Matthew 25:
Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom. And five of them were wise, and five were foolish. They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them: But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept. And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him. Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out. 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. 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. Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not. Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.
So, first thing we have to know, is when the parabel is taught. It is directly after the Olivet Discourse. And of course we know, that in the time it was spoken, there were no chapters and verses. Matthew wrote these things in an ongoing manner, so it is obviously part of Jesus’ sermon regarding the “last things”.
When He finished speaking about what would happen at the end of Days, He gave an illustration, namely that of a servant who was dutiful, and one who was not. And then comes our chapter. Jesus goes on with explaining how and why we must keep awaiting His return, and He uses parabels. The first one about a group of girls waiting for the Bridegroom.
In this parabel we find 10 virgins, or young unmarried girls; we hear someone shouting, and then there is the Groom. But there seems to be no mentioning of a Bride, that is interesting!
The girls ALL expected the Groom, they all had a lamp. And they all got weary. Just like the disciples did in the Garden of Olives when Jesus struggled with his commission (John 17).
When the shout comes, that the Lord is coming, they all got up, and they were all eager to meet Him. But there is a difference, their lamps were going dim. They needed oil, but only 5 of them had oil with them. Now we know from many places in Scripture that oil is a reference of the Holy Spirit. 5 of the girls had the Holy Spirit, the other 5 had not.
The Groom and those “that were ready”, entered the Marriagehall, and the door was shut.
Like in the days of Noah, when the door of the Arc was shut, there was no opening it anymore. God had shut it Himself. Likewise the door of the Feasthall is closed. There is no opening it. Not for as long as the duration of the Feast. Jewish marriagefeasts were celebrated for 7 days. Likewise, we will be with our Groom in Heaven for the duration of 7 years. And now we can see the Bride, that seemed absent in the parabel at last. Because the Bride is us, the Church, “the ones that are ready”. We are collected to be with the Groom, and brought into the Marriagehall.
So who do you think are the ones that were eagerly awaiting the Lord, but without the Holy Spirit?
I don’t believe it is the apostate church, for they are NOT eagerly awaiting the Lord’s return.
No, I think it is Israel!
They await their Moschiach, but because they rejected Jesus, their true Messiah, a veil was cast over their eyes and they have to live without the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, Who was given to the Believers, the Church. As it is written in Romans 11:
“God hath given them the spirit of slumber, eyes that they should not see, and ears that they should not hear; unto this day.”
The foolish girls went into the village, bought oil and filled their lamps. This means that they came to belief in Jesus, and received the Holy Spirit, because He is the One that testifies of Christ (John 15:26). So now, they understood that the Groom, was indeed the Messiah that they longed for, but had previously rejected. And they want to join in and celebrate the Marriage of the Lamb, but sadly, they are too late.
They have to go through the Tribulation, the time of Jacob’s trouble.
And, even with all the horrors that will come over the earth, I believe that this time will a blessing in disguise also.
Because, like JD likes to put it: “The Tribulation is for the Salvation of the Jewish Nation”.
In Romans 11:25,26 we read:
For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in. And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob:
All Israel will be saved. They were and are God’s beloved people. Romans 11:28:
“they are beloved for the father’s sakes.”
God’s mercy is great! For you, for me, for whole Israel. Hallelujah! Rom. 11: 33-36:
For God hath concluded them all in unbelief, that he might have mercy upon all. O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out! For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counsellor? Or who hath first given to him, and it shall be recompensed unto him again? For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever.
Amen.