Page 112 - Eschatology - Student Ebook

what they promised. Believers can be hypocrites as well if they say they love Jesus but do not serve Him
faithfully.
The third phrase tells us that in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. “Gnashing of
teeth” in the culture of Jesus’ day meant a display of strong emotion of either anger and hatred or
strong remorse. For instance, the religious leaders gnashed their teeth at Stephen.

Acts 7:54 (NIV84)54 When they heard this, they were furious and gnashed their teeth at him.

When the word “gnashing” is linked with “weeping” it means there will be great remorse for past
actions of unfaithfulness. The Bible does sometimes, in some contexts, use these words to describe
people in hell, where they will weep and gnash their teeth in great remorse for missed opportunities.
But be careful not to conclude that all weeping and gnashing of teeth in the Bible is always talking only
about hell. Be careful not to conclude that the master, in this illustration, sent the unfaithful servant to
hell. Jesus is not saying that in this context at all. There is no mention of hell or eternal death. Jesus is
simply describing the remorse on the part of the unfaithful servant when he is scolded by the master
and his privileges and responsibilities are removed from him.

The unfaithful servants are not sent to judgment with the unbelievers. They are believers who have
been given the gift of eternal life but who have not faithfully served Jesus Christ. Therefore, they have
forfeited eternal rewards they could have had.

The primary interpretation and application of this passage is that believers living during this time period,
who cease to faithfully serve God, will suffer the loss of rewards they could have received and will rather
be scolded by Jesus. They, however, will not ever lose the gift of eternal life.

The secondary application is that all believers alive at any time will stand before Jesus Christ someday
for an evaluation of their faithfulness to Him. This will happen at the Judgment Seat of Christ. If we have
been faithful stewards of the opportunities given to us Jesus will reward us for all of eternity. If we were
unfaithful stewards, He will scold us, and we will lose the rewards we could have had. We will discuss
this application more deeply later.

Therefore, believers living during the Tribulation period need to “watch”, to be prepared and not grow
weary while waiting. (v. 42) They need to endure in faithfulness.

Parable of the Ten Virgins
Jesus talked about the need for wisdom while waiting for future events, by telling a parable about ten
virgins who are waiting to meet the bridegroom.

Matthew 25:1–13 (NIV84)1 “At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took
their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. 2 Five of them were foolish and five were wise.
3 The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them. 4 The wise, however, took
oil in jars along with their lamps. 5 The bridegroom was a long time in coming, and they all
became drowsy and fell asleep. 6 “At midnight the cry rang out: ‘Here’s the bridegroom! Come out
to meet him!’ 7 “Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps. 8 The foolish ones said to
the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out.’ 9 “ ‘No,’ they replied, ‘there may not
be enough for both us and you. Instead, go to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.’ 10
“But while they were on their way to buy the oil, the bridegroom arrived. The virgins who were

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