The Ten VirginsMatthew 25:1-13

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In Matthew 24, in answer to the question of his disciples concerning the sign of his coming and of the end of the

world, Christ had pointed out some of the most important events in the history of the world and of the church from his first to his second advent; namely, the destruction of Jerusalem, the great tribulation of the church under the pagan and papal persecutions, the darkening of the sun

and moon, and the falling of the stars. After this he spoke of his coming in his kingdom, and related the parable describing the two classes of servants who look for his

appearing. Chapter 25 opens with the words, “Then shall the kingdom of Heaven be likened unto ten virgins.” Here

is brought to view the church living in the last days, the same that is pointed out in the close of chapter 24. {GC88 393.2}

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Every specification of this parable should be carefully studied. We are represented either by the wise or by the foolish virgins. There

are many who will not remain at the feet of Jesus, and learn of him. They have not a knowledge of his ways; they are not

prepared for his coming. They have made a pretense of waiting for their Lord. They have not watched and prayed with that faith

which works by love and purifies the soul. They have lived a life of carelessness. They have heard and assented to the truth, but they have never brought it into their practical life. The oil of grace is not feeding their lamps, and they are not prepared to enter into the marriage supper of the Lamb. The oil is the holy grace that is sent from heaven; and there must be an inward adorning with

that grace, if we would stand when he appears. {RH, October 31, 1899 par. 13}

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Matthew 25:1–131) Five were foolish; five were wise

2) How many had lamps?

3) How many had vessels of oil?

4) Who tarried?

5) How many trimmed their lamps?

6) Who gave the midnight cry?

7) Did the foolish finally get oil?4

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From COL:Virgins—the 2 classes who profess to be waiting for Jesus’ coming; called virgins because they profess a pure faith

Lamps—the word of God, the Bible

Oil—Holy Spirit

The coming of the bridegroom—the coming of Christ

The Parable—illustrates the experience of the church that shall live just before the second coming

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The going forth of the virgins—the widespread reformation under the proclamation of the soon coming of Jesus

The tarrying of the bridegroom—the passing of time when Christ was expected.

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Lamps—Psalm 119:105

Oil—Zechariah 4:1–14

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1) What are the 2 olive trees on the right side and on the left side of the candlestick?

2) Zechariah asks again—what are the two olive branches?

3) The angel answered—the two anointed ones that stand by the Lord of the whole earth.

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1) Golden bowls—hearts of the living messengers of God

2) Oil emptied from the two olive trees—the word of the Lord

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These empty themselves into the golden bowls, which represent the hearts of the living

messengers of God, who bear the Word of the Lord to the people in warnings and entreaties. The Word itself must be as represented, the golden oil, emptied from the two olive trees that stand by the Lord of the whole earth. This is the baptism by the

Holy Spirit with fire. This will open the soul of unbelievers to conviction. The wants of the soul

can be met only by the working of the Holy Spirit of God. Man can of himself do nothing to satisfy

the longings and meet the aspirations of the heart (MS 109, 1897). {4BC 1180.1}

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So from the holy ones that stand in God’s presence His Spirit is imparted to

the human instrumentalities who are consecrated to His service. The mission

of the two anointed ones is to communicate to God’s people that

heavenly grace which alone can make His word a lamp to the feet and a light

to the path. (COL 408)

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By the holy beings surrounding His throne, the Lord keeps up a constant communication with the

inhabitants of the earth. The golden oil represents the grace with which God keeps the lamps of

believers supplied. Were it not that this holy oil is poured from heaven in the messages of God’s Spirit, the agencies of evil would have entire control over

men. God is dishonored when we do not receive the communications that He sends us. Thus we refuse

the golden oil which He would pour into our souls to be communicated to those in darkness (RH Feb. 3,

1903). {4BC 1179.8}

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All had taken their lamps, the Bible, and by its light had gone forth to meet the Bridegroom.

(GC88 393.3)

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The coming of Christ, as announced by the first angel’s message, was understood to be

represented by the coming of the bridegroom. The widespread reformation

under the proclamation of his soon coming, answered to the going forth of the virgins. In

this parable, as in that of Matthew 24, two classes are represented. All had taken their lamps, the Bible, and by its light had gone

forth to meet the Bridegroom. {GC88 393.3}

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“While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept.” By the tarrying of the bridegroom is

represented the passing of the time when the Lord was expected, the disappointment, and the seeming delay.

In this time of uncertainty, the interest of the superficial and half-hearted soon began to waver, and their efforts to relax; but those whose faith was based

on a personal knowledge of the Bible had a rock beneath their feet, which the waves of disappointment

could not wash away.{GC88 394.1}

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Others “took their lamps, and took no oil with them.” They had moved from impulse. Their fears had been excited by the solemn message, but they

had depended upon the faith of their brethren, satisfied with the flickering light of good emotions, without a thorough understanding of the truth, or a genuine work of grace in the heart. These had gone forth to meet the Lord, full of hope in the prospect of immediate reward; but they were not prepared for delay and disappointment. When trials came,

their faith failed, and their lights burned dim. {GC88 393.3}

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But while “they that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them,” “the wise took oil in their

vessels with their lamps.” The latter class had received the grace of God, the regenerating,

enlightening power of the Holy Spirit, which renders his Word a lamp to the feet and a light to the path. In

the fear of God they had studied the Scriptures to learn the truth, and had earnestly sought for purity of

heart and life. These had a personal experience, a faith in God and in his Word, which could not be overthrown by disappointment and delay. (Ibid.)

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How the ten are alike:1) All had lamps.

2) All had vessels for oil.

3) All have a knowledge of the Scriptures.

4) All have heard of Christ’s near return and confidently expect it.

5) When the cry goes out that the bridegroom cometh, all are taken by surprise, but one group was prepared for the emergency.

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6) All claim to be Christians.

7) All have a call, a name, a lamp, and all profess to be doing God’s service.

8) All are waiting for Christ’s appearing.

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The foolish ones:

1) are not hypocrites.

2) have a regard for truth, have advocated it, and are attracted to those who believe.

3) have not yielded to the working of the Holy Spirit.

4) They have not permitted their old nature to be broken up.

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5) They are stony-ground hearers—they receive the word with readiness but fail of assimilating its principles (its influence is not abiding) and have been content with a superficial work.

6) They do not know God.

7) They have not studied his character.

8) They have not held communion with him and do not know how to trust.

9) Their service degenerates into a form.22

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10) Their cry is peace and safety.

11) Their hearts are lulled into security and do not dream of danger.

12) They moved from impulse.

13) Depended on the faith of their brethren.

14) Full of hope for immediate reward.

15) Satisfied with good emotions.

16) When trials came their faith failed.23

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1) received the grace of God—the regenerating, enlightening power of the Holy Spirit.

2) studied the scriptures to learn the truth.

3) earnestly sought for purity of heart and life.

4) had a personal experience, a faith in God and in his word which could not be overthrown by disappointment and delay.

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The wise ones:

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The Cry at Midnight

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Near the close of the second angel’s message, I saw a great light from heaven shining upon the

people of God. The rays of this light seemed bright as the sun. And I heard the voices of

angels crying, “Behold, the Bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet Him!”

This was the midnight cry, which was to give power to the second angel’s message. Angels

were sent from heaven to arouse the discouraged saints and prepare them for the great work

before them. (EW 238)

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. . . when the midnight cry was finished, at the seventh month,

1844 . . . (EW 42)

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Those who rejected the first message could not be benefited by the second; neither were

they benefited by the midnight cry, which was to prepare them to enter with Jesus by

faith into the most holy place of the heavenly sanctuary. And by rejecting the

two former messages, they have so darkened their understanding that they can

see no light in the third angel’s message, which shows the way into the most holy

place. (EW 261)

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The midnight cry was to:

prepare them to enter by faith with Jesus into the most holy place.

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The 3rd angel’s message

shows the way into the most holy place.

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Darkness . . .1) The coming of Christ will take place in the darkest period of Earth’s history.

2) The days of Noah and Lot are an example of this darkness.

3) Rapidly increasing darkness, multitudinous errors, heresies and delusions

4) To God’s people it will be a night of trial, a night of weeping, a night of persecution for the truth’s sake.

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5) Darkness of misapprehension of God, of his character

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1) preach the gospel to the poor

2) heal the brokenhearted

3) preach deliverance to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind

4) set at liberty them that are bruised

5) preach the acceptable day of the Lord

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Our work . . .

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6) It is the same work in Isaiah 58—deal thy bread to the hungry, bring the poor to thy house, cover the naked, hide not from your own flesh.

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The humble, the ignorant, are Christ’s most hopeful disciples. The uneducated heathen in all their cruelty are regarded in a more favorable light than are those

who have had great light, who have had evidence upon evidence, but who, when the Lord in His mercy

reproves them for the sins they are cherishing as virtues, are offended, and (mark the words), like the disciples of Christ’s day, go back, and walk no more

with Him. Christ recognizes every act in the savage that reflects His own mercy and compassion.

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When the Holy Spirit puts Christ’s Spirit into the savage, and he befriends God’s servants, the quickening of the heart’s sympathy is contrary to his nature, contrary to his education. Christ implants His grace in the heart of

the savage, and he ministers to the necessity of the missionary even before he has heard or comprehended the words of truth and life. Behold that crowd collected about some of God’s servants to murder them; but the Lord is working upon the heart and mind of perhaps

only one man to plead in behalf of those servants who love and fear God. {ST, April 21, 1898 par. 8}

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