PARABLE OF THE TEN VIRGINS (On DVD)

The Parable of the Ten Virgins is one of three Kingdom of Heaven parables that Jesus told and is found in Matthew Chapter 25. The Parables form a complete set and are organized to teach His disciples doctrine:

• Parable #1, The Ten Virgins - Doctrine of HOPE
• Parable #2, The Talents - Doctrine of FAITH
• Parable #3, Judgement of Nations - Doctrine of LOVE

1 Cor 13 - And now abide FAITH, HOPE, LOVE, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

The understanding of this parable is dependent on the understanding of the Olivet Discourse found in Matthew Chapter 24. If Jesus' teaching in that discourse is misunderstood, then this parable becomes confusing. Therefore, it is necessary that this parable be interpreted in light of His teaching in Matthew 24.

This Bible teaching DVD will guide you into the correct understanding of this Parable of the Ten Virgins. Key events in Matthew 24 are reviewed and explained in preparation for the study of this parable.

Although the Church is the "One Body" of Christ, it will soon depart from the "The Faith" and fracture into SEVEN distinct groups of Believers. This had already occurred when the Apostle John wrote the book of Revelation and addressed the seven Churches. These seven Churches as a group make up the Body of Christ even with their imperfections.

Just as the human body suffers from physical imperfections, the Body of Christ suffers from doctrinal imperfections. Fortunately, the Head of the Church, Jesus Christ seated at the right hand of the Father, remains completely perfect, righteous, holy and without blemish ever to intercede for us as out Great High Priest. Because the Head is perfect, He is in a position to properly diagnose the condition of HIS body, the Church. That is what the seven Churches of Revelation are all about.

Now in this parable of the Ten virgins we have an overview of the Church represented as one group of virgins who await the return of the Bridegroom (Jesus Christ). The imperfections of the Church are set aside and now the focus is on the Church as one group made up of 10 virgins. The DVD bible study will examine this parable in detail - - -

The Parable is as follows:

MATTHEW 25
1 "Then the kingdom of heaven shall be likened to ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom.

If the Kingdom of Heaven that He is referring to here is the "Church". Then the Bible Student must ask, "Why are there not Seven Virgins to correlate with the Seven Churches of Revelation?"

The fact that they are going out to MEET the Bridegroom is talking about pilgrimage. Since the day of Pentecost, the Church has been working toward and eagerly waiting for the return of our Lord Jesus Christ - Our Blessed Hope. Consequently, this Parable teaches the "Doctrine of Hope".

The "Doctrine of Hope" and is comprised of two parts. The first part has to do with prophecy concerning the return of our Lord Jesus Christ. The second part has to do with our conduct with respect to His coming. This is where the Bride and Bridegroom come into view.

Does this Parable teach "The Rapture?

Many Christians accept the teaching that a rapture will occur in which all Believers will ascend into heaven to be with the Lord when He returns to take the Church out of the World...

1 Th 4
15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the COMING of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.
16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up (Raptured) together with them in the clouds, to MEET the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord

The following questions must also be addressed - - -

• What is the Kingdom of Heaven?
• Who are the Ten Virgins?
• Why Ten Virgins and not Seven Virgins?
• What are the Lamps?
• Who is the Bridegroom?

2 "Now five of them were wise, and five were foolish.

Now, a distinction is made between the Virgins. However, this distinction is an INWARD distinction and not an OUTWARD distinction. The INWARD distinction is revealed to us by our Lord and is not observable from a Christian perspective. The OUTWARD distinction of this group is what we seek, but is not revealed to us at this point.

Proverbs 17:28
Even a fool is counted wise when he holds his peace; When he shuts his lips, he is considered perceptive.

Pr 3: 35
The WISE shall inherit glory: but shame shall be the promotion of FOOLS.

3 "Those who were foolish took their lamps and took no oil with them,

Another hint as to the distinction between the two is the oil.

4 "but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.

Questions to consider - - -

• What exactly is the oil in this parable?
• What are the vessels of the wise virgins?
• Why did the foolish virgins not take Oil with them?
• Did the foolish virgins have Oil to begin with?

5 "But while the bridegroom was delayed, they all slumbered and slept.

No distinction can be made here between sleeping virgins ...

• Why was the Bridegroom delayed?
• Was it proper that both wise and foolish virgins slumbered and slept?
• What does it mean that they all slumbered and slept?

What is the sleeping referring to? What event will occur which shall awaken the Ten Virgins?

6 "And at midnight a cry was heard: "Behold, the bridegroom is coming; go out to meet him!"

At long last, something occurs to awaken the Ten Virgins, but who makes this cry? Is this cry appropriate? What is the significance of this cry?

• What is the significance of midnight?
• Who made the cry? Was it the wise, the foolish, or someone else?
• How did they know the Bridegroom was coming? Was it a false alarm?

7 "Then all those virgins arose and trimmed their lamps.

Both the five wise and five foolish knew that is was now time to trim their lamps...

• Was it necessary that ALL the virgins arise?
• What does trimming the lamps mean?

Perhaps the trimming of the lamps has to do with rightly dividing the Word of God to place prophecy in proper perspective with today's events. Christians(both wheat and tares) in this time period are preaching of His impending return to earth because of Israel and Bible prophecy. Many old prophetic bible teachings which have been historically accepted by the Church over the past several hundred years are now being reviewed and revised accordingly. Just to cite one example - - -

Zech 14:12
And this shall be the plague with which the LORD will strike all the people who fought against Jerusalem: Their flesh shall dissolve while they stand on their feet, Their eyes shall dissolve in their sockets, And their tongues shall dissolve in their mouths. .

Only in the past 60 years has it been possible for this prophecy to be literally fulfilled with the advent of nuclear weapons. The neutron bomb could fulfill this prophecy to the letter as it destroys all flesh but does not harm material items. Even the average homeowners microwave oven of today can mechanically fulfill "the effect" of the above prophecy on a very small basis.

8 "And the foolish said to the wise, "Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out."

This is the more troublesome of the parable and is quite misunderstood... Until the Bible Student realizes what is happening here, the correct teaching of this Parable will be lost.

• Again, what is the Oil?
• How did the foolish virgins know their lamps were going out?
• How did the foolish know who the wise were? What distinguished the two apart with respect to each other?
• What are the lamps?

How do the foolish know that their lamps are going out and how do they know that they need oil? This is one of the great mysteries of this parable.

1 Cor 2:11
For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so no one KNOWS the things of God except the SPIRIT of GOD.

It is natural to assume from this verse that the 5 Foolish Virgins had Oil in their lamps to start with. However, the parable DOES NOT declare this.

The light that the 5 Foolish Virgins had was only obtained by the LIGHT from the lamps of the 5 Wise Virgins. The 5 Foolish Virgins had lamps but no oil in their vessels at any time. As the Bridegroom approaches, the separation becomes greater between the two groups.

Luke 8:16
"No one, when he has lit a lamp, covers it with a vessel or puts it under a bed, but sets it on a lampstand, that
THOSE WHO ENTER MAY SEE THE LIGHT.

The 5 Foolish Virgins were WALKING IN THE LIGHT of the 5 Wise Virgins ! ! !

The 5 Foolish Virgins now realize that darkness is overtaking them as the 5 Wise Virgins are departing to meet the Bridegroom. They can no longer partake and share in the LIGHT that was emanating from the lamps of the 5 Wise Virgins. It has happened to them according the scripture - - -

Luke 11
34 "The lamp of the body is the eye. Therefore, when your eye is good, your whole body also is full of light. But when your EYE IS BAD, YOUR BODY ALSO IS FULL OF DARKNESS.
35 "Therefore take heed that the LIGHT WHICH IS IN YOU IS NOT DARKNESS. ! ! !

John 8:12
Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, "I am the light of the world. HE WHO FOLLOWS ME SHALL NOT WALK IN DARKNESS, BUT HAVE THE LIGHT OF LIFE."

The Old Testament confirms this idea - - -

Ps 119:130
The ENTRANCE OF YOUR WORDS GIVES LIGHT; It gives UNDERSTANDING to the simple.

9 "But the wise answered, saying, "No, lest there should not be enough for us and you; but go rather to those who sell, and buy for yourselves."

It appears at this point that the foolish virgins are taking the advice of the wise virgins and are off to purchase more oil. But where are they going to buy the oil?

• What is the significance of midnight?
• Who made the cry? Was it the wise, the foolish, or someone else??
• How did they know the Bridegroom was coming? Was it a false alarm?

The Wise are not being stingy here or unconcerned. The parallel is that the 5 Wise Virgins are stating that the way to obtain light is to "Believe the Gospel". They cannot do it for them. That is why the Wise cannot share their oil. Salvation cannot be shared from one Believer to another Unbeliever. All must accept the FREE GIFT of Salvation from Jesus Christ. No one but Jesus can offer this OIL.

Rom 14
11 For it is written: "As I live, says the LORD, Every knee shall bow to Me, And every tongue shall confess to God."
12 So then - - - EACH OF US SHALL GIVE ACCOUNT OF HIMSELF TO GOD

The end time prophetic "Pre-requisites" which are happening in the world and to the world are actually confusing to the Unsaved Professing Christians (the Foolish). The Wise have the light of life inside to illuminate their way, and although concerned about impending judgment of God upon all the unsaved inhabitants of the earth,, they have clarity of thought and faith without fear. The Foolish are actually trembling on the inside over these events.

10 "And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding; and the door was shut.

Now the parable is describing that the 5 Wise Virgins are ready to meet the Lord, while the 5 foolish Virgins are ABSENT at the coming of the Lord. This event in the parable more closely describes the Rapture which occurs to end the "Church Age". The destruction of the wicked (unsaved) does not occur at this time but will occur later. There is no mention of the destruction of the foolish Virgins here, only that they are ABSENT at the coming of the Lord.

The foolish virgins, the tares, were not ready. They had no oil to start with and they have no oil when the Bridegroom returns.

11 "Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, "Lord, Lord, open to us!"
12 "But he answered and said, "Assuredly, I say to you, I do not know you."

The conclusion of this parable leaves out a lot of significant dialogue. The Parable of the Ten Virgins DVD will supply that which is missing. As Paul Harvey the radio news host and commentator used to say,

"... and now you know the rest of the story !!!"

The remainder of the parable is a picture showing that the five foolish virgins were NOT READY for the coming of the Lord..

The above passage is speaking to Believers who are in the Church and reveals the overall scenario of the situation that will exist near the completion of this age. The above passage also speaks and warns Unbelievers in the Church characterized by the 5 foolish Virgins that they are NOT READY.

13 "Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming.

Rev 2:7
"He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him (Foolish Virgin) who overcomes (Wise Virgin-Now Watching) I will give to eat from the tree of life, which is in the midst of the Paradise of God."

CONCLUSION

This particular parable teaches many things, but most notably - - -

1. Is the ratio of five foolish to five wise a good estimate for those who are saved compared to those who are lost?
2. Is this parable teaching Salvation?
3. After viewing this DVD, you will know for sure if you are ready !!!
4. The Foolish Virgins THOUGHT they were prepared to meet the Bridegroom (Lord). Do you think YOU are ready?
5. The LAMPS guided all 10 Virgins to the coming of the Bridegroom
6. The OIL would determine which virgins entered the presence of the Lord.

Our Lord said in the Gospel of John - - -

John 3:5
Jesus answered, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of WATER and the SPIRIT, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.

Many parables are confusing to Bible Students because they fail to take into account that some characters who are called by the same name, e.g. Servants, address BOTH Believers and Unbelievers. The same is true in the Church while it remains on earth where ALL are called "Christians". The Unbelievers, Hypocrites, False Teachers, and Foolish Virgins in the Church have contaminated the name "CHRISTIAN" which the Believers wear. However, this problem will be resolved after His coming, for we shall ALL be called by a "New Name".

Rev 2:17
"He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give some of the hidden manna to eat. And I will give him a white stone, and on the stone a NEW NAME written which no one knows except him who receives it."

The Five Foolish Virgins Were Not Ready - - -

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