I (Paul) have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ, 2Co1102.
(1) As the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left. Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left, Mat2437-41.
(2) Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come. But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up. Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh. Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season? Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing. Verily I say unto you, That he shall make him ruler over all his goods. But and if that evil servant shall say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming; And shall begin to smite his fellowservants, and to eat and drink with the drunken; The lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looketh not for him, and in an hour that he is not aware of, And shall cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth, Mat2442-51.
(3) Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps (Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path, P119105), and went forth to meet the bridegroom (Christ). And five of them were wise, and five were foolish. They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them: But the wise took oil (a smooth mouth, cf.Pro0503) in their vessels (know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost, 1Co0619) with their lamps. While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept. And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him. Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out. But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves. And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage (for the marriage of the Lamb is come, Rev1907): and the door was shut. Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not. Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh, Mat2501-13.
(4) Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall
enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of
my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day,
Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name
have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from
me, ye that work iniquity, Mat0721-23.
(5) This second epistle, beloved, I now write unto you;
in both which I stir up your pure minds by way of remembrance:
That ye may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by
the holy prophets, and of the
commandment of us the apostles of the Lord and Saviour: Knowing
this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking
after their own lusts, And saying, Where is the promise of his
coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue
as they were from the beginning of the creation. For this they
willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens
were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the
water: Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with
water, perished: But the heavens and the earth, which are now,
by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against
the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men. But, beloved,
be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord
as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day, 2Pe0301-08.
(6) The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness. Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless. And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you; As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction. Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness. But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen. 2Pe0309-18.
(7) And that, knowing the time, that now it is high
time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than
when we believed. The night is far spent, the day is at hand:
let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put
on the armour of light. Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not
in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness,
not in strife and envying. But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ,
and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof,
Rom1311-14.
(8) For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted,
and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now
is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation, 2Co0602.
(9) But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you. For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape. But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief. Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness. Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober. For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night. But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation. For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him. Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do, 1Th0501-11.
(10) Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven, Mat0514-16.
(11) There is treasure to be desired and oil in the dwelling of the wise; but a foolish man spendeth it up, Pro2120.
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