© 20 Colin Melbourne
Not a Foolish Virgin
Q: In your article on Matthew 25, “Slumbering Virgins & Slack Servants” you highlighted the five foolish virgins who were shut out of the Kingdom,
“The five virgins obviously knew about The Bridegroom’s imminent return: That’s why they were waiting for Him. But when He came He shut them out because He did not know them. Isn’t that very interesting?”
Who are these foolish virgins? Could you elaborate please?
A: Let’s hear Christ in context, and in the Holy Ghost; Almighty God-made-Flesh taught His disciples in the previous Chapter 24, about the fate of the Jews and their Temple, and in this following Chapter 25, touches on; the End Times, Rapture of believers, and Final Judgment, Mtt. 25:1-13 KJV;
Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom. 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.
While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept. And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him.
Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps.
And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out. 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.
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.
Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not.
Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.
Image by Clker-Free-Vector-Images
The Marriage Supper of The Lamb
The Bridegroom is Christ, the ten virgins represent the state of the Church in the Last Days at The Rapture, which Daniel prophesied occurs seven years before the End of The World.
Are You Ready? © Chick Publications Used by permission
The Bride of Christ constitutes the whole body of genuinely born again believers, including resurrected Old Testament saints. (See, Was David Born Again?)
At the time of Christ’s appearing in the clouds (Luke 17, 1 Thess. 4:17, 1 Jn. 3:2 and Titus 2:11-15 KJV) to gather His saints for The Marriage Supper of The Lamb (Rev. 19:9), the extant Church will be in a somnolent apathetic state with many claiming to believe in Christ, but their profession is merely nominal: They are make-believers, not true believers.
They have mental assent without being born of God, or any relationship with Him through Christ.
They know bible doctrine, pray, and attend worship services, but all in vain, because they’ve not been born again, and still walk after the flesh, not after the Spirit. (Rom. Ch.8)
The oil lamps of the virgins represents their witness, their profession of Christ in what they do and say; their lives and message.
The wise virgins have divine anointing, the inner witness of the Holy Ghost in their vessels (Rom. 8:16, 1 Jn. 5:10).
By contrast, the five foolish virgins neglect to obtain oil, so their lamps provide no illumination of the true Gospel of Christ. Their witness and message is of a false Christ, just as Satan’s Ecumenical Movement today.
By not remaining alert watching for the Bridegroom, they all fall asleep instead of eagerly anticipating Christ’s appearing.
That is a picture of the Church today
We have been in the Last Days for two millennia, yet Christians have still not reached the Ends of the Earth with Christ’s Gospel.
Multiplied millions of lost hurting sinners have never once had opportunity to hear, read, witness, or understand, the Gospel of Christ in their tortured lives, and that number is increasing daily, instead of diminishing. It is a disgrace to the Body of Christ.
The call for labourers has never been more urgent, and obeying it never more rewarding. He’s already called you, what are you waiting for?
The Watcher’s Cry
At midnight the virgins are alerted by a cry announcing the Bridegroom’s approach, awakened, they trim their wicks, and replenish their lamps ready to welcome Him.
However, the make-believers belatedly realise they brought no oil, they have no light to walk by, and recognizing the true light of the wise virgins, ask to share their oil.
But no believer can bestow God’s Gift, each sinner must come to Him personally through their own faith in Christ’s Atonement and Sacrifice. There’s no other way, Jn. 14:6 KJV;
Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
The true believers knew this, so told the careless ones to get their own oil.
Without asking the wise ones how they obtained oil, the foolish virgins left to seek oil for their lamps.
We each need to come to God in sincere repentance and believe on Christ, and subsequently to keep our lamps trimmed, and our vessels filled with the Holy Ghost.
Christ wants to save, and then baptise you in His Spirit, to make you an effective witness of His resurrection and love.
Is your lamp burning & your vessel full of His oil?
Whilst they were searching for oil, Christ appears, welcomes the five wise virgins to the marriage festivities, and immediately shuts the door. He is the Door, the Gate, The Shepherd (Jn. Ch.10) What He shuts, no man can open.
The five foolish virgins return to find they are locked out of the Presence of the LORD, and call on Him to open the door, and let them in.
If they had called on the LORD earlier, they would have been accepted, but now, too late: His door is forever shut in their faces. Nonetheless He gives the reason for their exclusion;
Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us.
But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not.
I Know You Not
The omniscient One certainly knew the parlous state of their hearts, that they had long pretended to know Him, but had never yielded their hearts to Christ as LORD, and proved it with the lives.
The Bridegroom knew they were foolish virgins, mere talkers devoid of His grace, who had discounted His righteousness; and instead paraded their own, depended upon their attendance and false profession: They were not of those whom He foreknew, or knew as His own, and loved with an everlasting love; He never knew them as His Father’s choice in Him, or as His Father’s gift to Him; He never knew them in the Blood Covenant, or as His sheep, for whom He died; He never knew them to believe in Him, or love Him; nor exalt Him at His communion table, nor do any good work with a pure motive for His glory; He never approved of them, liked their persons, or their behaviour; or ever acknowledged them as true friends, and labourers in His Gospel field.
Seek First His Kingdom
This illustration is for you and for me to keep us alert and watchful, that we always seek Christ’s Lordship, and His kingdom wholeheartedly.
Lip service and formality just won’t do in God’s Book.
Phonies and hypocrites are an insult to His Grace. AMEN.
He could appear today, tonight; we are to remain diligently doing as He commanded, not “playing-church”, and feathering our nests, not here “on vacation”, but occupied, waking sinners to their urgent need of salvation through the Only Saviour.
Call on Him now to fill you afresh with His Spirit, and His anointing, as you venture sharing His message and love with this condemned world slumbering in the Valley of Death.
The Bridegroom’s final words are that He’s coming soon. Rev. 22:20 KJV;
He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.
We hear His Cry, so let us not be negligent concerning the call of the LORD on our brief lives, but rather; vigilant, occupied, attending to His Spirit in our hearts, and watchful, taking every opportunity to glorify Our Heavenly Father, through The LORD Jesus Christ in; thought, prayer, word, and action, as we remain ready wearing His robe of righteousness, not our own filthy rags. AMEN
© 20 Colin Melbourne
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Administration of Wills post-Rapture?