The Ten Virgins

Wednesday, May 16

After His discourse in Matthew 24 about the signs of His coming, in Matthew 25 Jesus talks about how to be prepared for it.

Read Matthew 25:1-13, the parable of the Ten Virgins. What is Jesus saying here that should help us understand how we can be prepared for His return?

Jesus starts this phase of His discourse by talking about ten virgins. To be called “virgins” suggested they represented those who professed to be Christians. They were not on Satan’s side of the controversy. They are likened to the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 25:1) . But in the end time, they all slept (Matthew 25:5) . Christ had already warned about keeping watch (Matthew 24:42) , or staying awake so they would not be unready when He returns.

All ten virgins had lamps, and all went out to meet the bridegroom, which means that they were all looking forward to His coming. There was a delay, and all of these believers in His coming fell asleep. Suddenly, in the dead of night, they all were awakened: the bridegroom was coming (Matthew 25:1-6) .

The foolish virgins were startled, unprepared. Why? One version says “our lamps are gone out” (Matthew 25:8) . Other versions, true to the Greek original, say the lamps are “going out.” There was still a flickering flame. They still had a little oil, but not enough to be prepared to meet Christ.

What, then, is the problem?

These virgins represent Christians who are waiting for Christ to return but who have a superficial experience with Him. They have some oil, some working of the Spirit in their lives, but it is merely flickering; they were satisfied with little when they needed much.

“The Spirit works upon man’s heart, according to his desire and consent implanting in him a new nature; but the class represented by the foolish virgins have been content with a superficial work. They do not know God. They have not studied His character; they have not held communion with Him; therefore they do not know how to trust, how to look and live. Their service to God degenerates into a form.” — Ellen G. White, Christ’s Object Lessons , p. 411.

What are ways we can look at ourselves and make sure we aren’t making the same mistakes as these people did? If we see ourselves in this role, how can we change?

NIKOLA TESLA

“A Abominação Da Desolação”

Terça-feira, 15 de Maio

No Seu poderoso discurso sobre o tempo do fim, Cristo mencionou “a abominação da desolação” (Mateus 24:15), uma imagem do livro de Daniel (Daniel 9:27; 11:31; 12:11).

Quando algo era uma transgressão grave da Sua lei, Deus declarava que era “abominável”, como a idolatria (Deuteronômio 27:15) ou as práticas sexuais imorais (Levítico 18:22). Por isso, a “abominação desoladora” envolvia um certo tipo de apostasia religiosa.

5. Leia Mateus 24:15 e Lucas 21:20. A que Se referiu Jesus quando falou sobre a “abominação desoladora”? Assinale “V” para verdadeiro ou “F” para falso:

A.( ) Ao sofrimento causado pela seca, falta de alimentos e doenças.

B.( ) À destruição de Jerusalém.

Estes dois textos deixam claro que a profecia de Jesus inclui, num sentido mais imediato, a terrível destruição que viria sobre Jerusalém em 70 d.C., quando a Roma pagã destruiria não apenas a cidade, mas também o templo sagrado.

No entanto, há um segundo cumprimento para esta profecia, em que os eventos mais imediatos, como a destruição de Jerusalém, constituem um tipo do futuro, os eventos finais. “Cristo viu em Jerusalém um símbolo do mundo endurecido na incredulidade e rebelião, e apressando-se ao encontro dos juízos retribuidores de Deus” (Ellen G. White, O Grande Conflito, p. 22).

Em Daniel 12:11 e 11:31, a “abominação desoladora” aparece relacionada à última fase de Roma, o período papal, no qual foi estabelecido um sistema alternativo de mediação e salvação, e que busca usurpar o que Cristo fez e está a fazer por nós hoje no santuário celestial.

Daniel 8, especialmente os versos 9 a 12, coloca estes eventos no seu contexto histórico, dividindo o poder romano em duas fases. A primeira fase, vista na rápida expansão horizontal do chifre pequeno (Daniel 8:9), mostra o vasto império da Roma pagã. Na segunda fase (Daniel 8:10-12), o chifre pequeno cresce verticalmente, lançando por terra algumas estrelas (perseguindo o povo de Deus) e engrandecendo-se até ao “príncipe do exército” (Daniel 8:11), Jesus. Esta fase representa o período papal, que surgiu da queda do Império Romano pagão, mas continua a ser Roma. É por isso que um único símbolo, o chifre pequeno, representa ambas as fases do mesmo poder. O juízo em Daniel 7:9, 10, a purificação do santuário em Daniel 8:14 e os sinais no céu em Mateus 24 – todos indicam a intervenção de Deus em favor do Seu povo nos últimos dias.

The “Abomination of Desolation”

Tuesday, May 15

In His great discourse on the end time, Christ points to “the abomination of desolation” (Matthew 24:15), an image from the book of Daniel (Daniel 9:27, 11:31, 12:11) .

God declared something an “abomination” when it was a serious violation of His law, such as idolatry (Deuteronomy 27:15) or immoral sexual practices (Leviticus 18:22). Hence, this “abomination of desolation” involved some sort of religious apostasy.

Read Matthew 24:15 and Luke 21:20. How do these texts help us better understand what Jesus was talking about in regard to the “abomination of desolation”?

These two texts make it clear that Jesus’ prediction includes, in a more immediate sense, the terrible destruction that would come upon Jerusalem in A.D. 70, when pagan Rome would destroy not only the city but the sacred temple, as well.

However, there is a second fulfilment of this prophecy in which the more immediate events, such as the destruction of Jerusalem, stood as a type of future, end-time events. “Christ saw in Jerusalem a symbol of the world hardened in unbelief and rebellion, and hastening on to meet the retributive judgments of God.” — Ellen G. White, The Great Controversy, p. 22.

In Daniel 12:11 and Daniel 11:31, the “abomination of desolation” appears in connection with the latter phase of Rome, the papal phase, in which an alternative system of mediation and salvation has been set up, one which seeks to usurp what Christ had done for us and is doing for us now in the heavenly sanctuary.

Daniel 8, particularly verses 9-12, helps place these events in their historical context, with a two-phased Roman power. The first phase, seen in the little horn’s rapid horizontal expansion (Daniel 8:9), shows the vast empire of pagan Rome. In the second phase (Daniel 8:10-12) the little horn grows vertically, casting down some of the stars (persecuting God’s people) and magnifying itself to the “prince of the host” (Daniel 8: 11), Jesus. This represents the papal phase, which arose out of the collapse of the pagan Roman Empire, but still remains Rome. (That’s why one symbol, the little horn, represents both phases of the same power.) The judgment in Daniel 7:9, 10, the cleansing of the sanctuary in Daniel 8:14, and the signs in the heavens of Matthew 24:29 all signal God’s intervention for His people in the last days.

What if You Died Tomorrow?

Perseverando Até Ao Fim

Segunda-feira, 14 de Maio

2. Leia Mateus 24:9 e Apocalipse 13:11 a 17. Quais são os paralelos entre o que Jesus disse em Mateus e o que Ele inspirou João a escrever no Apocalipse?

A preocupação de Cristo com o Seu povo no tempo do fim inclui um engano de esfera global que fará com que as nações se oponham à verdadeira fé e imponham uma falsa forma de adoração no mundo. Aqueles que permanecerem firmes enfrentarão ódio, tribulação e até morte.

3. Leia Mateus 24:13. Qual é o segredo para ser salvo e permanecer fiel, mesmo durante a oposição mundial? Assinale a alternativa correta:

A.( ) Devemos parar de pecar e garantir a nossa salvação.

B.( ) Devemos perseverar na fé em Cristo até ao fim.

“Pessoa alguma, a não ser os que fortaleceram o espírito com as verdades da Escritura, poderá resistir no último grande conflito” (Ellen G. White, O Grande Conflito, p. 593). Isto significa que todos os que fortalecem a mente com as verdades bíblicas não serão arrastados por nenhum engano do tempo do fim. Eles devem estar fundamentados na verdade para este tempo; caso contrário, os enganos esmagá-los-ão.

4. De acordo com Mateus 7:24 a 27, o que é fundamental para que permaneçamos fiéis a Deus? Assinale a alternativa correta:

A.( ) Apoiar-se na sabedoria das pessoas mais inteligentes.

B.( ) Firmar-se na Rocha, que é Cristo e a Sua Palavra, e obedecer.

Por mais importante que seja fundamentar-se intelectualmente na Palavra de Deus, de acordo com Jesus, isso não é suficiente para que permaneçamos fiéis nas provações que enfrentaremos. Devemos praticar o que aprendemos; ou seja, temos que obedecer à verdade como ela é em Jesus. Na parábola acima, ambos os construtores ouviram as palavras de Cristo. A diferença entre eles, entre resistir e não resistir, foi a obediência ao que Jesus ensinava.

Porque se mantém de pé aquele que obedece e o que não obedece cai? A obediência faz a diferença para que permaneçamos firmes na fé?

Enduring to the End

Monday, May 14

Read Matthew 24:9 and Revelation 13:11-17. What parallels exist between what Jesus said here in Matthew and what He inspired John to write about in Revelation?

Christ’s concern for His people in the end time includes a global deception that causes nations to oppose the true faith and to impose a false worship on the world. Those who stand firm will face hatred, tribulation, and even death.

Read Matthew 24:13. What is the key to being saved, to being faithful, even amid worldwide opposition?

“None but those who have fortified the mind with the truths of the Bible will stand through the last great conflict.” — Ellen G. White, The Great Controversy, p. 593. This statement means that all who fortify their minds with biblical truths will not be swept away in any of the end-time deceptions. They have to be grounded in what truth is for this time; otherwise, the deceptions will overwhelm them.

Read Matthew 7:24-27. What else is crucial for staying faithful to God?

As important as it is to be grounded intellectually in the Word of God, according to Jesus that is still not enough to be able to stand amid the trials that we will face. We have to do what we have learned; that is, we have to obey the truth as it is in Jesus. In the parable above, both builders heard the sayings of Jesus. The difference between them, between enduring and not enduring, was obeying what Jesus had taught.

Why does the one who obeys stand and the one who doesn’t obey fall? What difference does obedience make in keeping a person steady in the faith?