The Parables of Jesus: Pt. 10 Ten virgins & Christ's return.
Good morning...
The text below describes the Judgement Day of the Lord where Christ returns to the earth to establish His kingdom and rule on this earth. The rapture of the Church has already happened by the time that the Day of the Lord arrives. This helps us understand the parable ot the 10 virgins who represent the nation Israel and what they should be doing until their King comes.
1 Thessalonians 5:1-4 But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you. 2 For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. 3 For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape. 4 But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.
The parable of 10 virgins.
Matthew 25:1-13 Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom. 2 And five of them were wise, and five were foolish. 3 They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them: 4 But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. 5 While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept. 6 And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him. 7 Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps. 8 And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out. 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. 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. 11 Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. 12 But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not. 13 Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.
In Mathew 24, Jesus began teaching His disciples what the last days will be like on earth immediately before His return to rule and reign. He taught them about the days of Noah showing how people were unprepared for the judgment that came in the flood and that they would be equally unprepared for the return of Christ.
Jesus is going to use some more parables in Matthew 25 to explain these truths to His disciples and by extension, to you and me. He will use them to teach us what the kingdom of heaven is like and what it will be like when Christ returns as King of kings.
The distinction between Christ calling the Church to meet Him in the air and His literal return to earth in glory.
This parable is centered around the return of Jesus Christ in glory to this earth. This is not a parable about the Rapture of the church which is often referred to as the bride of Christ. That monumental event is described in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; 1 Corinthians 15:50-58 and 2 Thessalonians 1:5-12.
The last passage cited above in 2 Thessalonians is where Paul explains the difference between Christ coming to call His bride the Church home and meeting us in the air versus Christ coming in glory with heaven's armies to judge the world.
The return of Christ for His bride is a glorious and joyous event that happens in the blink of an eye. It culminates in the marriage supper of the Lamb where Christ and His bride the Church are joined together (Revelation 19:6-9).
It is important to note that the Church as a Bride is depicted as a virgin. (2 Corinthians 11:1-4 & Ephesians 5:25-27)
2 Corinthians 11:1-4 Would to God ye could bear with me a little in my folly: and indeed bear with me. 2 For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ. 3 But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. 4 For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him.
Revelation 22:16-17 I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star. 17 And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.
The book of Revelation concludes with an invitation from Christ, the Holy Spirit and His Bride, the raptured church to come and be a part of the family of God. The invitation to "come" and be a part of the kingdom of God points us to the parable we are looking at.
The word "Come" means that people must be prepared for the coming of Christ when He physically comes to this earth to judge all nations in that great Day of the LORD. In this parable half of the virgins are prepared and the other half are not.
Matthew 25:1 Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom.
Jesus begins this parable by telling us that it is used to teach us about the kingdom of heaven. The principle figures in the parable are ten virgins who have ten oil lamps. Their purpose is to go forth and meet the bridegroom.
In the time of Christ's ministry on earth, after the wedding, the bridegroom would lead a procession from the brides home to the home of the bridegroom. At his home a lavish feast was prepared for the invited guests (Remember Revelation 22).
This parable is a picture of the return of Jesus Christ from heaven with His bride to establish the millennial kingdom on this earth.
Therefore, the ten virgins represent the Jewish nation just as the Church is the Bride of Christ. Some were ready to receive their King and some were clearly not ready.
Thoughts to Ponder....
We laid the groundwork for a good understanding of this parable and we will dig more deeply into it in our next post.
It will be worth your time to read the verses about the church being presented to Christ as a spotless Bride. Paul strives with the sinful Corinthians to help them see he is trying to present them as a chaste virgin to Christ. That is why the 10 virgins clearly represent the nation Israel being ready or unprepared to meet her Messiah and King.
The Bridegroom is coming back one day to fetch His bride, the Church. The Church is composed of all those who are born again, regenerated by the Holy Spirit. That day is called the rapture where the trumpet sounds, the voice of God shouts and the dead in Christ rise to meet Him while those who are alive will be caught up (the rapture) to meet Christ in the air.
Will you be ready to meet Christ when He returns for His bride? Jesus said "Ye must be born again."
Bob
The text below describes the Judgement Day of the Lord where Christ returns to the earth to establish His kingdom and rule on this earth. The rapture of the Church has already happened by the time that the Day of the Lord arrives. This helps us understand the parable ot the 10 virgins who represent the nation Israel and what they should be doing until their King comes.
1 Thessalonians 5:1-4 But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you. 2 For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. 3 For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape. 4 But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.
The parable of 10 virgins.
Matthew 25:1-13 Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom. 2 And five of them were wise, and five were foolish. 3 They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them: 4 But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. 5 While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept. 6 And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him. 7 Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps. 8 And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out. 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. 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. 11 Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. 12 But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not. 13 Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.
In Mathew 24, Jesus began teaching His disciples what the last days will be like on earth immediately before His return to rule and reign. He taught them about the days of Noah showing how people were unprepared for the judgment that came in the flood and that they would be equally unprepared for the return of Christ.
Jesus is going to use some more parables in Matthew 25 to explain these truths to His disciples and by extension, to you and me. He will use them to teach us what the kingdom of heaven is like and what it will be like when Christ returns as King of kings.
The distinction between Christ calling the Church to meet Him in the air and His literal return to earth in glory.
This parable is centered around the return of Jesus Christ in glory to this earth. This is not a parable about the Rapture of the church which is often referred to as the bride of Christ. That monumental event is described in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; 1 Corinthians 15:50-58 and 2 Thessalonians 1:5-12.
The last passage cited above in 2 Thessalonians is where Paul explains the difference between Christ coming to call His bride the Church home and meeting us in the air versus Christ coming in glory with heaven's armies to judge the world.
The return of Christ for His bride is a glorious and joyous event that happens in the blink of an eye. It culminates in the marriage supper of the Lamb where Christ and His bride the Church are joined together (Revelation 19:6-9).
It is important to note that the Church as a Bride is depicted as a virgin. (2 Corinthians 11:1-4 & Ephesians 5:25-27)
2 Corinthians 11:1-4 Would to God ye could bear with me a little in my folly: and indeed bear with me. 2 For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ. 3 But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. 4 For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him.
Revelation 22:16-17 I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star. 17 And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.
The book of Revelation concludes with an invitation from Christ, the Holy Spirit and His Bride, the raptured church to come and be a part of the family of God. The invitation to "come" and be a part of the kingdom of God points us to the parable we are looking at.
The word "Come" means that people must be prepared for the coming of Christ when He physically comes to this earth to judge all nations in that great Day of the LORD. In this parable half of the virgins are prepared and the other half are not.
Matthew 25:1 Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom.
Jesus begins this parable by telling us that it is used to teach us about the kingdom of heaven. The principle figures in the parable are ten virgins who have ten oil lamps. Their purpose is to go forth and meet the bridegroom.
In the time of Christ's ministry on earth, after the wedding, the bridegroom would lead a procession from the brides home to the home of the bridegroom. At his home a lavish feast was prepared for the invited guests (Remember Revelation 22).
This parable is a picture of the return of Jesus Christ from heaven with His bride to establish the millennial kingdom on this earth.
Therefore, the ten virgins represent the Jewish nation just as the Church is the Bride of Christ. Some were ready to receive their King and some were clearly not ready.
Thoughts to Ponder....
We laid the groundwork for a good understanding of this parable and we will dig more deeply into it in our next post.
It will be worth your time to read the verses about the church being presented to Christ as a spotless Bride. Paul strives with the sinful Corinthians to help them see he is trying to present them as a chaste virgin to Christ. That is why the 10 virgins clearly represent the nation Israel being ready or unprepared to meet her Messiah and King.
The Bridegroom is coming back one day to fetch His bride, the Church. The Church is composed of all those who are born again, regenerated by the Holy Spirit. That day is called the rapture where the trumpet sounds, the voice of God shouts and the dead in Christ rise to meet Him while those who are alive will be caught up (the rapture) to meet Christ in the air.
Will you be ready to meet Christ when He returns for His bride? Jesus said "Ye must be born again."
Bob
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