PARABLE OF THE TEN VIRGINS

(Matt 25:1-13) Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom.2) And five of them were wise, and five were foolish.3) They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them:4) But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.5) While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept.6) And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him.7) Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps.8) And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out.9) 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.10) 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.11) Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us.12) But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not.13) Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.

I. Plan on sitting in the dark till The Light shows up vs.8A. When God turns off the light sit tight

(Mic 7:8) Rejoice not against me, O mine enemy: when I fall, I shall arise; when I sit in darkness, the LORD shall be a light unto me.

(Matt 4:16) The people which sat in darkness saw great light; and to them which sat in the region and shadow of death light is sprung up.

B. How to make the light last(Jer 13:16) Give glory to the LORD your God, before he cause darkness, and before your feet stumble upon the dark mountains, and, while ye look for light, he turn it into the shadow of death, and make it gross darkness.

(Ps 107:10-14) Such as sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, being bound in affliction and iron;11) Because they rebelled against the words of God, and contemned the counsel of the most High:12) Therefore he brought down their heart with labour; they fell down, and there was none to help.

13) Then they cried unto the LORD in their trouble, and he saved them out of their distresses.14) He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death, and brake their bands in sunder.

C. Your perceived darkness is light for those behind you(Isa 42:6) I the LORD have called thee in righteousness, and will hold thine hand, and will keep thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, for a light of the Gentiles;

II. Even the ‘wise’ have issues in the night vs5

(John 6:15-17) When Jesus therefore perceived that they would come and take him by force, to make him a king, he departed again into a mountain himself alone.16) And when even was now come, his disciples went down unto the sea,17) And entered into a ship, and went over the sea toward Capernaum. And it was now dark, and Jesus was not come to them.

(Acts 1:9) And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight.

III. Endure all night, one hour at a time vs6(Matt 26:40) And he cometh unto the disciples, and findeth them asleep, and saith unto Peter, What, could ye not watch with me one hour?

(Acts 16:25) And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them.

(Luke 11:5-9) And he said unto them, Which of you shall have a friend, and shall go unto him at midnight, and say unto him, Friend, lend me three loaves;6) For a friend of mine in his journey is come to me, and I have nothing to set before him?7) And he from within shall answer and say, Trouble me not: the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot rise and give thee.8) I say unto you, Though he will not rise and give him, because he is his friend, yet because of his importunity he will rise and give him as many as he needeth.9) And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.

IV. Your neighbors nap is not license for laziness vs5,8-9

(John 21:21-22) Peter seeing him saith to Jesus, Lord, and what shall this man do?22) Jesus saith unto him, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? follow thou me.

(Gal 5:7-8) Ye did run well; who did hinder you that ye should not obey the truth?8) This persuasion cometh not of him that calleth you.

DOCTRINAL APPLICATION:

(Matt 25:1-13) Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom.2) And five of them were wise, and five were foolish.3) They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them:4) But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.5) While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept.6) And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him.7) Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps.8) And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out.9) 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.10) 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.11) Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us.12) But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not.13) Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.

1. Those involved are virgins (plural), not ‘a virgin’2. They go to MEET not marry Someone3. They go to meet someone who is already married – Lk. 12:364. All had oil to start with, and some lost it (4,7-8)5. If oil= H.S., works are involved in obtaining a fresh supply of H.S. (8-9)6. Jewish context- like 2King. 4:77. There is no ‘twinkling of an eye’ or ‘in a moment’ in the passage8. The ‘Son of Man’ is coming as a married bridegroom v.13 Not the ‘Son of God’ coming for His

bride

Church- age H.S. Cannot be had by works or money… Act. 8:19-20

1. Virgins (plural) are found in the Trib. Not Church age-Rev. 14:1-62. The virgin bride of Christ is never called virgins (plural) 2Cor. 11:1-3 And a distinction is made

between the two. Ps. 45:13-14, Song.6:8-9

3. The virgins of the Trib. Follow the bride Ps. 45:13-14, at the end of the Trib. Mat. 24:29-31, Ps 50:3-5

4. There is an element of works connected with their salvation Mat. 24:13,15-20, Rev. 14:125. Some of the virgins can and do lose it- Mat. 24:47-51, proving a split rapture at the end of the

Trib. Heb. 9:286. Since O.T. times return (works/law) [servant vs friends John 15:13-15, Mat. 24:45-51] there is an

element of works connected with salvation- Rom. 10:5, James 1:1, 2:24, Ps. 51:11