In Matthew 25, we have the only account of three parables that Jesus spoke at the time of His Olivet Discourse, parables which relate to the last days.  These are commonly referred to as the Parable of the Ten Virgins, the Parable of the Talents, and the Parable of the Sheep and Goats.  I would here like to focus on the basics of these parables, especially when considered from the perspective of my different pre-trib view.

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THE PARABLE OF THE TEN VIRGINS

     In this parable, Jesus likens the workings of the Kingdom of Heaven (as this spiritual dimension of God overlaps our world) to a story of ten virgins that are going forth with their lamps to meet the bridegroom.  Five are said to be wise and five are said to be foolish.  The reason that five are said to be foolish has to do with their not having enough oil for their lamps, meaning, they were not as prepared as they thought they were to meet the bridegroom, who could come at any time.  Since all are virgins, it could be supposed that they were morally upright.  But, being morally upright does not make one prepared or saved.  However, five were prepared and were able to go in with the bridegroom to the marriage, after which "the door was shut" (vs. 10).  Later, the five foolish virgins arrive at the door, but are not allowed to enter.  Rather, the bridegroom replies to them, "Verily I say unto you, I know you not" (vs. 12).  With this, Jesus expresses the thrust of His parable with these words:  "Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh" (vs. 13).

     Whatever may be believed about the minute details of this parable, it cannot be allowed to nullify the main thrust, which Jesus expresses in verse 13.  The main thrust is the importance of being at all times watchful and ready for His coming, especially in consideration of one's not knowing when this might be.  This certainly bespeaks the imminency of Christ's return.  In harmony with this, because Christ will initially return to make a sign appearance (Matt. 24:30/Rev. 6:15-16) and for the rapture (Matt. 24:31/I Thess. 4:16-17), it is to this event that I believe this parable speaks.  Relating to the five foolish virgins, it is not difficult to imagine that the day the Church is raptured, there will be those who felt they were ready, who will suddenly be in a scramble, making their appeals skyward to be allowed to enter Heaven.  There are other reasons to believe that this parable relates to the rapture, which should become more apparent in the course of this study.  But presently, I would ask the reader to carefully consider the following...

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In verse 13 of this parable, Jesus essentially repeats what He had said just a few moments earlier in His discourse concerning the importance of being ready for His return (Matt. 24:42).  At that time, He illustrated this with words concerning the days of Noah (Matt. 24:36-39).  We know that in Noah's day, everyone was going about their normal activities without any regard for his message of pending judgment.  But, before any sign that the flood was about to begin, God called Noah and his family to enter into the ark (Gen. 7:1-4ff).  In Jesus' parable of the ten virgins, if He was reinforcing the importance of being prepared for His Second Advent (rather than His Sign Appearance), this would be relative to a time after much of God's judgment had already begun.  This would be tantamount to God's calling Noah and his family to enter into the ark after the flood waters were already upon the earth!  We know that just prior to Christ's Second Advent, the seven angels will have begun to pour out the vials of God's wrath upon the earth (Rev. 16).  This is not to mention everything else that will have taken place.  Factoring all of this in, I submit that none will be going about any normal activity during that time.  Also, because of the timelines that are given relating to Daniel's 70th Week, when it has begun, the day of Christ's Second Advent will be able to be calculated---and will be.  This is evidenced in part by what John wrote in Revelation 19:19, "And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against Him that sat on the horse, and against His army."  On the other hand, we know that presently, the unsaved (and many religious people) are indeed going about their normal activities, without any regard for the Church's message of pending judgment.  But, at any time, the trumpet may sound!  "Watch therefore..."

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THE PARABLE OF THE TALENTS

     In this parable, Jesus likens the workings of the Kingdom of Heaven to that of a man who travels into a far country, who calls his servants unto him and imparts to them "his goods" (vs. 14).  He divides his goods among them, imparting to one five portions, to another two, and to another one, after which he takes his journey.  Then it is shown what each servant does with what is given to him and the reckoning that takes place upon their master's return.  At the time of the reckoning we see that two of the servants have performed well and are praised and blessed accordingly.  But, the last servant has done evil and is rebuked and punished.

     The thrust of this parable concerns what we do with what the Lord imparts to us and the importance of realizing that there is coming a day of reckoning for us, whether we be saved or lost.  It is easy to discern that the "man travelling into a far country" would point to Christ.  His "goods" or "talents" would represent substance of great worth, which I think of as being spiritual substance, which is of the greatest worth.  I can also see the reckoning with the first two servants paralleling the Judgment Seat of Christ (I Cor. 3:11-15, II Cor. 5:10), which (as is commonly believed) can happen in Heaven at some time after the rapture and will be for Christians.  As is also commonly believed, this will be a judgment to determine rewards (Matt. 16:27, II Jn. 8, Rev. 22:12).  But what about the last servant?  As there are both true and false prophets, there are both good and evil servants, and this last servant is in the category of the latter.  He is referred to by his master as being both "wicked and slothful" (vs. 26) and is consigned to be cast "into outer darkness" where "there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth" (vs. 30).  This certainly has overtones of Hell (Matt. 13:42, 22:13, 24:51;  II Pet. 2:17;  Jude 6).

     Something further that may need to be reinforced concerning this parable and its relation to the rapture and the Judgment Seat of Christ is this:  Because of all the destruction that will take place on the day of the rapture (which will become more clear in PART II), we know that an untold multitude of unsaved people will lose their lives at that very time.  Those who do die at that time will not be in the mix of the just raptured Christians, who will immediately be ushered into the presence of God, nor will they have part in the event of the Judgment Seat of Christ.  Rather, they will be immediately separated to Hell, or Hades, which would parallel the case of the last servant in the parable and also the rich man of Luke 16:19-31.  This would be pending that time further in their future (after Christ's Millennial Reign) when they will be judged at the Last Judgment (or Great White Throne Judgment), to be finally cast into the Lake of Fire or Gehenna (Rev. 20:11-15).

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THE PARABLE OF THE SHEEP AND GOATS

     In this parable, Jesus speaks about the fact and the time of His return to set up His Millennial Kingdom and of a judgment that will take place at that time.  At this judgment, all the "nations" of people (or Gentiles) will be gathered before Him, and He will "separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats" (vs. 32).  When all the sheep are to His right hand and all the goats are to His left, He will begin His decree.  In real time, those to His right He blesses and grants the privilege of being a part of His Millennial Kingdom and tells them that this is because of the various ways they had cared for Him.  They ask when it was that they had cared for Him so, and He explains that when they had cared for His brethren (the Jews and possibly any tribulation overcomers), they had cared for Him.  Then He turns to those to His left and banishes them to everlasting fire, explaining that this is because of the various ways they had not cared for Him.  When these ask when it was that they had not so cared for Him, He explains that when they had not cared for His brethren, they had not cared for Him.

     It is understandable how that some might conclude that this parable conveys that one's judgment is based upon works or how one treats others.  But, genuine good will towards others springs from something deeper than such works and is merely reflective of what is within one's heart.  And, no one can judge a heart like Jesus Christ!  Also, it needs to be remembered that the first and great commandment does not concern how we love others---it concerns our love for God.  But, as someone has rightly said, "When we love God the most, we can love others more."  This is because God is love (I Jn. 4:16).

     I would like to make it clear that I do not believe the judgment of this parable to be the Last Judgment (or Great White Throne Judgment) spoken of in Revelation 20:11-15.  Rather, my position is that this judgment will occur soon after Christ's Second Advent, at the time of the beginning of His thousand year reign.  This means that this judgment will occur just after the end of Daniel's 70th Week.  We know that those during that time who by faith choose to die rather than take the mark of the beast will be saved as a result of being overcomers (compare Rev. 12:11, 15:2-4, and 20:4 with I Jn. 5:4-5).  Who then are those who are alluded to as the sheep and goats?  From evidences in Scripture concerning the seven year period of Daniel's 70th Week, I can see there being some who will be able to flee and survive for a time or some in remote areas who will be able to evade being found.  No doubt, there will be those who will be able to help others who are fleeing and those who will help the Jews when they flee (e.g., Matt. 24:15-20ff, Lk. 21:20-24, and Rev. 12:14-17).  Those who by faith help and minister to others who are fleeing (and especially the Jews) are the sheep of the parable.  Those who care for none but themselves are the goats of the parable.  These would not have even cared for Christ (Matt. 25:44-45).  They, as the "wicked and slothful servant" in the previous parable, will likewise be separated to Hell (Hades) immediately, to be later cast into the Lake of Fire (Gehenna), as revealed in Revelation 20:11-15 (esp. vss. 13-14).

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     Finally, from the perspective of my different view---and in a nutshell---this is how the parables of Matthew 25 relate to the last days:

#1---The first parable relates to the time of Christ's coming for the Church.

#2---The second parable relates to the time of the Judgment Seat of Christ.

#3---The third parable relates to the time of Christ's Millennial Reign.   

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(origin is PROPOSITION K)

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