THE WHOLE PICTURE PART TWODear Doves,Here is part two....thought I would send them both on the same day just in case you wanted to read the whole thing at one setting. Hope you are enjoying it.######################CONTINUED FROM PART ONE.....6. Warnings to Prepare for Christ’s Millennial Kingdom.In Matthew 24:3 the disciples asked Jesus “what shall be the sign of thy coming and of the end of the world?” Jesus listed many signs that would be fulfilled in the 7 year tribulation (Matthew 24:4-26). Some (16) are: Deception (v.4,11,24), False Christs (v.5),Wars (v.6), famines, pestilences and earthquakes (v.7), persecution (v.9), disloyalty (v.10), false prophets (v.11), little love (v.12), worldwide gospel preaching (v.14), Jewish temple in Jerusalem, (v.15), great trouble (v.21,22), false prophets showing great signs and wonders (v.24) sun and moon darkened (v.29), the fig tree of Israel budding (v.32-34). These signs will be given to unsaved Israel to warn them that the Kingdom is being offered again and of Messiah’s soon arrival.a) The budding Fig tree parable (Matthew 24:32-34) picturing Israel’s nationhood warns that Christ’s coming is near, at the doors.Question: How should we respond to these signs?b) The watching doorkeeper parable (Mark 13:33-37) teaches watchfulness and faithfulness in serving Jesus, because we don’t know when Christ will return.c) The watching homeowner parable (Matt. 24:42-44) teaches us to watch and be prepared. As thieves come when unexpected, so Christ’s return at the rapture will be at an unexpected time.d) The wise and evil servants parable (Matthew 24:45-51) teaches Christians to be faithful to our Bible teaching ministry in view of Christ’s return. A faithful and wise servant will fulfill his Bible teaching work, but a foolish and evil servant will neglect his Bible teaching ministry and will live for himself and his fleshly lusts. He will be severely rebuked by Christ at His return and be deprived of the joys of Christ’s Kingdom.We must watch & be ready for Christ’s return.7. Three Judgments Before the Millennium.This age will end in judgment, details of which are given in Matthew 25.a) The wise and foolish virgins (Matthew 25:1-13): Judgment on living Israel.After Christ returns to earth (Matthew 24:30), angels will regather living Israel from all over the earth (v.31), back to the land promised to Abraham (Genesis 12:7). Deuteronomy 30:1-10 teaches that Israel’s entry to the Millennium kingdomblessings depended on repentance and receiving Christ as their Messiah and Saviour. Hence no unsaved Jew or Gentile will enter the Millennium (Ezekiel 20:38).The wise and foolish virgins parable states that Israelites living at the time of Christ’s return will be judged to see which Jews are prepared to enter the Kingdom (by possessing the Holy Spirit) and which Jews are not prepared to enter the Kingdom(by being unsaved).The virgins in an Oriental wedding refer to guests at the banquet (Jews).The bride is the Church (Rev. 19:7,8; 21:9; II Cor. 11:2; Eph. 5:23-32) who appears on earth with the Bridegroom who is Jesus Christ. Hence living Israelites (10 virgins) will be brought back to the land for a judgment to see who is prepared to enter Messiah’s Millennial Kingdom (5 wise virgins) and who is not prepared and willtherefore be excluded (5 foolish virgins).b) The sheep and the goats (Matthew 25:31-46): Judgment on living Gentiles.“When the Son of man shall come in His glory....before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats.” (v.31,32).The sheep will enter the Millennium because of how they treated Christ and helped His brothers in the tribulation. Their works prove the genuineness of their saving faith, because no one is saved by works. “Brothers” (Matthew 25:40) refers topersecuted Israelites as a whole in the tribulation, or to the persecuted 144,000 Israelite preachers (Revelation 7). Hence, the goats on the left will not have faith, and will not have produced works of helping persecuted Israelites. Sheep will enterand goats will be excluded from the Kingdom. Hence in 2 judgments the whole world will be judged to see who qualifies for entry into Christ’s millennial Kingdom.c) 5,2,1 Talents (Matthew 25:14-30): Judgment to Reward Believers’ Faithfulness.A master travelling to a far country delivered his goods to his servants, and in his absence required them to trade these goods for a profitable return. When the master returned, hese servants were called to give account of their success in trading. Those found faithful were allowed to enter the joy of their Lord and were made ruler over many things (v.21,23). On the other hand, the one servant who through fear, hid his master’s talent in the earth, returned the talent with a nil profit.Because he was unfaithful he was excluded from the Kingdom, lost the talent, and was denied rule in the millennium. Those who are faithful and prepared will enter the Kingdom and will be made ruler over many things, with great authority. Christ predicted this judgment to occur just before the millennium in Matthew 24:40,41when he said:“Then shall two be in the field: the one shall be taken (away in judgment), and the other left (to enter Christ’s millennial Kingdom). Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken (away in judgment), and the other left (to enter Christ's kingdom).8. Life in Christ’s Mystery Form and Millennial Kingdom.Many parables were given to teach the disciples what the King expects of His subjects who will live in the Kingdom.i) Obedience - Two sons. (Matthew 21:28-32). Obedience is a test of sonship. A man asked his 2 sons to work in his vineyard. The first son refused, but later on obeyed (picturing tax collectors and prostitutes). The second son agreed to work, but never showed up (picturing the Pharisees).Question: Which son did the Father’s will? The first son did.Despised people like tax collectors and prostitutes were entering the Kingdom of God instead of Pharisees and religious leaders who did not repent and believe. What a shock!ii) Love - Two Debtors (Luke 7:41-50).During Christ’s earthly ministry, He showed compassion on the poor, sick, sorrowing, outcasts and sinners. This compassion will be required to be shown by His people in the Kingdom. This parable was spoken in the house of a Pharisee who objected toan ex-prostitute showing love and devotion to Christ. Christ replied how a creditor forgave the debts of a large debtor (pictured by the ex-prostitute) and a small debtor (pictured by Simon the Pharisee). Who would love the creditor more? Obviously the debtor who had been forgiven the most would love the most. Hence more love for Christ will be shown by those who are forgiven more. Also, Christ always accepts love from forgiven sinners.The Good Samaritan (Luke 10:27,30-37). Mercy (love in action) is to be shown to anyone in need, whose needs we can meet. Christ commanded the lawyer to show mercy as the Samaritan did. Those in Christ’s Kingdom must show love to God andman because God has forgiven us.iii) Prayer will play a key role in life in the Kingdom.a) The basis of prayer is the merit of Christ’s atoning blood.The Pharisee and Tax Collector parable (Luke 18:9-14) shows how to approach God in prayer. The Pharisee by telling God about his righteousness, incorrectly approached God on the basis of his good works. God rejected his prayer. The Tax Collector, by seeing no merit in himself, claimed the blood of Christ saying,“God be merciful to me a sinner”. He thus went home justified before God (Luke 18:14).b) Persistence in Prayer: The Persistent widow (Luke 18:1-8).Christ taught that we must persist in prayer to be answered. Even a hard hearted, indifferent judge, though unmoved by the justice of a widows request,can be moved by her persistence.The Persistent friend at midnight (Luke 11:5-13). A man had a visitor arrive, and not having bread to feed him, went to his neighbour at midnight to ask for 3 loaves. The neighbor being in bed would’ve had to disturb his whole family to give his neighbor the 3 loaves, so was unwilling to assist.Lesson: “Though he will not rise and give him, because he is his friend, yet because of his importunity (persistence) he will rise and give him as many as he needeth.” (Luke 11:8). Jesus concluded: “Ask and it shall be given you; seek and ye shall find; knock and it shall be opened unto you”. (Luke 11:9).This parable defines intercessory prayer: he man asking the sleeping neighbor was not the one in need, but was representing another person who was in need Definition:An intercessor represents the needy person to the one who can meetthat need. Intercessory prayer is totally unselfish, because it is concerned for others needs, not one’s own needs. Hence, unselfish intercessory prayer will characterize Kingdom life.iv) The Right use of wealth.The Pharisees regarded wealth as a sure sign of God’s blessing and proof that the person was righteous and certain of entering heaven. Christ used parables to correct this wrong thinking:a) The wise use of present opportunities: The unjust steward (Luke 16:1-13). A righteous person will act wisely, knowing that he must give account to God of his stewardship in the future. He will not misuse his money selfishly thinking only of the present. When the steward wasted his master’s goods, he lost his job, so he wisely used his present position to secure his future by reducing the amountowed by his master’s debtors, so they would give him accommodation. Christ commended him, not for his dishonesty, but for wisely using present opportunities for future gain.Christ applied this truth to our use of wealth in v.8-13. f we are not faithful in handling worldly wealth now, who will entrust us with true riches later in eternity? Hence people will wisely use material possessions in the Kingdom.b) Material possessions are temporary. The Rich man and Lazarus (Luke 16:19-31). The rich man who died left all his wealth behind, yet his soul continued to exist in hell without his wealth. This rich man believed the Pharisees’ doctrine that wealth was a sign of God’s favor. Jesus teaches here that:* Your wealth cannot save you.* The beggar was saved because he trusted God for salvation, not because of his poverty.* Poverty is not necessarily a sign of God’s displeasure or punishment for sin.* Poverty is no barrier to gaining true eternal riches.c) The Result of selfishness and covetousness. The Rich fool (Luke 12:16-21) parable shows that one’s use of wealth will reveal if he is righteous or unrighteous. This man, already wealthy, found his riches greatly increased by anabundant harvest. This increased wealth gave him an opportunity to show his love for God and fellow man by sharing his wealth with needy people. He refused to do this and instead stored them up for his own use. This wrong use of wealth showed that he was unrighteous. Christ taught that we must rightly useour wealth now for other’s salvation, or earthly wealth to benefit us in the next life.v) Faithfulness. The Faithful and Wise Steward. Luke 12:42-48.This parable teaches that “privilege brings responsibility now and accountability to God later”. If we are given authority and we misuse it, then we will lose it.“It is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.” (I Corinthians 4:2). Faithfulness to our privileges and responsibilities will characterize Kingdom life.vi) Humility. Seats at the Wedding Feast. Luke 14:7-11.We must take a lower seat as a sign of humility, not seeking the best seats for ourselves. Let the host honor him that deserves it. Don’t honor yourself, let others honor you instead. In the Beatitudes (Matt5:3-12), Christ described righteous people who will be citizens in His Kingdom.#############Again I would like to say, always find out for yourself. With the Holy Spirit as your guide you will not go wrong.Blessing to all of you, and hopefully we will meet in the air, soon!YSICPatti C.