The Ten Virgins
The Ten Virgins
Have you heard the story of the Ten Virgins? Five were wise and five foolish. Virgins are symbolic for being pure and are symbolic for the Church. The Bridegroom is symbolic for Jesus. When you read the parable many think the oil here is symbolic for the Spirit Of God.
This has been used to say you need to get more, extra of
the Spirit so you will be ready to be raptured before the Great Tribulation.
If you have heard this, please read with me and see what you think it
really says. The Bible says for us
to study to show ourselves approved unto God a workman that needs not to be
ashamed rightly dividing the word of truth.
2nd Timothy 2:15
Matthew Ch 25 are the words of Jesus.
Verse 1 Then Shall the kingdom
of Heaven is likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to
meet the bridegroom. Here all were virgins a symbol of being pure. Also they all went to meet the
bridegroom. So they were all
Christians looking for Christ to come.
Verse 2 And five of them were
wise, and five were foolish.
Verse 3 They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them: The foolish only took their lamps and the oil that was in them. They didn’t take any extra oil.
Verse 4 But the wise took oil in their vessels (containers) with their lamps. Notice the wise took extra oil with them with their lamps. They were wise for taking extra supplies in case they would need it.
Verse 5 While the Bridegroom tarried (was late) they all slumbered (slept lightly) and slept. The Lord took a long time in his coming. Notice they all slept and slumbered.
Verse 6 And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him.
Verse 7 Then all those virgins
arose, and trimmed their lamps. When you trim your Lamp you blow out the
fire and cut off (trim) the burnt part of the wick and add fuel. Its called
trimming your lamp. If the lamp and oil is symbolic for how much of the spirit
we have, how could one get more of the spirit and blow out our light and relight
it to let our light shine better all of a sudden.
Verse 8 And the foolish said
unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out. Their
lamps had oil in them and had been burning but ran out of fuel and went out.
Does this mean they have lost their salvation and they know it, so they
ask the other Christians to give them some of their spirit? Or does it mean they
have lost some of the spirit of God? If the oil is symbolic for God’s spirit
in this parable then we can use up and run out of God’s spirit. If according
to the out come of this parable, you have to have extra of the spirit of God to
be saved. I guess the thief on the cross, had extra. The foolish were told by
Jesus that he didn’t know them and the door was shut.
Once it has been shut its over.
Verse 9 But the wise answered,
saying, not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to
them that sell, and buy for yourselves. We can’t go to a store and buy
God’s spirit or get more of the Holy Spirit.
It comes from God.
Verse 10 And while they went
to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the
marriage: and the door was shut.
Verse 11 Afterward came also
the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us.
Verse 12 But he answered and
said Verily (truly) I say unto you, I know you not.
Verse 13 Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son Of Man Cometh. It could be that had they kept the faith just a little longer they would have overcame.
If the oil here were a symbol of the sprit of God how or
why would they think another Christian could give them part of their spirit? I
can pray with someone, but I can’t give part of my salvation or part of
God’s spirit to them. And what would make
the wise think the foolish could go and buy their salvation, spirit of God from
those who sell it. But here they went to those who sell to buy oil and did buy
it and came back to be with the Bridegroom (Jesus).
Do you know where you can go and buy the spirit of God for your
salvation? If so why did Jesus die? The
oil here is not symbolic for the Spirit of God it just doesn’t work. Surely,
Jesus, the author of the parable, would not include such inconsistencies as
these. Jesus is much smarter than that. So what
does the oil depict in this parable and what is Jesus telling us?
The
Ten Virgins
If you have studied with
us Matthew Chapter 24 as we have done, you know that Jesus had been talking
about the end times and his return. We have studied and know that Christians
must go through the Great Tribulation. And we know that the Mark Of The Beast
will be in operation and you won’t be able to buy and sell unless you take the
Mark Of The Beast. We also know that the Christians will be in hiding waiting
for the Lord to return and get them. And they will try to get the Christians to
come out from hiding. Read Matthew Ch 24 verses 23-26.
Oil is a source of both food and fuel. If the oil here is
symbolic for food and fuel then the story works. If you notice the foolish did
go and buy oil. But Jesus said he didn’t know them. So if the oil were the spirit of God, Jesus would have to
know them. But if it means food and
fuel, then in order for them to buy oil they had to have taken the Mark and then
came and wanted Jesus to take them. Jesus did not know them after they took the
Mark because once they chose to take the Mark they were not of God.
You can go to a store and buy oil (food & fuel). But if the Mark Of The Beast is in operation you couldn’t buy unless you took the Mark Of The Beast. And if you take the Mark you are not of God.
What this parable is showing us is the foolish didn’t prepare enough extra oil (supplies) to last them and their lamps had gone out. They were foolish not to prepare. We grow in the Lord we can’t go out and buy God’s Spirit.
But the wise were wise because they did prepare. They took extra oil (food & fuel). They took what they needed so they could overcome.
Revelation Chapter 21 Verse 7 says He that overcomes shall
inherit all things;
Notice what the first verse says. Then
shall the kingdom of heaven is likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps,
and went forth to meet the bridegroom. Notice he says then. Jesus in the
24th chapter of Matthew had just told of the end times and how we
would see it coming. What signs we
should watch for. So when we see the Mark Of The Beast and the Abomination Of
Desolation, that would be the time when the Kingdom Of God (The Church) is like
the ten virgins parable. Back in that day a man would ask a girls father for her
hand in marriage. He and the girl’s father would work out a price for the
fathers lost of his daughter. And then they would be engaged, and the man would
go build a house for them to live in. Meanwhile the bride would get ready for
her groom to come and take her away. Sound familiar? Jesus said he goes away to
prepare a place for us and we are to be ready for his return.
In this parable there were ten virgins, symbolic that all ten were Christians (pure), five wise and five foolish and they went to meet the bridegroom. The kingdom of heaven will have wise Christians and foolish Christians. Matthew chapter 24 tells us we will see and know the signs. We will see it coming and get ready. When the WISE Christians see the Mark Of The Beast and the Abomination Of Desolation, our lives, as we know it will change. We cannot take the Mark. We will leave our way of life and will wait for Jesus to come and get us. So in a sense you can say we go out to meet the Lord.
We cannot take the Mark and if we don’t take the Mark how
will we survive? How will you overcome? We will no longer be able to run down to
the store and buy supplies; we won’t be able to pay for anything. So we the
bride of Christ (the Church) will go to meet the Lord, we are to wait for him to
come and get us. (The Church) will be like the ten virgins that went to meet the
bridegroom? The virgins are
symbolic for (Christians The Church, Bride of Christ) Jesus is the Bridegroom.
So now can you see how the kingdom of Heaven (The Church) is like the ten
virgins parable?
When a Christian chooses to take the Mark so they can buy
food and go on as they always did then they have chosen to serve Mammon (Money,
Wealth). Matthew 6:24 Jesus said you cannot serve both God and Mammon. There is
much more here in the 25th Chapter of Matthew but I think this gives
you a true understanding of this parable.
The Ten Virgins
If you notice Jesus was talking about Christians wise and foolish. He told why some were wise and why some were foolish.
It is clear to see, that many Christians who think they will be raptured out before the tribulation (pre tribers) will be in big trouble when the Mark Of The Beast comes. For they believe they will not be here and have no need to prepare for it. They go to church and are watching for Jesus to come and get them. They have more of the spirit of God in them and they are better than other Christians and they are worthy to escape the tribulation. Therefore they live their lives as always.
They are the foolish Christians.
If you read Luke chapter 21 verse34-36 Jesus just told the things that would come to pass for the end times.
Verse 34 Take heed to
yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting (over
eating) and drunkenness and cares of this life, so that day come upon you
unawares (unexpectedly).
Verse 35 For as a snare shall
it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth.
Verse 36 Watch ye therefore,
and pray always, that you may be accounted worthy to escape all these things
that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man. This does
not mean that we won’t be here, it means watch, be aware and pray that God will help us that our hearts
won’t be over charged, not to get caught up in the cares of this life so we
will see it coming so we can escape the snare.
1st John 2:15 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. When the Mark Of The Beast comes what will you do? Will you take it so you can live as always? Will you have to take it because you can’t overcome it? Where will you live? What will you eat? Did you see it coming?
I believe many
will say its not the Mark Of The Beast and take it.
Or they will say they can take the Mark and buy what they need and God
will forgive them after they have taken it. This is not so. Once you choose to
take the Mark of The Beast so you can live as you always have you are not of
God. Watch and see if they don’t
do this. Some of the Christians who will not hear the truth about the Christians
being in the Great Tribulation will not be ready. All they will have is their
lamp no extra oil.
If you have received the understanding of this parable then
you know you should prepare for the coming Great Tribulation. Do the best you
can and God will provide and keep you. You don’t have to be a foolish
Christian.
Please be ready!
In his service
Gary E. Sturdivant