Are You Ready for Christ’s Return?

We can rejoice in the knowledge that the Lord will return for His bride! We do not know when that glorious day will be, but Scripture tells us that Christ’s return will occur when the world least expects it (Matthew 24:44). 

While the bridegroom is away, the bride makes herself ready by studying His Word and eagerly anticipating His appearing. She also busies herself with whatever work the Lord has entrusted to her, which is portrayed in the parable of the ten minas or pounds.

Luke 19:12-13: “A man of noble birth went to a distant country to have himself appointed king and then to return. So he called ten of his servants and gave them ten minas.‘Put this money to work,’ he said, ‘until I come back.’

The man of noble birth is Jesus, and he is currently sitting at the right hand of the Father (Mark 16:19, Acts 7:56, Hebrews 1:13, 1 Peter 3:22). He is interceding on our behalf as our High Priest until that wonderful day when He will return in the clouds and believers will be caught up with Him in the air
(1 Thessalonians 4:17).
 
Luke 19:14-15: “But his subjects hated him and sent a delegation after him to say, ‘We don’t want this man to be our king.’ “He was made king, however, and returned home. Then he sent for the servants to whom he had given the money, in order to find out what they had gained with it.

I believe these verses are referring to the time after the rapture, when all believers will appear before the Lord at the judgment seat of Christ to be judged for their works (2 Corinthians 5:10). While our eternal security is firmly assured, we will either experience loss or receive rewards (1 Corinthians 3:10-15). 

Luke 19:16-19: “The first one came and said, ‘Sir, your mina has earned ten more.’ “‘Well done, my good servant!’ his master replied. ‘Because you have been trustworthy in a very small matter, take charge of ten cities.’ “The second came and said, ‘Sir, your mina has earned five more.’ “His master answered, ‘You take charge of five cities.’

From these passages, it appears that believers whose works withstand the test of fire (see older posts on salvation of the soul and loss of salvation of the soul) will receive positions of authority — in direct apportion to their works — when Christ Jesus returns to earth to establish His millennial kingdom.

Luke 19: 20-27: “Then another servant came and said, ‘Sir, here is your mina; I have kept it laid away in a piece of cloth. I was afraid of you, because you are a hard man. You take out what you did not put in and reap what you did not sow.’ “His master replied, ‘I will judge you by your own words, you wicked servant! You knew, did you, that I am a hard man, taking out what I did not put in, and reaping what I did not sow? Why then didn’t you put my money on deposit, so that when I came back, I could have collected it with interest?’ “Then he said to those standing by, ‘Take his mina away from him and give it to the one who has ten minas.’ “‘Sir,’ they said, ‘he already has ten!’ “He replied, ‘I tell you that to everyone who has, more will be given, but as for the one who has nothing, even what they have will be taken away. But those enemies of mine who did not want me to be king over them—bring them here and kill them in front of me.’”

The earlier passages describe rewards, while this one points to loss at the judgment seat of Christ. There is a similar parable in Matthew 25 about the servant who was given one talent and did nothing with it, which reveals more about loss. Jesus says in Matthew 25:30:

And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Many assume that this passage, and the two other passages in Scripture that speak of outer darkness (Matthew 8:12 and Matthew 22:11-13), refer to unbelievers and hell. Outer darkness is a topic on its own, and one that deserves much greater discussion. I will preface that future discussion by stating that I do not believe that Jesus is talking about unbelievers in this parable. 

In both parables, Jesus entrusts His servants with the means by which they are to work for Him (minas and talents). 

Would Jesus entrust an unbeliever to do His work?