Season 5 Podcast 33 The Stories of the New Testament, Matthew 25, “The Parable of the Ten Virgins Pt 2.”

If you have not listened to “The Parable of the Ten Virgins,” Pt 1, may we invite you to do so. In Pt 1 we analyzed Revelations 18 and 19 as they related to the Parable of the Ten Virgins. In this podcast we shall examine the text of the parable itself.

“Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom. And five of them were wise, and five were foolish.”

One of the primary purposes of all the parables is to teach us about the Kingdom of Heaven and how to get there. To do that we must first understand which Kingdom of Heaven Christ is referring to. Paul, who was caught up in the third heaven, speaks of three degrees of Glory. He uses light to separate them.

“There are also celestial bodies, and bodies terrestrial: but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another. There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars: for one star differeth from another star in glory. So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption:” (1 Corinthians 15:40-42)

When Christ is describe he is often described by the light of the sun. Paul described Christ this way.

“At midday, O king, I saw in the way a light from heaven, above the brightness of the sun, shining round about me and them which journeyed with me. And when we were all fallen to the earth, I heard a voice speaking unto me, and saying in the Hebrew tongue, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks. And I said, Who art thou, Lord? And he said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest.”  (Acts 26: 13-15)

John the Revelator describes the resurrected Lord in the same way.

“His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire; And his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and his voice as the sound of many waters. And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp twoedged sword: and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength. (Revelation 1:14-16)

In the transfiguration, the face of Christ also shown like the sun.

6 LINDA

“And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light.” (Matthew 17:2)

Christ promises that those who live with him will also shine like the sun.

“Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.” (Matthew 13:43)

It follows then that the Kingdom of Heaven spoken of in the Parable of the Ten Virgins is the Celestial Kingdom. The others shine like the moon and stars.  What we have then with the Parable of the Ten Virgins is a representation of the separation of heavens. All are virgins, meaning they lived chaste lives. All began with full lamps.  The five wise Virgins are invited into the Celestial Kingdom where the Marriage supper of the Lamb is held. Those five foolish virgins will by default enter the Terrestrial Kingdom, where their bodies will shine like the moon. It is a kingdom of heaven, but Christ does not live there. They will not have a fullness of his light and glory; nevertheless, it is still a kingdom of heaven. There is nothing in their behavior that suggests that they go to hell. They are negligent, but they are not evil. Their sorrow is because they were denied the highest degree of glory where Christ lives.

Season 5 Podcast 32, A New Voice of Freedom, Argument for the Existence of God, Episode 31, “Principle of Opposition B.”

Satan is by nature without law.  He hates law.  He hates God. He hates everything God stands for.  Satan is eternally under the penalty of the laws of God. The apocalyptic apostle John described the fate of Satan well. 

Revelation 20:1-3

“And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years, 3 And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season.”

There are two sets of laws. Temporal laws and spiritual laws.  The greatest battle we face on earth is the natural man versus the spiritual man.  It is the epic struggle of man to win the war over himself, to have his spiritual desires overcome his natural desires.

The Ten commandments define that war clearly: 

Thou shalt not kill.

Thou shalt not commit adultery.

Thou shalt not steal.

Thou shalt not bear false witness.

Thou shalt not covet

Those all represent the natural man.  The two great commandments, Love the Lord thy God with all thy heart and love thy neighbor as thyself represent the spiritual man.

Only on earth can that battle take place. Only on earth can we kill, commit adultery, steal, lie, or covet.  We have earthly lusts, and we covet earthly things.  In the Sermon on the Mount, Christ tries to turn our hearts to spiritual things.  

3 Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

4 Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.

5 Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.

6 Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.

7 Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.

8 Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.

9 Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.

10 Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

11 Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.

Matthew 5:3-11

But opposition does not exist just between temporal laws and spiritual laws, opposition exists within spiritual laws.  We see that in the two greatest opposites of all, The Law of Justice versus and the Law of Mercy.

The law of justice represents perfect order. Justice is why there is something rather than nothing, order rather than disorder, law rather than lawlessness, life rather than death, creation rather than maximum equilibrium. God is creator because his laws are perfect. The laws of God represent the very nature of God.  Temporal and spiritual law represent the greatest evidence of intelligent design there is.  Just as matter and energy self-exist, intelligence self-exists. We are all intelligences.  God, the greatest intelligence of all, organized self-existing matter, but first he organized law. Law came first.  Order followed.  Without law the universe could not come into being. Without law we could not be governed, sanctified, resurrected, preserved, or protected by law.  The greatest gift of God is law.  Only because of law is there good and evil.

You often speak of paradox.  I know, of course, that paradox exists when two thing appear to be contradictory but both are, nevertheless, true.  Why is Christianity so filled with paradox?

Season 5 Podcast 31 John Bunyan’s Pilgrim’s Progress, Episode 6, Chapter 2 B, “The Interpreter.” 

The main character in Pilgrim’s Progress is named Christian for obvious reason’s. In Bunyan’s mind, every Christian must take the same journey. In other words, the reader is the main character or hero of the story. What Christian learns, the reader must learn. 

In last week’s episode, Christian breaks off with Worldly Wiseman and the City of Morality and after being chastised by Evangelist returns to the straight and narrow path.. He meets Goodwill at the Wicket Gate who open heartedly invites him in. One of the first things Christian asks Goodwill is how to get rid of the burden on his back. 

Then I saw in my dream, that Christian asked him further if he could not help him off with his burden that was upon his back. For as yet he had not got rid thereof, nor could he by any means get it off without help.

Goodwill gives him a rather strange answer. He told him, 

"As to thy burden, be content to bear it until thou comest to the place of deliverance; for there it will fall from thy back of itself."

Then “Christian began to gird up his loins” meaning he was preparing himself for a long journey or for a difficult task. Proverbs 31 tells us, “She girdeth her loins with strength. And strengtheneth her arms.”  The image refers to someone tucking their long robe into a girdle or belt so they are not hampered in traveling. One would practically have to memorize the Holy Bible, both the Old and the New Testaments, to pick up all the Biblical allusions in Pilgrim’s Progress. One can hardly read Pilgrim’s Progress without being astonished at his Biblical knowledge. Had he not served twelve years in prison, perhaps Bunyan would never have written Pilgrim’s Progress. There is an analogy with Milton’s Paradise Lost. Milton, who was blind at the time he wrote Paradise Lost was also a kind of prisoner in his own home. He moved to his home outside of London to escape the plague. He too would have known the Bible by heart. Both Milton and Bunyan were perceived as enemies to the crown for their political and religious beliefs. Both Pilgrim’s Progress and Paradise Lost are epic journeys of the soul, while facing enormous opposition, Satan himself being the primary enemy.

Goodwill directs Christian to the house of the Interpreter. 

So the other told him that as soon as he was gone some distance from the gate, he would come at the house of the Interpreter, at whose door he should knock, and he would show him excellent things. Then Christian took his leave of his friend, and he again bid him God speed.

The Interpreter, a person much like Evangelist, plays an important role in preparing Christian for his journey. He teaches Christian how to read the Bible by explaining what things mean. While walking through the Interpreter’s home, he sees symbols of things and each symbol must be interpreted. The imagery of the Bible, of course, is heavily symbolic, written in highly poetic language, and requires interpretation. A classic example is the use of Parables by the Savior. Sometimes Christ gave the interpretation and sometimes he didn’t. It is refreshing when Christ interprets his own parables. One gets so much more detail such as the Parable of the Sower.

Then he went on till he came to the house of the Interpreter, where he knocked over and over. At last one came to the door, and asked who was there.

Chris. Sir, here is a traveler who was bid by a friend of the good man of this house to call here for his benefit; I would therefore speak with the master of the house.

So he called for the master of the house, who, after a little time, came to Christian, and asked him what he would have.

Season 5 Podcast 30 The Stories of the New Testament, Matthew 25, “The Parable of the Ten Virgins Pt 1.”

The Oxford Language dictionary defines a parable as “a simple story used to illustrate a moral or spiritual lesson.” What distinguishes the stories in the Bible such as taken from the lives of Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, David, John the Baptist, etc. from parables, for the lives of each are used to illustrate a moral or spiritual lesson? The primary difference is that a parable is considered fiction. A biography is considered nonfiction. If you discount the differences, everyone’s life is a parable. 

Perception plays a primary role in everything we do. For example, Christians view the ancient Greeks as idol worshipers; however, some of the greatest spiritual lessons are taught by the Greeks. Non-Christians read the Bible as fiction, yet many agree that it is great literature, teaching valuable truths. Using what Wordsworth called ‘the willing suspension of disbelief,’ Christians may learn from the literature of non-Christians and non-Christians may learn from the literature of Christians. Who, for example, would discount the Iliad, the Odyssey, The Inferno, Paradise Lost, Faery Queene, the works of Shakespeare, etc., simply because the authors took literary license to analyze the human condition? Authors often take liberties with facts to convey truth. A belief in the divinity of Christ is a personal matter. An acceptance of Christ as a master storyteller is universal. 

All of the parables of Christ have their uniqueness, emphasizing different virtues, but every one of Christ’s parables have a common purpose—to show us how to enter the celestial kingdom. Linda and I have just finished a brief series of podcasts relating to the use of the word heaven in the Book of Matthew. Terms such as The Kingdom of Heaven, The Kingdom of God, Our Father in Heaven, Heavenly Father are repeated nearly a hundred times in the Book of Matthew alone. 

The Parables of Christ are unique because they often begin with the phrase, “The kingdom of heaven is like…” A comparison using the terms like or as is often referred to as a simile. If the terms ‘like or as’ are left out, it is commonly referred to as a metaphor, saying one thing is another. The connotations are often significantly different. One purpose of a simile is to draw a vivid picture, making the abstract concrete, the general specific. It helps the reader see what the author is saying, comparing the unfamiliar with the familiar. It has the added advantage of designed ambiguity, giving the parable multiple levels or multiple meanings. That is the power of the story. One could say a parable is an extended analogy, a story, or a poem.

Few of the parables get more attention among Christians than the Parable of the Ten Virgins. It is exquisite, and it is disturbing. Who does not feel sorry for the five foolish virgins? Just like the five wise virgins, their oil lamps were full when they began.  They all fell asleep. They all didn’t know the Master would delay his coming.  Yet only the five wise virgins were allowed in the marriage feast. Why were the other five called foolish when they too heeded the Master’s call?

As background, let’s put the marriage feast in some perspective. To do that let’s go to Revelation 19 of the Book of Revelation. We cannot fully understand the Parable of the Ten Virgins without first understanding Revelation 19. 

Revelation 19 is divided into two parts. One is the Marriage Supper of the Lamb. The other is the “Supper of the Great God.” The first, every Christian would like to attend; the second, no Christian would like to attend. To put it grossly, In the first you eat, in the second you are eaten.

Season 5 Podcast 29, A New Voice of Freedom, Argument for the Existence of God, Episode 30, “Principle of Opposition A.”

A dilemma of Science is that they use existence itself as the cause of existence. They turn to the genetic code, evolution, and the big bang.  The problem is that all three are evidence of intelligent design and science categorically rejects intelligent design.  They insist on clinging to a God of chance.  To science life is a lottery. We are here by happy accident only to be consumed by a giant heat death.  We are insects flying into the flame.

Fortunately for man science collectively has one very important virtue. They believe inherently in law and they are constantly, often ingeniously looking for answers, and their discoveries are often mind boggling.  Their contribution to medicine, to technology, to communication, to the origins of things, and so on is magnificent. Where would we be without practical science? Regardless of personal philosophy, their inherent acceptance of order guarantees their ongoing integrity and their ongoing contribution to our survival.

But on religious matters we cannot look to science. If they can look through the Hubble telescope and see the endless creations of God and yet not see the hand of God, then we may assume that if God were standing before them, they would examine the light of his countenance, but they would deny his presence and his power.  

However, we cannot understand God without understanding the principle of opposition.  If there is God, there must be Satan, if there is good, there must be evil, if there is light, there must be darkness, if there is law, there must be lawlessness, if there is heaven, there must be hell, if there is joy, there must be misery.

The first thing we must understand is who God is and who Satan is.  They are opposites.  If they didn’t exist, everything would be meaningless.  We have freewill only because we have a spirit endowed with an immortal intelligence. We have agency only because we are enticed by both God and Satan. We have freedom only because we have both a spirit body and a physical body faced with a multiplicity of choices. We have liberty only because we have the Ten Commandments.  We have a democratic republic only because we have a strong Constitution and an inspired Bill of Rights. None of those can survive in a world of relativity.  We must have absolutes and law provides absolutes. All laws of God increase freedom. Disobedience to the laws of God, whether temporal or spiritual, reduces freedom. If you seek freedom elsewhere, you will find captivity camouflaged as freedom.

We need to understand the nature of God so that we can understand who we worship or what we worship.  We need to understand the nature of Satan so that we can understand who the enemy is.  We often love that which we should fear.

In Christian terms, the two most important attributes of God are omniscience, all knowing, and omnipotence, all powerful. If God did not possess those attributes, then he could not be trusted. He would be constantly experimenting.  We would be guinea pigs.   Everything we see would be a giant experiment. To God there can be no surprises and no uncertainties.

Another significant attribute of God is that he is a God of perfect order.  He is unchangeable.  If he were a changeable God, then we would be constantly unsettled, uncertain.

Agency depends upon us being able to serve one or the other, to become like one or the other, to imitate one or the other, God or Satan. Opposition brings choices and choices coupled with knowledge brings agency.

Season 5 Podcast 28 John Bunyan’s Pilgrim’s Progress, Episode 5, Chapter 2 A. “Goodwill.” 

In last week’s episode, Christian, after being led off the straight and narrow way, escaped Mr. Worldly Wiseman, Legality, Civility, and The Village of Morality which tried to lure him into the wisdom of the world rather than following the path outlined in the Bible. Evangelist helps guide Christian back on the straight and narrow path which leads to the Wicket Gate where he meets Mr. Goodwill.

Then did Christian begin to go back to the right road; and Evangelist, after he had kissed him, gave him one smile, and bid him God speed; so he went on with haste, neither spake he to any man by the way; nor, if any asked him, would he give them an answer. He went like one that was all the while treading on forbidden ground, and could by no means think himself safe, till again he was got in the way which he had left to follow Mr. Worldly Wiseman's counsel: so after a time, Christian got up to the gate. Now, over the gate there was written, "Knock, and it shall be opened unto you."

Part of the genius of Bunyan is in the meticulous way he analyzes the road to salvation. As we continue in Pilgrim’s Progress, note the role of freewill and agency. Let me first distinguish the difference between the two terms. 

First of all, intelligence self-exists. It cannot be created or destroyed. Intelligence is who we are. It is our consciousness. Will is inherent in our intelligence or spirit as is potential also. Freewill is a product of law. God created our spirit body in his image which houses our intelligence. The spirit has freewill, not the body. The spirit has intelligence, not the body. The spirit has life in itself, not the body. The body is subject to temporal laws.  The spirit isn’t. The body dies. The spirit doesn’t. The only way we can lose our freewill is to give it away. We are enticed by God to do good. We are enticed by Satan to do evil. The spirit, not the body or brain, chooses whom it will serve. God protects our freewill. Satan tries to take it away or have us forfeit it. 

Agency, on the other hand, is related to our knowledge of good and evil. Agency is the ability to choose between good and evil. We lose freewill when we willfully allow Satan to take over our spirit. We lose agency when we call good evil and evil good.  Notice the scripture referred to above, “Knock, and it shall be opened unto you.” God does not impose his will upon you. That is among the differences between God and Satan. Satan will, if allowed, impose his will upon you. Satan seeks death and captivity. God seeks eternal life and freedom. That is among the primary differences between God and Satan. For the door to be opened to Christ, you must first knock. That preserves your agency. 

Also notice in the above that Christian had a broken heart and a contrite spirit. Humility is a necessary virtue to finding Christ. Worldly Wiseman, Legality, and Civility did not possess humility. They were proud and sought to replace God. The Village of Morality is a misnomer. Bunyan was being ironic. It could more accurately be called The Village of Sliding Ethics. It replaced the absolute laws of God with relative values. That is why it had no foundation. Christian continues to knock until someone answers. Notice that Christian has a broken heart and a contrite spirit.

"May I now enter here? Will He within Open to sorry me, though I have been An undeserving rebel? Then shall I Not fail to sing His lasting praise on high."

The gate keeper knows that Christian is there; however, he does not run to the gate. Remember that Christian had veered off the straight and narrow path. Before entering the gate, he had to prove his humility. 

Season 5 Podcast 27 The Stories of the New Testament, The Book of Matthew, “Heaven PT 3.”

The first principle of the gospel is faith. Heaven is invisible. God is invisible. It requires faith to believe in God and in heaven. Christ condemns those who wish to bypass faith. Science, which excels in revealing temporal laws, has done a miserable job whenever it dabbles in spiritual things. Science refers to the accidental universe. Science dismisses intelligent design. Science dismisses anything that cannot be proven in a lab. Science has removed God from the discussion of the origin of earth and man.  Therefore, Christ dismisses those who seek for a sign.

The Pharisees also with the Sadducees came, and tempting desired him that he would shew them a sign from heaven.

The irony, of course, is that the apostle Paul uses heaven to teach about the kingdoms of God as discussed earlier.  If the Pharisees and Sadducees cannot see the sun, moon, and stars as evidence of God and intelligent design, they aren’t going to believe any other signs from heaven either. They are like the people of Capernaum. More miracles were performed there than in any other city, yet they rejected God. 

The tremendous irony of the following dilemma is the contrast between the disciples of Jesus and the Pharisees and the Sadducees. The Pharisees and Sadducees wanted a sign from heaven. The disciples assumed that Jesus was the Christ and thus Lord of heaven and wanted to know who was greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Reading between the lines, there is more to their question. They are joggling for power. Let me refer you to the time that James and John came to Jesus asking to be able to sit on his right hand and on his left.

“And James and John, the sons of Zebedee, come unto him, saying, Master, we would that thou shouldest do for us whatsoever we shall desire. And he said unto them, What would ye that I should do for you? They said unto him, Grant unto us that we may sit, one on thy right hand, and the other on thy left hand, in thy glory. But Jesus said unto them, Ye know not what ye ask: can ye drink of the cup that I drink of? and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with? And they said unto him, We can. And Jesus said unto them, Ye shall indeed drink of the cup that I drink of; and with the baptism that I am baptized withal shall ye be baptized: But to sit on my right hand and on my left hand is not mine to give; but it shall be given to them for whom it is prepared. And when the ten heard it, they began to be much displeased with James and John. But Jesus called them to him, and saith unto them, Ye know that they which are accounted to rule over the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and their great ones exercise authority upon them. But so shall it not be among you: but whosoever will be great among you, shall be your minister: And whosoever of you will be the chiefest, shall be servant of all. For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.” (Mark 10:35-45)

The same question appears to be on all the apostle’s minds.

At the same time came the disciples unto Jesus, saying, Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven? And he said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones; for I say unto you, That in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven. 

Season 5 Podcast 26, A New Voice of Freedom, Argument for the Existence of God, Episode 29, “Practical Science vs Theoretical Science.”

Scientists claim that earth, the solar system, the Milky Way Galaxy, the cosmos, and man were all created by accident.  Bertrand Russell, a mathematician, and philosopher, said that man is “an accidental collocation of atoms.” 

Christians need to understand that there are two sciences: The first is practical science based on temporal laws.  The second is theoretical science, based on opinion or personal interpretation. Theoretical science is nothing but theories until proven fact by the scientific method.  Some theories, of course, can never be proven or disproven, such as the existence of God, the origin of life, the purpose of the earth, or the existence of life after death. Unfortunately, scientists or those who pretend to use science to prove their personal agenda do not always distinguish between practical science and theoretical science. They present the theories of scientists or philosophers as if they were proven fact rather than inference. 

Science can be both inductive and deductive. Inductive science begins with facts and ends with conclusions. Deductive science begins with theories and organizes evidence to prove it.  Ultimately true science must end in the lab where theories are validated by the scientific method using experimentation and repetition where the outcomes must meet the predictions. How many remember the fiasco of cold fusion?

However, when the purpose of science is to validate opinion rather than to discover truth, then science is no longer science.  When theories are given as facts, then science becomes mere propaganda. Science today in political circles is being used to further the agenda of the left as shown by global warming. It becomes opinion supported by opinion, a very shaky foundation. Science should be apolitical, devoted only to the truth and natural law and not to further a cause. 

Some of scientist’s pet theories are still just theories such as The Big Bang, The giant heat death, the age of the universe, the origins of man, etc.  Probably no theory is more abused than the theory of evolution.  Clearly evolution in species exists, but those who claim that because of evolution God doesn’t exist, or man was created by accident, or man came from monkey, etc. commit the fallacy of false analogy.  They carry the theory of evolution further than scientific evidence allows.

When man uses science as authority to validate personal opinions that can never be proven, they commit the fallacy of ‘appeal to authority” or if they appeal to the number of people who support their claim, they commit the fallacy of ‘appeal to majority.’  Neither are valid arguments.  

Practical science appeals to law which is predictable and exquisitely and unerringly ordered.  Theoretical science appeals to authority which is subject to the preconceived notions of the scientist.   Individually people may believe what they wish to believe, but to remain science, science must remain neutral on the existence of God. The only rational claim is that they don’t know and leave it at that. Christians may take any law relative to the creation of man or earth and claim intelligent design. However Christians cannot prove the existence of God any more than atheists, scientists or otherwise, can disprove the existence of God. God is entirely faith based. 

One of my favorite analogies must remain anonymous because I cannot remember the author. I just remember the plot. A little boy told his friend that he controlled him. Every time his friend did anything, he said, “I made you do that.”  Finally, the friend grew tired of the little boy and punched him squarely in the nose. Nonplussed the little boy said, “I made you do that.” 

Season 5 Podcast 25 John Bunyan’s Pilgrim’s Progress, Episode 4, Chapter 1 D. “Mr. Worldly Wiseman.” 

In last week’s episode, Christian escaped the Slough of Despond and while on the way to the Wicket Gate met Mr. Worldly Wiseman who warned him that if he followed the advice of Evangelist he would find nothing but sorrow. Cristian explains to Mr. Worldly Wiseman that the burden was already more than he could bear.

Why, sir, this burden upon my back is more terrible to me than all these things which you have mentioned; nay, methinks I care not what I meet with in the way, if so be I can also meet with deliverance from my burden.

The reason Christian left his family in the first place was to find a way to escape the calamity that was to come foretold in the Bible, making reference to end of the world. When he discovers the answer, he will come back and save his family. The burden he carries is caused by the condition of the fall of man. He fears the destruction of the world. He fears what happens to his eternal soul, and of course, he flees from guilt caused by sin. All of these weigh heavily on him. The advice of Evangelist is to follow the teachings of the Bible which are very difficult. The advice of Worldly Wiseman is to follow the philosophy of the world which is easier, dismissing the idea of original sin. Worldly Wiseman asks,

How camest thou by the burden at first?

Christian speaks for himself and all other Christians.

By reading this book in my hand.

This book refers to the Holy Bible. Pilgrim’s Progress could have been written today for it fits our progressive world precisely. Worldly Wiseman gives the same answer that would be given by modern atheists, modern psychologists, and modern universities.

I thought so. And it has happened unto thee as unto other weak men, who, meddling with things too high for them, do suddenly fall into thy crazy thoughts, which thoughts do not only unman men, as thine I perceive have done thee, but they run them upon desperate efforts to obtain they know not what.

The modern mind sees religion as a weakness. As Karl Marx said, ‘Religion is the opiate of the masses.’ Worldly Wiseman also echoes the Marxian idea that only the elite have the intelligence to rule; the proletariat or the common man does not have the ability to rule themselves.  Christian is focused on one thing, getting rid of his burden; therefore, he is susceptible to the advice of Worldly Wiseman.

I know what I would obtain; it is ease for my heavy burden.

Worldly Wiseman’s answer is in harmony with modern psychology which leans toward atheism and determinism. They seek scientific remedies through counseling, drugs, and group therapy.

But why wilt thou seek for ease this way, seeing so many dangers attend it? Especially since (hadst thou but patience to hear me,) I could direct thee to the getting of what thou desirest, without the dangers that thou in this way wilt run thyself into. Yea, and the remedy is at hand. Besides, I will add that, instead of those dangers, thou shalt meet with much safety, friendship, and content.

Christian is offered the easy way and immediately grasps it.

Sir, I pray, open this secret to me.

Worldly Wiseman directs Christian to go to the village of Morality. He has confused modern ethics with Christian morality. The one is relative, the other absolute. He sends Christian to Legality. Legality represents the idea that what is legal is also what is right. People, not God decide what is good and what is evil. He is introduced to the relative morality, where people depend upon experts. In other words, those trained in the universities rather than the words of apostles and prophets found in the Bible. He hints that religion is a form of Insanity. 

Season 5 Podcast 24 The Stories of the New Testament, The Book of Matthew, “Heaven PT 2.”

The following statement by the Savior to his disciples has always been a bit of an enigma.

And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand.

We have a distinction. There is the Kingdom of Heaven where God sits on his throne, and we have a Kingdom of God on earth. The Kingdom of God on earth refers to the church Christ organized while in his ministry. Paul gives the organization of the Kingdom of Heaven on Earth.

He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.) And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; (Ephesians 4:10-14)

The primary purpose of the Kingdom of God, on earth is to prepare his saints to enter the Celestial Kingdom spoken of by Paul. As you can see from the writings of Paul above, the purpose of the church, or Kingdom of God on earth, is to perfect the saints, to edify or enlighten the body of Christ, to unify the saints, meaning to keep the doctrine pure, to teach the saints knowledge of the Son of God, to make the saints Christ like, and to keep the saints from false doctrines taught by the cunning of man and Satan.

The Savior, of course, is the key. He is the only way we can enter the Kingdom of Heaven.

Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven. But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven.

Christ works only under the direction of the Father; however, it is Christ’s church on earth which is referred to as the Kingdom of God on earth. In the Book of Matthew, the phrase ‘The Kingdom of God’ is used six times. Each usage refers to the establishment of Christ’s Church.

1.     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 marvelous in our eyes? Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof.

 2.     And when one of them that sat at meat with him heard these things, he said unto him, Blessed is he that shall eat bread in the kingdom of God.

 3.     But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

 4.     But if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God is come unto you.

 5.     And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.

 6.     Whether of them twain did the will of his father? They say unto him, The first. Jesus saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That the publicans and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you.

 Those who confess or preach or bear witness of Christ, Christ himself will bear witness of them to the Father which is in heaven. Likewise, those on earth who deny Christ, those will Christ deny before his Father which is in heaven.