ENDTIME PARABLES AS TOLD BY JESUS CHRIST.

ENDTIME PARABLES AS TOLD BY JESUS CHRIST.

For reference see SDABC 5-197-200; 203/4.

Scripture reading: Matthew 13:33-35.

Jesus spoke and taught through parables in particular the things kept secret from the beginning. No doubt this relates much to end time issues.

OUT OF A TOTAL OF 40, 14 ARE ENDTIME RELATED.

[Numbers in ( ) refers to SDABC 5, see above]

nr.         Title:                                             Scripture ref.:                       Time:
1. (54) Tares, growing together              Matth.13:24-30; 37-43    Second Galilean
tour, last year.
2. (54) Dragnet, separation, end time                 ibid    47-50                 same time

3. (99)   Watchful servant, be ready            Luke 12:36, 42-48       Samaria, latter part
.
4. (140) Loins girded, be ready                     ibid   12:35                         same time

5. (105) Great Banquet, calling guests              ,,     14:16-24                       ibid

6. (111) Rich man and Lazarus, judgment       ,,    16:19-31                        ,,

7. (112) Service is duty, not meritorious          ,,     17:1-10                         ,,

8. (122) Laborers in the vineyard                Matth.20:1-16                           ,,

9. (127) About the ten pounds.                    Luke 19:11-28                         ,,

10. (136) Wedding garment, investigation   Matth.22:2-14                  Passion Week.

11. (145) Warning against falling asleep      Mark 13:34-37                    same time

12. (146) Ten Virgins                                    Matth.25:1-13                         ibid.

13. (147) Talents                                                ,,        14-30                              ,,

14. (148) Separation sheep and goats                ,,         31-46                             ,,

ANALYSIS.

2 parables during the last year of ministry, Galilean tour,
7      ,,         during Samaria ministry, latter part,
5      ,,         during Passion Week.

Some are one verse long; others cover a full story setting.

They relate to end time judgment in regard to the performance of non-meritorious
works of faith, be watchful for His return , having full measure of the Holy Spirit,
be covered with Christ’s righteousness.

FOUR CLASSIFICATIONS:
I.  Judgment, general and individual.
II.  Issues in judgment, non-meritorious performance, work of faith.
III. Have a watchful mind set
IV. Without oil, Holy Spirit, door will be found closed.

Holy Spirit the driving divine power towards the doing of God’s will.
Phil.2:13          God working in us to will and to do.
Hebr.13:20, 21 The God of Peace make you perfect to do His will.
Romans 12:2    Be transformed towards the will of God.

“How does he prove this? By the Holy Spirit taking possession of his mind, spirit, heart and character.” SDABC 7A, p. (304)

Most parables illustrate how we have to have a mind-set of being ready and prepared for the Second Advent.
Others show that non-meritorious works of faith are needed. We are either a sheep or a goat.
Then there are parables teaching us to use and improve what we have before the end, similar to what the apostle Paul wrote later in 2 Tim.2:15 study to show thyself approved unto God……
And finally we have parables teaching us that there will be an investigation before the end comes and that we have to be filled with the Holy Spirit before the door closes.

COMMENTS ON THE PARABLES.

A,i.  JUDGMENT, dividing the world.

1. Matthew 13:24-30 Let tares and wheat grow together till harvest time.
Evil work takes place in darkness.
Wolves in sheep-clothing, Acts 20:29-31a.
True and false mingled within the church.

“Not judgment and condemnation of others, but humility and distrust of self, is the teaching of Christ’s parable.” COL. 74.

“The Saviour does not point forward to a time when all the tares become wheat. The wheat and tares grow together until the harvest, the end of the world.” ib.75

2. Matthew 13:47-50 The dragnet does the gathering together, angels do the sorting.
“So shall it be at the end of the world: angels shall come forth, and sever the wicked from among the just, and shall cast them into the furnace of fire…..” COL.122

3. Matthew 25:31-46 separation of sheep and goats.
Basis of separation:  works of faith or none.
“When the nations are gathered before Him, there will be but two classes, and there eternal destiny will be determined by what they have done or have neglected to do for Him in the person of the poor and the suffering.
In that day Christ does not present before men the great work He has done for them in giving His life for their redemption. He presents the faithful work they have done for Him.”DA637.

Aii.  JUDGMENT, individual accountability.

1. Luke 19:11-28 The ten pounds.
Individual charge,” Occupy till I come”.
Upon return an individual account to be rendered.

“Each one must give an account to the Master for his own actions.” 5BC1100
“Christ says:’ Occupy till I come’. A time is coming when Christ will require His own with usury.
He will say to each of his stewards:’ Give an account of thy stewardship’ ” 3T386

2. Matthew 25:14-30 the giving out of talents.
Upon return of the Master, “What have you done”, will be asked

“Of no talent He has given will He require a more strict account than of our time.” COL342
“All we possess is the Lord’s, and we are accountable to Him for the use we make of it.”ib.351
“To every one is committed some special endowment, for which he will be held responsible by
the Lord”.

3. Matthew 22:2-14 Individual investigations before the marriage starts, before probation closes. Issue is, THE WEDDING GARMENT.
Christ’s righteousness, His right doing in us.

“By the marriage is represented the union of humanity with divinity; the wedding garment represents the character which all must possess who shall be accounted fit guests for the wedding.”COL307
“This robe, woven in the loom of heaven, has in it not one thread of human devising.” ib.311
“It is the righteousness of Christ, His own unblemished character that through faith is imparted to all who receive Him as their personal Saviour.”ib310
“Righteousness is right doing, and it is by their deeds that all will be judged”
ib.312

B. Human works are non-meritorious.
Saved by faith through grace, Eph.2:8
It is by faith alone, but genuine faith never comes alone.
1. Luke 17:1-10. If we have done our duty we are still “unprofitable servants”.

“Works will not buy for us an entrance into heaven. The one great offering that has been made is ample for all who will believe.” SDABC 7a p. (218)

BUT SUCH BELIEVE MUST BEAR FRUITS TO SHOW IT IS GENUINE.

2. Matthew 20:1-16 all laborers paid equally.
This shows that the length of day’s work does not count.

“Not the amount of labor performed or its visible results but the spirit in which the work is done makes it of value with God.” COL 397

DO WE LABOR FOR THE REWARD OR BECAUSE OF LOVE?

The kind of labor can be the same, but the motive is different.

3. Luke 16:19-31 Riches and wealth does not give right to heaven.

C. Be watchful, awake, alert and be properly girded.

1. Luke 12:35 Loins girded, be watchful.
Eph.6:14a Girded with truth.
Are we truthful?  Do we confess the truth?
Is Christ ours, because He is the Truth? John 14:6

“Those who are watching for the lord are purifying their souls in obedience to the truth.” DA634

2. Luke 12:36 Like men watching for their master, be found faithful.
The faithful one is the active one, who occupies himself,
not being lazy, not falling asleep.

3. Mark 13:34-37 Watch till the Master’s return.

4. Luke 14:16-24 Rather being busy with one’s own, than giving heed to the call
Luke 21:34 Too much overcharged with the things of this world.

MANY, WHO ARE OVERCHARGED, STILL SAY IN THEIR HEART:
“BUT I BELIEVE.”

“All the excuses betray a preoccupied mind. To these intended guests other interests had become all-absorbing” COL222.

D. The all important criteria of oil in the lamp, THE HOLY SPIRIT

1. Matthew 25:1-13.About the wise and foolish virgins. The issue is to be ready or not prepared for a spiritual emergency, apparent delay or any other type of test.
.

Anything not done through the indwelling Holy Spirit is human and not acceptable.

“The class represented by the foolish virgins are not hypocrites (They are believers) they have a regard for the truth, they have advocated the truth, they are attracted to those who believe the truth; but they have not yielded themselves to the Holy Spirit’s working. They have not fallen upon the Rock, Christ Jesus, and permitted their old nature to be broken up.”  COL411

Our born again experience must be the work of the Holy Spirit, not a human reform of lifestyle.
John 3:1-5 by water and the Spirit.
Eph.2:8-10 by faith through grace towards good works.

The Holy Spirit: guides, John 16:13
convinces, reproves, John 16:8
fills, Eph.5:18

The evidence of being filled is not by way of performing miracles, speaking in tongues or saying “Lord, Lord” but in doing “the will of my Father which is in heaven.” Matthew 7:21

Acts 5:32 Holy Spirit given to those who are obedient to God.

SUMMARY

Works of obedience are not earning our entrance into heaven, but are evidence of genuine faith and part of the marks of God’s true end-time people.
1. Rev.12:17 the dragon’s attack is against those who:
a. Keep God’s commandments.
b. Have the Testimony of Jesus, see 19:10.
2. Rev.14:12 after the three angels’ message a people with:
a. Patience, character sign
b. Keep God’s commandments, lifestyle
c. and (keep) the faith of Jesus, followers of Christ, His mind-set.
Phil.2:5 the mind of Jesus
3. Rev.22:12-14 a. Reward according to works
b. Do His commandments
c. Robes washed, ib.7:14 from sin in Christ’s blood.
From sin, Isa.1:18 followed by vs.19 willingness to
be obedient.

It is strongly recommended and the reader is encouraged to study these parables carefully one by one. The book “CHRIST’S OBEJECT LESSONS” by Ellen G.White would be a good help in such a study