The Parable of the Ten Virgins “But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only.” - Matthew 24:36 "Therefore, stay awake, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming" Matthew 24:42 “Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.” Matthew 24:44 “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 24:50 “Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.” Matthew 25:13 “Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed!” 1 Corinthians 15:51-52 “People who build their lives on any other foundation than Jesus Christ are doomed to destruction. They do not have the necessary grace, imputed righteousness, resident holiness of God, or transformed character to counter the destructiveness of sin, whose ultimate consequence is death. In short, they have no spiritual life and therefore no eternal hope. They may feel happy about Jesus, admire his teachings, and enjoy the fellowship of His people. They may look as prepared for His coming as do true believers, having torches like the rest, but they have no oil with which to light them.” - John MacArthur “Preparedness can neither be transferred nor shared.” - D.A. Carson Divine Arrival - An Exuberant Hope! Divine Forewarning - A Grace Concluded Discussion questions: When you consider the second coming of Jesus Christ, what is it that you look forward the most in His arrival? Whom do you long for the most to join you in that expectedness of His return? How might you be able to communicate the exuberant hope of the Christian to them? What emotions are stirred in your heart as you consider Jesus' five explicit warnings in chapters 24 and 25 presented last Sunday, and today? 4. What does it mean to be ready for His return? “Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing?” II Timothy 4:8 What does it mean “to love His appearing”?