Jesus end times teaching bible study

 

            Here is much of Jesus’ end times teaching, parables and prophecy. He did a lot of teaching on the birth pangs, the rapture, and also beyond the rapture, including reminding that we people and nations will indeed be held accountable for what we say and do. These scriptures are both straight out teachings and parables, sometimes blended together. There may be some others, but I want to include the most significant of them. I am first starting out with the three major teachings on the topic, specifically the chapters in Matthew, Mark and Luke dedicated for the end times purposes, starting with the teaching that is in Matthew 24

(Matthew 24:1)  Jesus left the temple and was going away, when his disciples came to point out to him the buildings of the temple.

 

(Matthew 24:2)  But he answered them, "You see all these, do you not? Truly, I say to you, there will not be left here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down."

 

(Matthew 24:3)  As he sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately, saying, "Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the close of the age?"

 

(Matthew 24:4)  And Jesus answered them, "See that no one leads you astray.

 

(Matthew 24:5)  For many will come in my name, saying, 'I am the Christ,' and they will lead many astray.

 

(Matthew 24:6)  And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed, for this must take place, but the end is not yet.

 

(Matthew 24:7)  For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places.

 

(Matthew 24:8)  All these are but the beginning of the birth pains.

 

(Matthew 24:9)  "Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations for my name's sake.

 

(Matthew 24:10)  And then many will fall away and betray one another and hate one another.

 

(Matthew 24:11)  And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray.

 

(Matthew 24:12)  And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold.

 

(Matthew 24:13)  But the one who endures to the end will be saved.

 

(Matthew 24:14)  And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.

 

(Matthew 24:15)  "So when you see the abomination of desolation spoken of by the prophet Daniel, standing in the holy place (let the reader understand),

 

(Matthew 24:16)  then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains.

 

(Matthew 24:17)  Let the one who is on the housetop not go down to take what is in his house,

 

(Matthew 24:18)  and let the one who is in the field not turn back to take his cloak.

 

(Matthew 24:19)  And alas for women who are pregnant and for those who are nursing infants in those days!

 

(Matthew 24:20)  Pray that your flight may not be in winter or on a Sabbath.

 

(Matthew 24:21)  For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been from the beginning of the world until now, no, and never will be.

 

(Matthew 24:22)  And if those days had not been cut short, no human being would be saved. But for the sake of the elect those days will be cut short.

 

(Matthew 24:23)  Then if anyone says to you, 'Look, here is the Christ!' or 'There he is!' do not believe it.

 

(Matthew 24:24)  For false christs and false prophets will arise and perform great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the elect.

 

(Matthew 24:25)  See, I have told you beforehand.

 

(Matthew 24:26)  So, if they say to you, 'Look, he is in the wilderness,' do not go out. If they say, 'Look, he is in the inner rooms,' do not believe it.

 

(Matthew 24:27)  For as the lightning comes from the east and shines as far as the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.

 

(Matthew 24:28)  Wherever the corpse is, there the vultures will gather.

 

(Matthew 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.

 

(Matthew 24:30)  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.

 

(Matthew 24:31)  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.

 

(Matthew 24:32)  "From the fig tree learn its lesson: as soon as its branch becomes tender and puts out its leaves, you know that summer is near.

 

(Matthew 24:33)  So also, when you see all these things, you know that he is near, at the very gates.

 

(Matthew 24:34)  Truly, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place.

 

(Matthew 24:35)  Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.

 

(Matthew 24:36)  "But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only.

 

(Matthew 24:37)  For as were the days of Noah, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.

 

(Matthew 24:38)  For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark,

 

(Matthew 24:39)  and they were unaware until the flood came and swept them all away, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.

 

(Matthew 24:40)  Then two men will be in the field; one will be taken and one left.

 

(Matthew 24:41)  Two women will be grinding at the mill; one will be taken and one left.

 

(Matthew 24:42)  Therefore, stay awake, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming.

 

(Matthew 24:43)  But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into.

 

(Matthew 24:44)  Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.

 

(Matthew 24:45)  "Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom his master has set over his household, to give them their food at the proper time?

 

(Matthew 24:46)  Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes.

 

(Matthew 24:47)  Truly, I say to you, he will set him over all his possessions.

 

(Matthew 24:48)  But if that wicked servant says to himself, 'My master is delayed,'

 

(Matthew 24:49)  and begins to beat his fellow servants and eats and drinks with drunkards,

 

(Matthew 24:50)  the master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he does not know

 

(Matthew 24:51)  and will cut him in pieces and put him with the hypocrites. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

 

Here is the teaching in Mark 13

(Mark 13:1)  And as he came out of the temple, one of his disciples said to him, "Look, Teacher, what wonderful stones and what wonderful buildings!"

 

(Mark 13:2)  And Jesus said to him, "Do you see these great buildings? There will not be left here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down."

 

(Mark 13:3)  And as he sat on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, Peter and James and John and Andrew asked him privately,

 

(Mark 13:4)  "Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign when all these things are about to be accomplished?"

 

(Mark 13:5)  And Jesus began to say to them, "See that no one leads you astray.

 

(Mark 13:6)  Many will come in my name, saying, 'I am he!' and they will lead many astray.

 

(Mark 13:7)  And when you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be alarmed. This must take place, but the end is not yet.

 

(Mark 13:8)  For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in various places; there will be famines. These are but the beginning of the birth pains.

 

(Mark 13:9)  "But be on your guard. For they will deliver you over to councils, and you will be beaten in synagogues, and you will stand before governors and kings for my sake, to bear witness before them.

 

(Mark 13:10)  And the gospel must first be proclaimed to all nations.

 

(Mark 13:11)  And when they bring you to trial and deliver you over, do not be anxious beforehand what you are to say, but say whatever is given you in that hour, for it is not you who speak, but the Holy Spirit.

 

(Mark 13:12)  And brother will deliver brother over to death, and the father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death.

 

(Mark 13:13)  And you will be hated by all for my name's sake. But the one who endures to the end will be saved.

 

(Mark 13:14)  "But when you see the abomination of desolation standing where he ought not to be (let the reader understand), then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains.

 

(Mark 13:15)  Let the one who is on the housetop not go down, nor enter his house, to take anything out,

 

(Mark 13:16)  and let the one who is in the field not turn back to take his cloak.

 

(Mark 13:17)  And alas for women who are pregnant and for those who are nursing infants in those days!

 

(Mark 13:18)  Pray that it may not happen in winter.

 

(Mark 13:19)  For in those days there will be such tribulation as has not been from the beginning of the creation that God created until now, and never will be.

 

(Mark 13:20)  And if the Lord had not cut short the days, no human being would be saved. But for the sake of the elect, whom he chose, he shortened the days.

 

(Mark 13:21)  And then if anyone says to you, 'Look, here is the Christ!' or 'Look, there he is!' do not believe it.

 

(Mark 13:22)  For false christs and false prophets will arise and perform signs and wonders, to lead astray, if possible, the elect.

 

(Mark 13:23)  But be on guard; I have told you all things beforehand.

 

(Mark 13:24)  "But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light,

 

(Mark 13:25)  and the stars will be falling from heaven, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken.

 

(Mark 13:26)  And then they will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory.

 

(Mark 13:27)  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.

 

(Mark 13:28)  "From the fig tree learn its lesson: as soon as its branch becomes tender and puts out its leaves, you know that summer is near.

 

(Mark 13:29)  So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that he is near, at the very gates.

 

(Mark 13:30)  Truly, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place.

 

(Mark 13:31)  Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.

 

(Mark 13:32)  "But concerning that day or that hour, no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.

 

(Mark 13:33)  Be on guard, keep awake. For you do not know when the time will come.

 

(Mark 13:34)  It is like a man going on a journey, when he leaves home and puts his servants in charge, each with his work, and commands the doorkeeper to stay awake.

 

(Mark 13:35)  Therefore stay awake--for you do not know when the master of the house will come, in the evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or in the morning--

 

(Mark 13:36)  lest he come suddenly and find you asleep.

 

(Mark 13:37)  And what I say to you I say to all: Stay awake."

 

Here is the teaching in Luke, which is in Luke 21

(Luke 21:1)  Jesus looked up and saw the rich putting their gifts into the offering box,

 

(Luke 21:2)  and he saw a poor widow put in two small copper coins.

 

(Luke 21:3)  And he said, "Truly, I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all of them.

 

(Luke 21:4)  For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on."

 

(Luke 21:5)  And while some were speaking of the temple, how it was adorned with noble stones and offerings, he said,

 

(Luke 21:6)  "As for these things that you see, the days will come when there will not be left here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down."

 

(Luke 21:7)  And they asked him, "Teacher, when will these things be, and what will be the sign when these things are about to take place?"

 

(Luke 21:8)  And he said, "See that you are not led astray. For many will come in my name, saying, 'I am he!' and, 'The time is at hand!' Do not go after them.

 

(Luke 21:9)  And when you hear of wars and tumults, do not be terrified, for these things must first take place, but the end will not be at once."

 

(Luke 21:10)  Then he said to them, "Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom.

 

(Luke 21:11)  There will be great earthquakes, and in various places famines and pestilences. And there will be terrors and great signs from heaven.

 

(Luke 21:12)  But before all this they will lay their hands on you and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors for my name's sake.

 

(Luke 21:13)  This will be your opportunity to bear witness.

 

(Luke 21:14)  Settle it therefore in your minds not to meditate beforehand how to answer,

 

(Luke 21:15)  for I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which none of your adversaries will be able to withstand or contradict.

 

(Luke 21:16)  You will be delivered up even by parents and brothers and relatives and friends, and some of you they will put to death.

 

(Luke 21:17)  You will be hated by all for my name's sake.

 

(Luke 21:18)  But not a hair of your head will perish.

 

(Luke 21:19)  By your endurance you will gain your lives.

 

(Luke 21:20)  "But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation has come near.

 

(Luke 21:21)  Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, and let those who are inside the city depart, and let not those who are out in the country enter it,

 

(Luke 21:22)  for these are days of vengeance, to fulfill all that is written.

 

(Luke 21:23)  Alas for women who are pregnant and for those who are nursing infants in those days! For there will be great distress upon the earth and wrath against this people.

 

(Luke 21:24)  They will fall by the edge of the sword and be led captive among all nations, and Jerusalem will be trampled underfoot by the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.

 

(Luke 21:25)  "And there will be signs in sun and moon and stars, and on the earth distress of nations in perplexity because of the roaring of the sea and the waves,

 

(Luke 21:26)  people fainting with fear and with foreboding of what is coming on the world. For the powers of the heavens will be shaken.

 

(Luke 21:27)  And then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.

 

(Luke 21:28)  Now when these things begin to take place, straighten up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near."

 

(Luke 21:29)  And he told them a parable: "Look at the fig tree, and all the trees.

 

(Luke 21:30)  As soon as they come out in leaf, you see for yourselves and know that the summer is already near.

 

(Luke 21:31)  So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that the kingdom of God is near.

 

(Luke 21:32)  Truly, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all has taken place.

 

(Luke 21:33)  Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.

 

(Luke 21:34)  "But watch yourselves lest your hearts be weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and cares of this life, and that day come upon you suddenly like a trap.

 

(Luke 21:35)  For it will come upon all who dwell on the face of the whole earth.

 

(Luke 21:36)  But stay awake at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that are going to take place, and to stand before the Son of Man."

 

(Luke 21:37)  And every day he was teaching in the temple, but at night he went out and lodged on the mount called Olivet.

 

(Luke 21:38)  And early in the morning all the people came to him in the temple to hear him.

 

These three teachings repeat many of the same things, while they are all told from a different perspective; repetition in the bible only stresses the importance of what is said. There are two additional passages in Luke which further drive home the messages in the above teachings, the first of them being in Luke 12:

(Luke 12:35)  "Stay dressed for action and keep your lamps burning,

 

(Luke 12:36)  and be like men who are waiting for their master to come home from the wedding feast, so that they may open the door to him at once when he comes and knocks.

 

(Luke 12:37)  Blessed are those servants whom the master finds awake when he comes. Truly, I say to you, he will dress himself for service and have them recline at table, and he will come and serve them.

 

(Luke 12:38)  If he comes in the second watch, or in the third, and finds them awake, blessed are those servants!

 

(Luke 12:39)  But know this, that if the master of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have left his house to be broken into.

 

(Luke 12:40)  You also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect."

 

(Luke 12:41)  Peter said, "Lord, are you telling this parable for us or for all?"

 

(Luke 12:42)  And the Lord said, "Who then is the faithful and wise manager, whom his master will set over his household, to give them their portion of food at the proper time?

 

(Luke 12:43)  Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes.

 

(Luke 12:44)  Truly, I say to you, he will set him over all his possessions.

 

(Luke 12:45)  But if that servant says to himself, 'My master is delayed in coming,' and begins to beat the male and female servants, and to eat and drink and get drunk,

 

(Luke 12:46)  the master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he does not know, and will cut him in pieces and put him with the unfaithful.

 

(Luke 12:47)  And that servant who knew his master's will but did not get ready or act according to his will, will receive a severe beating.

 

(Luke 12:48)  But the one who did not know, and did what deserved a beating, will receive a light beating. Everyone to whom much was given, of him much will be required, and from him to whom they entrusted much, they will demand the more.

 

The other, which is in Luke 17, is said in answer to the Pharisees’ question of when the Kingdom of God would come, it also is an excellent teaching for the end times, too even touching on the rapture as do others of Jesus’ end times teachings:

(Luke 17:20)  Being asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, he answered them, "The kingdom of God is not coming with signs to be observed,

 

(Luke 17:21)  nor will they say, 'Look, here it is!' or 'There!' for behold, the kingdom of God is in the midst of you."

 

(Luke 17:22)  And he said to the disciples, "The days are coming when you will desire to see one of the days of the Son of Man, and you will not see it.

 

(Luke 17:23)  And they will say to you, 'Look, there!' or 'Look, here!' Do not go out or follow them.

 

(Luke 17:24)  For as the lightning flashes and lights up the sky from one side to the other, so will the Son of Man be in his day.

 

(Luke 17:25)  But first he must suffer many things and be rejected by this generation.

 

(Luke 17:26)  Just as it was in the days of Noah, so will it be in the days of the Son of Man.

 

(Luke 17:27)  They were eating and drinking and marrying and being given in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all.

 

(Luke 17:28)  Likewise, just as it was in the days of Lot--they were eating and drinking, buying and selling, planting and building,

 

(Luke 17:29)  but on the day when Lot went out from Sodom, fire and sulfur rained from heaven and destroyed them all--

 

(Luke 17:30)  so will it be on the day when the Son of Man is revealed.

 

(Luk 17:31)  On that day, let the one who is on the housetop, with his goods in the house, not come down to take them away, and likewise let the one who is in the field not turn back.

 

(Luke 17:32)  Remember Lot's wife.

 

(Luke 17:33)  Whoever seeks to preserve his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life will keep it.

 

(Luke 17:34)  I tell you, in that night there will be two in one bed. One will be taken and the other left.

 

(Luke 17:35)  There will be two women grinding together. One will be taken and the other left."

 

(Luke 17:36)  [Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left.]

 

(Luke 17:37)  And they said to him, "Where, Lord?" He said to them, "Where the corpse is, there the vultures will gather."

 

There are several parables in chapter 13 of Matthew some, particularily the parable of the wheat and weeds, with its explanation, has strong end times significance. The others included stress the high value of the kingdom of God:

(Matthew 13:24)  He put another parable before them, saying, "The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a man who sowed good seed in his field,

 

(Matthew 13:25)  but while his men were sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat and went away.

 

(Matthew 13:26)  So when the plants came up and bore grain, then the weeds appeared also.

 

(Matthew 13:27)  And the servants of the master of the house came and said to him, 'Master, did you not sow good seed in your field? How then does it have weeds?'

 

(Matthew 13:28)  He said to them, 'An enemy has done this.' So the servants said to him, 'Then do you want us to go and gather them?'

 

(Matthew 13:29)  But he said, 'No, lest in gathering the weeds you root up the wheat along with them.

 

(Matthew 13:30)  Let both grow together until the harvest, and at harvest time I will tell the reapers, Gather the weeds first and bind them in bundles to be burned, but gather the wheat into my barn.'"

 

(Matthew 13:31)  He put another parable before them, saying, "The kingdom of heaven is like a grain of mustard seed that a man took and sowed in his field.

 

(Matthew 13:32)  It is the smallest of all seeds, but when it has grown it is larger than all the garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and make nests in its branches."

 

(Matthew 13:33)  He told them another parable. "The kingdom of heaven is like leaven that a woman took and hid in three measures of flour, till it was all leavened."

 

(Matthew 13:34)  All these things Jesus said to the crowds in parables; indeed, he said nothing to them without a parable.

 

(Matthew 13:35)  This was to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet: "I will open my mouth in parables; I will utter what has been hidden since the foundation of the world."

 

(Matthew 13:36)  Then he left the crowds and went into the house. And his disciples came to him, saying, "Explain to us the parable of the weeds of the field."

 

(Matthew 13:37)  He answered, "The one who sows the good seed is the Son of Man.

 

(Matthew 13:38)  The field is the world, and the good seed is the sons of the kingdom. The weeds are the sons of the evil one,

 

(Matthew 13:39)  and the enemy who sowed them is the devil. The harvest is the close of the age, and the reapers are angels.

 

(Matthew 13:40)  Just as the weeds are gathered and burned with fire, so will it be at the close of the age.

 

(Matthew 13:41)  The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will gather out of his kingdom all causes of sin and all law-breakers,

 

(Matthew 13:42)  and throw them into the fiery furnace. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

 

(Matthew 13:43)  Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears, let him hear.

 

(Matthew 13:44)  "The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.

 

(Matthew 13:45)  "Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls,

 

(Matthew 13:46)  who, on finding one pearl of great value, went and sold all that he had and bought it.

 

(Matthew 13:47)  "Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was thrown into the sea and gathered fish of every kind.

 

(Matthew 13:48)  When it was full, men drew it ashore and sat down and sorted the good into containers but threw away the bad.

 

(Matthew 13:49)  So it will be at the close of the age. The angels will come out and separate the evil from the righteous

 

(Matthew 13:50)  and throw them into the fiery furnace. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

 

One thing of importance that must be stressed is that we will indeed be accountable for what we say and do, so I am going to add these two verses from Matthew 12 to emphasize that point:

(Matthew 12:36)  I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak,

 

(Matthew 12:37)  for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned."

 

Here also is a parable of accountability, the parable of the ten minas:

(Luke 19:11)  As they heard these things, he proceeded to tell a parable, because he was near to Jerusalem, and because they supposed that the kingdom of God was to appear immediately.

 

(Luke 19:12)  He said therefore, "A nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom and then return.

 

(Luke 19:13)  Calling ten of his servants, he gave them ten minas, and said to them, 'Engage in business until I come.'

 

(Luke 19:14)  But his citizens hated him and sent a delegation after him, saying, 'We do not want this man to reign over us.'

 

(Luke 19:15)  When he returned, having received the kingdom, he ordered these servants to whom he had given the money to be called to him, that he might know what they had gained by doing business.

 

(Luke 19:16)  The first came before him, saying, 'Lord, your mina has made ten minas more.'

 

(Luke 19:17)  And he said to him, 'Well done, good servant! Because you have been faithful in a very little, you shall have authority over ten cities.'

 

(Luke 19:18)  And the second came, saying, 'Lord, your mina has made five minas.'

 

(Luke 19:19)  And he said to him, 'And you are to be over five cities.'

 

(Luke 19:20)  Then another came, saying, 'Lord, here is your mina, which I kept laid away in a handkerchief;

 

(Luke 19:21)  for I was afraid of you, because you are a severe man. You take what you did not deposit, and reap what you did not sow.'

 

(Luke 19:22)  He said to him, 'I will condemn you with your own words, you wicked servant! You knew that I was a severe man, taking what I did not deposit and reaping what I did not sow?

 

(Luke 19:23)  Why then did you not put my money in the bank, and at my coming I might have collected it with interest?'

 

(Luke 19:24)  And he said to those who stood by, 'Take the mina from him, and give it to the one who has the ten minas.'

 

(Luke 19:25)  And they said to him, 'Lord, he has ten minas!'

 

(Luke 19:26)  'I tell you that to everyone who has, more will be given, but from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away.

 

(Luke 19:27)  But as for these enemies of mine, who did not want me to reign over them, bring them here and slaughter them before me.'"

 

We must be wise about what we are given, and how we use these gits from God because we will be held accountable for what we do with it, or fail to do with it . This point is driven home even more strongly in Matthew 25, with a very similar parable on basically the same theme:

(Matthew 25:14)  "For it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted to them his property.

 

(Matthew 25:15)  To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away.

 

(Matthew 25:16)  He who had received the five talents went at once and traded with them, and he made five talents more.

 

(Matthew 25:17)  So also he who had the two talents made two talents more.

 

(Matthew 25:18)  But he who had received the one talent went and dug in the ground and hid his master's money.

 

(Matthew 25:19)  Now after a long time the master of those servants came and settled accounts with them.

 

(Matthew 25:20)  And he who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five talents more, saying, 'Master, you delivered to me five talents; here I have made five talents more.'

 

(Matthew 25:21)  His master said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.'

 

(Matthew 25:22)  And he also who had the two talents came forward, saying, 'Master, you delivered to me two talents; here I have made two talents more.'

 

(Matthew 25:23)  His master said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.'

 

(Matthew 25:24)  He also who had received the one talent came forward, saying, 'Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you scattered no seed,

 

(Matthew 25:25)  so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here you have what is yours.'

 

(Matthew 25:26)  But his master answered him, 'You wicked and slothful servant! You knew that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I scattered no seed?

 

(Matthew 25:27)  Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received what was my own with interest.

 

(Matthew 25:28)  So take the talent from him and give it to him who has the ten talents.

 

(Matthew 25:29)  For to everyone who has will more be given, and he will have an abundance. But from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away.

 

(Matthew 25:30)  And cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.'

 

Also the nations and individuals will also be held accountable as to whether we help out those in need as stated here also in Matthew 25, for what they do or do not do to the least of them , they have done, or not done to Jesus.

(Matthew 25:31)  "When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne.

 

(Matthew 25:32)  Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.

 

(Matthew 25:33)  And he will place the sheep on his right, but the goats on the left.

 

(Matthew 25:34)  Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.

 

(Matthew 25:35)  For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me,

 

(Matthew 25:36)  I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.'

 

(Matthew 25:37)  Then the righteous will answer him, saying, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink?

 

(Matthew 25:38)  And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you?

 

(Matthew 25:39)  And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?'

 

(Matthew 25:40)  And the King will answer them, 'Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.'

 

(Matthew25:41)  "Then he will say to those on his left, 'Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.

 

(Matthew 25:42)  For I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink,

 

(Matthew 25:43)  I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.'

 

(Matthew 25:44)  Then they also will answer, saying, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to you?'

 

(Matthew 25:45)  Then he will answer them, saying, 'Truly, I say to you, as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.'

 

(Matthew 25:46)  And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life."

 

Now here are two more parables which give a nod to the marriage supper of the lamb and that being carful and staying away from worldly things is important. First up is the one in Luke 14:

(Luke 14:15)  When one of those who reclined at table with him heard these things, he said to him, "Blessed is everyone who will eat bread in the kingdom of God!"

 

(Luke 14:16)  But he said to him, "A man once gave a great banquet and invited many.

 

(Luke 14:17)  And at the time for the banquet he sent his servant to say to those who had been invited, 'Come, for everything is now ready.'

 

(Luke 14:18)  But they all alike began to make excuses. The first said to him, 'I have bought a field, and I must go out and see it. Please have me excused.'

 

(Luke 14:19)  And another said, 'I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to examine them. Please have me excused.'

 

(Luke 14:20)  And another said, 'I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.'

 

(Luke 14:21)  So the servant came and reported these things to his master. Then the master of the house became angry and said to his servant, 'Go out quickly to the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in the poor and crippled and blind and lame.'

 

(Luke 14:22)  And the servant said, 'Sir, what you commanded has been done, and still there is room.'

 

(Luke 14:23)  And the master said to the servant, 'Go out to the highways and hedges and compel people to come in, that my house may be filled.

 

(Luke 14:24)  For I tell you, none of those men who were invited shall taste my banquet.'"

 

Then also in Matthew 22,which not only further stresses the above points made in the Luke parable bit  also has someone at the dinner who is dressed without the proper wedding attire, watch what happens to him in the story:

(Matthew 22:1)  And again Jesus spoke to them in parables, saying,

 

(Matthew 22:2)  "The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who gave a wedding feast for his son,

 

(Matthew 22:3)  and sent his servants to call those who were invited to the wedding feast, but they would not come.

 

(Matthew 22:4)  Again he sent other servants, saying, 'Tell those who are invited, See, I have prepared my dinner, my oxen and my fat calves have been slaughtered, and everything is ready. Come to the wedding feast.'

 

(Matthew 22:5)  But they paid no attention and went off, one to his farm, another to his business,

 

(Matthew 22:6)  while the rest seized his servants, treated them shamefully, and killed them.

 

(Matthew 22:7)  The king was angry, and he sent his troops and destroyed those murderers and burned their city.

 

(Matthew 22:8)  Then he said to his servants, 'The wedding feast is ready, but those invited were not worthy.

 

(Matthew 22:9)  Go therefore to the main roads and invite to the wedding feast as many as you find.'

 

(Matthew 22:10)  And those servants went out into the roads and gathered all whom they found, both bad and good. So the wedding hall was filled with guests.

 

(Matthew 22:11)  "But when the king came in to look at the guests, he saw there a man who had no wedding garment.

 

(Matthew 22:12)  And he said to him, 'Friend, how did you get in here without a wedding garment?' And he was speechless.

 

(Matthew 22:13)  Then the king said to the attendants, 'Bind him hand and foot and cast him into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.'

 

(Matthew 22:14)  For many are called, but few are chosen."

 

Many are indeed called but few are chosen, so we must be careful again what we say and do so we are not like the guy who is caught without proper attire. We need to be fully committed to our relationship to Jesus to ensure of that happening.Now here is the parable that tells of the ten virgins, five foolish and five wise, going to the supper of their Lord:

(Matthew 25:1)  "Then the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom.

 

(Matthew 25:2)  Five of them were foolish, and five were wise.

 

(Matthew 25:3)  For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them,

 

(Matthew 25:4)  but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps.

 

(Matthew 25:5)  As the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and slept.

 

(Matthew 25:6)  But at midnight there was a cry, 'Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.'

 

(Matthew 25:7)  Then all those virgins rose and trimmed their lamps.

 

(Matthew 25:8)  And the foolish said to the wise, 'Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.'

 

(Matthew 25:9)  But the wise answered, saying, 'Since there will not be enough for us and for you, go rather to the dealers and buy for yourselves.'

 

(Matthew 25:10)  And while they were going to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was shut.

 

(Matthew 25:11)  Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, 'Lord, lord, open to us.'

 

(Matthew 25:12)  But he answered, 'Truly, I say to you, I do not know you.'

 

(Matthew 25:13)  Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.

 

We must be careful to not be as one of the five foolish virgins who were unprepared for their Lord’s coming but be as one of the five wise ones who were prepared. Yes it is true we don’t know the day or the hour but by these verses we do know it is coming, and that Jesus is the way, and He will retrieve us since He is building a place for us, so we can be with Him:

(John 14:1)  "Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me.

 

(John 14:2)  In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you?

 

(John 14:3)  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.

 

(John 14:4)  And you know the way to where I am going."

 

(John 14:5)  Thomas said to him, "Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?"

 

(John 14:6)  Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

 

The above verses indicate the rapture so strongly in them so I close the bible study by sharing the following about the rapture of believers:

Rapture

I will conclude and wrap this study up by saying that the way people are now(not unlike the way they were at Noah’s time and also Sodom, things which Jesus prophesied about in scriptures in Matthew, Mark and Luke)and all the many other end times signs which are occurring currently(animals dying, food prices rising, wars, rumors of wars, crazy weather and so on) are birth pangs of the coming tribulation period and  sure signs the rapture is not far way, indeed, I still believe that the rapture could be any day at any time, of which the Heavenly Father only knows). So cheer up, your redemption is drawing closer and closer every day that passes. Also please remember that  Jesus loves you more than You know, and also by posting this about the rapture, too, which does duplicate some of the scriptures, but that is for emphasis for the rapture is too important and you absolutely DO NOT want to miss it:

 

                                  THE RAPTURE IS IMMINENT!!! ARE YOU READY????

 

            I am very strongly led to believe the rapture is very imminent, and could happen any day at anytime at all. Nobody knows the exact time for the rapture but the Father God Himself. I cannot strongly enough advise all of you to get your hearts right with Jesus by asking the Holy Spirit to reveal to you if there is any Sin /iniquity/ uncleanness in your heart, mind etc and repenting of any and all items brought to your mind right away, asking the Holy Spirit to cleanse you and your garments so that they are spotless, being washed by the blood of Jesus. I am a man, needing the blood of Jesus for cleansing as much as everyone else, and believe me I am doing the same thing. This repenting is a continuous process, not just a one time thing; I have found that I myself have been repenting several times throughout the day. I know that it will be God's grace and mercy ONLY that I make the rapture, not anything I do, I am well aware of the fact that grace alone being what saves, and not works lest any should boast, but also faith without works is dead so I am sharing this with everyone, in the hopes that a few, even just one person, would wake up in time, and repent, for the remaining time here is very short.

            I post and share this document for I deeply care for people and DO NOT want anyone to miss the rapture and find themselves left behind to face the 7 year tribulations which will follow the rapture which will be pure a horrific time on earth, the most horrific ever, in fact, where you will have to hide in caves or in mountains, away from all the evil and very selfish people, be an absolute survival expert, which many are not and absolutely refuse at all costs to take the mark of the beast(666).As a result of your refusal to take this mark, you won’t be able to buy or sell anything, work, eat, live in a normal way, and so on, and most likely you’ll be killed for it, but that is far better than taking the mark and ending up in the lake of fire for eternity, as each and every man and woman  who take the mark of the beast will end up in the lake of fire, where there will be absolutely no rest from their torment night or day(Revelation 14).  Even doing all the precautions, hiding by getting away from all population centers and into the mountains, and so on may not be enough because many if not most people, in fact will not survive the judgments that God will pour out on the world in this time period, in the seal, trumpet and bowl judgments as well as the judgment and destruction of the daughter of Babylon. All these events are described in good detail in the book of Revelation in chapters 6 through 18, which I strongly advise all to read. Here is a link an excellent animated video of the entire book of revelation for you to watch

 

 

 The tribulation period of seven years absolutely will make today's evil world seem like life in paradise by comparison. I very strongly suggest reading the book of Revelation chapters 6 through 18 which tell you specifically what sort of events and judgments the world will see during this tribulation period.

Here are some rapture related scriptures:

 (1 Corinthians 15:51) Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,

 

(1 Corinthians 15:52) In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.

 

(1Thessolonians 4:16) For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:

 

(1Thessolonians 4:17) Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

 

God wants to keep us from this tribulation by His love and mercy Because thou has kept the word of my patience, I ALSO WILL KEEP THEE FROM THE HOUR OF TEMPTATION, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth."  The implication of this verse is obvious:  If the end-time Christian does NOT stay close to the Lord and endure to the end, HE WILL NOT BE KEPT FROM THE TRIBULATION HOUR Revelation 3 verse 10, so it is IMPERATIVE to stay close to the Lord in these last days. 

Now I have a very special warning message to all those who are lukewarm Christians to repent of this condition and to be on fire for Jesus or Jesus will surely spit you out of the rapture(see verse 16, below) and you will go through the seven year tribulation as it says in Revelation 3 14-22. There are FAR TOO MANY are in this condition the Holy Spirit warned me this AM. There are FAR TOO MANY LAODICEANS today. Please REPENT NOW of your lukewarmness and be on fire for the Lord before it is too late and you miss the rapture as a result of your being lukewarm!! Here are the verses in Revelation chapter 3 concerning the Laodicean church:

(Revelation 3:14) And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God;

 

(Revelation 3:15) I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot.

 

(Revelation 3:16) So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.

 

(Revelation 3:17) Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:

 

(Revelation 3:18) I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.

 

(Revelation 3:19) As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.

 

(Revelation 3:20) Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.

 

(Revelation 3:21) To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.

 

(Revelation 3:22) He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

 

Summarizing, you MUST all be ready for this coming rapture, AND be on FIRE for Jesus, and not be at all lukewarm but loving Jesus with ALL Your heart, mind and soul as commanded in the bible, in several places in both the old and new testaments. If in case you need to receive the Lord please pray the following prayer (backsliders can also use this prayer to repent of their sin and lukewarmness and recommit their lives, and return to their first love, Jesus. Please do so NOW before it is too late)

Dear God in heaven, I come to you in the name of Jesus. I acknowledge to You that I am a sinner, and I am sorry for my sins and the life that I have lived; I need your forgiveness. I believe that your only begotten Son Jesus Christ shed His precious blood on the cross at Calvary and died for my sins, and I am now willing to turn from my sin. You said in Your Holy Word, Romans 10:9 that if we confess Jesus as our Lord and believe in our hearts that God raised Jesus from the dead, we will be saved. Right now I confess Jesus as the Lord of my soul. With my heart, I believe that God raised Jesus from the dead. This very moment I accept Jesus Christ as my own personal Savior and according to His Word, right now I am saved. Thank you Jesus for your unlimited grace which has saved me from my sins. I thank you Jesus that your grace never leads to license, but rather it always leads to repentance. Therefore Lord Jesus transform my life so that I may bring glory and honor to you alone and not to myself. Thank you Jesus for dying for me and giving me eternal life.

Amen.

 

Here are 10 steps that can be of help to be ready for the soon to come rapture:

1. Make sure that you have received Jesus Christ into your life as your PERSONAL Lord and Savior(see the salvation prayer above and use it if need be).

 

2. Examine your own heart for any signs of backsliding, worldliness, unwatchfulness, compromising, and lukewarmness.

 

3. REPENT (Turn COMPLETELY away from sin and turn COMPLETELY around towards Jesus).  Sin separates you from God, even as a Christian.

 

4. Study end-time Biblical prophecy(Daniel 7-12, Matthew 24, Mark 13, Luke 17, 21, 1 Corinthians 15, 1 Thessalonians 4 and 5, other places but the  book of Revelation in particular)  until you become completely convinced that His Coming is, indeed, AT THE DOOR.  This will help keep you from temptation and sin.  JESUS IS COMING VERY SOON!!! Lord help me be absolutely convinced YOU ARE at the door!!!!!

 

5. Do something for the Lord.  (Passing out tracts would be a good start.)

 

6. Examine your priorities, lest the CARES OF THIS LIFE cause YOU to MISS THE RAPTURE, as we are so adamantly WARNED about in Luke 21, and so many other Scriptures.

 

7. Draw closer to God by praying, reading His Word, attending a fundamental church as often as possible, and surround yourself with a Christian atmosphere (Christian friends, books, music, radio, TV, etc.)

 

8. PRAY DILIGENTLY.  ASK THE LORD TO REVEAL TO YOU ANYTHING IN YOUR LIFE THAT EVEN MIGHT KEEP YOU FROM THE RAPTURE.  PRAY THAT THE LORD WOULD GIVE YOU A PEACE, IF YOU ARE READY, AND AN UNREST AND UNEASINESS IN YOUR HEART, IF YOU ARE NOT READY.

 

9. Listen for His voice and then STAY OPEN TO THE LEADING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.

 

10. Act upon that which the Lord is calling you to do. DO IT NOW BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE!

 

Please also pray and ask the Lord Jesus to see if you are indeed ready and to give you peace if you and If the Lord has planted even the least bit of doubt or uneasiness in your heart, will you swallow your pride and pray this prayer with me:

"Dear Lord, Thank you for preparing a WAY OF ESCAPE from the horrible Tribulation to come.  It is my sincere desire to be ready for your Soon Return, so that I can participate in the Rapture. Give me a COMPLETE PEACE IN MY HEART FROM YOU if I am, indeed, ready. Let there be no false sense of security in my heart concerning my readiness for Your Return.  Begin to reveal to me things in my life and in my heart that might keep me from the Rapture.  Show me what I need to do to BE READY and then give me the power to act upon that which you show me to do.  Draw me away from the world and closer to you every day.  Use me in whatever way you can to help others

who may not be ready for your Return.  Fill me with your peace when I am ready and fill me with YOUR POWER, for victory over sin and temptation, and for effective service for your kingdom.  In Jesus' mighty name, Amen

If, by an unfortunate chance, you are finding yourself reading this testimony after the rapture has happened, and you find that you have missed it, everything is not lost by any means, just please pray immediately to accept the Lord Jesus as savior and /or recommit your life to Him, repenting of anything  and everything that you have done that has caused you to miss the rapture, especially such things as being lukewarm and whatever else you may do during that time absolutely DO NOT TAKE THE MARK OF THE BEAST OR YOU WILL SPEND ETERNITY IN THE LAKE OF FIRE!!!!!(taking the mark of the beast means you are essentially married to Satan, the antichrist, the beast and false prophet,  ALL OF WHOM ARE DESTINED FOR THE LAKE OF FIRE, AS ARE ALL WHO TAKE THEIR MARK ON THEIR FOREHEAD OR HAND). IT IS NOT AT ALL FORGIVABLE TO TAKE THIS MARK- so again you must avoid taking this mark AT ALL COSTS you won’t be able to buy, sell, work, and so on, you will have to hide, living in the forest and away from civilization, face jail, torture, and be executed for refusing the mark. If you do die for refusing to take the mark of the beast, if you are Jesus’ you will go to heaven immediately as a tribulation saint and martyr spoken of in the book of revelation. I cannot strongly stress the point enough to NEVER, EVER accept the mark of the beast, no matter what!!!! It will be well worth it to lose everything and everyone in this world, including your life so as  to not have to spend all eternity in hell and the lake of fire, where again there will be never any rest on your torment day or night.

 

Here is a video link for after the rapture http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TbvC-9Ei83E&feature=youtu.be

 

And a link to another facebook page https://www.facebook.com/jay.dougherty.50?ref=tn_tnmn#!/notes/jay-dougherty/good-book-on-tribulations-and-end-times-please-share-aslo-video-link/10200133756520233

 

God bless you and yours