Luke 19:10 For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.
Sometimes we get confused, thinking the Son of man has come to condemn sin. Rebuking sin is not the same as condemning sin. Remember the word of the Lord was balanced, you are to rebuke sin and you are also to forgive those that repent.
11 And as they heard these things, he added and spake a parable, because he was nigh to Jerusalem, and because they thought that the kingdom of God should immediately appear.
That is where we are right now. All these signs and prophetic fulfillments tell us we are nigh to Jerusalem. That means we are right next door. Also everyone thinks the rapture should immediately appear.
12 He said therefore, A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom, and to return.
Jesus is this certain nobleman, and He is the one we are looking for to return.
13 And he called his ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds, and said unto them, Occupy till I come.
This is what you and I have been assigned. Whether or not you focus daily on prophetic fulfillment and the signs of the Lord's coming, what is essential is that every day you are "occupying till the Lord comes". The word means to carry on a business, or more particularly, to carry on the business of a banker or a trader.
14 But his citizens hated him, and sent a message after him, saying, We will not have this man to reign over us.
This was clearly the message that the Jewish leaders sent when they crucified Him.
15 And it came to pass, that when he was returned, having received the kingdom, then he commanded these servants to be called unto him, to whom he had given the money, that he might know how much every man had gained by trading.
Are you a servant of the Lord? If so the Lord has given you a talent that you were to trade. George Mueller ran an orphanage in Britain, he was given faith in one verse: seek first the kingdom of heaven and all these things will be added unto you. He put his faith in that verse and that was the cornerstone of his orphanage. I also have been given faith in one verse: 3 In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. My desire from the time I first got saved was to be able to read the Bible. I was in a Christian group where this one man expounded on the Bible and everyone took his exposition as the way to understand the Bible and without his speaking they were afraid to speak. I had no issue with him and his interpretation, but I wanted to be able to read the Bible for myself just like I was reading any other book.
16 Then came the first, saying, Lord, thy pound hath gained ten pounds.
I find I had forgotten that the people who refused to let the Lord reign over them were also in this parable. Since this is Luke I don't think that refers to the Jews, I think this refers to the apostasy which has left the word of God and refuses to let the word of God reign over the church. Jesus is the incarnated word of God, so if you decide you don't need to let certain verses reign over the church you have rejected Jesus reigning over you.
17 And he said unto him, Well, thou good servant: because thou hast been faithful in a very little, have thou authority over ten cities.
Zacchaeus was a chief publican, that means he was a leader over the city. Jesus is replacing the evil overlords with the holy apostles and prophets who have been washed in the water of the word and sanctified by the Holy Spirit. It is a meritocracy. If you can turn one pound into ten, then you can have authority over ten cities. Remember, it is the Lord's pound, His word which is likened to gold. And all that you have done must be one with the Holy Spirit and something that the Lord gave you permission to do.
18 And the second came, saying, Lord, thy pound hath gained five pounds. 19 And he said likewise to him, Be thou also over five cities.
We have this term "the Peter Principle" which means people are promoted beyond what they are capable of so that all the people at the top of an organization are in over their head. The Lord does not operate on that principle. If you are capable of overseeing ten cities then so be it, if you are capable of five cities then both you and the cities will prefer you keep it to five.
20 And another came, saying, Lord, behold, here is thy pound, which I have kept laid up in a napkin: 21 For I feared thee, because thou art an austere man: thou takest up that thou layedst not down, and reapest that thou didst not sow.
This is the only guy with an excuse. He was given the talent and told what to do with it and yet he buried it and did nothing. By itself it is simply lazy, but once you start trying to justify this then it is evil and wicked. The only way he can justify his lack of action is by condemning the Lord.
22 And he saith unto him, Out of thine own mouth will I judge thee, thou wicked servant. Thou knewest that I was an austere man, taking up that I laid not down, and reaping that I did not sow: 23 Wherefore then gavest not thou my money into the bank, that at my coming I might have required mine own with usury?
It is hard to speak the word of God. You get attacked, mocked, ridiculed, slandered, scoffed at, etc. However, it is easy to share the word of God with other believers. It is just as easy as taking your paycheck and giving it to the bank. That is what Christians do. Each one of us, at the very least should be sharing our testimony with other believers.
24 And he said unto them that stood by, Take from him the pound, and give it to him that hath ten pounds.
25 (And they said unto him, Lord, he hath ten pounds.)
LOL. This is what the guy said with his own mouth, with what measure you measure it will be measured to you again.
26 For I say unto you, That unto every one which hath shall be given; and from him that hath not, even that he hath shall be taken away from him.
Isn't it interesting that in this account of this parable each person was given one pound. In other versions you receive according to your ability, but in this everyone gets the same. We all got the Bible, we all got the hymns, we all got the Holy Spirit, we all got the blood of Jesus. Now some claim that although this servant has the pound taken from him he is still raptured, just goes to heaven in poverty. If the pound represents the Holy Spirit does that make sense? If it represents the blood of Jesus does that make sense? This is a pound of gold, the word of God is likened to fine gold. This means the word of faith that was given to him is now taken from him. How are you going to heaven without a word of faith within you? Obviously there is no answer to this question in this parable, so I cannot answer it. But you should know that all those who are confidently affirming that he will still be raptured, that is simply based on their opinion, the Lord does not say that.
27 But those mine enemies, which would not that I should reign over them, bring hither, and slay them before me.
This is the apostasy. It reminds me of Elijah after fire fell and devoured the sacrifice he takes the prophets of Baal and slays them.
28 And when he had thus spoken, he went before, ascending up to Jerusalem.
This indicates the Lord's ascension takes place after the rapture.