationale here. The tribulation occurs. That door is shut. He says, sorry, your chance is over. You blew it, buddy. I already took out my people. He pours out his wrath and judges them. Then comes a time when he comes back and he comes back with the saints that he took with him and finds all the ungodly people that have gathered together against him with their armies. Now back to Matthew 25, and I'm going to close with the final story, and you'll see how this all just comes perfectly together in this final story. And I had to skip some of the scriptures just for the sake of time, but look, if you would, at verse number 31. Verse number 31 is where he explains a little more what he's talking about of this whole chapter. Verse 31 of chapter 25 says, when the Son of Man shall come in his glory and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory. So we have Jesus sitting on that throne on this earth, ready to rule. And the Bible says, and before him shall be gathered all nations. Remember they all gathered together against him? And the Bible says, and he shall separate them one from another as a shepherd divided his sheep from the goats. And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left. Who are the sheep? That's the people that he brought with him. That's the people that are clothed in the white linen, the saved, born again, blood washed Christians. He puts them on this side. And he's got the ungodly, unsaved on this side, the goats. And look what he says. Then shall the king say unto them on his right hand, in verse 34, Come ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. Remember he's going to give them judgment and authority to rule over his kingdom. And he's going to be at the head of it and he's going to give them authority. And I didn't have time to show you this, but in Luke 19, when he gave them the different talents and the one guy brought back five and the one guy brought back two, he said, hey, be thou over five cities. You made it two. Hey, be thou over two cities. Be thou over ten cities. And so they're given authority based on what they did with what God gave them, the saved Christians that are born again. And he says, The kingdom is here. Come and inherit it to the sheep. And then he says, For I was in hunger and you gave me meat. And he starts to go on about how the wonderful things that they've done for him. Now, look, people will try to take this chapter and try to say that salvation is by works. They'll say, like, see? If you feed the poor, you'll go to heaven. I mean, that's ridiculous. I mean, it goes against the whole rest of the body. If you feed the poor, it's like you did it to Jesus. You're saved. If you feed him, he says, I was in hunger and you gave me meat. I was thirsty and you gave me drink. Put it in the context. He's talking to a giant group of every saved Christian who's ever lived. And he said he was going to divide the nations. He's got the nations of those that are unsaved on this side. And he's got this giant crowd of people on this side that are saved. And he says, You have done so much for me that I am going to give you the kingdom. He says, I'm going to let you inherit this kingdom. I'm going to let you rule and reign with me because of all the great things you've done for me. And then he goes on to say in verse number 41, Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire. Remember he's about to kill him with the sword that comes out of his mouth. Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was in hunger and you gave me no meat. I was thirsty and you gave me. He said, You've never done anything for me. I don't know you. You work iniquity. And then he says in verse number 46, And these shall go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into life eternal. Do you see what's going on here? You've got the great gathering of all the saints that have ever lived. You've got these nations of ungodly people, these armies that have gathered together against God that he's about to destroy with his mouth. And he says, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire. It says that these should go away into everlasting punishment. Now look, how long does hell last? Well, you've got it right there. It's everlasting punishment. I mean, it's a punishment that goes on forever and ever. When this event occurs, I mean, when he kills them with the sword out of his mouth, these that have rejected God for the last time, he says, Your punishment is never going to end. He says, You're going into fire that's never going to end. You're going into everlasting fire, the fire that never shall be quenched. And he says, You're going into a punishment that's never going to stop. And he kills them and sends them to hell. And he says, Alright, Save born again Christians. Come and inherit the kingdom. I'm going to close with this, a great verse. I could go on and on all night, but I just want you to understand the chapter. I hope that this helps you see what's going on. But I want to end on a high note here. But look at Luke chapter 12. And look at verse 36. I want to show you this great verse in the Bible. One of the most exciting, encouraging verses that you'll ever find in the Bible is Luke 12, 38. But look at verse number, I mean, 12, 37. But look at verse 36. Luke 12, 36, and see this. And he yourselves like unto men that wait for their Lord, when he will return from the wedding, that when he cometh and knocketh, they may open unto him immediately. We saw what that was about. And in verse 37 it says, Blessed are those servants whom the Lord when he cometh shall find watching. Verily I say unto you that he shall gird himself and make them to sit down to me and will come forth and serve them. Do you see that? Wow. When Jesus Christ comes back, this great day that we're talking about, judgment day, when Jesus Christ comes back and he sets up his kingdom on this earth, he sets his throne up, he sits down, he destroys the ungodly nations that have just refused to get saved and refused to believe on Jesus Christ. He looks at the people that are on his right hand that have been born again and saved and he says, Come and inherit the kingdom prepared for you before the foundation of the world. And the Bible says that he's going to gird himself and he's going to serve them at that marriage supper of the Lamb. Now think about it. When I got married, I remember when I got married the next morning, I got up in the morning and my wife said, Make me some toast. And so I made her toast. And she said, Make me some more toast. And I made her some more toast. And hey, who do you think cooked breakfast the day after we got married? I did. Do you think I cooked breakfast this morning? No, I didn't. I'm just kidding. I'm not kidding, but that is what happened. And so that's right. That's why I waited until she stepped out. This has been what I was trying to teach the whole lesson. I was waiting. But anyway, here's the thing. Think about this. This is a marriage supper that they've gathered together for. This is a glorious event for people that are saved. It's a very devastating event for those that are unsafe because they're about to be killed personally by Jesus Christ and sent to everlasting punishment where they're never going to get out. Horrible day. A day of darkness. He says, It's going to be a horrible day for you all throughout the prophets. He preaches that. And he says, But you're my bride. I mean, you're never going to sin again. I mean, you've been given clean and white linen robes picturing your righteous state before me. You never sinned, never done anything wrong. And he said, You're my perfect, spotless, without blemish bride. And he says, This kingdom is for you. I'm going to let you rule and reign it with me for a thousand years. And remember the Bible said, The meat shall inherit the earth? He says, We're going to inherit the earth. And he says, You're my bride. And so you know what? Let me. You've been serving me all this time. I mean, when I was in hunger, you gave me meat. When I was thirsty, you gave me the drink. When I was a stranger, you came unto me. When I was in prison, you came unto me. He says, Now let me gird myself. And now the tables have turned. Now I'm going to serve you, honey. Now I'm going to serve you, my bride. Let me serve you a meal at the marriage supper of the lamb. I mean, can you imagine what a humbling experience it will be to sit down and after we've worked hard, hopefully, you know, those of us, hopefully, that have pushed ourselves and really worked hard and really done everything we could for Jesus Christ and gave it everything we got and pushed it all the way to the end. And we suffered with Jesus Christ. I mean, we sacrificed things for him in life. Boy, what a blessing it's going to be to just sit back and relax and have him serve us for a while. And so that's what's coming. It's going to be a glorious day when Jesus Christ says, Hey, I'm so excited about my bride here. I'm so glad that you got saved. And I'm so glad, especially those of you that have done the most for me. He says, I'm going to give you this kingdom, but not only that, I'm going to gird myself and I'm going to serve you this meal. What kind of a waiter is that to have Jesus Christ serve you at the marriage supper of the lamb? Hey, it's an exciting day that's coming. Hold on. You're going through hard times in life? Hey, hang on. One day you're going to be recompensed for everything good that you've ever done at this day when he rewards all his servants, when he lines them up and he goes through the things done in their body and he gives them to every man a reward according to the works that he's done in his body. Hey, do everything you can. Push yourself as hard as you can. Make it one more day. Just go through the trial and one day you're going to be rewarded greater than you could ever imagine. The Bible says, For I reckon that the sufferings of this world are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed. Hey, when we get there, when Faithful World Baptist Church is sitting around at the table with all these other people, you're like, man, we thought we had it so rough. It was nothing compared to this reward that we're getting. I mean, this is so great. It makes the other stuff seem like just a blink in the eye. So always keep that in mind. You say, why are you preaching about this? Why do you preach about something that's not going to happen for years and years, some distant prophetic event? Hey, I'm preaching about it because if you'd walk through your life keeping in mind this day, keeping in mind eternity, you'll have a different attitude about some of the things that you go through because you'll have your eye on the bigger picture of the glory that's going to be revealed one day. Let's bow our heads and have a word of prayer. God, thank You so much for showing us so many things in the book of Revelation, dear God, and in the Bible itself just teaching us about the great things that we have to expect, dear God. I mean, good night, the unsaved crowd, it's like they go through life and they die. And it's just darkness and gloominess for them, dear God. And this is really the best that they're ever going to have it, but God, no matter how bad we have it right now, thanks be to God, we know that the most exciting, glorious event that anyone can imagine is what we have to expect when we see Jesus Christ at His coming and we get rewarded and He girds Himself and serves us. Praise the Lord. Please, Father, just help us to walk with eternity in mind and maybe we could just blur our vision a little bit to the things that we see right in front of us and just look out a little bit further by faith and see way off in the distance Jesus Christ coming and just the excitement of never sinning again, the excitement of having Jesus serve us and being with Jesus Christ and being together as Christians in that great church that's going to be assembled that one day, Father. What a church that will be, Father. Please just help us to stay in the back.