Our next parable is about the kingdom of heaven. Remember, this is referencing the literal, physical kingdoms of the earth.
Matthew 22:1-14 - And Jesus answered and spake unto them again by parables, and said, The kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain king, which made a marriage for his son, And sent forth his servants to call them that were bidden to the wedding: and they would not come. Again, he sent forth other servants, saying, Tell them which are bidden, Behold, I have prepared my dinner: my oxen and my fatlings are killed, and all things are ready: come unto the marriage. But they made light of it, and went their ways, one to his farm, another to his merchandise: And the remnant took his servants, and entreated them spitefully, and slew them. But when the king heard thereof, he was wroth: and he sent forth his armies, and destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city. Then saith he to his servants, The wedding is ready, but they which were bidden were not worthy. Go ye therefore into the highways, and as many as ye shall find, bid to the marriage. So those servants went out into the highways, and gathered together all as many as they found, both bad and good: and the wedding was furnished with guests. And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment: And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless. Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. For many are called, but few are chosen.
There is another story (note that the Bible doesn't say this one is a parable) that appears coincides with this one in Matthew 25.
Matther 25:1-13 - 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.
In this one, the virgins are waiting for the bridegroom. These women are allowed to attend the wedding because they were watching for his coming. This has been explained to me as a mid-tribulation rapture. These virgins are actively watching for the Lord to come so they can attend the wedding of Jesus Christ to His bride, the Church. They are guests at the wedding.
Luke 14:7-14- And he put forth a parable to those which were bidden, when he marked how they chose out the chief rooms; saying unto them, When thou art bidden of any man to a wedding, sit not down in the highest room; lest a more honourable man than thou be bidden of him; And he that bade thee and him come and say to thee, Give this man place; and thou begin with shame to take the lowest room. But when thou art bidden, go and sit down in the lowest room; that when he that bade thee cometh, he may say unto thee, Friend, go up higher: then shalt thou have worship in the presence of them that sit at meat with thee. For whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.
Let's look at where this verse is quoted from in the Old Testament.
Proverbs 25:6-7- Put not forth thyself in the presence of the king, and stand not in the place of great men: For better it is that it be said unto thee, Come up hither; than that thou shouldest be put lower in the presence of the prince whom thine eyes have seen.
"Come up hither" is what is said to John in Revelation when he is raptured to heaven. This phrase is only used three times in the Bible, and two are specifically referencing someone getting called up to heaven.
This one is saying it's better to be called before the king than to be put lower in the presence off the prince. Almost like it's saying it's better to be called to heaven before God than to be left humbled by the reign of the AntiChrist.
The parable in Matthew 22 talks about a wedding, but this one is different. Those who are originally bidden are not worthy, and they even kill some of the servants that are sent to call them. Sound familiar? One would think these original guests were the nation of Israel. They that slew the prophets because they didn't want to repent of their backslidings.
However, God found the original guests unworthy, and so He destroys them and calls others. You have to notice that these guests are all given wedding garments. These guests have to attend in the proper apparel. That gives us a small clue as to who these guests are.
Zephaniah 1:7-8- Hold thy peace at the presence of the Lord GOD: for the day of the LORD is at hand: for the LORD hath prepared a sacrifice, he hath bid his guests. And it shall come to pass in the day of the LORD'S sacrifice, that I will punish the princes, and the king's children, and all such as are clothed with strange apparel.
The day of the Lord's Sacrifice is the Second Advent. When Christ comes back with the armies of heaven to destroy the AntiChrist and set up His millennial kingdom.
These guests are the humans who have endured to the end of the Tribulation and survived without taking the Mark of the Beast. The Bible says there will be very few humans left alive in that condition.
During the Tribulation, God will send His servants to witness to the people living in the world. And the AntiChrist will have them killed. So, Jesus will come back and wipe those wicked people out and invite all those who refused to submit to the devil's demands to enter into His kingdom.
But there's a catch. They have to accept Him as their King. There was a guest who didn't put on the proper apparel, and He was cast into outer darkness for this.
That sounds pretty harsh, doesn't it? We don't see what the Lord sees. There was rebellion in that person's heart. And during the Millennium, God won't tolerate rebellion.
