The Lamp and Oil, One Needs to Prepare to
Welcome the Second Coming of Jesus
Main reference: Mt 25 (Mt 22; Rv 19); Jer 31; Ez 39; Hos 2
What is the lamp and oil, which one needs to prepare to welcome the Lord’s when he returns?
Jesus spoke in Matthew 25, one cannot welcome the groom, Jesus, and they will be thrown outside if they do not have the lamp and the oil. Are the lamp and the oil which Jesus spoke about a literal lamp and literal oil? Or are they metaphors? It says in Psalms, “I will open my mouth in parables, I will utter hidden things, things from of old,” (Ps 78:2). According to this very word, it says in Matthew, “… he did not say anything to them without using a parable” (Mt 13:34-35). Jesus, therefore, spoke in parables.
What are the symbolized lamp and oil referring to? Jesus used the old Israel custom of the wedding banquet and the house, as a metaphor. In the past, the Israelites held their wedding feasts at night. The bridesmaids would hold their lamps and go out to welcome the groom to take him to the house and to the room of the bride. Jesus used this old marriage custom to speak about something else.
God said in Jeremiah 31, “… I took them by the hand to lead them out of Egypt, because they broke my covenant though I was a husband to them.” He also spoke in Hosea 2:19-20, “I will betroth you to me forever.” In the same manner, Jesus has promised to return in the position of the groom. We too, have become the brides just like the Israelites who came out of Egypt. Why is Jesus referred to as the groom, and we are the brides? Jesus is spirit; we are flesh, the house for the spirit. We become one with the Lord by having the Lord in our hearts. This is a spiritual marriage. In this sense, the scriptures make references to the groom and the brides. This can also be found in Apostle Paul’s letter when he stated, “I promised you to one husband, to Christ, so that I might present you as a pure virgin to him” (2 Cor 11:2).
One must prepare the lamp and the oil in order to partake in this spiritual wedding banquet and to welcome the Lord. In the time of Moses and Aaron, Aaron used the oil from the olive trees to light up the seven lampstands in the tabernacle (Lv 24). In Zechariah 4, it portrays two olive trees and the seven lampstands. The seven lamps were the seven spirits before the throne (Rv 4). The two olive trees which were besides the lampstands, symbolize the pastors who served the Lord (Zec 4:14). According to Revelation 11, the two witnesses who stand before the Lord are represented by two olive trees. Thus, spiritual oil signifies the word of testimony coming out of the mouths of the two witnesses. They have seen and heard the physical fulfillment of the prophecies of the entire Revelation. They testify about what they have seen and heard just as they were commanded. This very word of testimony is the Lord’s oil of the holy spirit. What is the lamp? Just as Jesus was referred to as light (Jn 12:46), and as the word (1 Jn 1:1), the spiritual lamp is Jesus’ word of promise, that is, the Bible. Since the witnesses, symbolized by the olive trees, know the word of the Bible (the prophecy) written in parables and its physical fulfillment, the word of the holy spirit which testifies about the fulfilled physical realities is the oil which shines the understanding of the Bible. Those who sell the oil mentioned in the main chapter (Mt 25), refer to the witnesses, the olive trees. Only those who receive the revealed word from these witnesses, the olive trees, and gain understanding, are able to welcome the returning Lord.
At the time of the first coming, the Jews failed to accept God, who came as their groom, despite having the Old Testament (the prophecy). They did not accept God because of their lack of understanding of the words of the promise. Today, too, if one does not know the path the Lord takes for his return, and they do not know the promised pastor, they will be unable to recognize God, the holy city New Jerusalem, which is coming down from heaven, and Jesus when they come. Without knowing these, they will merely persecute others. It is the pastors from each denomination who are fully responsible for the people’s lack of understanding. Such things are happening because the pastors have not taught properly. The Bible even promises after which events, heaven, God, and Jesus, would come and to whom they would come (Rv 3:12). The word of the New Testament is the path the Lord takes to return. It is the lamp and the light. The oil of the holy spirit is the revealed word. This revelation is the testimony which speaks about the fulfillment of Revelation. The fulfillment of Revelation (the physical fulfillment, the physical realities) is not about someone else; it is about you, your new image which was born again. If you can find yourself, your born-again new image from the fulfillment, it means the new covenant has been fulfilled in you as well.
The qualifications of welcoming the Lord at the wedding banquet is preparing the lamp, the oil, and acting according to the prophecy and its physical fulfillment. To be precise, being harvested, sealed, becoming a part of the twelve tribes, not adding to and/or subtracting from Revelation, and having one’s name written in the book of life are the five qualifications. This is the new covenant the saints of God must keep. God has made known to us, only when these five qualifications are fulfilled in us, will we be able to reign as kings eternally, as God’s kingdom (heaven) and his priests. These are the marriage qualifications by which we can welcome the Lord. Furthermore, having these qualifications serve as a sign one has prepared the lamp and the oil. If one’s lamp is put out due to a lack of oil, their heart has gone dark from lack of understanding the word of prophecy in the Bible and its physical fulfillment. It symbolizes the deficiency or faithlessness of one’s life of faith. How can someone like this welcome the Lord if the status of his faith is almost like that of a non-believer? Just like the sun, moon, and stars in heaven, which have gone dark and fallen to the ground, they have returned to being mere flesh, despite having begun their faith with the holy spirit. They are in the status of night, where they do not even realize what has happened to them.
1 Thessalonians 5 it urges us to be alert and stay awake, because there are people who are asleep at night. Those who lack the light will get destroyed, but those who become the light of the day will attain salvation. “They shall awaken. They shall awaken.”
Today, at the time of the second coming, any pastor who persecutes and curses is a pastor of Satan. Such actions serve as the evidence they are a part of Satan’s people. It is only those who believe and keep the word of promise who will acquire salvation. I pray all will gain salvation by believing.
Amen!
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