Unbelief – The Point of Reckoning”

Part 6


In the past few segments we have been covering the concept that the Rapture is not a blessing necessary for salvation. Quite to the contrary, the evidence reminds us that the Rapture is a blessing or reward for our faithfulness. Heaven is the reward for salvation. The Rapture, being a one-time special event, is a reward or blessing to the born-again believer who has committed their life to serving the Lord. That may seem problematic for many; however, Scripture affirms this idea by both Scripture, the theme itself and is illustrated in several parables used by Jesus Christ. In Part 5, five passages of Scripture affirm the validity of this concept.

Consider a few of His statements below:

John now proposes a hypothetical case. "Shall remain" is aorist subjunctive. The translation reads, "If in you there remains (abides: menō) that which from the beginning you heard." That is, if the true doctrine relative to the Person of our Lord is abiding in the believer, that is an indication that he is saved and will as a saved person continue to abide both in the Son and in the Father.

Translation: “As for you, that which you heard from the beginning, in you let it be constantly abiding. If, in you there abides that which from the beginning you heard, both in the Son and in the Father you will abide. And this is the promise which He Himself promised us, the life, the eternal (life). These things I wrote to you concerning those who are leading you astray.”(b)


These are merely a handful of passages that imply a special blessing for faithfulness. Faithfulness is the opposite of the “sin of unbelief”. When I addressed this issue of the “sin of unbelief,” the purpose was to reconcile passages of Scripture that appear at the outset as contradictory.

This conflict is no more evident than in the parables. In the parables, some are ready, and some are not. Some go and some don’t. Yet, the ten virgins are ALL virgins, the unprofitable servant is called a servant, and those in the wedding are all supposed to be there, but a man is thrown out! We don’t necessarily picture the parables as having anything to do with the Rapture. Let’s look at four parables that contain more than we commonly associate with the parable.


  1. The parable of the ten virgins in Matthew 25 breaks down:

And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: 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”. –(Matthew 25:10-13).

The question that has to be answered is as follows, Why did five go to the wedding and five did not?


  1. The parable of the nobleman and his servants in Luke 19 breaks down:

Wherefore then gavest not thou my money into the bank, that at my coming I might have required mine own with usury? And he said unto them that stood by, Take from him the pound, and give it to him that hath ten pounds”. –(Luke 19:23-24).

The question that remains before the reader is, what is the real reason for being harsh with the conservative protector of the talent given him?


  1. The parable of the faithful and unfaithful steward in Luke 12:42-48 - another problematic parable used by Jesus.

But and if that servant say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming; and shall begin to beat the menservants and maidens, and to eat and drink, and to be drunken; The lord of that servant will come in a day when he looketh not for him, and at an hour when he is not aware, and will cut him in sunder, and will appoint him his portion with the unbelievers. And that servant, which knew his lord’s will, and prepared not himself, neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes. But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, which shall be beaten with few stripes. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more”. –(Luke 12:45-48)


  1. The parable about the King’s wedding in Matthew 22:11-13 – another problematic parable.

“And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment: And he said unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless. Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness, there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth”. –(Matthew 22:11-13)

Notice this statement about outer darkness. This draws our focus to something that is not very good.

This picture compares a nuptial festival that occurred at night, but the guests were inside with light. Those that were outside were in darkness, and the gate entrance to the house was narrow and guarded. We find three references to being cast into outer darkness: Matthew 8:12; 22:13; and 25:30. The first applies to a future kingdom; the second to the wedding of the king’s son; and the final to the unprofitable servant.

The issue of concern is a reference to the outer darkness or hell. This is an image of future punishment. It is not probable that the image was taken from Roman dungeons or prisons that were commonly constructed beneath ground. They were shut out from all light. They were damp, dark, unhealthy, and filthy. Slave masters were in the habit of constructing such dungeons for their slaves, where prisoners lived without the normal accoutrements of life. The imagery is that the wicked who are lost will be shut out from the light of heaven and from peace, joy, and hope; they will weep in hopeless grief and gnash their teeth in indignation against God.

In Biblical and theological studies, essentially all parables fall into one of three main groups or categories:

  1. The Kingdom

  2. Grace

  3. Judgment

While not immediately obvious, each parable fits into one of these three categories. In the next segment the focus will be on:


Pastor Bob

Commentaries:

  1. Believer’s Bible Commentary

  2. Wuest’s Word Studies

  3. Expositor’s Bible Commentary

  4. Life Application New Testament Commentary

  5. John Gill’s Exposition of the Bible

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