Questions about Matthew 22:2-14

  1. Who is the father and who is the son?
    1. a. Right Answer!God the Father, and Jesus Christ his son.
      • Yes, the Father in this parable is God the Father, and the banquet is to celebrate the wedding of his Son, Jesus.
    2. King David, Solomon his son.
      • No.
    3. Our father Abraham, and his son Isaac.
      • No.
    4. Jacob who is called Israel, and his sons.
      • No.

     

     

  2. Who were those that were invited?
    1. The Pharisees, Sadducees, and the teachers of the law.
      • They had been invited, but this is not the best answer.
    2. Right Answer!The Israelites.
      • Yes, for this parable it is the Israelites that have been invited.
    3. The Gentiles.
      • No, it was the Israelites that were invited, but because they were unworthy of the invitation, the offer was then made to the Gentiles. Now this must be understood with the knowledge that God's plan does not change because of what people might and might not do. God knew that the Jews would reject his Son at his First Advent. This fact had been prophesied for many hundreds of years. All of the stories and conversations in the Bible are like things are subject to differing outcomes, but in reality nothing has ever, even in the smallest way, varied from what God knew would happen before he ever made the first living thing.
    4. Everyone is invited.
      • Not for the purpose of this parable. God established the nation of Israel as his personal teaching tool. Salvation was for the Israelites, but any foreigner was always welcome. Salvation was specifically designed for the sons and daughters of Israel however.
      • Romans 3:1-2
        What advantage, then, is there in being a Jew, or what value is there in circumcision? 2 Much in every way! First of all, they have been entrusted with the very words of God. (NIV)
      • Paul said here that there is a great advantage being a Jew. This is because everything in the Old Testament was written with their way of life as a teaching tool. As a Gentile believer I have to first understand what the things mean in terms of their way of life, but to the Jews the way of life is simply understood.
      • Romans 11:25-28
        I do not want you to be ignorant of this mystery, brothers, so that you may not be conceited: Israel has experienced a hardening in part until the full number of the Gentiles has come in. 26 And so all Israel will be saved, as it is written: "The deliverer will come from Zion; he will turn godlessness away from Jacob. 27 And this is my covenant with them when I take away their sins."
        28 As far as the gospel is concerned, they are enemies on your account; but as far as election is concerned, they are loved on account of the patriarchs, (NIV)
      • We can see from this passage that Israel was excluded but only until the full number of Gentiles has come into the Church, then all Israel will be saved.
      • Now with this in mind, and with the parable of the banquet in mind as well, we can see that when the last of the Gentiles has come into the Church, then the Lord will come from heaven and gather his bride and take her to the wedding banquet, and then all Israel will see this and be horrified at its implications, and they will repent and seek the Lord Jesus Christ.

     

     

  3. What is meant in verse 22:7 that says that the king was enraged and sent his army and destroyed those murderers and burned their city?
    1. Nero was the king, and he sent the Roman legions to destroy Jerusalem.
      • No, Nero is not the king in this story.
    2. This is only a story, there is no literal fulfillment.
      • Every parable has a meaning. This parable will have a fulfillment.
    3. King Nebuchadnezzar was the king, and he sent the Babylonian army to destroy all that the Israelites have built.
      • No, King Nebuchadnezzar was long dead when this parable was told.
    4. Right Answer!God is the King, and he then subjected the Israelites to death and persecutions because they had rejected his son.
      • Yes, because the Jews rejected their God, God then rejected them. He subjected them to the Roman legions, and to all the persecutions that they have gone through for the past two thousand years or so. Now it should be understood that God did this because he loves them. If what the Israelites have gone through is tough, it is better than what awaits those that die in their sin.
      • That should be a sobering thought to people that claim to be Christians but do not give their portion to God.

     

     

  4. Who was it that was invited after the Israelites were rejected?
    1. The Galileans.
      • No, this is not the meaning behind the parable.
    2. The Women.
      • No, again this is not the meaning of the parable.
    3. Right Answer!The Gentiles.
      • Yes, the covenant that God had first made to the children of Israel has now, temporally, gone to the Gentiles.
    4. The people of the western world.
      • No, the invitation is to all the Gentiles, (and to Israelites too.) This parable is talking about how God offered his Son to the Israelites, but they didn't want him, so he offered him to the Gentiles and they did want him.
      • Now we are told in Scripture that God did this to make the Israelites jealous.
      • Romans 10:19
        Again I ask: Did Israel not understand? First, Moses says, "I will make you envious by those who are not a nation; I will make you angry by a nation that has no understanding." (NIV)
      • Romans 11:11-12
        Again I ask: Did they stumble so as to fall beyond recovery? Not at all! Rather, because of their transgression, salvation has come to the Gentiles to make Israel envious. 12 But if their transgression means riches for the world, and their loss means riches for the Gentiles, how much greater riches will their fullness bring! (NIV)

     

     

  5. Who are those that got to remain at the banquet?
    1. The Jews that attended "church" regularly.
      • No, it is not those that go through the motions that will be saved.
    2. Any that showed up.
      • No, that one guy was kicked out.
    3. Those that responded correctly to the invitation.
      • No, see (b.) above.
    4. Right Answer!Those that were clothed with the Holy Spirit.
      • Yes, those that have been clothed with the Holy Spirit will be allowed to remain. Now I am not talking about people that go to churches that preach the baptism of the Holy Spirit. I am talking about people who believe the gospel message in there heart of hearts, and they enter into God through true faith in Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit of Christ truly enters into them in the most holy union of the true Christian.
      • John 17:20-21, 26
        20 "My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, 21 that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me.
        26 I have made you known to them, and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them." (NIV)

     

     

  6. What is the meaning of the man that did not have wedding clothes?
    1. The man did not show respect for the awesome God so he was rejected.
      • No, this is not about dressing up.
    2. Only those that have been blessed with worldly wealth will be allowed into heaven.
      • No, it is commonly held that those that are blessed in this world are blessed by God, but this is completely incorrect thinking. It is completely not possible to determine the love that God has for a person by examining their worldly situation.
      • Isaiah 53:2
        He grew up before him like a tender shoot, and like a root out of dry ground. He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him. (NIV)
      • This passage is talking about Jesus. It says that there was NOTHING about Jesus' appearance that would make us like him. Jesus was born to poor parents in a poor and bankrupt nation.
    3. His being unclothed is symbolic for his guilt of sexual perversion, so is was rejected.
      • No, this man was not a "flasher".
    4. Right Answer!The clothes are symbolic for the covering of the Holy Spirit, and only those with the Holy Spirit of God Almighty can go the wedding banquet.
      • Yes, this is the correct answer.
      • Genesis 3:7
        Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realized they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves. (NIV)
      • Because of sin, the man and the woman found that they were naked. This is symbolic for the fact that their sin was exposed for anyone to see. But later in the chapter God clothed them with the skins of animals. This is symbolic for the righteousness that would come through the death of God's Son Jesus Christ.
      • Every person is a sinner. Every person needs to put on Christ to cover his or her nakedness. This is the meaning of the man that was not properly dressed. He had not put on Christ as his covering.
      • Romans 13:14
        Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the sinful nature. (NIV)

     

     

  7. The man that is cast out of the party, where was he sent to, where is the place that there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth?
    1. He was sent to Hell.
      • No, this is not Judgment day. This is not the time when everyone is either with God in heaven or in the lake of burning sulfur.
    2. He was sent to the burning lake of sulfur.
      • No, same reason as (a.) above.
    3. Right Answer!He was sent back to earth.
      • Yes. When the Bride, that is the Church, is having the celebrating wedding banquet, the people of the earth are experiencing the Day of the Lord, the Fiery Furnace, The Day of God's Vengeance, the Time of Wrath, The hour of testing.
    4. He was sent back to the city of seven hills, Rome.
      • This is not the best answer. Figuratively there is come truth in it, but really the whole world will be caught up in the coming judgment.

     

     

  8. Who are the 'chosen' in verse fourteen?
    1. Right Answer!Those that have believed the invitation, and have given themselves over to God.
      • Yes, but it is very important to understand that it is not us that choose God, but God that chooses us. God has invited everyone, and anyone, to come, but only those that HE accepts will be allowed to stay. Now I know that the prevalent teaching of our day says that all we have to do is choose to follow Jesus and then all of the blessings of the Bible are ours, but this is simply not true.
      • This idea that salvation is free is wrong. It cost the Lord God Almighty the suffering and life of his Son, Jesus Christ, and it will cost you everything that you have. It is the most expensive and most valuable thing you can ever have.
    2. The Israelites, God's chosen people.
      • No, the Israelites were the ones that were invited, but didn't want to go. They are the ones, for whom the banquet was prepared, but they were found to be unworthy of it and so others were invited, and those that were found to be worthy were accepted.
    3. Moral men and women.
      • No, it is not a question of morality, but of faith in God.
    4. Those that are eager for God so they are first in line for the party.
      • No, zeal is fine, if it is in accordance with wisdom and truth.
      • Romans 10:1-2
        Brothers, my heart's desire and prayer to God for the Israelites is that they may be saved. 2 For I can testify about them that they are zealous for God, but their zeal is not based on knowledge. (NIV)
      • There are many people that strongly believe that they are serving God, but have been deceived. I don't think that there has ever been a bunch that was more zealous for God than those that crucified the Lord Jesus Christ. Just because a person, or a "church" is zealous, doesn't mean that they know anything about God. But we who do love and obey God should be bubbling over with excitement over God.
      • Romans 12:11
        Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. (NIV)

     

     

    Questions about Matthew 2:1-13

  9. What does Jesus mean by saying that at 'that' time it will be...in verse 25:1?
    1. Right Answer!He referring to his previous parable, so the time is the time when the Master returns to his servants.
      • Yes, Jesus is still talking about what will happen when he returns. People tend to get myopic about the return of the Lord. They think that he is coming and there will be the "rapture" and that is that, but this is not true. Many things will come to completion at that time.
    2. Jesus means that at the time of the Great Judgment day there will be those that are united to him and those that will be rejected.
      • No, Jesus is not talking about the great judgment day.
    3. He means at the time that the original invited guests rejected God's offer of the wedding banquet.
      • No, see (a.) above.
    4. He means at the time of the 'end of the world.'
      • No, this is not about the end of the world. The end of the world will come only after God's whole plan is compete, that is, after everything in the Bible is fulfilled at its appointed time.

     

     

  10. What is the meaning of the oil in the virgin's lamps?
    1. Right Answer!The oil is symbolic of the Holy Spirit, so those that have the Holy Spirit inside them will be taken when the bridegroom comes.
      • Yes, this is very important. All ten virgins thought that they were going, and all expected to go. Think about this. All were going to church and had been baptized and such, but only those with oil in their lamps went.
      • Now some teach that a person comes to the Lord through the waters of baptism, and then later they are filled with the Holy Spirit in the "Baptism of the Holy Ghost" and those that are "filled with the Spirit" are the real Christians, or some such. This is not true.
      • Our union with God is like a human marriage. You are either married or not. If you are truly united to God, then God, by his Spirit of Christ, has entered into you. If God has entered into you through Christ then you have oil in your lamp. This is very much like the physical consummation of the human marriage through the sexual union of the marriage bed. When the husband, (who is symbolic for God), enters the wife that he loves, then the union is said to be consummated. The wife, (who is symbolic for mankind), is one flesh with her husband. They are no longer two, but one. Now the union with God is Spirit. When God enters into a person with his Spirit, then God and that person become one spirit with each other.
      • John 3:5-7
        Jesus answered, "I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. 6 Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. 7 You should not be surprised at my saying, "You must be born again.' (NIV)
      • A person is either united to God or not. The virgins that needed oil only thought that they were united to God. They had the form, but not the substance.
      • Now, thinking that a bunch of people that think that they are Christians, but are not, might be a frightening thought for a lot of people. It is good for you to be a little afraid.
      • Matthew 10:28
        Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell. (NIV)
      • I know that there is a zillion people out there that are telling you that you can confess the Scriptures and be saved, but they are wrong. This Bible is not a lawbook that we can stand there and point out passages to God and say, "See you said..."
      • The Bible does not mean what you think it means, but what God thinks it means.
      • If you truly seek for God, with an honest and sincere heart, God will reveal himself to you. God wants to be found by you. But God is who he is; you must seek Him. You must conform your thinking to what he reveals to you from the Bible.
    2. Oil was used in ancient times to make yourself look clean and fresh, so only those that are properly dressed for the party will be allowed to go with the bridegroom when he comes.
      • No, it is not about personal appearance.
    3. Oil was burned in lamps in ancient times to provide light, so only those that speak the Word of God to light the world will get to go with the bridegroom when he comes.
      • This one has an element of truth to it, but it is not the best answer.
    4. The only time that people could read the Bible was at night, when they couldn't work the crops, so only those wise enough to by oil for there lamps would come to truly know the Lord.
      • No, but this one makes me smile.

     

     

  11. What is meant by the cry coming at midnight?
    1. The Lord Jesus Christ will come a midnight.
      • No, the Lord will come to those all around the world, so for some it may in fact be a t midnight, but for others it may be at noon.
    2. The Lord Jesus Christ will come to a world shrouded in darkness.
      • No, this is not the true meaning of what is said in the parable.
    3. Right Answer!It just means that it will be at an unexpected time, a time long past when you might expect a guest to arrive.
      • Yes, this is the best answer.
    4. It means that only those that are diligently studying there Bibles long into the night will be away to hear the call.
      • No, a person need not be physically awake to hear the call of God. The references to being awake at the time of the Lord's Coming mean that you must be active and conscious of your faith in God. It must be a living thing, not a custom.

     

     

  12. What did the Master mean when he told the late comers "I tell you the truth, I don't know you."?
    1. Right Answer!They were never among the Master's household, that is, they were never really Christians.
      • Yes, this is what it means.
      • Matthew 7:21-23
        "Not everyone who says to me, "Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me on that day, "Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?' 23 Then I will tell them plainly, "I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!' (NIV)
      • We see the same thing here. These people thought that they were really zealous for God, but they had no part of God. Jesus will tell them plainly, "I never knew you." Oh, my friends think about what this means.
    2. Those whom the Lord rejects are soon forgotten by all.
      • No, they are not forgotten. It says that he NEVER knew them.
    3. Because they could not now be the bride, they could only be the hired help, so they were beneath the Master's notice.
      • This answer couldn't be more wrong. The idea that he "hired help" would be beneath the Master's notice is ridiculous.
      • John 13:3-5
        Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; 4 so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. 5 After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples' feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him. (NIV)
    4. God will pretend not to know the Christians that were asleep at his coming.
      • No, God will not leave a single Christian behind, nor will he pretend not to know someone that he knows.

     

     

  13. The final warning to keep watch, what does that mean?
    1. Only those people that are awake, and actively looking up and down the street for the Lord when he comes, will be accepted.
      • No, you don't have to be physically awake at his coming. Think of it like a human marriage. If you are married and always keep that thought in the front of your mind, I mean, that you consider your marriage a holy thing and will never discount it and start looking outside the marriage. Being awake at the Lord's Coming is like that. You must always have the Lord in the forefront of your mind and you must always be faithful to him. Your union to God through Jesus Christ must be the most important thing in the world to you.
    2. The people must not forget that the Lord is Coming, so they must go to church and be good Christians.
      • Christianity is not about observing customs, but is a real and active relationship with God through Jesus Christ. It is no less real that the relationship that a person has with their spouse.
      • A relationship with God is not about going through the motions. It is about love. Loving God drives us to please him. Because we love God we unconsciously do the little things that please him. Again it is very must like a human marriage. In a marriage your spouse doesn't want you to go through the motions like you were happily married, but your spouse wants you to love them, unconditionally. They want you to love them so much that you will unconsciously do the little things that please them, because this pleases them.
      • It is not about rules. Doing the "do's" and not doing the "don'ts" is meaningless. It is about knowing God and loving the one you know. It is all very simple, but it is not simple to put into words.
    3. The Christians must invest the money that the Lord has given them, so that they will have abundant money to give for the spreading of the gospel message, if not then the Lord will forget them.
      • I think that the TV preacher think that this one is true, but the kingdom of God is not about money.
    4. Right Answer!It means that we must always keep awake to the truth, that is, we must not allow error to confuse the truth of the gospel, so that we will be prepared when he comes.
      • This is the best answer.

     

     

    Questions about Revelation 19:6-9

  14. Relative to Daniel's 70th week, when is it that the Lord begins to reign?
    1. At the start of the seven years.
      • No, it is clearly seen that the Lord comes at the last trumpet, that is, the seventh trumpet, so it is clear that the Lord comes after the other six trumpets. The Lord does not come at the beginning, but in the middle.
    2. Right Answer!In the middle of the seven years.
      • Yes, this is correct.
    3. At the end of the seven years.
      • No. The Lord does come as Israel's deliverer at the end, but he comes to gather his body the church at the midpoint, right after the abomination that causes desolation sign. When he comes it will be as the reigning King. He will take the scepter of iron and dash the nations to pieces.
    4. The Lord started he reign the day that he was resurrected.
      • No, this is not true. Jesus did receive all power and authority at that time, but he did not choose to assume his power and authority at that time. It is a mistake to assume that because he had the authority to reign that he did.
      • Revelation 11:17
        "We give thanks to you, Lord God Almighty, the One who is and who was, because you have taken your great power and have begun to reign. (NIV)
      • Jesus had the power, but he will not begin to reign until the seventh trumpet is sounded. Today he works though he body the Church, but then he himself will come from heaven to the earth and assume his right to reign.

     

     

  15. In the text is the time that the Lord reigns, the same as the time for the wedding?
    1. Right Answer!Yes.
      • Yes, both the wedding and the reigning occur at the same time.
    2. No.
      • This is not the right answer. The Lord does come from heaven and gathers up the believers for the wedding banquet, and we shall be with the Lord as he reigns over the earth from the spirit realm.
      • Psalm 2:9
        You will rule them with an iron scepter; you will dash them to pieces like pottery." (NIV)
      • This is speaking of the Lord and he will dash the nations to pieces like pottery with the iron scepter. This is quoted in Revelation 19:15 and so we know when it will be fulfilled.
      • Revelation 19:15
        Out of his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. "He will rule them with an iron scepter." He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty. (NIV)
      • And we see in this next passage that the same promise is made to the Church. The church will be with Jesus as he removes all rebellion from the earth, and we will be with him at the marriage banquet. We must understand that time is meaningless in heaven. Our being held in time makes some passages in the Bible a little hard to understand.
      • Revelation 2:26-27
        To him who overcomes and does my will to the end, I will give authority over the nations -- 27 "He will rule them with an iron scepter; he will dash them to pieces like pottery' -- just as I have received authority from my Father. (NIV)

     

     

  16. Is there a connection between the time for the wedding and the fact that the bride has made herself ready?
    1. Right Answer!Yes.
      • Yes, this is important too. We, the Church, must make ourselves ready for our husband.
      • Hebrews 10:13-14
        Since that time he waits for his enemies to be made his footstool, 14 because by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy. (NIV)
      • Do you see what this says? Jesus will wait in heaven until the Church is made perfect and holy through what he did on the cross.
      • Revelation 12:10-11
        Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say: "Now have come the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Christ. For the accuser of our brothers, who accuses them before our God day and night, has been hurled down. 11 They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death. (NIV)
      • He will stay in heaven until his bride makes herself ready.
      • This is fulfilled at the time that Jesus comes from heaven to the earth. Notice that it says that Satan and his angels are defeated by the blood of the Lamb, that is, by what Jesus did on the cross, and by the word of the church's testimony, that is, by the righteous obedience of the church. At this point the people in the church, it is said, would rather die than break the covenant with God in Christ.
    2. No.
      • See (a.) above.

     

     

  17. While the wedding supper of the Lamb is going on in heaven, what is going on on the earth?
    1. Everyone that was not invited to the wedding is instantly killed.
      • No, what we see in the remainder of the chapter, and in chapter twenty, will come to pass.
    2. It will be a time of great distress, unequaled since the beginning of time.
      • Yes, this is true, but it is not the best answer.
    3. They will be in the 'fiery furnace', that is, on earth with the beast, and the false prophet.
      • This is also true, but it is not the best answer.
    4. Listening to the two witnesses of Revelation chapter eleven.
      • No, this is not true. The two witnesses operate during the first half of the seven years only. They are taken up in the "rapture" with the rest of the true church. This is what is seen in Revelation 11:11-12.
    5. Right Answer!Both (b.) and (c.) but not (d.).
      • This is the best answer.

     

     

  18. What things happen at the same time as the wedding supper of the Lamb takes place?
    1. The Lord comes from heaven and begins to reign.
    2. The beast is given three and a half years to operate on the earth.
    3. The 144,000 start their three and a half years of being hidden from Satan.
    4. The two witnesses of Revelation chapter eleven are killed, but then come back to life.
    5. Right Answer!All of the above start at about the same time.

 

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