the greatest controversy

[D. Allan]

I alway heard it was a parable - a story with a moral - . Why do you call it a prophecy, Dr. Rich? sincerely interesed.

Preachers often take liberties with stories and use them to illustrate their points. I heard a sermon where the five smooth stones David picked up were all given a meaning. What does the smoothness represent? What would you say the slingshot represented? What did the brook represent. In that way one can invest his ideas with the authority of the Bible. David and Goliath is history (I presume) but the parables can have the same thing done to them. What does the oil represent? What does the lamp represent? what does the wick represent?

too speculative.

be simple as a little child:

when you are waiting for the bridegroom to come stick with it as Isaac did wrestling with the angel.

Why did Jesus say he spoke in parables? i forget the exact wording..... lest the people understand and be saved? its a differnt topic........

dab

[Musicman1228]

Jesus said that you must begin your journey (Sanctification) by becoming as a little child, open and honest even though you are unknowing; He never said that you should remain unknowing.

Parables are stories of Jesus that have a spiritual point, and that point can and often does include prophecy, especially when Jesus speaks about the Kingdom of Heaven. Example - the story of the 10 bridesmaids in Matt.25:1-13 is a perfect description about what has already happened and what will shortly happen to the SDA church. No other body of believers fits that description but us. Jesus prophecied about our church 1900 some years before the Advent movement began.

[wayfinder]

Matthew 24:1-6 Jesus came out from the temple and was going away when His disciples came up to point out the temple buildings to Him. And He said to them, "Do you not see all these things? Truly I say to you, not one stone here will be left upon another, which will not be torn down."

As He was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, "Tell us, when will these things happen, and what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?" And Jesus answered and said to them, "See to it that no one misleads you. "For many will come in My name, saying, `I am the Christ,' and will mislead many. "You will be hearing of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not frightened, for those things must take place, but that is not yet the end.

Jesus statement about the future of the temple was right on. It was this statement that prompted His disciples' question about the time of the end. I am sure that the disciples thought that the destruction of the temple would occur at the end of the age, therefore their question about the events that would be the signs the end was near. At no time does Jesus make the statement, let Me tell you a parable about the end of time.

The assumption that this was a parable, likely comes from the symbolism used in chp. 25:1, where the kingdom of heaven is "likened unto" ten bridesmaids, but the use of symbols in prophecy is well documented and does not turn a prophecy into a parable or vise versa.

Jesus was in fact being consistent with the context He used to explain His going to the Father and future return as the process leading up to the marriage. "In My Father's house are many rooms" "I go to prepare a place for you" I will come again and receive you" and go to the marriage feast. The bondservant part of this prophecy speaks to the process (Matthew 24:42-51) Where the bridegroom would send his servants on ahead of him to tell the bridesmaids that he was on his way, which would allow the bridesmaids time to prepare the bride for her wedding. It was critical for the bride that she be ready for her bridegroom, when he knocked on her door, because if she were not ready the wedding would be off forever. This is why the Bridegroom was delaying (Matthew 25:5) his coming, because He knew His bride was not ready and He was delaying so to insure that the wedding would take place. The book of Revelation (prophecy not parable) culminates with the bride ready for her bridegroom (Revelation 19:7) and the wedding supper of the lamb (Bridegroom).

The interesting fact about this prophecy in Matthew is that the event described happened in 1843, at the end of the 2300 evenings and mornings. The connection between the "sanctuary cleansed/dedicated" (however you want to translate it) and Jesus reference to the bridesmaids as His kingdom (kingdom of heaven) cannot be coincidental. God’s kingdom has at it’s heart an operating sanctuary, albeit this one is in heaven.

[Dr. Rich]

D.Allen, very good question. Matthew did not put in any chapter breaks so chapter 24 and 25 should be read together. We know that the disciples were asking about the end of the age, or the end days and Jesus was giveing them some information knowing that they would not be alive at that time, so that they could write it down so that others (the bondservants) would be able to read and understand where they were in time (and in the prophecy.)

Since Matthew 25 starts with Jesus telling them at what time this prophecy would take place, it had to be at the same time period as what Jesus was talking about in chapter 24:43-to the end. The event is about Jesus coming like a thief.

When Jesus used the word "liken" is clearly was not a parable or a story, but was to be understood because of the usage and knowledge of the day on how a wedding took place. The man would find a woman and tell her that he was going to marry her. But since men who were not married lived at home in those days, the man would tell the woman that only his father would know when the marriage would be and the man (groom to be) would have to build on and add rooms to the house to make room for the new bride.

Therefore, the groom-to-be would tell the bride-to-be that he would send his servants to her servants to let her know when the wedding was to take place. This way the bride did not have to stay ready for the wedding for that would be impossible. (Try that today and see how many women would go for it?) All of this was understood, (I didn't understand it either until I got into the history of a wedding in that period), so that the disciples wrote it down, the bond servants could look back and find a group of people who matched this description so they would know who their are and where they stood in time.

As a member of the SDA Church, I find this very exciting! On the other hand I find it very sad. Since the prophecy is true, many who are your friends (and family members) today will be your worst enemy when the time comes for the split. I hope this helps.

[True-believer]

albeit this one is in heaven.

Are you sure it's in heaven?

I can prove from the Bible it isn't!!!

If you want me to explain please tell me.

[True-believer]

the story of the 10 bridesmaids in Matt.25:1-13 is a perfect description about what has already happened and what will shortly happen to the SDA church. No other body of believers fits that description but us. Jesus prophecied about our church 1900 some years before the Advent movement began.

Your speaking about that only the SDA Church will be saved in the end... that goes against what you all believe, and against the Fundamental Beliefs.

The SDA Church believes that there is true believers in ALL CHURCHES--and not only the SDA Church.

Unless you yourself belong to the Reformed SDA Church -- www.sdarm.org.au

and also -- www.sdarm.org

Are you a Reformed SDA??? Only they believe they are the only ones to be saved in the end.

[TreeOfLife]

The Greatest Controversy...

[D. Allan]

D.Allen, very good question. Matthew did not put in any chapter breaks so chapter 24 and 25 should be read together. We know that the disciples were asking about the end of the age, or the end days and Jesus was giveing them some information knowing that they would not be alive at that time, so that they could write it down so that others (the bondservants) would be able to read and understand where they were in time (and in the prophecy.)

Since Matthew 25 starts with Jesus telling them at what time this prophecy would take place, it had to be at the same time period as what Jesus was talking about in chapter 24:43-to the end. The event is about Jesus coming like a thief.

When Jesus used the word "liken" is clearly was not a parable or a story, but was to be understood because of the usage and knowledge of the day on how a wedding took place. The man would find a woman and tell her that he was going to marry her. But since men who were not married lived at home in those days, the man would tell the woman that only his father would know when the marriage would be and the man (groom to be) would have to build on and add rooms to the house to make room for the new bride.

Therefore, the groom-to-be would tell the bride-to-be that he would send his servants to her servants to let her know when the wedding was to take place. This way the bride did not have to stay ready for the wedding for that would be impossible. (Try that today and see how many women would go for it?) All of this was understood, (I didn't understand it either until I got into the history of a wedding in that period), so that the disciples wrote it down, the bond servants could look back and find a group of people who matched this description so they would know who their are and where they stood in time.

As a member of the SDA Church, I find this very exciting! On the other hand I find it very sad. Since the prophecy is true, many who are your friends (and family members) today will be your worst enemy when the time comes for the split. I hope this helps.

Yes that helps alot! Thank you, Dr. Rich.

[LifeHiscost]

Originally Posted By: Dr. Rich

many who are your friends (and family members) today will be your worst enemy when the time comes for the split. I hope this helps.

Yes that helps alot! Thank you, Dr. Rich.

"And one shall say unto him, What are these wounds in thine hands? Then he shall answer, Those with which I was wounded in the house of my friends."Zech 13:6 KJV

Blessings!

[Dr. Rich]

The SDA church (corporate body) is what is represented by the ten maids. They, as a group, thought Jesus was going to come and didn't. They, as a group are now sleeping. I am not talking about individuals around the world (all nations) who don't know anything about SDAs, but just like foreigners were allowed into the Israel nation, so shall these be allowed in. Therefore one can't say it is exclusive to the SDA church.

The above is ONLY for the Kingdom of Heaven at the time of the coming like a thief--not during the time of trouble. The coming like a thief occurs before the time of trouble and it is the few we see that come out of this group (message to Sardis/SDA/KOH/10 Maids) as found in Rev. 3:4 who are the 144,000. The reason Jesus comes like a thief (like how He went to heaven when only His servants saw Him go to heaven) is because Jesus seals them because they have become righteous and have no lies in their mouths. They are sealed prior to the time of trouble since the time of trouble is not a test for them like God is going to test the whole world during this time.

It will be because of the deeds/works/acts (Rev. 19:7,8) of the saints (5 wise and the 144k) during the time of trouble that gets the bride (those who become righteous during the time of trouble) ready as found in Rev. 7:9-16. After all of the 7 trumpets have sounded and everything is done, including the bringing back to life the 2 witnesses who had been lying in the street for 3 and a half days, that Jesus will come in the clouds. Enjoy!