Learn From the Illustration of the Talents

WHEN WILL THE MASTER COME? 

Jesus said:  "After a long time, the master of those slaves came and settled accounts with them." (Matthew 25:19) The Master, Jesus, will do this toward the end of the great tribulation.  How do we know that? In his prophecy found in Matthew chapters 24 and 25, Jesus said many times that he is coming.  For example, he said that people "will see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven." This refers to the time during the great tribulation when Jesus will judge people.  He also warned his followers living in the time of the end to be watchful.  He said:  "You do not know on what day your Lord is coming" and, "The Son of man is coming at an hour that you do not think to be it." (Matthew 24:30, 42, 44)   So in the parable of the talents, Jesus was also referring to the time when he will come to judge people and destroy Satan's world." 

When the master came back from his journey, he saw that the slave with the five talents had earned five more and the slave with two talents had earned two more.  The master  told each one of them: "Well done, good and faithful slave!  You were faithful over a few things.  I will appoint you over many things." (Matthew 25:21, 23)  What will the Master, Jesus do when he comes in the future? 

Just as before the great tribulation, God will give his final approval to the hardworking anointed ones who are still on earth at that time.  This is their final sealing.  (Revelation 7:1-3) Then, before Armageddon, Jesus will reward them by raising them to heaven. But what about those with the hope of living on earth who supported  the anointed in the preaching work?  They will have been judged as sheep. And they will be rewarded with life on earth under the rule of God's Kingdom.-Matthew 25:34. 

Next time: Learn From the Illustration of the Talents - A WICKED AND LAZY SLAVE

From the  Watchtower magazine, 2015