The parable of the ten virgins

Matthew 25:1 At that time, the kingdom of Heaven can be compared to ten virgins, who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom.  ²Five of them were wise, and five were foolish.  ³The foolish took their lamps but took no oil with them.  ⁴But the wise took oil in their containers with their lamps.  ⁵While the bridegroom took time to come, they all dozed off and slept.  ⁶And at midnight there was a call: “Behold, the bridegroom is coming. Go out to meet him.”  ⁷Then all those virgins got up and trimmed their lamps.  ⁸And the foolish said to the wise, “Give us some of your oil, for our lamps have gone out.”  ⁹But the wise answered, saying, “We can’t, because there won’t be enough for us and you. But instead, go to those that sell, and buy your own.”  ¹⁰And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came.  And those who were ready went in with him to the marriage.  And the door was shut.  ¹¹Later, the other virgins returned, saying, “Lord, Lord, open the door for us.”  ¹²But he answered and said, “Honestly, I don’t know you.”  ¹³Therefore watch, because you don’t know the day or the hour when the Son of man comes.

Before Jesus returns, many will be waiting for him expectantly, appearing to be ready.  But in that moment their inadequate preparation will be realized, and they will miss being received to his banquet.  Instead they will be caught up on a last-minute quest for the oil that they should have had prepared.  The oil represents faith and the anointing of the Holy Spirit.

Not everyone who calls themselves Christian will be received into Heaven – not even all those who appear clothed in godliness.

The distinction between the wise and the foolish reminds me of

2 Thessalonians 2:10 … they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved.

And the parable of the wise and foolish men building their houses on rock, and on sand

Matthew 7:24 Therefore, whoever hears these sayings of mine and follows them, I would compare them to a wise person who built their house on a rock.  ²⁵And the rains poured down and the floods came.  Strong winds blew and beat upon the house.  But it didn’t fall, since its foundation was on a rock.  ²⁶And everyone who hears these sayings of mine but ignores them, I would compare them to a foolish person, who built their house on the sand.  ²⁷And the rains poured down and the floods came.  Strong winds blew and beat upon the house.  And it fell, and its fall was catastrophic.

Christ is our foundation

1 Corinthians 3:11 For no one can lay a foundation other than what is already laid.  That is Jesus Christ.

 – not the traditions of religious authorities

Mark 7:6 He answered them, “Elijah prophesied well of you hypocrites.  As it is written, ‘These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.’ ”  ⁷How is it that they worship me in vain, teaching human traditions as if they were doctrines from God.  ⁸Just as you lay the commandments of God aside, you treasure human traditions, such as a particular ritual for washing pots and cups, and many other such things that you do.

Some sects use the parable of the ten virgins to prove that only those with their secret knowledge or who accept their interpretation of scripture will be received unto Jesus.  But this contradicts the simplicity of

John 3:16 For God loved the world so much, that he gave his only Son, so that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Certainly, for Jesus’ compatriot on the cross next to him, his belief and confession were enough to be granted entry to paradise on that very day.

Luke 23:39 And one of the convicts who was crucified next to him gave him a hard time, saying, “If you’re Christ, save yourself and us.”  ⁴⁰But the other replied and told him off, saying, “Don’t you fear God, seeing that you’re subject to the same fate?  ⁴¹And our fate is just, for we’re receiving the due punishment for what we’ve done.  But this man’s done nothing wrong.”  ⁴²And he said to Jesus, “Lord, remember me when you enter your kingdom.”  ⁴³And Jesus said to him, “Truly I tell you, today, you will be with me in paradise”.

The rapture really does divide the church

After considering the rapture, I was impressed with this thought as I considered this parable.  The church quite divided over when it will happen and even whether there is a rapture.  This parable, when interpreted in the context of a rapture, shows that not all who appear to be Christians will be taken in the rapture.  Therefore, the rapture will literally divide the church between the worthy and the unworthy.

Matthew 10:38 Whoever does not take up their cross and follow me is not worthy of me.

Luke 21:36 Therefore continually watch and pray, that you may be found to be worthy to escape all these things that will happen, and to stand before the son of Man.

Even besides the rapture, not all who appear to be Christians will spend eternity with God.  This thought should instill the fear of God in each of us.

Luke 12:4 I tell you my friends, “Don’t be afraid of those who can kill the body.  After that they can’t do anything more to you.  ⁵But be warned about whom you should fear: Fear him, who after your death, has the power to cast you into Hell.  Certainly, I tell you, fear him.”

Whatever our theory on the rapture, we must live in readiness for our earthly life to end at any moment.

I pray God would bless your understanding and give you a hunger to understand his words written in the Bible.

Shalom

– Brent