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 for the remission of past sins

YES

These will enter Abrahams’ bosom upon death.

Will be taken up into heaven.

Unprepared virgins with no oil

because they believe (continually, on and off) in Christ as their Messiah fulfilling the law on their behalf plus animal blood every now and then

YES

These will not enter Abraham’s bosom upon death.

They end up in hell.

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;
Is37:22,Isa47:1;Jer 14:17,Jer18:13 ,Jer 31:4,Jer 46:11)

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
      (Matt 5:41)

     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 1^st and 2^nd comings of the Lord.