Lighting Our Lamps for the Day of Visitation*

      We are seeing signs in the current events today that make us aware that the return of Jesus Christ is near, especially as tensions mount in the Middle East. Scripture talks about foreigners who could read the spiritual signs while the people of God couldn't or wouldn't see them. At the birth of Jesus, the magi from the East followed the sign of a special star in the heavens that they knew would lead them to a new King. They followed the sign to Bethlehem, where they found the Messiah/Christ. Herod, a foreign-born king, recognized the signs and had all of the babies and children of Bethlehem killed to prevent the rise of the new King that might threaten his throne. Why didn't the religious leaders of the day recognize the same signs?

     Jesus wept over Jerusalem because they had not recognized the time of their saving visitation by the Son of God. As a result, the city would see great destruction. Jesus said that if His disciples were silenced from delivering the news of the visitation of the Son of God, "the stones would immediately cry out." (Lk. 19:40-44). The stones recognized their King even if His people refused to recognize the signs. The Fall Feasts of the LORD, the set and appointed times, are approaching. Jesus fulfilled the spring feasts with His first coming. He will fulfill the fall feasts with the events of His return, such as the resurrection of the dead, the rapture, the marriage supper of the Lamb, and more.

     Jesus also told the parable of the five wise and five foolish virgins. Although all ten slept, the five wise virgins had prepared their lamps with oil for the imminent return of the Bridegroom (Christ), while the five foolish virgins had not prepared any oil for their lamps. When the cry went out at midnight that the Bridegroom was coming, the five wise virgins lighted their lamps and went out to meet Him. The unprepared five foolish virgins had to acquire oil for their lamps first: "And while they went out 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 scripture, the door is shut that encloses God's people until the judgment and indignation has passed, as we see with Noah (see Gen. 7:13-17), and in Isa. 26:20.

     Scripture says that the Bride of Christ, the believers, should prepare itself for the marriage supper that is coming: "Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready. And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of the saints. And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God." (Rev. 19:7-9).

   

     Jewish marriage customs require a time of preparation, where the Bride prepares or makes her wedding garment, and the Groom prepares a place to bring His Bride. The linen of the Bride is seen again in the linen Shroud in which Jesus was laid after His death that became smeared with His sacrificial blood. The fall Feasts begin with the marriage supper. As far as can be determined from scripture, there is nothing that must come before it. The people of God must be prepared for their visitation with their lamps lit.

     The lighted lamps of the saints are very important. As Peter wrote, we have been called out of darkness and into His marvelous light for a reason. We, as living stones like Christ who was raised from the dead, lead others to Christ by that light. Our works must be righteous "that whereas they speak against you as evil-doers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation." We are not to be pulled back into darkness, or pulled aside, by the lusts that draw us into that darkness. (see 1 Pet. 2:4-12, excerpt).

     Jesus is the Word and Light of creation, and the light of life in every man: "...the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. He came unto his own, and his own received him not. But as many as received him, to them he gave power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name....(and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth...And of his fulness have we all received, and grace for grace." (Jn. 1:1-16, excerpt). 

   

     His own people missed the day of visitation, but to those who recognize that visitation, they are incorporated into (the fulness of) Christ's light, glory, grace and truth. Jesus prayed before going to the cross that He had given us His glory, the same glory that He had with the Father. We carry that shining glory, having our lamps lit, to show others the way to that same salvation.

     Jesus explained the characteristic of this light: "...this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, that his deeds should be reproved. But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God." (Jn. 3:14-21, excerpt). Evil men love the darkness and reject the light. Men of truth love the light.

     John the Baptist gave this testimony about Jesus Christ: "He that hath the bride is the bridegroom: but the friend of the bridegroom, which standeth and heareth him, rejoiceth greatly because of the bridegroom's voice: this my (the Baptist's) joy therefore is fulfilled...He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him." (v. 29-36, excerpt). We are reminded here through John's testimony of the parable of the five wise and five foolish virgins above. We are not meant for the wrath of God if we believe that the Son saves.

     The apostle John, in his first Epistle, once again mentions that what existed from the beginning: "...we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life; (For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and shew unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us;) That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ. And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full." (1 Jn. 1:1-4).

     John wanted to "shew", declare and write to others that they might have the same experience with Christ, the Word of life, and the same fellowship with him, John, and with the Father and the Son, "...whose blood cleanses us from all sin.". What John is writing and sharing is the multiplication of light and truth to others. This fellowship with God and other believers is found by walking in the light, and not the darkness.

     

     Sin destroyed the fellowship with God that man had in the Garden, and Jesus restored that fellowship as the sacrifice that covers that sin. John wrote that if we say we have no sin, then not only are we liars, but we make Christ a liar. This is the darkness, and not the truth. Darkness is not in God, but He is light. John wrote to assure us of this truth: "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." (v. 5-9, excerpt). He also wrote that "...if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous." (1 Jn. 2:1).

     If the church is afraid to identify sin as sin, then we are not walking in truth or light, and we prevent others from finding that same fellowship with the Father and the Son that John has witnessed and experienced and wants others to also.

     John wrote further that if we keep Christ's commandments, it is known that we know Him. If we keep His word, the love of God is perfected in us. If we love our brother, we abide in the light and we will not stumble....We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death. (1 Jn. 2:2-11, 1 Jn. 3:14). Who is our brother that we should love him? Jesus, in His parable about the Good Samaritan, revealed the sin of ethnic or racial hatred in God's people, and pointed out that it is the one whom we least esteem for these reasons that exhibits the true righteousness of the heart of God.

     John wrote that it is love that made us sons of God: "Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not...And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure." (1 Jn. 3:1-3).

     If you do not love your brethren, are you ready for the day of visitation? Jesus said the two most important commandments incorporate all of the commandments of the Law as well as the prophets: Love God with all your heart, and love your neighbor as yourself.

     Isaiah wrote that it is woe to them that decree unrighteousness and grievousness, who take justice from the poor, the widows and the fatherless. To those who do this, the prophet asked: "And what will ye do in the day of visitation, and in the desolation which shall come from far? to whom will ye flee for help? and where will ye leave your glory?" (Isa. 10:1-3). The prophet Jeremiah also asked those who falsely think they are wise even though they have rejected the word of the LORD: "Were they ashamed when they had committed abomination? nay, they were not at all ashamed, neither could they blush: therefore shall they fall among them that fall: in the time of their visitation they shall be cast down, saith the LORD." (Jer. 8:8-12, excerpt).

     The signs all point to the fact that the Lord is coming soon. The day of His visitation is near. We, the Body of Christ, are called like John above to preach and share the truth and light of the Gospel of the forgiveness of sin and restored fellowship with the Father and the Son through His sacrificed blood given for us. If we confess our sin, He is faithful to forgive us and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness!

*Based upon Dr. Kenneth E. Stevenson, Jr.'s 8/24/25 message to the church. If you would like to hear the complete message, you can find it on the Facebook page of Kenneth E. Stevenson Jr. Dr. Stevenson's video messages are also found on You Tube at the Kenneth Stevenson channel. To contact or support this ministry, or to request prayer, you can write to PO Box 154221, Waco, TX, 76705. To find out more about the Shroud of Turin, and to receive a free e-book now available in several languages, go to http://www.theshroudofturin.org/freebook. Also the book NAZAH: White Linen and the Blood of Sprinkling is available on Amazon.