Foolish Virgins

This is a study of Matthew 25:1-13. I hope you get something out of it. Please feel free to write me to discuss it or for any reason. Thank you for your time!

Matthew 24 is the great tribulation for the most part and we know this because of its context and the Lord calls it that in Matthew 24:21. It follows that Matthew 25 is the mostly the Millennium since the Book of Matthew is laid out in a sequential order. We also see the judgment of the nations here on earth by the Lord in Matthew 25:31-34 The parable of the virgins is taking place right towards the end of the tribulation before the Lord returns. It is a transition passage from Matthew 24 to 25. The parable of the virgins is taking place at the end of the great tribulation. It starts off:

Then shall the kingdom of heaven [ not kingdom God ] 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. Matthew 25:1-12

All these virgins (plural) are not sealed in the holy Spirit like a Believer in Christ of this dispensation. (The church is a " chaste virgin, " singular, and is sealed in the Spirit as seen in 2 Corinthians 11:2; Ephesians 4:30.) You can see this is seen in verses 3 and 7 in reference to the oil: "took no oil with them, our lamps are gone out." They were saved at one time, but lost their salvation because of a lack of works which is a requirement for salvation during the great tribulation. The body of Christ has left the face of the earth for almost seven years at this point in time. Five of the virgins kept their salvation, but the other five, the "foolish virgins" had to go out and get some more oil, which is -- works! Notice that those who had to go buy oil missed out, " the door was shut, " even so, they lost their salvation! Furthermore, the Lord says to them, " I know you not. " The Lord knows his sheep and we know him, at least I hope you do. Also notice that that these virgins go to meet the Lord. Doesn't the Lord already know you and didn't he say that he will " in no wise cast you out "? See John 6:37, 10:27-29 Also notice, that these virgins, not "chaste virgin," go to the marriage -- as guests, not the Bride.

We see that some lost their salvation and others didn't. They had to "endure unto the end" Matthew 24:13! The great tribulation is going on after the Bride is raptured out to marry the Bridegroom . Paul calls the end of the tribulation and the beginning of the Millennium the "dispensation of the fulness of times." See Luke 21:24; Ephesians 1:10; Romans 11:25 The body of Christ will be full then with no more entering into it as you saw with the wise virgins who only got to attend the wedding, but did not get married! You also saw that the door was shut signifying their loss of salvation and not even invited to attend the wedding.

There is a rapture at the end or near the end of the tribulation that takes up those who kept their salvation through works and faith, even "they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut. This is most likely at the Rapture of Moses and Elijah inRevelation 11:12-13. Notice there was a remnant left behind, the ones that the holy Spirit left and "went to buy!" Remember, they are not part of the body of Christ. Lets look at it here:

Let your loins be girded about, and your lights burning; And ye yourselves like unto men that wait for their lord, when he will return from the wedding; that when he cometh and knocketh, they may open unto him immediately. Blessed are those servants, whom the lord when he cometh shall find watching: verily I say unto you, that he shall gird himself, and make them to sit down to meat, and will come forth and serve them. Luke 12:35-37

Notice above that the Lord is returning from a wedding. That is the Second Coming when he will come to reign here on earth from Jerusalem "at the times of restitution of all things." Full "restitution" may not be until the end of the Millennium which I need to study some more to find out exactly. Fair enough?

Compare Luke 12:35-36ff with Matthew 24:43-44ff and context. You will see that they are at the same time. Again, Matthew 24 is the "great tribulation." The Bible tells us that! As you can see, the Lord says to keep their "lights burning." He says that to those who are waiting for their Lord to "return from the wedding...when he cometh and knocketh." This is the wedding in Matthew 25:1-10 and Revelation 19:7. Also notice that this time it is the Lord doing the knocking, not people trying to get in!

God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man,
that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it?
or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?
Wherefore, sirs, be of good cheer: for I believe God,
that it shall be even as it was told me.

(Num. 23:19; Acts 27:25

Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved!

Reference Verses

Matthew 24:21 For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. Back

Matthew 25:31 When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory: 32 And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats: 33 And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left. 34 Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: Back

2 Corinthians 11:2 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.

Ephesians 4:30 And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. Back

John 6:37 All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.

John 10:27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: 28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. 29 My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand. Back

Matthew 24:13 But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved. Back

Luke 21:24 And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled.

Ephesians 1:10 That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him:

Romans 11:25 For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in. Back

Revelation 11:12 And they heard a great voice from heaven saying unto them, Come up hither. And they ascended up to heaven in a cloud; and their enemies beheld them. 13 And the same hour was there a great earthquake, and the tenth part of the city fell, and in the earthquake were slain of men seven thousand: and the remnant were affrighted, and gave glory to the God of heaven. Back

Luke 12:35 Let your loins be girded about, and your lights burning; 36 And ye yourselves like unto men that wait for their lord, when he will return from the wedding; that when he cometh and knocketh, they may open unto him immediately.

Matthew 24:43 But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up. 44 Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh. Back

Revelation 19:7 Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready. Back

Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved!