There are Christian ministries centered around the topic of the end times. The leaders of these ministries are often called dooms day preachers.
When I was in the church, I was always fascinated by their messages.
I would get so excited when I would listen to one of their sermons, because they were very convincing that Jesus was coming back at any minute, and I could not wait.
At the time, I wanted desperately to be rescued.
My life was beyond difficult because of the choice that I had made in the selection of a dishonest mate, and I just wanted to leave this place behind.
When the dooms day preachers talked about things in the world that were so messed up, I was actually glad because it supported the view that Christ would be coming to get me out of there soon.
That way of thinking is really wrong, and little did I know that my mind was about to be transformed.
Something happened to me almost thirty-six years ago that changed me forever. I became alive and full of exuberance for life. I met God for the very first time, and He helped me to sort through the mess that I had made.
On the day that I had my experience, I understood what Christ was talking about when he spoke to Nicodemus concerning being born again, because that is the only way I can describe it, I was suddenly born again.
It happened when I was all alone and crying out to God for help, and He actually showed up. The peace and serenity that came upon my being is beyond description, and God began to show me things afterwards.
It has been three decades now, and I no longer rejoice when I hear how messed up our world is. It grieves my spirit, just like it grieves God.
In addition to changing my mindset, God has shown me a few things concerning the “end times,” and I want to share them in this post.
The concept of the end times is nothing new. For thousands of years, Hebrew prophets have written about a day coming upon the Earth that will be catastrophic. This day is referred to as the Day of the Lord.
Yeshua taught that prior to that day, he would return and gather his dedicated followers into a safe place to protect them from the devastating events of the Day of the Lord.
The parable of the ten virgins gives us some insight into who these people are who enter into safety, while others are denied access.
When I was in the church, I was taught that the Christians would enter in, while the wicked world would be left behind.
However, as discussed in the post entitled, The Ten Virgins, Christ’s parable completely debunks the Christian doctrine of who will be safe on that day.
In the parable of the ten virgins, these virgins all represented believers in Christ. Five were able to enter in, and five were denied access.
But what about the ones who have not accepted the Christian gospel, the ones known by the Church as “sinners of the world?”
Well, I have good news for them.
Yeshua talks about them in another one of his wedding-themed parables, and just like the parable of the ten virgins, this teaching also refutes the Christian doctrine.
In this parable, God’s people are not likened unto the bride. This time, they are likened unto the ones who were invited to the wedding of the king’s son.
And, this parable offers valuable insight into crucial occurrences that must take place before the Day of the Lord occurs.
The parable can be found in Matthew 22:1-14.
The Kingdom of Heaven is like unto a certain king, which made a marriage for his son.
And sent forth his servants to call them that were bidden to the wedding and they would not come.
Again, he sent forth other servants, saying, tell them which were bidden, Behold, I have prepared my dinner: my oxen and fatlings are killed, and all things are ready: come unto the marriage.
But they made light of it, and went their ways, one to his farm, another to his merchandise.
And, the remnant took his servants, and entreated them spitefully, and slew them.
But when the king heard thereof, he was wroth: and sent forth his armies and destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city.
Then, he said to his servants, the wedding is ready, but they which were bidden were not worthy.
Go ye therefore in the highways, and as many as you shall find, bid to the marriage.
So, the servants went out into the highways, and gathered together all as many as they found, both bad and good: and the wedding was furnished with guests.
The interpretation of this parable is such:
The first two sets of servants were the prophets who were sent to the descendants of Abraham and were rejected. Jeremiah was stoned to death, and Isaiah was cut in two with a saw.
Christ is included in this group. He is the one who Isaiah wrote about, this is My servant, My chosen one…who will teach the true way to the nations. (Isaiah 42, Hebrew Bible)
And, unfortunately, they didn’t listen to him either, but rather, brutally murdered him as well.
But, who are the individuals that comprise the last group of servants?
The last group represents future prophets of God who have yet to be sent out.
These disciples of Christ will be spiritual women and men who make it crystal clear that they do not represent the Christian Church. They will be individuals who practice the teachings of Christ at a master’s level. In fact, they will act just like him.
They will be full of compassion and offer living water to a dying world. These servants will be honored and loved by multitudes of people, just like Christ was.
The religiously minded will be jealous and despise them, taunting them that they are not from God, just like they did to Yeshua.
It is only after they do their work, that Christ’s words will be fulfilled when he said,
And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations, and then shall the end come.
The message or invitation that the servants bring, is of the same spirit as the message that Christ brought 2000 years ago; the message of which has been buried by the Christian Gospel that Paul introduced.
The guests who were bidden to the marriage feast are the descendants of Abraham, and the ones who are entwined in the religion of the Christian Church.
They are too busy with their personal lives and make lightly of the invitation.
Therefore, the servants go to the ones in the highways, good and bad, and they are the ones who do accept the invitation to the marriage feast.
These are the people who Christ spoke about in Matthew chapter 10 when he said,
He who receives a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet’s reward; and he that receives a righteous man in the name of a righteous man, shall receive a righteous man’s reward.
And, whosoever shall give to drink unto one of these little ones a cup of cold water only in the name of a disciple, verily I say unto you, he shall in no wise lose his reward.
That is how the marriage feast will be garnished with tons of guests, and these are the ones who will not only be safe, but will be celebrating during the great and terrible Day of the Lord.