The Trimming Time: Preparing for Christ’s Return

This sermon presents a fresh perspective on the parable of the ten virgins in Matthew 25, focusing particularly on the concept of “trimming” the lamps. The pastor argues that while Adventist history identifies the “tarrying time” with the summer of 1844, we are currently living in an extended tarrying time that continues to this day. The central message emphasizes that believers must enter a “trimming time” – a period of spiritual preparation where they cut away pride, idleness, and superficial religiosity that dims their spiritual light. Drawing parallels between how ancient oil lamps required regular trimming to remove soot buildup and maintain brightness, the sermon calls for Christians to remove obstacles preventing the Holy Spirit from flowing freely in their lives. The pastor identifies pride as the fundamental issue plaguing the modern church, particularly within Adventism, along with a “fullness of bread” (abundance of teaching without substance) and idleness (treating ministry as a career rather than service). The sermon concludes with an urgent call to prepare now, before the testing time comes, by allowing God to reveal and remove whatever hinders spiritual growth.

Key Points:

  • The parable of the ten virgins applies not just to 1844 but to our current time as an extended “tarrying time”
  • All ten virgins trimmed their lamps, indicating the universal need for spiritual preparation
  • Trimming removes the soot of pride, selfishness, and sin that prevents the Holy Spirit from flowing freely
  • Pride is identified as the single most fundamental issue in the church today, particularly the Laodicean condition
  • The three sins of Sodom – pride, fullness of bread, and abundance of idleness – characterize the modern church
  • Ministry should be understood as service for all believers, not merely as a professional career
  • The “fullness of bread” represents abundance of teaching without nutritional substance, filled with human opinion rather than pure Word
  • Trimming means adorning and beautifying the lamp to shine brightest when Christ returns
  • The sequence is: tarrying time, trimming time, then testing time
  • Believers must begin the trimming process now rather than waiting until the final crisis

Scripture References from the Sermon

Explicitly Mentioned or Read:

  1. Isaiah 55:11-12 – “So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth. It shall not return unto me void…”

  2. Matthew 25:1-13 – The Parable of the Ten Virgins (primary text of the sermon)

    • Matthew 25:1-4 – Introduction to the ten virgins
    • Matthew 25:5 – “While the bridegroom tarried”
    • Matthew 25:6 – “At midnight there was a cry made”
    • Matthew 25:7 – “All those virgins arose and trimmed their lamps”

  3. Psalm 119:105 – “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path”

  4. Habakkuk 2:3 – “Though it tarry, wait for it” (mentioned in context of Millerite movement)

  5. Ezekiel 16:49 – “Behold, this was the iniquity of thy sister Sodom: pride, fullness of bread, and abundance of idleness”

  6. Matthew 4:4 – “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word”

Relevant Verses Aligned with Main Themes:

  1. Revelation 3:14-22 – Laodicean church message (pride and spiritual condition)

  2. Proverbs 16:18 – “Pride goeth before destruction”

  3. 1 Peter 5:5-6 – Humility and pride

  4. Matthew 24:42-44 – Watchfulness for Christ’s return

  5. Joel 2:28-32 – Outpouring of the Holy Spirit

  6. Acts 2:17-21 – Promise of the Spirit in last days

  7. Matthew 5:14-16 – “Let your light so shine”

  8. Philippians 2:15 – “Shine as lights in the world”

  9. 2 Corinthians 7:1 – Cleansing ourselves from all filthiness

  10. 1 John 3:2-3 – Purifying ourselves as He is pure