Be Ready for the Lord’s Return!

Third Sunday of End Time – Saints Triumphant

Many mistakenly think they are ready.
On that Day it will be too late to get ready.
You can wait with joy if you are ready.

SERMON TEXT: Matthew 25:1-15

“At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. When the foolish ones took their lamps, they did not take any oil with them; but the wise took oil in their containers with their lamps. While the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and fell asleep. But at midnight there was a shout, ‘Look, the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!’ Then all those virgins got up and trimmed their lamps. The foolish ones said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil because our lamps are going out.’ But the wise answered, ‘No, there may not be enough for us and for you. Instead, go to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.’ But while they were away buying oil, the bridegroom came. Those who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet, and the door was shut. Later, the other virgins also came and said, ‘Lord, Lord, let us in.’ But he answered, ‘Amen I tell you: I do not know you.’ Therefore, keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.”

Bible Readings

FIRST LESSON: Ezekiel 37:15-28

The word of the Lord came to me: “Now you, son of man, take one writing board and write on it: ‘Belonging to Judah and belonging to the sons of Israel associated with it.’ Then take another writing board and write on it: ‘Belonging to Joseph, Ephraim’s piece of wood, and the whole house of Israel associated with it.’ Then hold one board close to the other to make a single board for yourself, so that they are one in your hand. “When your countrymen say to you, ‘Won’t you tell us what these things mean to you?’ then say to them, ‘This is what the Lord God says. I am going to take the board of Joseph, which is in the hand of Ephraim, and the tribes of Israel associated with it, and I will attach them to the board of Judah. In this way I will make them one board, so that they will be one in my hand.’ The boards on which you will write should be in your hand for them to see. Then say this to them. ‘This is what the Lord God says. I am going to take the sons of Israel from among the nations where they have gone, and I will gather them from all around, and I will bring them to their own land. I will make them one nation in the land, on the mountains of Israel, and one king will be king for all of them. Never again will they be two nations, and never again will they be divided into two kingdoms. Never again will they defile themselves with their filthy idols, with their disgusting practices, and with all their rebellious actions. I will save them from all their apostasies by which they have sinned, and I will cleanse them. They will be my people, and I will be their God. “‘My servant David will be King over them, and they will all have one Shepherd. They will follow my ordinances and be careful to keep my statutes. They will live in the land I gave my servant Jacob, where your fathers lived. They will live there—they, their children, and their grandchildren—forever, and David my Servant will be their Prince forever. I will make a covenant of peace with them. It will be an everlasting covenant with them. I will establish them, and I will multiply them and set my sanctuary in their midst forever. My dwelling place will be over them. I will be their God, and they will be my people. Then the nations will know that I, the Lord, sanctify Israel when my sanctuary is in their midst forever.’”

SECOND LESSON: Revelation 19:1–9

After these things I heard what seemed to be the loud sound of an immense crowd in heaven, saying: Alleluia! Salvation and glory and power belong to our God, for his judgments are true and just, because he has condemned the great prostitute who corrupted the earth with her immorality, and he has avenged his servants’ blood that was shed by her hand. A second time they said, “Alleluia! Her smoke goes up forever and ever.” Then the twenty-four elders and the four living creatures bowed down and worshipped God, who sits on the throne, saying, “Amen! Alleluia!” And from the throne came a voice that said, “Praise our God, all you his servants and you who fear him, small and great.” And I heard what seemed to be the roar of a large crowd or the roar of many waters or the sound of loud rumblings of thunder, saying: Alleluia! For the Lord our God, the Almighty, reigns. Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory, because the wedding of the Lamb has come. His bride has made herself ready, and she was given bright, clean, fine linen to wear. (In fact, the fine linen is the “not guilty” verdicts pronounced on the saints.) The angel said to me, “Write: Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb.” He also said to me, “These are the true words of God.”

VERSE OF THE DAY: Revelation 7:15a

They are before the throne of God and serve him day and night in his
temple.

GOSPEL: Matthew 25:1-13

See Sermon Text Above