Christians: Please help me understand the Parable of the 10 Virgins?

Lets try a little alegorical context here.

Yes, the bride is the Church, most notably the True Church of God that fulfills all the conditions of restoration and coming forth in the latter days as defined in Daniel 2 and other scripture.

Next the Virgins are those designated as special chosen faithful servants who have been chosen and set apart for this specific duty to be there. In Jewish culture or custom, these were often paid servants who were loyal besides, whom the Lord thought could be trusted.

I don't know the significance of 10, other than it's a convenient number that divides easily to make the point. The oil is testimony or the fuel which the Virgins use to provide their services which is to provide light to enliven the reception and provide glory for the Bride & Groom when they come with the rest of the wedding party. They were sent out as forerunners, to prepare the path ahead and alert the community of the coming of the Lord.

In the beginning, all were very faithful, well prepared, ready and willing to do their part. But then, when the wedding party was delayed, they languished, got discouraged, their lights and resources going out. They were getting discouraged, starting to complain, realizing this was going to take more of themselves than they were willing or able to give.

When they realized the bridegroom truly was coming and nigh at hand, they straightened themselves up in a hurry, but then realizing they were out of oil or short on resources, begged the others, those who were more faithful and better prepared to share. At this point it's very easy to get bogged down in over analysis so I won't go there. I just call the oil testimony because it represents all necessary to do the job. Not only is it hard to share, but one can get it from other sources.

The point of the story is the faithful ones weren't willing or able to share because they realized that by doing so, they risked running short themselves and thus ruining the celebration totally. The risk was just too great, so rather than share, they allowed natural consequences to take their toll. In the end, they were rewarded for their faithfulness, for making the right choices, for being prepared for whatever eventuality might take place, as in the delay, and were accepted for their diligence.

In the end, when the foolish ones returned seeking entry and were refused, the Lord turned them away because from His vantage point, they weren't there doing the job they'd been hired to do at the appropriate time. In my way of thinking, this is an example of the Lord's way of dividing the goats from the sheep, those who truly believe vs those who go through the acts of believing but aren't really devoted to the cause.

Indeed, many important principles and points might be learned here but they will be missed if you over analyze. I won't expound all that come to mind but the primary point is the Lord has a way of discovering who is truly His servant and who is not. Those who truly know Him, follow His example and do His work while they who do not find the work requires more than they are willing to provide. They are willing to give a good show, but when it comes down to being genuine, they don't have what it takes to succeed. This is about half of those who appear to be faithful.

The Lord judges by results, what actually is done to yield benefit. Don't get lost in the sidelines. While intent counts, enduring to the end and total preparation are what yields the reward.

You are right that the Parable of the Wise and Foolish Virgins is an End Time Parable. It a brief overview it describes two classes of Christians,one who makes the Bride Class and goes into the Marriage and one who doesn't. The Parable is about the Last members of the Bride being taken home and the door is shut (no more callings, no more opportunity to enter the race.)

I may not be able to explain this in the space allotted.

To understand this parable you have to understand there is 2 basic groups of Christians

Luke 21:36 Talks about those WORTHY to escape (the great time of trouble). These are the: Little Flock, the Elect, The Bride of Christ, The Wise Virgins, the Elijah class, First Resurrection, Church of the First Born. They are the minority.

Revelation 7 tells us about the majority of Christians, the Great Multitude, these do not sit on the throne, but are before it and serve Jesus and the Bride. Revelation 19:9 explains that they miss out the wedding, but come to the reception. They are also pictured elsewhere as: Foolish Virgins, Elisha, scapegoat, Little sister in Song of Solomon.

You need to compare some other types in the Scriptures that show these two classes, and show one of the classes missing out on the chief prize.

Wise and Foolish Virgins--Foolish ask the wise for more oil (understanding through the Holy Spirit)

Gideon (300) vs. 9700 who failed the drinking test (failed to look out for the enemy while drinking in the Word)

Elijah and Elisha--Elisha asks for a double portion (Has to recognize when Elijah [Church] is gone to get it.

Lord's Goat and Azazel's goat--Scapegoat turned out to the wilderness (turned over to Satan for the destruction of the flesh)

Little Sister in Song of Sol.--too lazy to get up and go to the door, but eventually does then has to go out in the street to find him--she gets beat up

Jesus' Last day--They take Jesus (The Christ head and body), Disciples run away (picturing that other class)

There is a common theme in all of these. All show the death/taking of the Bride class and the remaining of the other at that time.

Time period in all: Night (the Dark night in which no man can work) This night corresponds to the Hour of Power of the Beast, the Wise (those ready) go ahead even though they know they will be put to death, but have faith that they will be changed in a twinkling of an eye. The others through fear (and lack of preparation) hold back and lose the ultimate reward.

Brides maids in history are not like they are today, they are not the friends of the bride, they are her servants, and that is why they follow after her.

Psa 45:14 She shall be brought unto the king in raiment of needlework: the virgins her companions that follow her shall be brought unto thee.

you quite have performed your study, attaboy (and that i quite imply it, i've a significant face on, when you cant see it). Morals are outlined by way of the days, what was once well then is dangerous now and vice-versa. the major factor is to seem past the main points in leviticus and deutoronomy and consciousness at the major stuff, like the decision for charity, cleanliness, peace, and justice. I consider the Christian gospels are the first-class at speaking the ones abstracts that bought confuzzled by way of the mistranslations and the replacing occasions. Dont disregard that the OT was once written for a institution of nomads unfold for the duration of the Fertile Crescent. there was once a way of order and strictness that needed to be situated. seeking to observe them to society these days is like seeking to have compatibility an american plug in a ecu outlet, or diesel in a petroleum engine. Most of the legislation again then have been made to maintain the society and hold humans pleasant (as in sort) and healthful. In reality, the various legislation, whilst all in favour of a grain of salt, fit the ones morals you could have. The factor I'm seeking to make is that the faith is well at its middle, however its been included with the entire muck from its beyond. If you'll seem beyond that, you'll see how well it's.

The Parable of the Ten Virgins, also known as the parable of the Wise and Foolish Virgins, is one of the well known parables of Jesus. It appears in only one of the Canonical gospels of the New Testament. According to Matthew 25:1–13 five virgins (who wisely prepared in-time for the bridegroom's arrival) are rewarded (entering the marriage feast) and five who didn't, are excluded. The parable clearly has a eschatological theme: be ready for Christ's return.

It was one of the most popular parables in the Middle Ages, with enormous influence on Gothic art, sculpture and the architecture of German and French cathedrals.

The 10 virgins represent the Church of God.

The oil represents the Holy Spirit, so some of them are not obeying and overcoming as much as they should. No one can lend the Holy Spirit to another, only the Almighty dispenses it to those whom He chooses. The counsel for them to go "buy" it in the market place is a warning for them to get their houses in order in regards to following God. A quick read through the 7 Churches in Revelation will give you an deeper understanding of this.

They are waiting alone in the dark because the world we live in is a dark world, cut off from the Creator until the return of Messiah. Only a chosen few come to understand and follow the Almighty in this age of darkness and confusion. The Bridgegroom is the Christ, who will bring light back to the world.

Here's a place to go to learn more:

http://www.lcg.org/cgi-bin/lcg/biblestudy/lcg-bs.c...

And a place to go to learn more about the marriage feast

http://www.hebrewroots.net/hebrewroots/articles/pr...

The parable seems rather simple to me. The bride groom would compare with the second coming of Jesus. The 10 virgins are people who are living when He comes back. Some of them were ready to greet Him and some weren't. It goes to show that waiting until the last moment to get ready is too late.

The 5 wise virgins were ready before hand. The 5 foolish wanted to wait until they ran out of what they had.

The story isn't only about being ready for Jesus its about being ready period.

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The parable of the ten virgins, five of whom were wise, and five foolish, Mat_25:1-12. The necessity of being constantly prepared to appear before God, Mat_25:13. The parable of the talents, vv. 14-30. The manner in which God shall deal with the righteous and the wicked in the judgment of the great day, vv. 31-46.

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I didn't think the number 10 represented anything in particular, but maybe it does.

The five who were left behind were not ready for the rapture. I do believe this has to do with the rapture. The oil represents the Holy Spirit. The five hadn't prepared themselves spiritually. This is just a parable. They don't actually go to the market to buy the oil because they needed to spend time with the Lord to grow spiritually and that is too late.

The parable means you have to be ready as you do not know when you are going to die or when final judgement will be. The 5 virgins were not prepared and missed the banquet, as those who are not prepared will miss the heavenly reward.

The Lamp signifies Jesus as the guiding light and with out Jesus is darkness or sin and the people will be lost and unready.

12 is a heavenly number, 10 is the earthly number.

Hi Cindy,

Yes, this particular parable is very interesting.

Oil can sometimes refer to anointing, but in this parable you will notice that there is a direct attachment to a lamp who's wick is trimmed and ready. I agree completely with you that the wedding banquet will be for the bride of Christ which is a church that is made up of both Jew and Gentile believers (out of the two Christ has made ONE - which is the mystery that has been from the beginning of the promise to Abraham). The other important part of this parable is that a READINESS is pivotal! Jesus is speaking to the Jews, and yet we as Gentile believers who have been grafted in to the Vine (Christ Jesus) are now Jews as are any 'completed Jews' (those of the Jewish nation that have believed, and received Jesus as The Messiah). There is no difference between us as far as God is concerned.

Let me now get down to the way I see it:

Oil is the fuel of the lamp.

We are to be the light of the world.

A lamp without fuel will give no light.

God has promised that He will give the oil (symbol of The Holy Spirit) to all who obey Him.

Foolishness is the real opposite to wisdom.

True wisdom is wrapped up in the Latin phrase 'Timor Dominae Initium Sapientiae', which is actually a proverb, and not just one either; it says in English, 'The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom'.

Wisdom from above comes from God.

Wisdom of the world comes from beneath - earthy as opposed to heavenly.

The New Testament declares that to love this life (earthly life placed before concern about eternal life) will cause that person/s to lose their life. Now, we all die physically, so this has a deeper meaning, and I believe the meaning is that eternal life will be lost if we are not ready at the Day that our Lord returns to this domain to snatch up His loved ones before the judgement of God reigns down upon the ones who do not have a personal relationship with Him, and those who do not obey The Gospel of Christ.

The ones drunk with the affairs of this world and all its pleasures will be in slumber, as opposed to ready. They will consider themselves wise, and yet in reality be foolish.

Numbers can mean a lot in scripture. The only apparent reason for using the number 10, as far as I am able to comprehend is that TEN is the number associated with judgement. One might ask for example why there were exactly TEN COMMANDMENTS, and not eight or perhaps 11?

The use of the word 'virgins' also appeals to my thinking that these people were in fact, righteous in appearance in front of mankind - they appeared to be those of the lamps. I believe this is a very important reference as the judgement of God begins in His own House - and Whose house are we supposed to be?

The Bridegroom 'tarries', OH, HOW HE HAS TARRIED! because it is not His will that any should perish.

The 'time' is MIDNIGHT - the clock has been ticking away for millennium, and will hit the hour that God has determined according to His pleasure. The hour is late, and the time is near. Oil diminishes with the using, and even Jesus had power going out of Him, and He kept direct communion with The Father in order to be restored. Early on in our Christian walk with Jesus, we are sharp and keen if indeed we have been truly converted - but there is plenty of admonition to run the race; to strive to enter in; to walk the talk etc. As time goes by, we all have to fight the flesh and the lusts thereof, and therefore need to keep a short account with God - always repenting and being revitalised. The virgins with no oil left were definitely not revitalised at the important midnight hour.

The lamp never needs to be trimmed until it has burned and given light; this is a fact, and will be known by anyone who has ever used oil lamps. So, I conclude that the virgins had obtained oil in the past, but half of them had not maintained their light, and the oil had been used up and not replenished. I believe that it is possible that the unwise virgins were left to go through the tribulation (remembering John's vision of the many clothed in white who came into the presence of God, and John asked, "Who are these?" and was told that they had come out of the great tribulation having their garments washed in the Blood of The Lamb (in other words they had been martyred).

Jesus' parables were often deep in meaning! For He had the wisdom of God. He knew the ending as well as the beginning! He had the ability to look outside of time frames, and often did so.

The whole import of this parable seems to be in the instruction, "BE READY, FOR YOU KNOW NOT THE HOUR"