Sermons on Selected Lessons of the New Testament

⁸ “Lo, at midnight there was a cry made.” What is, “at midnight”? When there is no expectation, no belief at all of it. Night is put for ignorance. A man makes as it were a calculation with himself: “Lo, so many years have passed since Adam, and the six thousand years are being completed, and then immediately according to the computation of certain expositors, the Day of Judgment will come;” yet these calculations come and pass away, and still the coming of the Bridegroom is delayed, and the virgins who had gone to meet him sleep. And, lo, when He is not looked for, when men are saying, “The six thousand years were waited for, and, lo, they are gone by, how then shall we know when He will come?” He will come at midnight. What is, “will come at midnight”? Will come when you are not aware. Why will He come when you are not aware of it? Hear the Lord Himself, “It is not for you to know the times or the seasons which the Lord has put in His own power.” “The day of the Lord,” says the Apostle, “will come as a thief in the night.” Therefore watch by night that you be not surprised by the thief. For the sleep of death— will you, or nill ye— it will come.