1. III. SOME THINGS SIMPLY DO NOT NEED TO BE KNOWN
1.1. When the Bible does not tell me, I must not need to know.
1.2. “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour” (Matthew 25:13).
1.2.1. Trying to figure out the day misses the point.
1.3. We can dream but it's going to be more wild than any of our dreams.
1.3.1. It is enough to take the plain, simple truth of Scripture that
1.3.1.1. Jesus will return to earth visibly and victoriously
1.3.1.2. His return will bring about the beginning of the end
1.3.2. Believe that he is coming back tomorrow leave it like he is coming back today
1.4. Allies
2. IV. SOME THINGS SIMPLY MUST NOT BE MISSED.
2.1. They missed the joy of the feast
2.1.1. Will see Him in the clouds
2.2. They cannot live on someone else’s spiritual life.They cannot live on someone else’s spiritual life.
2.2.1. parousia (1 Thessalonians 4:15–18).
2.2.1.1. 1 Thessalonians 4:15 (NLT) 15 We tell you this directly from the Lord: We who are still living when the Lord returns will not meet him ahead of those who have died.
2.2.1.2. 1 Thessalonians 4:16 (NLT) 16 For the Lord himself will come down from heaven with a commanding shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet call of God. First, the believers who have died will rise from their graves.
2.2.1.3. 1 Thessalonians 4:17 (NLT) 17 Then, together with them, we who are still alive and remain on the earth will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. Then we will be with the Lord forever.
2.2.1.4. 1 Thessalonians 4:18 (NLT) 18 So encourage each other with these words.
2.2.2. Martin Luther
3. CONCLUSION
3.1. Jesus said, “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour” (Matthew 25:13).
3.1.1. Matthew 25:13 13 “So you, too, must keep watch! For you do not know the day or hour of my return.
3.1.2. Becoming a Christian is not something to put off
3.1.3. Serving Christ faithfully is not something to neglect
3.1.4. Knowing Christ is not something to squander
3.2. THAT DAY, WILL SOMEDAY, BE TODAY!
4. Message Video
5. When Jesus ascended into Heaven
5.1. He promised that he would return to judge the world
5.1.1. John 5:22 (NLT) 22 In addition, the Father judges no one. Instead, he has given the Son absolute authority to judge,
5.2. Cast the devil and his followers into Hell
5.2.1. Matthew 13:41 (NLT) 41 The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will remove from his Kingdom everything that causes sin and all who do evil.
5.2.2. Matthew 13:42 (NLT) 42 And the angels will throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
5.3. Take the church to live forever with him in Heaven
5.3.1. Matthew 13:43 (NLT) 43 Then the righteous will shine like the sun in their Father’s Kingdom. Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand!
5.4. The Bible warns us to be ready for the second coming of Christ.
5.5. Because we don’t know when Jesus will return, we should keep ourselves ready at all times.
5.5.1. Allies
6. Matthew 25:1–11
6.1. Matthew 25:1–2 “Then the Kingdom of Heaven will be like ten bridesmaids* who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. 2 Five of them were foolish, and five were wise.
6.2. Matthew 25:3-5 3 The five who were foolish didn’t take enough olive oil for their lamps, 4 but the other five were wise enough to take along extra oil. 5 When the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and fell asleep.
6.3. Matthew 25:6 6 “At midnight they were roused by the shout, ‘Look, the bridegroom is coming! Come out and meet him!’
6.4. Matthew 25:7 7 “All the bridesmaids got up and prepared their lamps. 8 Then the five foolish ones asked the others, ‘Please give us some of your oil because our lamps are going out.’
6.5. Matthew 25:9 9 “But the others replied, ‘We don’t have enough for all of us. Go to a shop and buy some for yourselves.’
6.6. Matthew 25:10-11 10 “But while they were gone to buy oil, the bridegroom came. Then those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was locked. 11 Later, when the other five bridesmaids returned, they stood outside, calling, ‘Lord! Lord! Open the door for us!’
7. I. SOME THINGS CANNOT BE PUT OFF UNTIL THE LAST MINUTE.
7.1. They meant to be ready
7.1.1. But when the groom arrived, only five bridesmaids were ready.
7.1.2. The other five had waited too long.
7.1.3. The shops were all closed. It was too late to go and buy oil.
7.2. Procrastination is a bad habit at all times
7.2.1. But it will be a fatal mistake for those not ready to meet Christ when he returns
7.2.2. Jesus is teaching the importance of being prepared to meet him when he returns
7.2.3. Because after he appears, unbelievers will have no further chance for salvation.
7.3. Can't put off
7.3.1. Planning for retirement
7.3.2. Health
7.3.3. Investing time in your family
7.3.4. If you do you WILL HAVE REGRETS
7.4. Years ago C. S. Lewis wrote
7.4.1. “When Christ returns, how awful to know that all of it was true, and that it is too late to do anything about it.”
7.4.2. Regret
8. II. SOME THINGS JUST CAN’T BE BORROWED.
8.1. The foolish virgins could not borrow oil when they needed it
8.1.1. In the same way, people cannot borrow a personal relationship with God
8.2. Why we don't baptize babies
8.2.1. As Jesus stated in Mark 16:16, “Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved.”
8.2.2. In the New Testament, only believers are baptized.
8.2.3. We dedicate
8.3. No one else can answer for you
8.3.1. You must make a personal commitment to Christ to become a Christian.
8.3.2. And when Christ returns, what others have said or done for you will not matter—only what you have decided for Christ.