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But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man.Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left. Two women will be grinding with a hand mill; one will be taken and the other left.

“Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into. So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.

Matthew 24:36-44

Who, being in very nature[a] God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature[b] of a servant, being made in human likeness.

And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death — even death on a cross!

Philippians 2:6-8

In light of the unknown and unexpected time of his return, his disciples are to:

-Keep watch (v42)

-Be ready (v44)

At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish and five were wise. The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them. The wise ones, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps. The bridegroom was a long time in coming, and they all became drowsy and fell asleep.

“At midnight the cry rang out: ‘Here’s the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!’

“Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps. 8 The foolish ones said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out.’

“‘No,’ they replied, ‘there may not be enough for both us and you. Instead, go to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.’

“But while they were on their way to buy the oil, the bridegroom arrived. The virgins who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet. And the door was shut.

“Later the others also came. ‘Lord, Lord,’ they said, ‘open the door for us!’

“But he replied, ‘Truly I tell you, I don’t know you.’

“Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.

Matthew 25:1-13

Spiritual Lessons:

1. Christ is the bridegroom and He is going to return!

God Cannot Lie (Numbers 23:19)

Jesus is God, therefore... (John 14:3)

2. His return will be sudden and unexpected

Sudden (1 Corinthians 15:52)

Unexpected (Matt 24:36,44 24:13)

3. In the meantime we have two choices.

a) To live wisely - keep watch and be ready

-Be alert stay vigilant, be on guard

-Be awake and Sober

-Sensitive to our new address ‘In Christ’

-Confident and unashamed before Him at His coming

-Known by Jesus and welcomed by him

“Balanced Discipleship entails both immediate and long term readiness.

b) To live foolishly - unprepared

-Risk being ashamed

-Shut out - not knowing Jesus

-Simply looking like a bridesmaid won’t cut it; the bridegroom must know you and have a genuine relationship with you

Good News

the door has not been shut yet!