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Category: Matthew

The Parable of the Wise and Foolish Virgins, Part 6

The Parable of the Wise and Foolish Virgins, Part 6

Having presented the common or orthodox view of this parable we should here like to present another possible interpretation, note none of the essential lessons which we gleamed from the first have been changed it is simply the time for the application of this parable that is being reconsidered now. Upon further study the class had deemed that certain points in the parable merited reconsideration. One point is that ten virgins went forth and the Bridegroom did tarry. After the…

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The Parable of the Wise and Foolish Virgins, Part 5

The Parable of the Wise and Foolish Virgins, Part 5

Matthew Chapter 25 Verse 11: “Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us.” This event will take place AFTER the door is shut—and after the foolish virgins realize it is shut. However, the pleading “Lord, open to us” means they want the door to be opened, which is quite different from those in the Johnsonite movement, who blithely accepted the supposed fact that the door is shut and had no desire for it to be opened….

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The Parable of the Wise and Foolish Virgins, Part 4

The Parable of the Wise and Foolish Virgins, Part 4

Matthew Chapter 25 Verse 9: The foolish virgins were told to go to the marketplace of experience to buy the extra oil. “The wise answered… go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves.” Verse 9 refers to the difficult experience at the end of the age where some will sell the truth. Their actions will shock the foolish virgins into a realization of their need for more of the Holy Spirit so that they themselves will not…

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The Parable of the Wise and Foolish Virgins, Part 3

The Parable of the Wise and Foolish Virgins, Part 3

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…

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The Parable of the Wise and Foolish Virgins, Part 2

The Parable of the Wise and Foolish Virgins, Part 2

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,…

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The Parable of the Wise and Foolish Virgins, Part 1

The Parable of the Wise and Foolish Virgins, Part 1

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…

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Matthew Chapter 24, Part 73

Matthew Chapter 24, Part 73

Matthew Chapter 24 Verse 48 and 49 “But and if that evil servant shall say in his heart, my lord delays his coming; and shall begin to smite his fellow servants, and to eat and drink with the drunken.” If the “faithful and wise servant” is an individual, then so is the “evil servant.” Although there was literally an evil servant, an individual—for example, Judge Rutherford?—the way verses 48 and 49 are worded suggests that the one who was faithful…

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Matthew Chapter 24, Part 72

Matthew Chapter 24, Part 72

Matthew Chapter 24 An explanation of what we Bible Students refer to when we mention the Reprints or Volumes. * The Watch Tower Reprints referred simply as the “Reprints” by Bible Students have been a useful treasure house of information for the Bible Students since they constitute a comprehensive Bible commentary by Pastor Russell. First printed in book form by the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society in 1919 (three years after the death of the Pastor), the Reprints contained…

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Matthew Chapter 24, Part 70

Matthew Chapter 24, Part 70

Matthew Chapter 24 Verse 45-46 “Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season? Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing.” We present another examination of these verses as explained by Brother Frank Shallieu in, “The Gospel of Matthew” It is our opinion (that is the majority of us Bible Students) that this “faithful and wise servant” was…

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Matthew Chapter 24, Part 69

Matthew Chapter 24, Part 69

Matthew Chapter 24 Dispensing of Food to the Household VERSE 45-47 ” “Who then is the faithful and prudent servant, whom his Master has placed over his household to give them food in due season? Happy that servant whom his Master, on coming, shall find thus employed! Indeed I say to you that he will appoint him over all his stores of provisions.” The intimation here seems to be, that at the particular time indicated by the prophecy–namely, during the…

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