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mark's avatar

My question is more along the lines of what exactly is the 'marriage feast' , i suspect not a slap up banquet with the King ,[ nice if that's what he wants ]. possibly a 'feast' of holy spirit empowerment ?, to start seeing signs and wonders ,'miracles on demand ', a company of Elisha's , to kick the enemies minions of the planet . I think there is more buried in psalm 110 than meets the glancing eye . and psalm 149 for that matter , ' this honor have all his saints ,to execute the judgment written ' ... just imagine personally being allowed to put the cuffs on anthony Faux-chi , even watching will be a feast for the anguished soul . Jesus did say there is far more important food than the natural kind . Stay on the spiritual toes /edge of seat , still have so many friends trying to just carrying on as normal .

Dr. Mathew Maavak's avatar

BTW, John does not use the word "wonders" in Revelation. Apparently, it is not used in Revelation at all. He restricts the Beasts' deception to signs (sēmeia). The Greek implies pointers.

When John uses sēmeia in Revelation (without terata/wonders), he is forcing you to think, not just gawk. The Beast's miracles are signs—they are intellectual bait meant to point you to a lie. John is saying, "Don't just stare at the spectacle; read the arrow. Where is it pointing?"

Carol Haas's avatar

Strongs 4592 includes wonders for "semeion" used in Rev. 13:13 (KJV). Not being a Greek scholar, I thought semeion could mean any of the words listed depending on the context. Although vs 14 makes it clear that deception is intended.

Rick  Batross's avatar

I see the parable as ; you either already have the Holy Spirit fastened onto your heart,or you are going through preconceived acts,perhaps as a clingon? Those that have the Holy Spirit KNOW that they have done nothing,could have never done anything,to deserve the Grace they have been given. One way to know whom you serve is by your prayers. The deepest desires of your heart ARE your prayers. Not lipservice. No rehearsals. So,let us pray hard.

Copernicus's avatar

Am I reading correctly that you are saying that some Christians, because they are not prepared, will be excluded from heaven, and therefore spend eternity in hell?

How would one know that his or her jar is full? Serious question.

Your final sentence, "Anything that distracts you from keeping them filled comes from the evil one," places the burden on the individual: "you... keeping them full." This is absolutely contrary to the teaching of God's word that my salvation is 100% his work of grace, I can do nothing to contribute other than to receive it.

Dr. Mathew Maavak's avatar

Being prepared in the heart has little or nothing to do with works. That's my interpretation. In fact, the full jar can be nutshelled into the state of a "prepared heart."

Seamus Mahoney's avatar

"... believed God, and it was counted to him for righteousness ."

Then we read of his Actions built ON that faith...

The 'heart's state is the foundation on which to build.

Carol Haas's avatar

Yes, scripture presents us with paradox, the truth of which can only be seen in the light of God's Spirit. Though the work of Jesus Christ is a finished work and bestowed wholly as grace upon those who receive it by the faith of Christ, yet it is undeniable that the work of Christ in us requires a response from us. That response, to some, may seem to be a "work" which can be mimicked by fleshly endeavor. The archenemy of our soul has sown these tares among us. It does us well to consider why our Father lets us, for a time, walk in the presence of two opposing natures. We must choose. That series of choices has eternal significance.

Copernicus's avatar

"Requires?" or is a response that flows out of our gratitude and experience of this grace?

So often this language of "requires" ends up creating a ceaseless striving to be and do more, rather than a peaceful resting response that is generated from a recognition of God's grace and love.

Yes, absolutely when we experience the deep, relentless, pursuing love of God, we will want to respond. It will not feel like a requirement.

Perhaps the problem is not that some have not responded but that they have not experienced in embodied ways the abundant, relentless love of a God who always pursues and seeks restoration with his people. Once we begin to experience this not just in mind but in body, we cannot help respond.

Carol Haas's avatar

I use the term "require" in the sense of "causing it to be necessary."

Just as in Daniel 9:27, the death of our Lord on the cross "caused the sacrifices and oblations to cease." So yes, our Salvation, so costly to God, yet free to us, causes a response to be necessary.

The word "require" can carry a connotation that can easily be construed as legalistic, but my intent is to show that the grace of God causes a response in us. That response could be anything from a flow of the heart's love and gratitude toward Jesus, to a work of the flesh intended (mistakenly) to create good standing with God, or to complete neglect because of a misunderstanding which leads to abuse of "by faith alone." The response to Grace has eternal significance.

The question of how we respond to the grace of God has everything to do with our readiness for His Coming. For example, His grace has laid up for us a spiritual armor -- but it is our response to that gift that will determine whether we ever put it on or use it to our blessing. We must choose.

Copernicus's avatar

But how, specifically, can someone know whether they are prepared?

I understand and agree that salvation is not just "pray a prayer and you're good to go." Meaning, salvation encompasses a life not merely an assent to something.

However, I have experienced the harms of constant striving to be, in your words, prepared. And it didn't ultimately work out so well.

Yes, I want to know Jesus more and more day by day, and to continue experiencing more of him now so that I am more ready, if one can truly ever be ready, to experience him face to face. And yet I no longer live with a fear of finding that I have a less-than-full jar.

And my first question was whether you are saying that some Christians can find themselves in hell because they were unprepared. Is this what you are saying?

Vanessa's avatar

I think the fact that you seek Jesus, know that your jar is "less than full" is significant. To me, it shows a constant seeking, relying on, and a posture of submission. Idk, I may be way off. I have wrestled with the "did I do enough" question.

Dr. Mathew Maavak's avatar

If you are seeking Him,you are already saved. I think it boils down to that. The wise virgins were seeking and bridegroom. Like the foolish virgins, they also fell asleep. But when they were woken up, they found themselves ready. You shouldn't minimise God's mercy which are "new every morning."

Copernicus's avatar

Yes, praise God for his every-morning-new mercies.

Diane's avatar

Thank you for this interpretation Dr. Mathew Maavak.

Aussie17's avatar

excellent.

"In every external sense, they were indistinguishable from the wise", we are definitely not called to predict schedules.

Tares and wheats indistinguishable until the time of harvest. Matthew 13:24-30

You cannot differentiate them. Tares are experts in mimicry. (look up "Vavilovian mimicry")

Both will speak in tongues, heal, teach, preach, and operate in all sorts of spiritual gifts, because these gifts are given to both the just and the unjust without conditions. Otherwise, it wouldn’t truly be a gift if there were any precondition or purchase price attached.

This creates confusion for those who think that as long as someone performs “signs and wonders,” they are from God.

The love for supernatural misinterpreted as the love for the bridegroom, a filtering and separating mechanism by design.

"Here is the patience of the saints; here are those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus." Revelation 14:12

Dr. Mathew Maavak's avatar

Thanks for the kind words. I didn't know about Vavilovian mimicry and it really sounds scary but it metaphorically explains the phenomenon of "signs and wonders". I have noted something else: Many of these signs and wonders are also nothing but mimicry. They do not change lives but instead perpetuate a hunger for more "signs and wonders." You should write on this subject, and so will I.

Carol Haas's avatar

Thank you for an excellent essay. It goes deep and elucidates both a crucial warning and a rock-solid promise to every Christian who can receive it. It's a serious matter to examine ourselves truly in the light of Christ, whose eyes are as flames of fire burning through all the dross of lies and hypocrisy.

Copernicus's avatar

His eyes are flames of fire, and yet still he stoops to place his hand on the one fallen before him as though dead, to say, "don't be afraid." He sees, and still he loves and comes with mercy and rescue.

ICI Grief (The Rebel's Hike)'s avatar

One of your best essays in my opinion. Thank you!

Dr. Mathew Maavak's avatar

This article is about the oil, wine, jars and lamps quoted variously in Rev 6 and Matthew 25. It is not about amillenialism or millennialism.

Michael's avatar

Hello. Thanks for this thoughts. Just a suggestion: please, consider, that the Book of Revelation was especially addressed – as it is stated in it several times – to the Churches, facing the fast coming times of the Great Tribulation, which occurred around 70 A.D., which was the time of Jacob´s Trouble, the Jewish War (Flavius Josephus, Tacitus...), the destruction of the Temple and of Jerusalem, and the end of nation of Israel in the Promised Land (i.e. Mosaic Covenant), immediately after which the Lord Jesus Christ made an end to all previous empires and established His 1000 years long earthly Kingdom of Peace (approx. 76-1076). It was several times clearly stated by the Lord, that those to whom He was speaking, will be alive and see His second coming in glory in the clouds with His angels, (Mt 16,28, Mt 24,34, Mark 14,62, Off 22,20, Off 22,20). He always tells the truth and never fails us! Greetings.

Jesus Is Lord's avatar

I have heard from a few others, including Allen Daves (substack) that the 1000 years was from about 300 to 1300 AD. Makes me wonder how you calculated 76 to 1076. I guess the most important point is that it is past. I think billions are looking for it to come.

Michael's avatar

I do not know Allen Daves (substack).

I always rely on the Bible as the primary source of trust.

All others have much less of a reliability value in my eyes.

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Geneva Bible Commentary (1599) on Revelation 20:2:

"The first whereof (continuing this history with the end of chapter 12) is the 36 year from the passion of Christ, when the Church of the Jews being overthrown, Satan assayed to invade the Christian Church gathered of the Gentiles, and to destroy part of her seed, Rev. 12:17.

The thousandth year falleth precisely upon the times of that wicked Hildebrand, who was called Gregory the seventh a most damnable Necromancer and sorcerer, whom Satan used as an instrument when he was loosed out of bonds, thenceforth to annoy the Saints of God with most cruel persecutions, and the whole world with dissentions, and most bloody wars: as Benno the Cardinal reporteth at large. This is the first victory gotten over the dragon in the earth."

36 years after the Passion = ~70 A.D. (that fits perfectly with the Great Tribulation, which was the time of the destruction of Jerusalem)

As from 1073 A.D. Pope Gregor VII. (Hildebrand) – 1000 years later. (that fits perfectly also and is easy to be identified by the name of the pope)

Bible + Geneva Commentary = clear timeframe: ~70/76–1076 A.D.

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The Coming of the Son of Man (Mt 24)

29 “Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 30 Then will appear in heaven the sign of the Son of Man, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. 31 And he will send out his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.

The Coming of the Son of Man (Mk 13)

24 “But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, 25 and the stars will be falling from heaven, and the powers in the heavens (firmament) will be shaken. 26 And then they will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory. 27 And then he will send out the angels and gather his elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of heaven.

Immediately after the Great Tribulation – In those DAYS – Absolutely clear timing. – Not 300 or even 2000 years later...

Daniel 2:43-45

43 As you saw the iron (Rome) mixed with soft clay (Israel), so they will mix with one another in marriage, but they will not hold together, just as iron does not mix with clay. 44 And in the days of those kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that shall never be destroyed, nor shall the kingdom be left to another people. It shall break in pieces all these kingdoms and bring them to an end, and it shall stand forever, 45 just as you saw that a stone was cut from a mountain by no human hand, and that it broke in pieces the iron, the bronze, the clay, the silver, and the gold. A great God has made known to the king what shall be after this. The dream is certain, and its interpretation sure.”

"The God of heaven (not men) will set up A (specific) kingdom that shall never be destroyed (King of Kings) – It shall break in pieces ALL these kingdoms (mentioned in the "great image") and bring them to an end (once for all), and it shall stand forever." – No doubt of anything: after His second coming, The Lord Jesus Christ has at the same time made an end to all kingdoms and became THE Only King and Ruler of the World. His Kingdom is everlasting.

P.S. With the 700 phantom years – see the works of Heribert Illig, Gunnar Heinsohn, Anatoly Fomenko – the real time of the end of the Millennial Reign seems to be around 1776. Today in 2026 – 700 phantom years = 1326 real.

But this is just a supposition, not biblical truth, like the other statements quoted from the Bible directly.

Michael's avatar

I am curious about your findings and opinion. Thanks for feed-back.

Jesus Is Lord's avatar

You are one of a very few who realizes that the 1000 years have been fulfilled. Allen Daves' book explains it all, which has been filling in the rest of what I was learning, all by scriptures. I surmised those dates from Daniel 12:11 & 12 - And from the time that the daily sacrifice shall be taken away, and the abomination that maketh desolate set up, there shall be a thousand two hundred and ninety days. Blessed is he that waiteth, and cometh to the thousand and five and thirty days. I have learned to be leery and wary of all commentaries, which have done more leavening than anything. He lays out all those popes, dates served, how they fit in, and more. I am also leery of that 700 phantom years, which I started to study, but glossed over, feeling another possible deceitful detour, but not being sure. I can't find anything like that in the Bible. Allen lays it out from the garden with charts and times taken from scriptures only, and geneologies, time each King ruled, etc. I'm still studying, of course, as we all are learning together. I am not even a quarter way through his book, as umpteen scriptures on every page to cross-ref and compare with...amazing how accurate. I have the free PDF of his book, and am reading it in my PDF reader. There's SO MUCH i DIDN'T KNOW...like Greek mythology and a myriad of other things, and how they were cunningly reintroduced into our time. When and how. I just restacked his today's article, where you can find those links, if you like. Or search for Allen Daves on substack.

Michael's avatar

Thank you for your comment and the hint with Allen Daves works. I will study them.

Michael's avatar

Actually, have you read my comment and understood it?

Jesus Is Lord's avatar

Gee, thank you Michael…appreciate you taking the time to write a detailed explanation! Will look into it.