The Parables of Jesus: Pt. 11 Ten virgins and Christ's return

Good Morning....

He only is my rock and salvation; He is my defence; I shall not be moved. Psalm 62:6,7

The text below from the Apostle Paul shows us that when the Day of the Lord comes Christ is coming to the earth with His bride, the church.

1 Thessalonians 3:12-13  And the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward all men, even as we do toward you: 13  To the end he may stablish your hearts unblameable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints. 





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 our previous post on this parable we learned that the Bridegroom is Christ and that He is returning to the earth to establish His kingdom. He will bring His bride, the Church with Him when He returns. Thus, we saw that the ten virgins represent the nation Israel and that this parable shows what they are to be doing until Christ does return.

I also mentioned how the bridegroom (Christ) returns to His home after the marriage ceremony in heaven was complete. Jesus will rule and reign over all the earth at that time which leads up to the sober day of the LORD. 

The custom was to have a welcoming party to greet the newlyweds returning to the bridegroom's home. This parable highlights the 10 virgins so we must ask what are they to be doing until the bridegroom arrives?

What were they to be doing until Christ's return?

Matthew 25:2-4 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. 

The text alerts us to the fact that 5 virgins were wise and 5 were foolish based upon whether or not they had oil for their oil lamps. Also, since the 10 virgins did not know the day or hour that the bridegroom would be arriving they were to be in a state of perpetual readiness. 

The 5 wise virgins also took vessels filled with extra oil so that their lamps would not go out. This correlates with Ephesians 5:18 and the need for ongoing filling of the Holy Spirit in our lives. 

Oil was a symbol of the Holy Spirit

Anointing with oil often represented the Holy Spirit of God. A special anointing oil was commanded to be made under the law and all holy things were anointed with it. The scripture references are too numerous to list here but following are a few examples.

In 1 Samuel 10:1-6 Saul is anointed with oil to become Israel's first king and he was filled with the Holy Spirit. In 1 Samuel 16:1-13 tells us that David was anointed king over Israel and that the Spirit of God did not depart from him from that day forward.

Isaiah 61:1-4 prophetically speaks of Christ coming in His earthly ministry with the oil of gladness (Compare with Luke 4:18). John 3:33-36 speaks of Christ receiving the Holy Spirit without measure, or that He had all of the Spirit because He was anointed with the oil of gladness.  
Hebrews 1:7-9 speaks of the Son of God being anointed.

2 Corinthians 1:21 speaks of the believer being anointed by God. 1 John 2:20 speaks of the believer having the unction from God. That word refers to a holy oil of anointing. All of this points to the anointing we receive when the Spirit of God regenerates our hearts and indwells us. 

Thus, 5 virgins were prepared because they had oil for their lamps. That is, they had God's spirit and were faithfully waiting for the Lord's return. The other 5 virgins were foolish because they did not have God's Spirit and were lost. 

Watch and wait for the Bridegroom's return. 

Matthew 25:5-7 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.

The bridegroom tarried his coming home and so the virgins fell asleep. I understand this to mean that their daily lives went on within the normal cycle of things. The 5 wise virgins represents those people in Israel who were faithfully awaiting the return of their King. The 5 foolish virgins are those people who do not care about the things of God and are content to live each day for self.

The bridegroom tarrying is like the Church waiting for the rapture to occur and after that event, Israel must wait for its King to return with His bride. 

The foolish virgins ran out of oil 

Matthew 25:8-10 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.

The foolish virgins ran into a problem right away because their lamps were running out of oil. They had to go try to buy some. While the foolish virgins were looking for oil the bridegroom came and the wise virgins entered into the home to enjoy the banquet. The door was shut.

This is a picture of Christ returning in His glory to the earth to establish His kingdom. The Jews who are not prepared will be excluded from the kingdom. It would also correspond with the judgment of sheep and goats that Christ taught about later in Matthew 25. 

The door is shut.

Matthew 25:11-13 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.

The 5 foolish virgins eventually found some oil but it was too late. They knocked on the door and asked the Lord to let them enter. Christ's response in that day will be "I know you not." They represent the foolish people who knew scripture but did not act by faith and they did not believe God. 

Christ's final admonition regarding this parable is that those who profess to know Him should be watching and waiting for His return. 

Thoughts to Ponder....

This parable shows us that all Christians today should be living with an eager anticipation of Christ coming for us and meeting Him in the clouds. The rapture will be an event of unrivaled impact upon all humanity as people try to explain why so many people have vanished. 

No doubt, this will be noticed by the Jewish people around the world and those who are wise will begin living, anticipating the arrival of their King from Heaven. 

The parallels between the rapture and the coming of Christ to the earth to rule and reign are as follows. Now, the church is waiting for His return in the clouds. No man knows the hour or day. We are to make disciples of Christ one at a time and live in faithful obedience until we hear the trumpet.

After the rapture which will shake the whole world, Israel  is to be watching and waiting for her King to return. No man will know the hour or the day when Christ's foot shall touch the Mount of Olives. 

The wise virgins represent the Jews who believe God's word and are faithfully watching, waiting and serving. The foolish virgins are those Jews who will be living for self at that time and will not know their King. 

For both the nation Israel and the Church of Christ, the task is the same. Fulfill the mission that Christ gave us and live expecting His return. Watch, be ready and be faithful. One day the door will be shut and this reminds us that the Spirit of God will not always strive with men's hearts to lead them to Christ. Are you ready now for that coming Kingdom of God?

Bob