Jesus will come again in power and glory at the end of the age as the righteous Judge of all the earth. People from all nations will be gathered together and He will separate the sheep from the goats. The sheep are those who hear His voice in faith and obey Him in even the little things. The goats are those who rejected Him and rebelled against even the simplest command.

In this parable, Jesus urges His followers to be faithful in using the gifts and talents He's given them to glorify God. Those who do so will be commended on the Last Great Day- while those who fail to do so will be cast out from His presence.

The Parable of the Ten Virgins is an encouragement to true believers in the visible Church as they eagerly await with confidence Jesus' second coming in power and glory. The parable is also a warning to those in the visible church who may not be prepared - either for their own death or the return of Christ. All are urged to be ready before the door is shut and it's too late to enter the Kingdom of Heaven.

Jesus asks, -Who is the faithful and wise servant-- He goes on to show that the faithful and wise servant is the one who faithfully does the Lord's will because he knows that he must be ready and prepared for Christ's return on the Last Great Day.

Despite many foolish and sinful speculations by false prophets, Jesus is very clear, -no one knows the day or the hour- of His second coming. Since no one knows, Jesus challenges us to always be ready by living our lives for the glory of God.

Abraham and his whole household received the sign and the seal of the covenant and enjoyed the outward blessings and privileges of being a part of the covenant community. Likewise, believers in Christ and those in their household ought to receive the covenant sign and seal so they might enjoy the same blessings.

Jesus uses a parable and the certainty of the everlasting Word of God to assure His disciples that judgment is truly coming. It's coming and so they ought to be dutifully prepared.

The Lord has called His people to gather together on the first day of the week to praise and worship Him, to give thanks for the salvation He's secured for us in Jesus Christ, and to hear His Word so that we might obey it in our lives.

Jesus gives signs leading up to His return at the end of the age. For the unbeliever these signs will be a great terror as the revelation of Jesus Christ as Judge of all the earth will be clearly made known to them. But for the believer, these signs will be a great blessing as the fullness of our salvation comes to fruition and our present hope is realized - being in the glorious presence of our Savior for ever and ever.

In giving clear warning signs about the coming destruction of the Temple, Jesus reveals that with judgment also comes great mercy- both in 70 A.D. and on the Last Great Day.