Matthew Chapter 25 VERSE 11-12 “Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not.” The door is still open. To date Jesus has not made the announcement “I know you not.” Therefore, we are still in the period between the midnight announcement and the closing of the door and going into the marriage. The lamp trimming takes place during this entire time, and…
Matthew Chapter 25 VERSE 6 “And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him.” What is “midnight”? It is the end of one day and the BEGINNING of the next. Specifically, “midnight” is October 1874, the beginning of the seventh 1,000-year period. An announcement occurred at midnight with regard to the beginning of Jesus’ Second Advent, the parousia—an announcement that the Bridegroom was present. (The word “cometh” is spurious.) But, nevertheless,…
Matthew Chapter 25 VERSE 1 “Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom.” This chapter, Matthew 25, is still a part of “Our Lord’s Great Prophecy,” as begun in Chapter 24. It is a continuation of the long discourse Jesus gave on the Mount of Olives when the disciples were looking at the Temple and asked him the questions of Matt 24:3. Therefore, just by reasoning…
Revelation Chapter 3 VERSE 9 “Indeed I will make those of the synagogue of Satan, who say they are Jews and are not, but lie—indeed I will make them come and worship before your feet, and to know that I have loved you.” “This verse is not actually claiming that these are literal Jews, no more than those who claimed to be Jews during the second church were literal Jews (Rev 2:9).” “Who then are these who “say they are…
Revelation Chapter 3 VERSE 8 “I know your works. See, I have set before you an open door, and no one can shut it; for you have a little strength, have kept my word, and have not denied my name.” The “little help” (Dan 11:34) or power that they were given is from a couple of different possibilities. The first possibility was that in this church the civil power had supported Luther and the other reformers. Previously they had not…
Revelation Chapter 3 VERSE 8 “I know your works. See, I have set before you an open door, and no one can shut it; for you have a little strength, have kept my word, and have not denied my name.” The “deeds” (or works) of this church are not mentioned. The simple statement, “I know your deeds,” implies that they were viewed with favor. The Lord then sets the door open for those deeds to continue without interruption. The statement…
Revelation Chapter 3 VERSE 7 continued “And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write, ‘These things says He who is holy, He who is true, “He who has the key of David, He who opens and no one shuts, and shuts and no one opens” “This portion of Verse 7 asserts the sanctity and authority of Christ himself as the one and only true head of the Church. In marked contrast to Jesus—“the way, the truth, and the…
Revelation Chapter 3 VERSE 7 continued “And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write, ‘These things says He who is holy, He who is true, “He who has the key of David, He who opens and no one shuts, and shuts and no one opens” “Philadelphia means brotherly love. Luther’s doctrine of Justification by Faith was so powerful a teaching as to change nearly everything. Among other things it changed the relationship among individual Christians. Because each man…
Revelation Chapter 3 VERSE 7 continued “And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write…” “Luther possessed extraordinary talents, uncommon genius, a copious memory, astonishing industry and perseverance, superior eloquence, a greatness of soul that rose above all his human weaknesses, and consummate erudition for the age in which he lived. Under this great reformer—who was ably seconded by other leaders and men of learning, such as Melanchthon, Carlstadt, and Zwingli—the course of history changed. An exemplary, very religious…
Revelation Chapter 3 VERSE 7 “And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write, ‘These things says He who is holy, He who is true, “He who has the key of David, He who opens and no one shuts, and shuts and no one opens” HOW THE SIXTH CHURCH ANTICIPATES THE SEVENTH “The relationship between the sixth and seventh stages of the Church seems unique. In all of the chapters dealing with the sixth Church, the sixth Seal, and…