the ten virgins

I want to briefly examine the parable of the ten virgins (Matthew 25:1-13).  For, that parable is especially relevant to the time in which we are now living.  Its meaning is vitally important to understand, as it essentially entails a severe warning to all professing Christians.  And though the lessons of that parable are not at all difficult to interpret or to comprehend, nevertheless, there remains--among Christians themselves, evidently, a great deal of ignorance and confusion concerning the meaning of that parable.


Importantly, Jesus related the parable of the ten virgins in the context of his lengthy discourse recorded in Matthew chapter 24.  The chapter break, between Matthew chapter 24 and chapter 25, can be somewhat misleading, especially, to the incautious reader.  Matthew chapter 24 consists of Jesus's answer to his disciples' question, wherein they asked Jesus, "What is the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world [Church Age]?"  Immediately after Jesus spoke at length regarding the time of his (second) coming, he continued to relate the parable we are now examining (I will leave it to you to familiarize yourself with the text of Scripture.)  The intimate connection of the parable of the ten virgins, with Jesus's instructions regarding how we may discern the time of his coming, is meant to emphasize the meaning and importance of the parable.

The most obvious--and important--question, it seems to me, is: Why would Jesus think it necessary to warn professing Christians, with regard to their need to be fully prepared to be received by Christ, at his appearing?  According to the contemporary 'gospel', the only meaningful "preparation" one needs to do, or even can do, is merely to "get your free ticket to heaven", so to speak.

"Do you want to go to heaven?" 

"Sure; who doesn't?" 

"Great!  Just say these magic words and then come and hang out at church with us whenever you can." 

"Uh, O.K.  What should I wear?"

"Whatever." 

"Well, then, what should I do?" 

"Just try to get other people to come and hang out with us.  We'll take care of the rest.  We have lots of cool programs, and activities for everybody to enjoy.  You'll really like it."

As a matter of fact, that kind of approach to Christianity--and the fact that such a cavalier attitude toward the things of God is now pervasive amongst the majority of Christian churches, Jesus said, would be one of the most significant signs of his soon return.

To begin with, the parable involves ten "virgins", all of which had "lamps".  All ten virgins "went forth to meet the bridegroom"; who is Jesus.  All ten virgins were carrying "lamps": "Thy word is a lamp unto my feet," the Bible says, in Psalm 119:105: it does not say that the Word of God is "like" a lamp, but that it "is" a lamp.  Thus it is evident that the parable is not contrasting the "saved" and the "un-saved," but it pertains to all those who profess to be followers of Jesus Christ.

All ten virgins "slept".  That is not some incidental embellishment, but its meaning is important to the parable.  Scripture emphatically warns that, just before Christ returns for the Church (at the Rapture), there would occur a phenomenal turning away (apostasy) from the truth of God--amongst professing Christians!  Truly, we have witnessed the (ongoing) occurrence of that Apostasy; which, it is no exaggeration to call "phenomenal".

The one thing which, Jesus said, shall determine who among professing Christians will ultimately and eternally be joined together with Jesus Christ in glory, is, whether or not one has "oil in [his or her] vessel":

"And five of them were wise, and five were foolish.  They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them: but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps."

In Scripture, "oil" is a metaphor for the Holy Spirit.  Just as a lamp without oil can give no light; likewise, without the presence and ministry of the Holy Spirit (the "oil") abiding within the life of the individual Christian, the words of Scripture (the "lamp") cannot thus illuminate the mind or the "path" of such an individual.

The "foolish" virgins "took" no oil with them.  There are many who profess to know God.  And there are many such, professing Christians, who may seem to have an interest in the Bible.  Yet, many of those, professing Christians, have no real desire for, much less do they demonstrate a genuine commitment to, a personal relationship with Jesus Christ--and on his terms.  In other words, they have no real interest to "take" unto themselves the Spirit of God.  Notwithstanding their outward expressions which suggest they are "religious," inwardly there is no sincere love of Jesus Christ, nor fear of God.  They may indeed appear to be virtuous (virgins); they may in fact possess certain knowledge of God's Word (they have "lamps"); yet, the Holy Spirit does not fill their "vessel" (the temple of their body).  Such persons will not be part of the Bride of Christ: they won't even be allowed to attend the "wedding".  Needless to say, they won't go in the Rapture.

Consider how the "wise" virgins replied, when the "foolish" virgins implored the "wise" virgins to share of their oil with them.  In a word, the wise virgins answered, "No; go and get your own oil."

Did Christ reproach the wise virgins, for giving such an answer to the foolish virgins?  He did not.  And just when did that verbal exchange occur, with respect to the sequence of events in the parable?  Was it before, or after, the virgins "went out" to meet the bridegroom?  It was before.  What might that mean, in the context of the parable?  Since that verbal exchange occurred before the virgins "went out" to "meet the bridegroom," it suggests, to my understanding, that that verbal exchange occurred before "the Rapture," as it were.

Now, it's getting deeper.

The "wise" virgins "went out" to "meet the bridegroom"; while the "foolish" virgins returned, ostensibly, to obtain oil.  Note, if you will, that the bridegroom did not come to the virgins, but they were commanded to "go ye out to meet him".  In preparation to "go out" to meet the bridegroom, they: 1) arose; and, 2) trimmed their lamps.

When did those wise virgins "arise"?  It was "at midnight"--the time, symbolically, of grossest darkness, when there went forth the cry: "Behold, the bridegroom cometh: go ye out to meet him!"

We are, right now! living in that time period.  And, truly, that very "cry" has gone forth from the Holy Ghost: "Behold [pay close attention!], the bridegroom cometh [Christ is coming]!  Go ye out to meet him!"

In another essay, I wrote briefly about the meaning of that phrase, "Go ye out".  I said it means to "go out," or to separate oneself, from worldly entanglements, distractions, and allurements.  It also means to "go out" from being a part of that "Babylonish" (worldly, apostate) religious system which masquerades as modern "Christianity".  Lastly, I wrote, that it means to "go out"--"of the box," so to speak; in other words, strive (through prayer and listening to the Holy Ghost) to discern every trap and snare of the devil, and to break free, not so much from "traditional" but, rather, from "conventional" (as in currently popular) ideas supposed to belong to Christianity: they are deadly, and very deceptive.

Upon hearing that cry of the Holy Ghost, above mentioned, the "wise" virgins "arose".  Believe me, there is a "rising up" which is occurring, right now, of the true Body of Christ.  God the Holy Ghost is raising up every child of God who will hear and obey the voice of the Lord.  Though there are times when we may personally feel isolated and alone, and the way ahead of us may appear strange--because, unfamiliar; yet, I am sure beyond any doubt that the Spirit of God is leading and preparing a People for the soon-appearing of Jesus Christ: a People who, already, are "going out" to meet Christ.

As they "arose," they also "trimmed their lamps."  Not many, today, are familiar with the old-fashioned oil lamps.  Those lamps consist of a pot of oil, in which the lower portion of a cotton wick is inserted, which draws oil upward from the pot of oil.  The flame, then, sits atop a short portion of exposed wick.  But after that the flame has burned for some time, the end of the wick becomes charred and, so, it does not then efficiently release the volatile vapors of the oil to fully sustain the flame.  "Trimming" a lamp means to clean (or even cut) away the carbon (the black, crusty) residue at the burnt end of the wick; which facilitates proper flow of oil within the wick and, thus, produces the fullest- and brightest-burning flame.

The "wise" virgins, therefore, are those Christians who are mindful to clean, or even to cut, away the "black, crusty" things out of their lives.  Those "black, crusty" things--in the context of preparing to "go out" to meet the bridegroom (or, getting ready for the Rapture), most certainly, is a reference to getting rid of all sin.  But "trimming" one's "lamp" further means, I believe, cleaning and cutting away every idea, every belief, and every practice which has anything to do with apostate "Christianity," so-called.  Those things which the Postmodern, new-Age "churches" have embraced, are repugnant to God, and they are destroying the churches.  It behooves true Christians, therefore, to identify and to reject every such idea, belief, and practice: in order that one's "wick" (spirit) may be clean and fresh, so that the "oil" of the God's Spirit can then freely flow in the life and produce the fullest, brightest-burning flame of Christ, in the life.

Have you heard that "cry" of the Holy Ghost: "Behold, the bridegroom cometh: go ye out to meet him!"?  If so, are you making any effort to "arise" (it does require some effort to arise from a recumbent, that is, a sleeping--position)?  And have you, yet, "trimmed" your lamp?

Most important of all: Do you have the needed "oil" in your vessel?  Are you filled with the precious Holy Ghost?  Do you know what that means?  Do you know what you must do, in order to be filled, and to stay filled up, with the Holy Ghost?  If you do not know--but you truly want to know, I urge you to "contact" me, by simply entering your question(s) or comments, below.  I will respond to every sincere soul.

Let me conclude by saying, that the "foolish" virgins were NEVER allowed into the Presence of God.  Why bother going to church at all? why bother trying in any way to live a moral life? why be willing to deceive your own self to pretend that you are acceptable to God (as you hope), notwithstanding you have no real peace or assurance of that, in your own heart? -- UNLESS, you are truly willing to go all the way with God?  By "all the way," I mean that you must TOTALLY surrender and yield your life to Jesus Christ, and not be willing to compromise with temptations, with the devil, with the world, nor even with your own suppositions.  Most Christians, I believe, are serving a "god" of their own imagination; they do not earnestly seek to know God as He is in truth, according to the revelation of His own Word.

Turn off your so-called "Christian TV" and "Christian radio".  I will even be so bold as to encourage the majority of you (who may read this blog) to take "Sabbatical," so to speak, from your own church services (ouch!).  Get alone with God, in His Word (make sure you read the King James Bible!!).  Pray.  And after that, pray some more.

Time is very, very short.  We cannot afford to miss God.  We are living in the time of the greatest onslaught of spiritual deception the world has ever known.  And it is only going to get worse.

No one who honestly wants to be saved and to be found worthy to escape this wicked world, by means of the Rapture, has to miss that tremendous opportunity.  Yet, multitudes of professing Christians (not to mention every unsaved person) will miss the Rapture--and be destroyed.  And they will be without excuse.  God shall then have done everything He could to be merciful.

It's up to you.