The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1930-05-22
Improved Uniform International
||Sl11nldaySc}lool.
' Lesson '
(By REV. P. B. FITzwATER, DID,, Mem
Der Of Faculty, Moody Bible Institute
of Chicago.)
(@. 1880. Western Newspaper Union.)
Lesson for May Is
JESUS DESCRIBES THE FUTURE
OF THE KINGDOM


OF THE KINGDOM
LESSON TEXT-Matthew 24:1-25:1s
GOLDEN TEXT-Take We heed,
watch and pray; for ye know not when
the time is.
PRIMARY ToPIC-Being Ready to
Help
JUNIOR ToPIC-Being Ready.
! INTERMEDIATE AND SENIOR TOP.
I1C-Being Ready.
YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT TOP.
i1C-Christian Preparedness.
I. The Prophetic View of the Course
lof Time from christ's crucifIxion to
ills Second Coming. (24:1-51).
! The order Of events in this time are
in general as follows:
1. The moral condition Of the world
during Christ's absence. wv. 1-14).
This is the period covered by the
:parables Of chapter 13.
2. The appearance Of the Anti
christ wv. 1926.
3. The great advent wv. 27-31).
In connection with this advent there
Twill be mighty commissions of nature,
1.-THE mourning Of the tribes Of the
earth, and the gathering of the elect.
A. Warnings to Gods people in
view Of the great advent wv. 32-51).
The time of this advent is unknown
land on the part of many unexpected.
! 5. Instruction to believers in view
of the unexpectedness Of Christ's
coming (25:1-3O).
II. Behavior Of Believers In View
Of the Coming Of the Lord (25:1-13).
The teaching in the parable Of the
ten virgins has continuous application
in the present time Il Thess. 1918;
Titus 2:11-13).
1. The equipment Of the virgins
ivy. 1-5.
(1 The foolish virgins took lamps,
but no oil with them ". -. Lamps
signify Christian profession Matt.
1919 and oil the Holy Spirit Czech.
14). Having lamps but no oil shows
that they were professors Of religion,
without possessing its reality. The
Christian life is sustained by the Holy
Spirit. AS soon as a man Is regen-
Grated, the Holy Spirit takes up His
abode with him. The Spirits in
dwelling therefore. is an advance
work upon regeneration. The proof
that one is child Of God is that he
ihas the Holy Spirit dwelling within
I'm. (Rom. 10y. The foolish virgins
we're professors, but not possessors.
(2). The wise virgins possessed both
lamps and oil ". ~. They backed
their profession with real life Of
righteousness. Both the wise and the
foolish virgins slumbered and slept.
This shows that as the present age
tlengthens, the real and the processing
church will cease looking for the com.
ing Of the Lord. 1t is unspeakably sad
that so many, even Of Gods chosen
the wise virgins-should give up the
expectancy Of the return Of the Lord.
2. The coming Of the bridegroom
wv. 6-12).
(1) The midnight cry ". g.. In
the midst Of the night when all the
virgins were asleep the cry was heard,
I"Behold the bridegroom cometh." Who
knows but that the time of this cry
IS now close upon us? (2) Activity
of the virgins ". y. They all arose
land trimmed their lamps. There will
|be great activity when the Lord comes
on the part Of both believers and
those who only make profession. It
Twill be day when the reality of ones
faith will be tested. (3) The foolish
virgins request of the wise to share
their oil wv. 8, 81. The revelation Of
Christ will make manifest the gen.
iuineness Of our faith and expose the
folly Of mere profession. When the
mend ones ways. az The wise en-
tier to the marriage ". 10). While the
foolish were seeking to amend their
ways-trying to buy oil-the bride
groom came, and those who were
ready were admitted to the marriage.
(5) The pitiful petition Of the foolish
virgins ". ny. They begged the
Lord to open the door, (6). The
awful judgment ". 12). The Lord
declared, II know you not"
3. The solemn obligation ". 13).
swatch, for We know not the day
inor the hour wherein the Son of man
icometh." Two solemn facts should
engage the attention of every one.
;(1) Entering with Christ to the mar
iriage depends upon faithfulness to the
end. If oil and light be wanting when
Christ comes, no admittance will be
granted to the heavenly banquet. (2)
Borrowed religion will not avail at
THAT day. Despite the value of cody
Icompanions and associates, they can
render no service in the day of Jesus
Christ Personal contact with the
Lord Jesus through faith in His blood
Z The absolute essential.