“THE
41 PARABLES OF JESUS CHRIST”
28
general parables and 13 kingdom of heaven
parables
Parable #21 –
“WISE AND FOOLISH VIRGINS”
READ Matthew 25:1-4,5-8,9-12,13
The
12th of the 13 kingdom of heaven
parables
BACKGROUND:
In
445BC, with one Bible week equating to seven years (a
prophetic
year being 360 days), God commanded that seventy weeks each of 7
years, would be determined upon Israel, that is … 70 weeks
x 7
years = 490 years (Daniel 9:24-26,27).
This
time frame is broken into four time periods of (a) 7 weeks
+ (b)
62 weeks + (c) the mystery church age of about
2,000 years +
(d) 1 week = 70 weeks and is explained as follows:
#1. Seven
weeks of years is 7 x 7 = 49 years … the time it takes
to restore
and build Jerusalem from 445BC to 396BC.
#2. Sixty
two weeks of years is 62 x 7 = 434 years … the time
from the
building of Jerusalem in 396BC to Christ being cut off at the cross in
32AD.
#3. The
church age of approximately 2,000 years
#4. One
week of years is 1 x 7 = 7 years … this is the seven
years of
tribulation of God’s wrath upon the earth, that takes place after the
rapture …
called Daniel’s 70th week.
DANIEL
9:24-27
THE
WISE AND FOOLISH
VIRGINS” Matthew 25:1-4,5-8,9-12,13
“V1 Then
shall the kingdom of heaven be
likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps,
and went
forth to meet the bridegroom. V2
And five of them were wise, and five were foolish. V3 They that were foolish took
their
lamps, and took no oil with them: v4
But the wise took oil in their
vessels with their lamps. V5 While
the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept. V6 And at midnight there was a cry made,
Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him. V7 Then all those virgins arose,
and trimmed
their lamps. V8 And the foolish
said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are
gone out.
V9 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. V10 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. V11
Afterward came also the other virgins,
saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. V12
But he answered and said, Verily I say
unto you, I know you not. V13
Watch
therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the
Son
of man cometh.” (Matthew 25:1-13)
1. This
parable is salvation by works … and
therefore has no direct application to the dispensation of the
kingdom
of God we are currently under … that is
“Have you been good enough to be
allowed into the wedding ceremony?”
2.
The
application of this parable is the time just before the Son of man
comes back …
his second coming (Revelation chapter 19). This NOT the Son of
God
coming back for the Christians at the rapture.
3.
This
is Daniel’s 70th week, a Jewish dispensation, and takes
place in the
seven years of tribulation … and heating up toward the end of the seven
years. It
will be a TIME OF WORKS. This will be the time of the kingdom of
heaven …
see the above diagram.
4.
This
parable tells of the Jew, coming to a wedding ceremony, who prepares
properly
in advance, and those that leave it to the last minute.
An
example would be as follows:
The
unprepared
are like the overweight and terribly unfit 65 year olds, deciding to
enter a
marathon with only a couple of days training. They can’t beg, borrow or
steal
the necessary fitness needed in such a short time.
The prepared are also like the overweight and terribly unfit 45 year olds, who also decide to enter a marathon race. The difference is that they will get fit and lose weight with the proper preparations … over a long time … and in plenty of time.
ALL
INVITED |
ACCEPTED |
REJECTED |
Prepared
virgins with oil because
they believeth
(continuously) in Christ as their Messiah fulfilling the law on
their behalf plus on-going
animal blood |
YES These will
enter Abrahams’ bosom upon death. Will be
taken up into heaven. |
|
Unprepared
virgins with no oil because
they |
|
YES These will
not enter Abraham’s bosom upon death. They end
up in hell. |
EXPLANATION
OF PARABLE
Then shall
the kingdom of heaven |
The
kingdom of heaven is not the kingdom of God into which
unbelievers are born. Today,
when unbelievers get saved, they are placed immediately into Christ’s
body, and as Christ is God, his body is the kingdom of God. Now as
Christ sits in heaven, the kingdom of God is in heaven. When
Christ was on earth, he preached the kingdom of heaven rules of
Matthew 5-7. To those that believeth (believed continuously) in him,
that he would fulfil the kingdom of heaven works, as contained in the
sermon on the mount, combined with animal blood for the remission of
past sins, they would first go to Abraham’s bosom upon death, and then
be taken into heaven after the cross. |
be likened |
They are not
virgins as we know the term. They are like virgins. |
unto ten |
The number
ten is used to represent Israel. Israel is
a woman (Rev 12:6) with her estimation (worth) being ten shekels
(Lev 27:5) ten brothers
go down to Egypt to buy corn (Gen 42:3) ten curtains
of fine linen in the temple (Ex 26:1) ten temptations
(Num 14:22) ten commandments
(Deut 10:4) |
virgins |
They are
not virgins as we know the term. These
virgins are not female or male. They
simply represent Israel who is called a virgin, even though
they are sinful. These
virgins represent a sinful Israel. Now God
uses the term ‘virgin’ to describe the sweetness and the loveliness of
the children of Israel as his chosen nation. The term
‘virgin’ used to show Israel’s enemy how God loved Israel, despite
their being a sinful nation, and how much he despised the other nations
that would harm her (2Ki 19:21; The black
Shulamite woman in the Song of Solomon, is not a virgin, but is
considered by God to be like a virgin, that is, one to be
married to a husband. Although having had other men, she now rejects
the advances of the king, as she waits for her shepherd lover to take
her away. Much like the unfaithful Israel in the tribulation, sinful
Israel, having run after other gods, waits for her Lord to open her
eyes (Zech 12:10). |
which took
their lamps |
Taking
their lamps is a work. It was an individual
responsibility to keep oil in their own lamps. Lamps hold
oil and oil represents the Holy Ghost. Aaron, when
consecrated as the chief priest, had oil poured over him representing
the Holy Ghost (Ex 29:7). Christ,
replacing Aaron, as the new high priest, has the dove from heaven,
representing the Holy Ghost, come down upon him (Matt 3:16). Lamps
represent the bodies of the individual virgins. Those
virgins with no oil represent having no Holy Ghost. Those
virgins with oil represent having the Holy Ghost. As we
shall see, the foolish virgins were unprepared and lazy. Indeed,
the wise had also fallen asleep, but were prepared and ready when
awakened. How could
virgins make sure they had oil, that is, the Holy Ghost? Two things. 1. Do
their best with the works requirements outlined in Matthew chapters
five through seven, while continuously believing that Christ was
fulfilling every day these laws on their behalf. 2.
Attending on-going animal blood sacrifice for the remission of their
past sins. Because
the bridegroom delayed in coming, they all fell asleep.
So when
the bridegroom arrives, the foolish are not prepared with the works
required for the kingdom of heaven, or indeed, have been diligent about
the remission of their sins. The wise are prepared. |
and went
forth to meet |
This is a
work. Think of it as a sort of ‘interview’, such that the bridegroom
could pass judgment on their suitability. |
the bridegroom. |
The man
who will groom the bride. This is Jesus Christ as the Son of
man who preaches the kingdom of heaven gospel, the rules, the
regulations and the works of Matthew chapters 5-7 |
And five
of them were wise, and five were foolish. |
Five
simply represents a choice to be made. It does not
stand for an actual number or that half of the virgins will get into
the marriage ceremony, or that half of Israel will enter the wedding
ceremony. Five and
five, half and half, simply represent a choice to be made, a blessing
or curse, as at Mt Gerizim and at Mt Ebal (Deut 27:12-13) Half the
candlesticks on the right and half on the left (2Chron 4:7) represent
Israel’s constantly having to choose with a ‘Yes’ or ‘No’. |
They that
were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with
them: But the wise took oil in their vessels with their
lamps. |
The
foolish went to meet with the bridegroom with no preparation. Something
akin to the mocking and scornful masses that wanted to get on board
Noah’s ark. The wise
were the opposite and were prepared to keep the works of the mount
sermon as best they could, while continuously believing that Christ
would fulfil all the sermon on the mount laws on their behalf, along
with blood sacrifices for past sins. Indeed the
fulfillment of both ‘mountain laws’, those of Sinai and those in
Matthew 5-7, were needed. |
While the bridegroom
tarried, they all slumbered and slept. |
The
bridegroom hadn’t arrived according to their timing. They all were
nodding off and sleeping. Their spirit may have been willing but their
flesh was weak (Matt 25:41). But some were prepared even though asleep.
|
And at midnight
|
Midnight
is the time that is least expected, as to be caught unawares as the
LORD goes into Egypt to slay the firstborn (Ex 11:4). Those with blood
on the lintels were prepared even though they slept; Ruth at midnight
(Ruth 3:8); or being ready to sing praises at midnight (Ps 119:62; Acts
16:25). |
there was
a cry made |
A cry
signifies a loud public notice or proclamation |
Behold,
the bridegroom cometh |
That the
bridegroom was on his way. |
go ye out to
meet him. |
A command.
A work. |
Then all
those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps. |
Everyone
of them got up, and all inspected and prepared their lamps to see if
there was any oil in them. That is, had they put into practice, the
best they could, the strict requirements demanded in Matthew 5-7, while
continuously believing that Christ would fulfil all the law on their
behalf, along with blood sacrifices for past sins.
|
And the
foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps
are gone out. |
No oil
meant no Holy Ghost. “Can we
borrow some of your Holy Ghost? Can you give us some Holy Ghost?” They may
have, at one time, been zealous for the Lord, much like the stony
ground and the thorny ground, but the cares of the world, the
deceitfulness of riches, and those without roots had taken away their
love for the Lord. |
But the
wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you:
|
Having the
Holy Ghost is an individual thing and cannot be borrowed from another. Similar to
Simon wanting to buy the Holy Ghost power from the apostles (Acts
8:18-21,22) |
but go ye
rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves. |
Who could
sell the Holy Ghost? Answer: No-one could. The
foolish virgins were asked to take seriously the following requirements
and buy/earn/work at these things, while also continuously believing
that Christ was fulfilling these things on their behalf.
Righteousness needed to
exceed the Pharisees (Matt 5:20).
No oaths using heaven’s name
(Matt 5:33)
Don’t pay back evil for evil
(Matt5:38-44) but go the extra mile
Give alms in secret (Matt 6:1-4)
Pray in
secret (Matt 6:5-8)
Forgive
others or God won’t
forgive you (Matt 6:14-1
Fast in
secret (Matt 6:16-18) No hoarding up money or goods
(Matt 6:19-21, 24) No
worrying about food and drink
(Matt 6:25-28,29-32,33)
Take no thought about tomorrow
(Matt 6:34) No hypocrisy (Matt 7:1-4,5) Because
strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and
few there be that find it. Matthew 7:14 |
And while they
went to buy, the bride- groom came; … they that were ready
went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut. |
While they
were preparing, that which they should have done previously, they
missed getting into the marriage ceremony. They were
locked out as the bridegroom didn’t know them. Christ
locks out the stony and the thorny ground people. The wise
went in, and the door was then shut like Noah’s ark. No-one
else could get in. |
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. |
These were
the foolish who had gone off to get the oil, the Holy Ghost. These may
have included those that had done wonderful works, prophesied and cast
out devils (Matt 7:22) but not as the Lord wanted. They did
it in their own strength and not with the Holy Ghost. These were
the ones that had not taken seriously the works required and
the length of time, approximately three and a half years, of
Christ’s kingdom of heaven ministry to the Jews. |
Watch
therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son
of man cometh. |
This is a
reference to both the 1st and 2nd comings of the
Lord. |
TODAY’S
APPLICATION:
Dear
Reader, there
is an application for today.
It
is very simple.
Are
you ready for the return
of the Son of God to catch you up into the clouds?
Have
you been saved?
Do
you have eternal
security?
There
are many saying “Well
yes, nobody is perfect … but God looks at your heart, and as long as
you are
doing your best, you’ll get into heaven. The foolish virgins has the
best of
intentions!”
But
where is their scripture
to back this up? THEY DON’T HAVE ONE … AND IF THEY DO … IT’S FROM
THE WRONG
DISPENSATION!
Today?
No
need to fix your lamps or
run around trying to get some Holy Ghost
It’s
all been done by Christ
2,000 years ago.
All
the perfect works have
been done.
The
perfect blood has been
shed.
2,000
years ago all you sins
were paid for.
The
oil … the Holy Ghost is
readily available upon believing on the Lord Jesus Christ.
You
might be saying “How can
I be a wise virgin?
Simple
…
“Dear God,
help me!
I keep
doing things that I don’t want to do.
It’s like
there’s a criminal inside of me
making me do things I hate doing!
I hate
myself! I’m a sinner!
It’s like
I’m a schizophrenic … there’s two
sides to me.
I want to
do the right thing but I can’t!
I want to
be good! You have to set me free
from my sins!
They’re
killing me!
I’ve got
this monkey on my back! The black dog
keeps hounding me!
You said
if I believe that Jesus died for my
sins … you can save me.
It’s like
I’m in this body of death. I can’t
help myself. Save me!”
October
2023
www.
AustralianBibleMinistries
.com
“THE 41 PARABLES OF JESUS CHRIST”
28
general parables and 13 kingdom of heaven
parables
Parable
#22 –
“The
Talents”
Matthew 25:14-30
The
13th of the 13 kingdom of heaven
parables