When we think of heaven, we think of a wonderful place of peace and joy. We think about how awesome it will be when we get there. What we do not think about are the people that are not going to heaven. We do not think about how awful it will be for them. Ezekiel was asked to be a watchman by Yahweh. He was to warn people about their sins and if he didn’t, then their blood would be on his (Ezekiel’s) hands. Jesus gave us many warnings about who does not enter the kingdom of heaven. It can be a heartbreaking subject because we recognize that there are people we know who may not be entering heaven when the rest of the Body of Christ enters heaven at the time of the harpazo. Some will knock and not enter, some will be told to go away, and some will be physically thrown out. While pointing out Jesus’ words we should keep in mind the position that we all are in as watchmen. We are all called to warn others, we are all called to help guide others, and if the Lord asks us to call out the warning and we don’t do it, then we may end up with the sinners’ blood on our hands. We are also called to warn the righteous not to sin. If we do not then their blood will be on our hands as well.
Ezekiel is among the first round of people captured by Babylon at the start of the captivity. In chapter one he sees the spiritual beings coming to the earth who would eventually take the glory out of the temple. Chapter two should connect to chapter three as the Lord tells Ezekiel that he is to go to the Israelites and warn them, but they will not listen.
Eze 3:1 And he said to me, Son of Man, eat this volume, and go and speak to the children of Israel.
Eze 3:2 So he opened my mouth, and caused me to eat the volume. And he said to me, Son of man,
Eze 3:3 thy mouth shall eat, and thy belly shall be filled with this volume that is given to thee. So I ate it; and it was in my mouth as sweet as honey.
Eze 3:4 And he said to me, Son of man, go thy way, and go in to the house of Israel, and speak my words to them.
Eze 3:5 For thou art not sent to a people of hard speech, but to the house of Israel;
Eze 3:6 neither to many nations of other speech and other tongues, nor of harsh language, whose words thou wouldest not understand: although if I had sent thee to such, they would have hearkened to thee.
Eze 3:7 But the house of Israel will not be willing to hearken to thee; for they will not hearken to me: for all the house of Israel are stubborn and hard-hearted.
Eze 3:8 And, behold, I have made thy face strong against their faces, and I will strengthen thy power against their power.
Eze 3:9 And it shall be continually stronger than a rock: be not afraid of them, neither be dismayed at their faces, because it is a provoking house.
Eze 3:10 And he said to me, Son of man, receive into thine heart all the words that I have spoken to thee, and hear them with thine ears.
Eze 3:11 And go thy way, go in to the captivity, to the children of thy people, and thou shalt speak to them, and say to them, Thus saith the Lord; whether they will hear, or whether they will forbear.
This doesn’t seem like a great mission. Yahweh says “eat the book, go to the house of Israel, but they won’t listen because they are stubborn and hard hearted, however you will be strong against them and have power’. Or in modern speak, ‘Ezekiel, bang your head against the wall’. To make a short comparison to Jonah, Jonah was asked to go to Nineveh and tell them about Yahweh. Jonah went in the opposite direction, but when he finally got to Nineveh, they all repented and were spared. Jonah was angry that they repented and were saved. I would imagine that Ezekiel would have been happy to get the Israelites to repent, but they did not.
Eze 3:12 Then the Spirit took me up, and I heard behind me the voice as of a great earthquake, saying, Blessed be the glory of the Lord from his place.
Eze 3:13 And I perceived the sound of the wings of the living creatures clapping one to the other, and the sound of the wheels was near them, and the sound of the earthquake.
Eze 3:14 And the Spirit lifted me, and took me up, and I went in the impulse of my spirit; and the hand of the Lord was mighty upon me.
Eze 3:15 Then I passed through the air and came into the captivity, and went round to them that dwelt by the river of Chobar who were there; and I sat there seven days, conversant in the midst of them.
The Cherubim and Ophanim, along with the Holy Spirit, came with lots of noise and took Ezekiel where he needed to go. Ezekiel says that he went violently like a meteor and entered into the body of captives like a meteor. He stayed there seven days talking to them.
Eze 3:16 And after the seven days the word of the Lord came to me, saying, Son of man,
Eze 3:17 I have made thee a watchman to the house of Israel; and thou shalt hear a word of my mouth, and shalt threaten them from me.
4649 LSJ Gloss: σκοπός one that watches, one that looks after
Dodson:σκοπός a goal a watcher; a goal, a mark aimed at.
TBESG:σκοπός goal
G:N-M
σκοπός, -οῦ, ὁ
[in LXX chiefly for צָפָה ;]
__1. a watcher, watchman (Eze.3:17, al.).
__2. a mark on which to fix the eye (Refs Wis.5:12, 21, al.). Metaph., of an aim or object: Php.3:14.† (AS)
Thayer:
1) an observer, a watchman
2) the distant mark looked at, the goal or end one has in view
σκοπός
skopos skop-os' (“scope”); From σκέπτομαι skeptomai (to peer about [“skeptic” ]; perhaps akin to G4626 through the idea of concealment; compare G4629); a watch (sentry or scout), that is, (by implication) a goal KJV Usage: mark.
After talking to the captive Israelites Yahweh tells Ezekiel that he is going to be a watchman; an observer of what is coming. Watchmen are always watching for something. But here is the hard part, if Ezekiel doesn’t warn the people and the wicked die, then their blood is on Ezekiel’s hand.
Eze 3:18 When I say to the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; and thou hast not warned him, to give warning to the wicked, to turn from his ways, that he should live; that wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thy hand.
Eze 3:19 But if thou warn the wicked, and he turn not from his wickedness, and from his way, that wicked man shall die in his iniquity, and thou shalt deliver thy soul.
Eze 3:20 And when the righteous turns away from his righteousness, and commits a trespass, and I shall bring punishment before him, he shall die, because thou didst not warn him: he shall even die in his sins, because his righteousness shall not be remembered; but his blood will I require at thine hand.
Eze 3:21 But if thou warn the righteous not to sin, and he sin not, the righteous shall surely live, because thou hast warned him; and thou shalt deliver thine own soul.
Ezekiel is also told that if the righteous become unrighteous and Ezekiel hasn’t warned them, then their blood will be on Ezekiel’s hands. This doesn’t seem like a great deal for Ezekiel. Ezekiel has to warn everyone no matter what. This includes those times when the people troll him and argue with him, or the technocrats don’t allow his posts on social media, and even if search engines ban his website from search results. He was told to get the word out. The added pressure of the once righteous turning to sin is also an important point. It would be like Christians approving of sins such as infanticide or pedophilia, because once the Christians make deals with the devil, they seal their own destruction. In Ezekiel’s time, the destruction of the temple with all its sins was going to occur shortly, and people who were not mourning over these sins were about to be killed.
Let’s review something that we looked at last week. We saw that there would be a group of people who said they were doing things in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, but who never knew Him. They will say that they prophesied, healed people, cast out demons, and other miracles, but Jesus will say “go away”. Where do they go? Why are they not entering the kingdom of heaven?
Mat 7:21 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.
Mat 7:22 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?
Mat 7:23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
Jesus tells them that they are working sin. Healing people by using the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, but not knowing him personally, is a work of sin. Prophesying in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, but not knowing him personally, is a work of sin. Performing miracles and casting out demons in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, but not knowing him personally, is a work of sin. This is the first thing that we must recognize. We should know him personally before using his name, character, and reputation.
If we notice the context, Jesus first tells people about judging others when there is a log in your own eye. He calls these people hypocrites. He then warns people about the fruit being rotten. He says to beware of false prophets which come in sheep’s clothing. He says look at their fruit.
There are many types of false prophecies. I have heard so-called prophets say things like “there will be storms in the south”. Seriously, could that be any more vague? P.T. Barnum would be proud. There are always storms in the south. Give us an exact location as well as a date and time like the Prophets of old. Otherwise this is a weather forecast. There are on average at least three hurricanes that pass by each year.
People prophesy from their knowledge base. Imagine a prophet telling people that we are about to go through, or are in, the tribulation. Certainly we can see that as being incorrect, but that “prophet” either believes there is no gathering of the church or has never learned about the gathering of the church.
We also see people prophesy something that does not come to pass and then claim their prophesy didn’t come to pass because people prayed. This is sketchy. If we look at the prophets of old, their negative prophecies came to pass despite people praying. Why? Because the judgment against the people was sure, meaning that the people had been judged. That was the prophecy. It was the announcement of the judgement. Some people may announce judgment but it may not be from Yahweh, it may be from their own presumptions.
Imagine all the defilements in the temple, for three hundred and thirty years they were not judged. The judgment comes before the courts of the Lord and there has to be fair judgment. If the devil can use that sin, such as the sins in the temple, for his advantage then he will, and he will not call for judgment. However, when Yahweh says that it is time for judgment, it is time for judgment. Remember what Ezekiel saw? Those mourning for the temple and the state of Judah were marked and spared, while those who were enjoying the defilements were not spared. Therefore if some people pray, they themselves might be spared, but not everyone will be spared just as Ezekiel and Peter mentioned.
Eze 14:13 Son of man, when the land sinneth against me by trespassing grievously, then will I stretch out mine hand upon it, and will break the staff of the bread thereof, and will send famine upon it, and will cut off man and beast from it:
Eze 14:14 Though these three men, Noah, Daniel, and Job, were in it, they should deliver but their own souls by their righteousness, saith the Lord GOD.
2Pe 2:9 The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished:
Think about this, Noah and his family were spared from judgment in an ark. Daniel was spared from judgment and given a high position among spiritual advisors of Babylon. Job was spared from the devil’s destruction due to his own righteousness, and even though Job was a son of Esau he prospered and became King. Lot was spared from the destruction of Sodom. Enoch and Elijah were taken off the earth, not seeing death, but will return to be witnesses and sacrifices for Israel.
Jesus then tells the people that whoever hears what he says and then does the things that he says will be like a wise man building his house upon a rock. As a follow up to this, Luke records the same ideas about the log in ones’ eye, the rotten fruit, and the house built on the rock.
Luk 6:46 And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?
The key for us to remember is to do what Jesus says to do. Jesus tells us about ten virgins. He starts out this parable with explaining the kingdom of heaven. He says that it will be like five virgins knocking on the door outside. They say “Master Master” or “Lord Lord”.
Matthew 25:11 G5305 And afterwards G1161 G2064 came G2532 also G3588 the G3062 remaining G3933 virgins, G3004 saying, G2962 O Master, G2962 O Master, G455 open G1473 to us!
12 G3588 And he G1161 G611 answering G2036 said, G281 Amen G3004 I say G1473 to you, G3756 I do not G1492 know G1473 you.
1492 Dodson:οἶδα I know, remember I know, remember, appreciate.
Thayer:
1) to see
1a) to perceive with the eyes
1b) to perceive by any of the senses
1c) to perceive, notice, discern, discover
1d) to see
1d1) i.e. to turn the eyes, the mind, the attention to anything
1d2) to pay attention, observe
1d3) to see about something
1d31) i.e. to ascertain what must be done about it
1d4) to inspect, examine
1d5) to look at, behold
1e) to experience any state or condition
1f) to see i.e. have an interview with, to visit
2) to know
2a) to know of anything
2b) to know, i.e. get knowledge of, understand, perceive
2b1) of any fact
2b2) the force and meaning of something which has definite meaning
2b3) to know how, to be skilled in
2c) to have regard for one, cherish, pay attention to (
1Th. 5:12)
For Synonyms see entry G5825
εἴδω
eidō i'-do A primary verb; used only in certain past tenses, the others being borrowed from the equivalent, G3700 and G3708; properly to see (literally or figuratively); by implication (in the perfect only) to know KJV Usage: be aware, behold, X can (+ not tell), consider, (have) known (-ledge), look (on), perceive, see, be sure, tell, understand, wist, wot.
Jesus’ disciples understood the Galilean wedding rituals. The bridegroom proposes to the potential bride and if she accepts, then he leaves and prepares a place for them to live, whether in an add-on room to his family house or in a separate building. When he is finished and the building is approved by his father, then he goes out at midnight to pick up his bride. All the people who know him go with him and others line the streets waiting for the return trip to his house with his bride. Jesus compares five intelligent virgins to five foolish virgins. In this case all the virgins fell asleep. This tells us they knew that he was on the way but they slept because it was taking a long time. When they heard the shouts they all woke up and lit their lamps but five didn’t have enough oil.
Understand, a filled oil lamp was not a requirement for going to a wedding. Jesus calls the five without oil, morons. This seems rather strange. Why not just follow someone with an oil lamp to the banquet? Why go out to the street waiting for the bridegroom to come and then realize they needed oil. Why not pick up some oil before going out to the street to wait? The bridegroom was taking a long time, so technically they could have bought oil instead of sleeping.
Whatever it was they were lacking, they left to go get it. Now just imagine if what they were lacking was the infilling of the Holy Spirit. The comparison Jesus is making is the difference between the intelligent virgins and the morons. They were really not ready when they went out to the street and slept. But when they heard the shouts, is it possible that they realized they couldn’t see? Is it possible they realized they were blind to the bridegroom? Is it possible that the infilling of the Holy Spirit would bring light to their eyes? They didn’t know that they needed the Holy Spirit. Isn’t this why they didn’t get filled with the Holy Spirit before the bridegroom came? They waited with the others as if they would see the bridegroom too. Once the bridegroom passed they went to the door to knock. Jesus said “I do not know you”, meaning Jesus can’t perceive them or see them, because they did not have the Holy Spirit. Jesus’ point is, why be a moron? Take what he has for you now, don’t wait for a later time. This is how he expects us to be prepared.
Matthew 25:13 G1127 Be vigilant G3767 then! G3754 for G3756 you know not G1492 G3588 the G2250 day G3761 nor G3588 the G5610 hour G1722 in G3739 which G3588 the G5207 son G3588 G444 of man G2064 comes.
2064 LSJ Gloss:ἔρχομαι to come
Dodson:ἔρχομαι I come, go.
Thayer:
1) to come
1a) of persons
1a1) to come from one place to another, and used both of persons arriving
1a2) to appear, make one's appearance, come before the public
2) metaph.
2a) to come into being, arise, come forth, show itself, find place or influence
2b) be established, become known, to come (fall) into or unto
3) to go, to follow one
For Synonyms see entry G5818
ἔρχομαι
erchomai er'-khom-ahee Middle voice of a primary verb (used only in the present and imperfect tenses, the others being supplied by a kindred [middle voice] word, ἐλεύθομαι eleuthomai or ἔλθω elthō ; which do not otherwise occur); to come or go (in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively) KJV Usage: accompany, appear, bring, come enter, fall out, go, grow, X light, X next, pass, resort, be set.
What Jesus is saying is that they will not know the time when he shows up. Therefore this group will not enter the kingdom of heaven.
Understand, these people knew that he was coming but they didn’t get filled with the anointing of the Holy Spirit so they couldn’t see, they had no light. What if they didn’t know that they needed the Holy Spirit? What if a watchman on the wall didn’t mention it? Maybe the people denied the existence of the Holy Spirit or quite possibly rejected the Holy Spirit outright, even after being warned. They sadly do not enter the kingdom of heaven because they are morons.
Mat 12:31 Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men.
Mat 12:32 And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come.
The first group who do not enter the kingdom of heaven are false prophets, false miracle workers, and false exorcists. Some dressed in sheep’s clothing, but they all have rotten fruit. The second group are those without something. Using oil as the key, we know these people lack the light. Oil lamps use oil, which provides light. These people do not have, or do not want, all that Jesus gives, therefore he calls them morons. Jesus goes on to describe something else about the kingdom of heaven.
Jesus explained the kingdom of heaven in the parable of the talents. His servants would be given some of his possessions or wealth and they were expected to do something with it.
Matthew 25:15 G2532 And G3739 to one G3303 G1325 he gave G4002 five G5007 talents, G3739 and to another G1161 G1417 two, G3739 and to another G1161 G1520 one, G1538 to each G2596 according to G3588 his own G2398 G1411 ability; G2532 and G589 he traveled abroad G2112 immediately.
The word according is the word kata, “downward". The word ability is the word dunamis, “miracle working power”. The servants are given their own downward dunamis, their own miracle working power from heaven down to them. They received dunamis and were then expected to do something with it. We know that the power comes from the Holy Spirt; compare this to the five virgins. Then the man giving out the talents departed. We understand that the person given one talent did not do anything with his money, instead he buried it. He was not faithful over what he was given.
Mat 25:29 For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath.
Mat 25:30 And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Whatever the man was given, he wasn’t faithful over it. What if the man was given miracle power for healing? What if he was given miracle power to teach. What if he was given one or two people to bring the miracle of Salvation in Christ, but he didn’t speak to them? The people who did something with what they were given, will receive more. More dunamis. The servant is called unprofitable, useless, good for nothing, or unworthy. This type of person goes into the external darkness instead of the kingdom of heaven.
1544 LSJ Gloss:ἐκβάλλω to throw
Dodson:ἐκβάλλω I throw, cast, put out, banish, bring forth, produce
I throw (cast, put) out; I banish; I bring forth, produce.
Thayer:
1) to cast out, drive out, to send out
1a) with notion of violence
1a1) to drive out (cast out)
1a2) to cast out
1a2a) of the world, i.e. be deprived of the power and influence he exercises in the world
1a2b) a thing: excrement from the belly into the sin
ἐκβάλλω
ekballō ek-bal'-lo From G1537 and G906; to eject (literally or figuratively)
KJV Usage: bring forth, cast (forth, out), drive (out), expel, leave, pluck (pull, take, thrust) out, put forth (out), send away (forth, out).
1857 LSJ Gloss:ἐξώτερος outer, utter
Dodson:ἐξώτερος outmost, outer outmost, outer, external.
Thayer:
1) outer
ἐξώτερος
exōteros ex-o'-ter-os Compound of G1854; exterior KJV Usage: outer.
4655 LSJ Gloss:σκότος darkness, gloom
Dodson:σκότος darkness darkness, either physical or moral.
Thayer:
1) darkness
1a) of night darkness
1b) of darkened eyesight or blindness
2) metaph.
2a) of ignorance respecting divine things and human duties, and the accompanying ungodliness and immorality, together with their consequent misery in hell
2b) persons in whom darkness becomes visible and holds sway
σκότος
skotos skot'-os From the base of G4639; shadiness, that is, obscurity (literally or figuratively) KJV Usage: darkness.
Here is a servant, thrown into the outside darkness because he did not use the power given to him that came down from God, the Holy Spirit. He is thrown out, not walked out or ushered out. It seems that with the idea of the 5 virgins who didn’t have the Holy Spirit, they don’t get into the kingdom of heaven; but the servant who buried his power from God is thrown out, meaning he had an opportunity to enter heaven if he used it. This is a third group that does not enter heaven.
This reminds me of those people who walk away from the Lord; they had a ministry, but then decide to turn away to do their own thing. Most times these people do not quietly leave ministry, instead they have to make a big deal over their own thoughts being preeminent over the Lord Jesus Christ. Many times they put their trust in other men, and in their own sophistry, or intellectual arguments. There is a narrow gate for all of us to enter into heaven.
Luk 13:23 Then said one unto him, Lord, are there few that be saved? And he said unto them,
Luk 13:24 Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able.
Luk 13:25 When once the master of the house is risen up, and hath shut to the door, and ye begin to stand without, and to knock at the door, saying, Lord, Lord, open unto us; and he shall answer and say unto you, I know you not whence ye are:
The same word eidō is used here. Jesus doesn’t know the people who were supposedly in the masters house, but when he shut the door they were outside.
Luk 13:26 Then shall ye begin to say, We have eaten and drunk in thy presence, and thou hast taught in our streets.
Luk 13:27 But he shall say, I tell you, I know you not whence ye are; depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity.
The people say that they were in his presence, but Jesus did not know them. Imagine Jesus feeding the five thousand, plus their families. Jesus did not know every person who ate with him. He did not know every person who listened to him. How did he get to know people? They had to make an effort to press into him. They had to push themselves to get to know him. They not only had to be in his presence, they had to talk to him, ask questions, and be willing to serve him. The biggest key here is serving Him. Many people who thought that because they heard about Jesus every week and that they were saved will learn that the Lord Jesus Christ did not know them. What’s more is that Jesus calls them people who work at unrighteousness. This is where we find out something else.
Luk 13:28 There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when ye shall see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets, in the kingdom of God, and you yourselves thrust out.
There will be a lot of crying and a lot of grating of teeth. Jesus is suggesting extreme anguish and despair when they recognize the patriarchs and the prophets are in the kingdom of God. Those people saying Lord Lord will be ejected outside. This is a fourth type of people who don’t enter the kingdom. When the master shuts the door they are outside because even though they hung around Jesus they didn’t know him or serve him. This same story shows up in Matthew 8 regarding the Centurion and his servant who was sick.
Mat 8:10 When Jesus heard it, he marvelled, and said to them that followed, Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel.
Mat 8:11 And I say unto you, That many shall come from the east and west, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven.
Matthew 8:12 G3588 But the G1161 G5207 sons G3588 of the G932 kingdom G1544 shall be cast out G1519 into G3588 the G4655 [2darkness G3588 G1857 1outer]; G1563 there, G1510.8.3 there shall be G3588 G2805 weeping G2532 and G3588 the G1030 gnashing G3588 G3599 of teeth.
The Centurion told Jesus to just say the logos, the word, and his servant will be healed. The Centurion believed on Jesus as Lord and Savior, which is how he only needed Jesus to speak out loud, rather than to enter his house. However there are children of the kingdom who do not believe Jesus is Lord and Savior. Who are the children of the kingdom? They are the Israelites. They do not believe on Jesus’ authority. The comparison here is that the Roman Centurion believes on Jesus while the Israelites do not. They will be expelled into the outermost darkness. They are outside the kingdom. Inside is Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, outside are the Israelites who rejected Jesus. This is a fifth type of person who does not enter heaven.
There are many Jewish people who do not believe on Jesus today. They may be the hardest people to warn as a watchman because they are culturally bound by their family not to become a Christian. Notice what Jesus says some time later.
Mat 21:42 Jesus saith unto them, Did ye never read in the scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner: this is the Lord's doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes?
Mat 21:43 Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof.
Mat 21:44 And whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken: but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder.
The kingdom of God shall be taken from you. Who is “you”? The Jews. The kingdom of God is given to the nations who produce good fruit. Instead of being inside the kingdom, they are outside in anguish.
Mat 21:45 And when the chief priests and Pharisees had heard his parables, they perceived that he spake of them.
Mat 21:46 But when they sought to lay hands on him, they feared the multitude, because they took him for a prophet.
Mat 22:1 And Jesus answered and spake unto them again by parables, and said,
Mat 22:2 The kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain king, which made a marriage for his son,
There should not be a chapter break between Matthew 21 and 22. The Pharisees and Priests knew that Jesus spoke of them, but they still rejected him. They wanted to kill him. Jesus was their Messiah. He came to save them. Jesus goes on by teaching another parable. This one is about the marriage of a King’s Son. Notice in this story that the King sends his servants to invite the people to a wedding feast, but instead they kill some of the servants. The King sent the armies and killed those who murdered the servants. Since the original people who were invited turned down the invitation, the King went outside the kingdom to invite people.
Mat 22:10 So those servants went out into the highways, and gathered together all as many as they found, both bad and good: and the wedding was furnished with guests.
Mat 22:11 And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment:
Mat 22:12 And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless.
Traditionally, people going to a wedding all wore a wedding garment (a white robe) over their clothes. The people of the kingdom rejected the invasion, so the King invited other nations to the wedding. One guy tried to sneak in. He did not have a wedding garment, meaning that he did not go through the proper process for entering the wedding banquet.The man who was addressed as “friend” knew he was not wearing a wedding garment, so when confronted he was silent.
Matthew 22:13 G5119 Then G2036 [3said G3588 1the G935 2king] G3588 to the G1249 servants, G1210 Having bound G1473 his G4228 feet G2532 and G5495 hands, G142 lift G1473 him G2532 and G1544 cast him G1519 into G3588 the G4655 [2darkness G3588 G1857 1outer]! G1563 There, G1510.8.3 there will be G3588 the G2805 weeping G2532 and G3588 the G1030 gnashing G3588 G3599 of teeth.
14 G4183 For many G1063 G1510.2.6 are G2822 called, G3641 but few G1161 G1588 are chosen.
The attendants tie the man up. They then lift him up and throw him into the outer darkness. Think about the wedding in Revelation 19.
Rev 19:7 Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready.
Rev 19:8 And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.
Rev 19:9 And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God.
The man that was thrown out was not righteous, and did not have a white linen garment. Now notice the called, chosen, and faithful. They are the ones who will do away with the beast after the beast kills Babylon.
Rev 17:14 These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful.
The point of the wedding garment is that the righteous will be wearing this garment when they come to establish the Millennial Kingdom on the earth. Many are called, but few are chosen. This is the sixth type of person not entering into heaven. Jesus says that someone who enters the sheepfold in a different way than the sheep enter is a thief and a robber. Jesus calls himself the door.
Joh 10:1 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber.
Joh 10:9 I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.
Another parable that Jesus told us was in regards to his coming at the end of the age. He says that his arrival will be like in the days of Noah. This is when Jesus arrives with his saints to establish the Millennial Kingdom. Two people will be working outdoors, and one will be received and the other sent away. Two will be working at a mill house, and one will be received and one will be sent away. This portion of the parable has been confused with the gathering, the harpazo. It is not the harpazo, Jesus calls from the clouds at the harpazo, he doesn’t arrive on the earth. The one taken is received into the kingdom, the one left is sent to a place with weeping and gnashing of teeth. Jesus further explains that just like a wicked servant who is drinking and treating his co-workers poorly, Jesus will arrive when he is not expecting him to start his Kingdom.
Matthew 24:50 G2240 [4shall come G3588 1the G2962 2master G3588 G1401 3of that servant] G1565 G1722 in G2250 a day G3739 in which G3756 he does not G4328 expect, G2532 and G1722 in G5610 an hour G3739 in which G3756 he knows not. G1097
51 G2532 And G1371 he shall cut him in pieces, G1473 G2532 and G3588 G3313 his portion G1473 G3326 [2with G3588 3the G5273 4hypocrites G5087 1will be established]. G1563 There, G1510.8.3 there shall be G3588 the G2805 weeping G2532 and G3588 the G1030 gnashing G3588 of the G3599 teeth.
The master arrives at a time that no one knows. This tells us again that we are speaking of the tribulation period when people have a final chance to make their heart right with the Lord Jesus Christ. If the people of earth do not come to know Jesus then they will be cut down and given a share with the hypocrites. The word master is the word “Lord”. We recognize that Jesus is telling us a story using a Lord who gives a servant charge over his business until he comes back. During the tribulation the Jews have charge of the Lord’s business.
This seventh occurrence is of people not entering the Millennial Kingdom. As we know, the Jews who reject Jesus will go through the tribulation, but they have to be found faithful during the tribulation to enter the Millennial Kingdom. Otherwise there is an alternate place, the place called the outer darkness where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth. It is not in the Kingdom of Heaven, it is outside. Being on earth during the tribulation, people will have the opportunity to work for the Lord, serving Him. However if people do not serve the Lord then they are cut in pieces. The only way to heaven during the tribulation is to die as a martyr. But if one lives through the tribulation, then he will be received if he is found to be a worthy servant, otherwise he is sent away.
Who does not enter heaven? Those who use the name of the Lord Jesus Christ but do not know him or do what he says. Those who do not receive all he has to give. Those who receive all he has to give but then do not use the power from heaven. Those who He does not know. Those who were heirs of the kingdom but did not believe that Jesus was their Messiah.
Those who try to sneak into the wedding of the bride and bridegroom are cast out of heaven, meaning that they had a place in heaven but wanted to enter into the marriage supper. They are thrown out of heaven into the outer darkness.
While the saints are in heaven, the tribulation will be taking place on the earth. During the tribulation, people must serve the Lord or they will not be received into the Millennial Kingdom. This would be the Jews left behind, and possibly any person who thought that they were a Christian but did not enter into heaven.
Let’s place these events. Those who knock wanting to enter are those who are not gathered, they are the comparison between the intelligent and the morons. Maybe they did things in Jesus’ name but Jesus didn’t know them. If we remember, there is a door in heaven, Revelation 4:1, and when Jesus shuts that door there are some who were gathered but left outside the door. When the master shuts the door, he will say that he did not know them.
Those who receive the power from heaven, the Holy Spirit, but do nothing to serve Jesus with that power are cast into the outer darkness, they are outside heaven. They are actually thrown out, which tells us that they entered in, but were tossed out. People will see Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and the prophets in the kingdom of heaven, but they themselves are thrown out.
The Jews who don’t believe that Jesus is Lord and Christ are not going to enter the kingdom of heaven. The kingdom was taken from them and given to the nations. They have one way to heaven before the harpazo, which is to confess Jesus as Lord. During the tribulation they can get to heaven if they are martyred for making Jesus their Lord. Otherwise, during the tribulation, if they are worthy servants doing what is right, then they will be received into the Millennial Kingdom. If they are evil servants, beating others and drinking, then they will be cut in pieces and thrown into the outer darkness with the hypocrites.
There might also be some who try to sneak into the marriage supper of the Lamb, those who do not have a wedding garment. Those people are thrown into the outer darkness because they did not go though the proper channels. They were in heaven, they attempted to usurp their position and become part of the bride. They are sent out of heaven.
Here is the watchman’s warning. Don’t be lulled to sleep by people’s opinions about heaven or the Millennial Kingdom, read the words that Jesus told us. If the watchman have warned the people, their blood is on their own hands. There will not be any recourse to not entering heaven. This is our time to receive the Holy Spirit, our light, and to receive a download of miracle working power from heaven, and to use it, rather than hide it under a rock.
