(As per the usual, this will be easier to read if you cut and paste it to a word-processing program. This site badly compresses the lines.)

Virgins and Stewards, Part 2: Answers

1) Why does Luke say “return from the wedding”? What happened to the virgins?

The two passages, from Matthew 25 and Luke 12, clearly prophecy two separate comings of the Lord: The first, to take “the virgins…in with Him to the wedding.” Matt. 25:10 The second, to “return from the wedding” to “his house” and “household,” and to the stewards and the other servants thereof. Luke 12:36

A third coming is implied by Christ’s words “third watch” in Luke 12:38. More on this in #4 below.

2) What is the difference between virgins and stewards? And what is the house and its household?

The virgins are Christ’s Church, raptured unto the wedding in heaven. The stewards and servants, attendants of “the house,” are those of the house of Israel who remain on earth. They will be waiting for the Lord to return from the heavenly wedding, in order to establish his earthly people and kingdom.

3) Why doesn’t Luke mention a first watch?

The first watch will be for the virgins, which is to be fulfilled before this prophecy of Luke will take place.

4) Why are three watches mentioned or implied?

The first watch is for the Church; the second for Israel; and the third for the nations. In each case, the Lord will come unexpectedly, for those who are unprepared, “as a thief.”

First: 1 Thessalonians 5:2 For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night. 3 For when they say, “Peace and safety!” then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape. 4 But you, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.

2 Peter 3:10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in the which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat, and the earth and the works in it will be burned up [alt., found out/perceived]. Compare Rev. 6:12-14 with Luke 12:2-3.

Second: Matthew 24:43 “But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what watch the thief comes, he would have watched and not have allowed his house to be broken into. 44 Therefore you also be ready: for the Son of man comes at an hour as you do not expect.”

Luke 12:45 “But if that servant says in his heart, ‘My lord delays his coming,’ and begins to beat the male and female servants, and to eat and drink and be drunk, 46 the Lord of that servant will come in a day when he is not looking for him, and in an hour that he does not know…”

Third: Revelation 16:15 “Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he who watches/keeps awake, and keeps his garments, lest he walk naked and they see his shame.” 16 And he gathered them [the kings of the earth, :14] together to the place called in Hebrew, Armageddon. 17 Then the seventh angel poured out his bowl into the air; and a loud voice came out of the temple of heaven, from the throne, saying, “It has occurred!”

5) Why didn’t Jesus directly answer Peter’s question? (“…this parable [is] unto us, or also to all people?”)

Because the answer will be different for different people, depending upon which group – virgins (Church), stewards and servants (Israel), or nations – to which they will belong in the Latter Days.

6) How many times will Christ “come?”

Visibly, in the lower realms, three times: for the Church, at the 6th Seal; to Israel, at the 7th Trumpet; and to the heathen nations, at the 7th Bowl.

Index and summaries of all articles is here:

https://www.worthychristianforums.com/blogs/entry/1403-index-and-summaries-of-articles/