The Bible is clear, Jesus Christ will return for his church. Yet, there is much confusion about what happens when Jesus returns.

When studying eschatology, the end times, it seems most folks want to go straight to the books of Daniel and Revelation. They go to books filled with prophetic language, and tend to skip over the plain words of Jesus and the apostles.

I am all for studying the whole Bible, but prophetic language is often confusing. To the average reader, it can be difficult to differentiate between literal and symbolic language.

I believe it is better, by far, to read the Gospels and epistles first. Read the plain words and get an understanding of what they say about the end times and use that understanding when we move into the prophetic books.

“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. They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them:

But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept. And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him. Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps.  And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out. 

But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves.  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 25:1-13

You will notice, when the bridegroom came, “they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut. ” The door was shut.

This reminds me of the account of Noah’s ark. “And they that went in, went in male and female of all flesh, as God had commanded him: and the Lord shut him in.” Genesis 7:16 As soon as Noah and his family had entered the ark with the animals, God shut the door. That was the end of opportunity for those outside the ark.

Notice in Matthew 25, the bridegroom says,”Verily I say unto you, I know you not.“

In Matthew 7:21-23, Jesus says, “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. 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? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.“

Of course, Genesis never says anyone else even had the chance to enter the ark. The world was filled with unrighteousness and they could not enter in. God could say even to them, “Depart from me, I never knew you.”

Jesus identifies himself as the bridegroom. When the Lord comes, those with the oil in the lamp, those who love the Lord and are prepared and anxious for his coming will be with him. Then the door will shut. The scripture is clear, there is no second chance.

When Jesus comes, the door will be closed. This world ends. There remains only eternity. Those who Christ knows, those who are saved will enter into eternity with Christ. Jesus has gone to prepare a place for us that when he returns, we will be with him forever.

“And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.” John 14:3

Those who are not his, those who have lived their lives in iniquity and rejected the Gospel of Jesus Christ will be shut out for eternity. No second chance. They have no oil in their lamp and will depart into eternal darkness. The Bible is clear.

Some folks have a convoluted eschatology that teaches Jesus returns for the church and then those that remain have a period of time where some folk will still have the opportunity to believe and be saved. Then Jesus returns once more. There is no place in scripture that teaches this. There are only two ages, in scripture. The present age and the age to come.

“But he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life.” Mark 10:30

Jesus makes it clear their are only two ages: this age and the age to come.

The KJV uses the word “world.” This is translated from the Greek word “aiōni.” Aiōni means age. It’s the word we get eon from. The KJV is correct, there are two worlds. This present world and the new heavens and earth.

In Matthew 12:32, Jesus also makes it clear there are only two ages or worlds. “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.”

This current age is going to end. This tells us the next age is eternity. There is only this world and the eternal world. When Jesus, the bridegroom comes, this world ends. The door is shut and we all step into eternity. There is no other age, no other space of time between the coming of Jesus and eternity.

Today is the day of salvation.

“Thus saith the Lord, In an acceptable time have I heard thee, and in a day of salvation have I helped thee: and I will preserve thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, to establish the earth, to cause to inherit the desolate heritages;” Isaiah 49:8

“For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.” 2 Corinthians 6:2

Will you be ready when the bridegroom returns?