v1 “At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom.”
a) Who is the bridegroom? Jesus.
b) Who are the virgins? The bride = the Church = born-again believers.
c) What is the symbol of an oil lamp? (What does the lamp do?)
The oil lamp of the old days or the lamp / light / torch of modern days brings light in a dark room.
My children's primary school badge has three parts - one of them at the bottom right is a lamp. The symbol of this lamp for the school is “The lamp of knowledge. The flame of knowledge never dies.” It is the same thing - the knowledge is the Word of God - the Bible. If the lamp is filled with oil, the flame will keep burning - if the oil is finished, the flame will go out.
 v2 “Five of them were foolish and five were wise.”
Why were they foolish and the others wise? Because ...
v3 “The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them.” The foolish ones did not bring any extra oil, while ...
v4 “The wise, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps.” The wise ones took jars, full of extra oil for their lamps. Ten virgins are all believers - not five believers and five unbelievers ! If the five foolish virgins are unbelievers, they do not believe in God or in His Word - the Bible and will not carry oil lamps (knowledge of the Word of God).
1. THE FIVE WISE VIRGINS (HALF OF THE “BELIEVERS”)
A virgin is a bride of Jesus Christ - a born-again believer or a follower of Christ. Every bride is beautiful on her wedding day! It take about 6 months to 1 year to prepare the wedding if one wants to have a perfect wedding always to be remembered in the years to come. One cannot organise a wedding overnight or in a short time. One will want to look beautiful on her wedding day - will wear a beautiful white dress with her veil and tiny flowers or a tiara (small crown) on her beautifully-done hairdo and with her beautiful make-up on her face and her beautifully manicured nails. She will carry a beautiful bouquet / posy of flowers.
A White Bride:-
 On the wedding day her eyes will shine with love for her bridegroom - her face will radiant with joy . She will have peace in her heart. She will walk slowly with patience, not in a hurry, to the altar. She will carry a bouquet / posy of flowers which she will throw over her shoulder to a lucky lady at the reception afterwards - it is with kindness in giving the flowers to someone. Her white wedding attire (clothes) shows purity and goodness . She will receive her ring on her finger from her bridegroom that symbolise faithfulness to each other. The veil covering her head shows humility. The bride will not behave wildly but be in self-control.
It is the same for us, the believers as according to the Word of God - Galatians 5 v 22 + 23 (GNB) - The 9 fruit of the Spirit. “The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, humility and self-control.” These 9 fruit are our oil, keeping “our” flame burning. This bride shines brightly for Jesus. We are the light of the world. Matthew 5 v 14
a) What is oil for? To keep the lamp filled and keep the flame burning. For the white bride - extra oil = preparation, be ready for the second coming of Jesus Christ.
b) How?
v13 “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.” We must watch and pray! So what must we do? Hebrews 10 v 25 “Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing but let us encourage one another - and the more as you see the Day approaching.” Meeting together at the church every Sunday for praise and worship and hearing God's Word; meeting together at the Women's fellowship one morning a week; meeting together for Bible Study or prayer time one night a week and telling the others about Jesus Christ - all for our spiritual growth in preparation to meet Jesus as a pure bride who belongs to Jesus alone. Galatians 6 v 9 “ Let us not become weary (tired) in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.”
2. THE FIVE FOOLISH VIRGINS (OTHER HALF OF THE “BELIEVERS”)
 A Red / Black Bride:-
(Look up in the website and see the colour of these three brides as on this magazine shows only in black and white). These brides wants to be different from the traditional white bride. Who will want to wear red or black bride dress like these? No-one would! One would wear only white, cream or ivory!
What is the colour of sin?
Red - not black. Isaiah 1 v 18 “... Though your sins are like scarlet (red), ... though they are red as crimson, ...” These brides wear revealing outfit - short dresses and low necklines - as if they are wearing “sin” on themselves where everyone can see ...
 What sins do believers do in everyday lives? Anger, lying, hatred, resentment, unforgiveness, laziness, pride, greediness, envy, jealousy, gossip, disobedience, sexual immorality (eg. homosexuality, living together outside marriage, having affairs with married men / women, etc.), stealing, drinking too much, taking drugs, dagga and many other sins and bad habits. These sins prevent you from your spiritual growth. Galatians 5 v 19 - 21 “The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality,impurity and debauchery (self debasement); idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions (rebellion), factions (divisions) and envy; drunkenness, orgies and the like. I warn you ... those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God .” 1 Corinthians 6 v 19 + 20 “ Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honour God with your body.”
Are you using or abusing your body?
The Holy Spirit cannot live in your sinful or abused body! Sin grieves Holy Spirit and drives Him away. Repent (turn away from your sins) and get rid of all these sins and bad habits. Ephesians 4 v 31 “Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling (fighting with fists) and slander (telling lies about other people), along with every form of malice (wickedness).” Colossians 3 v 5 - 9 says “Put to death ...”; “... must rid ... of”; “Do not ...” Ephesians 4 v 17 + 18 (GNB) - Paul wrote to the believers in Ephesus . “... do not continue to live like the heathen (unbelievers) whose thoughts are worthless and whose minds are in the dark ...”
v5 “The bridegroom was a long time in coming and they all became drowsy and fell asleep.” In the beginning of our re-birth we were very active in our spiritual growth but as many years have gone by (while waiting for our Lord Jesus to return), we become inactive and pathetic, lose our faith and go our own way away from God.
The Dormant (Sleeping) Bride (sleepy, inactive, lazy bride) (In the fairy tale Sleeping Beauty slept for 100 years). Lukewarm believers who lead double lives with one foot for the Lord and another foot for the world, are hypocrites. No spiritual growth because of the lack of the knowledge of the Word of God, eg. infrequent meetings (on and off), not enough Bible reading, prayer, etc. The oil is low and the flame goes out. Romans 12 v 2 “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind ...”
v6 “At midnight the cry rang out: ‘Here's the bridegroom! Come out to meet Him!'” Midnight strike and the bridegroom is coming - the five virgins are ready but the other five are not ready.
v7 “Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps. 8 The foolish ones said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out.' 9 ‘No,' they replied, ‘there may not be enough for both us and you. Instead, go to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.' 10 But while they were on their way to buy the oil, the bridegroom arrived. The virgins who were ready, went in with Him to the wedding banquet. And the door was shut.” The “ready” bride rejoiced to meet with Jesus Christ and went in with Him to the wedding feast. The heaven doors closed.
v11 “Later the others also came. ‘Sir! Sir!' they said. ‘Open the door for us!' 12 “But He replied, ‘I tell you the truth, I don't know you.'” The lukewarm believers, who lead double lives (one for the Lord and the other for the world), suddenly wake up and realise too late at the second coming of our Lord Jesus Christ to repent! Revelation 3 v 16 “So because you are lukewarm - neither hot nor cold - I am about to spit you out of my mouth.” Don't let Him come and catch you red-handed in the middle of your sinning. What will your reaction be when Jesus suddenly comes to the earth? Glad? Or Sorry?
v13 “Therefore keep watch because you do not know the day or the hour.”
1 John 1 v 9 “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” Keep your lives holy! Repent everyday from all wrong doings! Do not continue living in sin. Meditate God's Word day and night! Be on your guard! Watch and pray! Be ready at all times! Expect His return with gladness and rejoicing!
 1) To whom will the unbelievers turn and listen to the Gospel of Jesus? The ‘white' bride, the born-again believers - not to the ‘red / black' bride, unrepentant believers.
2) Which bride would you like to present yourself to God the Father and to Jesus, His Son? The ‘white' (pure) bride who belongs to Jesus alone - surely not ‘red / black' bride.
WHICH ARE YOU? A WISE OR FOOLISH VIRGIN? BE READY AT ALL TIMES!
By Bev Warmington (D) |
