If you make it a practice to read
the Bible then you likely have read more than once the parable of the ten
virgins in Matthew’s gospel.[1]
Many people call it a parable, but I suggest that it is more allegorical. What
do I mean? A parable is generally a story that is elementary to demonstrate a spiritual
lesson, but an allegory suggests that the story has a hidden meaning within the
reading. Calling the story of the ten virgins a parable is not wrong because it
is a truth that gives instruction, but if you understand that within this instructive
lesson there is also divine revelation then the parable moves from just being a
spiritual lesson to a divine message being revealed. This divine message
reveals how those that have received Jesus Christ into their life should be watching
and ready when he (the bridegroom) comes to get those appointed to eternal life
(his bride) to then take them to live in his Father’s house.[2]
For those that are not familiar
with this parable, it is a story about ten virgins that were supposed to be
prepared to meet the bridegroom when he came for them. There were ten virgins
in all, five were foolish or stupid, and the other five were wise or prudent.
What made the difference in their character was whether or not they were
prepared for when the bridegroom came to receive them to go into the wedding
feast. The five virgins that were wise had enough oil in their lamps so they
would not go out when it was time to go out and meet the bridegroom. The five
virgins that were foolish confessed that they did not have enough oil in their
lamps to keep them from going out when it was time to go out and meet the
bridegroom. The reason the virgins had to have lamps that would give off light
is because, in this parable he came to receive them in the middle of the night
rather than at a time when there was daylight. Because they did not know
whether he would come at a time when there was daylight or at a time when it
was dark outside, they had to be prepared for whatever time it was that he
would come for them. The bridegroom had
kept the virgins waiting for a time longer than what they anticipated, because
he was delayed, and they all got fatigued from their waiting and fell asleep.
So, because he came for the virgins in the middle of the night, they had to
have oil lamps that would light up the way back to the wedding feast. But
because the foolish virgins did not take enough oil with them to refill their
lamps their lamps began to run out of oil, so they then had to go and buy some
more once they had the instructions it was time to go meet the bridegroom. The
wise virgins could not give the foolish virgins any of their oil because that
would leave them with not enough oil to keep their lamps burning, so the
foolish virgins had to go get more oil from another source. But while they were
gone obtaining more oil the bridegroom came and received the other five virgins
and they all went to the wedding feast.
The wise virgins had lots of oil on hand to refill their lamps, so they
were able to make their way to the wedding feast lighting up the way for the
wedding procession. Once they were inside the wedding feast the door was shut, entrance
was forbidden from that point on. When the foolish virgins finally got to the
wedding feast they tried to get in, but they were refused entry. The man at the
door, whether it was the door attendant or the bridegroom himself, told the
five foolish virgins that he did not recognize them. Jesus likely told this
parable because it is similar to an ancient Jewish wedding. It helped him to
explain to his disciples what it would be like the day he would come back for
them.
There are similarities between an
ancient Jewish wedding and that of how Christians ultimately become the, Bride
of Christ. In the parable of the ten virgins the bride herself is not
mentioned, but instead the ten virgins are substituted to refer to those that
are part of the Church. In other words, the Church is likened to the ten
virgins in this parable to reveal what it will be like when the rapture occurs
using the analogy of an ancient Jewish wedding. The Church, is represented by the
ten virgins mentioned in this parable rather than the actual bride, the ten
virgins are used as a substitution for the bride of the bridegroom that was
delayed in coming to meet them. Why would Jesus use the ten virgins that
typically refer to the bridesmaids, or the attendants, of the bride in an
ancient Jewish wedding, rather than just shape this parable around the
bridesmaid herself? Well, I will get to that further into this article. But for
now, let me explain what an ancient Jewish wedding was like.
To get a good idea of what an
ancient Jewish wedding was like, the Free Messianic Bible website[3] gives
a good description of it.[4]
Below I will attempt to give a brief description of it on my own.
An ancient Jewish father would
generally scrutinize and then contact another Jewish family to see if their daughter
would consider making his son his bride. Once a contact was made the son’s father
would make a proposal to the potential bride’s father, and then if they could
find mutual grounds for a marriage between their children the daughter would
usually be consulted about the proposal. If she then gave her consent to the
bonds of marriage between her and the son there would then be a time of mutual
commitment which was called, Shiddukhin. The Shiddukhin, was a time where both
the bridegroom and bride prepared themselves for the, Erusin. The Erusin, is
the engagement, or the betrothal. During the time of Shiddukhin, the bridegroom
and the bride would take part in a spiritual cleansing ritual called the,
mikvah. The mikvah, was a symbolic ritual where both bridegroom and bride would
be immersed separately in water. Once the couple took part in this ceremony,
they then entered and stood under the marriage canopy which is called the,
chuppot, or chuppah. As the couple stood
under the chuppot it symbolized that they both pledged to build a home
together; it was a binding contract that they both legally entered into. While standing
under the chuppot, the bridegroom would give his bride a dowry. Some wine was
consumed to seal their covenant of betrothal. Once this ceremony was completed,
which was usually a public ceremony, the period of engagement then began. The
betrothal normally would last about a year. Even though during the betrothal
the couple were regarded as married they did not consummate the marriage or
live in the same house. There was no kissing and smooching during the
engagement, or before they consummated the marriage. During this time the
bridegroom prepared a place for them at his father’s house. Typically, he would
build a suite for them to live in once the marriage became physical. The bride
would continue living with her family until her bridegroom came to receive her,
and she had no idea at what date he would come for her. She had an idea that it
may be within a year according to the betrothal rules, but she did not know for
sure what day or hour her bridegroom would come and get her. In this ancient
Jewish custom, the father of the bridegroom determined the proper time for his
son to go get his bride and bring her to his home. Because the bride did not
know what day or hour her bridegroom would come and take her to his father’s
house so the marriage could physically begin, she would keep likely two types
of oil lamps and extra oil by her side. She had to have different types of lamps
available incase her bridegroom came at night. She had to have one type of lamp in her window
so her bridegroom would know she was ready for him. The lamp likely looked like
the lamp exhibited in Perry Stone’s video (Episode 981) at the, 12:30 minute
mark.[5] Because
this type of lamp was used inside the home in the time of Jesus. But then for
the journey to the wedding feast she had to have another type of lamp that was
used outdoors in the time of Jesus, and this lamp likely looked like the type
of lamp also displayed in the same Perry Stone video at approximately the, 12:50
minute mark. The bridesmaids (the virgins honored to accompany the bride on her
wedding day) would need lamps to light the way of the wedding procession too, so
they would have likely used the outdoor lamps also. The bride would keep her indoor
lamp burning in her father’s house at nighttime to indicate that her bridegroom
can receive her, that is, if she was prepared to meet him. He would have to see
the light from her lamp burning. If she wasn’t prepared to meet him when he
came to take her to his father’s house then she would not have her lamp burning
or have extra oil to keep it from going out. The bridegroom would come to her
home sounding a ram’s horn (a shofar) looking for her lamp burning, and then
once he saw the light of her lamp, he would snatch her up and then continue to
sound his shofar as he took her to the place that he built for her at his
father’s house. Once the bridegroom retrieved his bride from her family home
the nissuin, or marriage, then started to move into the essence of the
physical. The marriage ceremony then took place as they would consummate their
marriage under the chuppot.
The likely reason why Jesus used
the attendants of the bride rather than just shape his parable around the bride
herself is because his Bride is not just one person. The Bride, the wife of the
Lamb of God,[6]
are the many Jews and Gentiles that will put their faith in him during the
Church-age. The Bride, the wife of the Lamb, will be found faithful to him
during their life on Earth during the betrothal period. The Church-age is
actually similar to the Erusin, the engagement period of an ancient Jewish
wedding. The Church waits and gets herself ready during the betrothal period
for her husband to come and get her. The rapture of the Church is actually the
day when Jesus Christ, the Heavenly Bridegroom, comes to get his Bride and take
her to his Father’s dwelling. The Lord’s bride will obey his Word, the Holy
Scriptures, which is the litmus test that proves they love their Lord; their
bridegroom.[7] People
that claim they are Christians will truly love Jesus if God is truly their
Father.[8] Consider
this: The many Jews and Gentiles that put faith in the Lord during the
Church-age, and are faithful to him, are referred to as the Body of Christ in
the Holy Scriptures.[9]
The Bride, the wife of the Lamb, is the Body of Christ, and after the rapture occurs,
we will be presented to him as a pure virgin by the Apostle Paul.[10]
So, even though the Body of Christ is made up of the many that put their faith
in him, and are faithful to obey his commands, we are all being transformed
into one bride for the one husband. The Bride, the wife of the Lamb of God, is
the Body of Christ, innumerable believer’s that create one body. The Body of
Christ, are the many virgins that produce the one bride. As the Bride, the wife
of the Lamb, we need to keep watch and be ready, for we do not know the day or
hour that our husband comes to take us to his Father’s house.
Some argue that the Bride, the
Lamb’s wife, is really by definition a city, the New Jerusalem. But they fail
to interpret the Holy Scriptures correctly. Because the New Jerusalem, as it is,
by definition a city, is actually a gift built by God for the Bride, the wife
of the Lamb. The New Jerusalem is a human settlement, built by God, for his
bride, the Body of Christ, to reside in for eternity.[11] The
New Jerusalem is the place that Jesus has gone to prepare for those who belong
to him,[12]
it is the place where Abraham was anticipating: “For he was looking forward to
the city that has foundations, whose designer and builder is God” (Hebrews
11:10, ESV). The Lord, Jesus Christ, has prepared a city for those that have
put their faith in him, and he is not ashamed to be called our God.[13] The
New Jerusalem is a physical structure that comes out of Heaven, and the Bride,
the wife of the Lamb, who is now flesh and blood men and women,[14] but
will very soon receive glorified bodies at the rapture of the Church,[15]
will have this place as their dwelling. The Body of Christ, will be made like
Jesus at the rapture,[16]
meaning each believer will receive a glorified spiritual body just like the
Lord has now.[17] We
will not be transformed into urban structure, the Body of Christ is not recast
from human beings into large buildings, houses or infrastructure, and then be given
the name, New Jerusalem. No! The New Jerusalem is a real megalopolis made by
the hands of God so that we can dwell in it sometime after we enter Eternity
and are glorified. God has made the Holy City, the New Jerusalem, a beautiful
city. A city as beautiful as a bride who meticulously prepares herself for her
husband for their wedding day.
The parable of the ten virgins
was only recorded by Matthew. I don’t know why Peter did not instruct Mark to
write this story down to be part of his record, or why even the fastidious Doctor
Luke did not supply a record of this parable either. I believe that the writers
of the Gospels were led along by the Holy Spirit as they made their records of
what they witnessed about the ministry of Jesus, so if Matthew was the only one
to record this story for us then there must be a purpose for it.
If you notice, Matthew inserted
the parable of the ten virgins right after Jesus’ teaching to the Church in:
Matthew, chapter twenty-four, verses thirty-six through fifty-one. At the time
when Jesus spoke these words the Church was not even born yet, as it wasn’t
when he taught the parable about the ten virgins either. But when Matthew
recorded his gospel the Church had been born for at least twenty years. There
is the possibility that the parable of the ten virgins wasn’t even taught to
the disciples right after the Lord’s prophetic teaching about the Church in
chapter, twenty-four. But because Matthew was born-again and led along by the
Holy Spirit when he recorded his gospel, he recognized that both the prophetic teaching
in chapter twenty-four, verses thirty-six through fifty-one, and the prophetic parable
of the ten virgins were both in reference to the Church and this is likely the
reason why we see he recorded both teachings in sequence. The sequence of his documentation
is actually in harmony with how the final days of the Church on the earth will
end-up. The end of the Church-age is like in the days of Noah,[18]
and the days of Lot,[19]
and then in an instant the rapture occurs.
Before Matthew documented Jesus’
prophetic teaching about the Church, he records the Lord’s warning to both the
Church and Israel, and I dare not forget his warning to the World also, about
the time leading up to the seven-year Tribulation Period, in Matthew, chapter
twenty-four, verses four through eight. More accurately, the seven-year Tribulation
Period is the Seventieth-Week of Israel,[20]
or the time of Israel’s trouble.[21] Then
after this initial warning to the Church, Israel, and the World, Jesus warns the
nation of Israel chiefly about certain events that will occur during the
seven-year Tribulation Period with the return of their true Messiah at the very
end of this terrible time on Earth in: Matthew, chapter twenty-four, verses
nine through thirty-one. Then in the following three verses, thirty-two through
thirty-four, Jesus prophesies the time when all these things will take place
with the rebirth of the nation of Israel that will kickstart all these events.
Jesus used symbolic language to prophecy the time these events will begin in
these three verses. He uses prophetic language that can only be understood by
revelation of God—eyes to see and ears to hear.[22] May
14, 1948, was the date that Israel became a nation again, and this date
kickstarted these events.
Jesus does not refer to the
Church by name during the passage concerning the Body of Christ in Matthew,
chapter twenty-four, verses thirty-six through fifty-one,[23]
or in the parable of the ten virgins for that matter, and that is why some have
misunderstood these Scriptures and sadly mistaken them as references to the
nation of Israel. A simple reason why Jesus didn’t name the Church in these
teachings could be like I said two chapters ago; the Church wasn’t even born
when Jesus initially prophesied these words. So, logic would suggest that he carefully
didn’t introduce the name of an unknown divine entity to the disciples before
they themselves became the foundation[24] of
that divine entity, the New Creation.[25] Likely
the error that some make in interpreting these passages as the nation of Israel
is because some have their own ministerial agenda, they have personal spiritual
aspirations, and the only revelation they can receive comes from seducing
spirits rather than the Holy Spirit. Could it be that the pastor or teacher
that buckles down and persists in his own priestly agenda has delusions of
grandeur? A careful study of the Apostle’s teachings in the New Testament[26] reveals
that Jesus is warning the Church in the passage and parable above so that we
can be alert and always watching for him to come and take us out of this world,
in the last days of the Church-age. Again; the passage and parable at the top
of this paragraph are not references to the Jewish nation. Matthew, chapter
twenty-four, verses nine through thirty-one, and the three verses following,
thirty-two through thirty-four, are references to the nation of Israel. But not
chapter twenty-four, verses thirty-six through fifty-one, or the parable of the
ten virgins.
What else can be seen in the
parable of the ten virgins? I will present something to you that I have never
heard anyone else suggest. Instead, what I have heard them say is something
that is actually not Scriptural. You will have to keep reading to find out what
it is I am proposing. But before that; as I said in the first paragraph, this prophetic
parable pertains to the rapture of the Church, and specifically it is a warning
to be ready for the hour it will occur. It is a prophetic allegory involving
the hour when the Bridegroom comes for his Bride; the hour when the Lord, Jesus
Christ, comes for the Body of Christ. He warns the Church what we should do
prior to his arrival, and he warns us what is involved in actually being ready
for when the call rings out, “Behold, the bridegroom!” (ASV).
It is clear from the message that
Jesus is saying there will be both wise and foolish believers in his Church. He
does not make any reference to the type of spiritual calling a believer may
have, or the kind of ministry the believer would have in the church body, but
his message seems to focus on what kind of devotion the believer must have concerning
their wedding day. Remember; the day when he comes to get us to take us to his
Father’s house is the day and hour when the rapture of the Body of Christ will
occur. This is the day when the Lamb comes for his Bride. This parable is not
focused on the Church’s performance in the works department. It is more focused
on how the Church gets herself ready for the day when her bridegroom comes to
get her, or rather how committed she is to make sure she is ready when the
trumpet call of God sounds.[27] This
parable/allegory reveals that when the trumpet call of God sounds to rapture
the Body of Christ into Eternity there will be both wise and foolish people in
the Church.
This parable states, that the
bridegroom took a long time to come and receive his bride, and so it is, the
Lord seems to be taking a long time to come and rapture the Church. Because the
bridegroom in this parable was taking a long time in coming to receive his
betrothed all the virgins fell asleep, and because Yeshua Hamashiach seems to
be taking a long time to rapture the Body of Christ much of the Church has
fallen asleep. How is the Church asleep? A sleeping church is a metaphor for a
church that is disloyal. How are some Christians disloyal? Some don’t manifest
love for Jesus anymore, nor do they practice love one-for-another as we have
been commanded; these inactions are like falling from grace. Some practice
sexual immorality and see nothing wrong with it, they gratify the sinful nature
because they do not live by the Holy Spirit. Some are involved in occult
practices; they consult false prophets and destiny cards for direction instead
of following the Word of God. More than half the Church is influenced by New
Age teaching in one way or another.[28] Most of the Church cannot discern whether so-called
worship songs are scriptural or not. Many worship ministers lead God’s people
in New Age music every time Church-service is called and most don’t know the difference.
Because much of the Church has fallen asleep apostacy is on the rise; people
that once had faith keep falling away. Many churches have been preaching
another Jesus for some time, they have abandoned the truth and are zealots of
liberal theology; the truth is not in them.
The Apostle Paul said, that
before the rapture of the Church would happen this apostacy would occur. He
prophesied that in the final days of the Church-age some would depart from the
faith and be carried along by seducing spirits instead of the Holy Spirit.[29]
The doctrine of demons will be more enticing and alluring to these people that
fall away then the truth of Scripture. The deception begins usually by the
enchanting persuasion of teachers that will preach and teach only what the
people want to hear. The hireling’s hearers don’t want sound doctrine, so they
will navigate to teachers that satisfy their earthly desires. They would rather
hear a minister teach things that indulge their fantasies, speak words that
pamper their emotions, they like to be entertained rather than be warned about
the hard realities of the spiritual realm that governs this world; they don’t
want to hear the truth of Scripture.[30]
They would rather hear a good story then hear the Word of God. Because the Lord
seems to be taking a long time to rapture the Church many think he will never
come in their lifetime, so they believe it is better to just live life to the
fullest—eat, drink, and be merry. Much of the Church is asleep right now
because of what appears to be a tardy pace to the rapture, but because of the
recent covid restrictions/lockdowns the Church should wake up—the Antichrist
government is emerging. The covid pandemic is a method being used to usher in
the Antichrist’s global government.
In this parable, the virgins
finally woke up out of their slumber because the call rang out that the bridegroom
is here. They had no more time to get ready, he arrived and is now ready to
meet them. The slumber the virgins experienced is symbolical to Christian
apathy, it pictures the lack of enthusiasm that some have for the coming of the
Lord. It is a prophetic illustration showing that some have absolutely no
interest in preparing for the rapture; they believe it is not important. The
parable Jesus taught is about ten virgins who were waiting for the bridegroom
to come, allegorically Jesus was warning what it will be like when he comes for
his Bride.
The parable of the ten virgins is
a prophetic warning that reveals in the final days of the Church-age many will become
spiritually detached and will neglect the doctrine of the rapture. This
prophesy has come to fulfillment as many have neglected this message and therefore
become disengaged to this glorious event. Some even mock it. When you hear a
Christian say, “Where is the promise of his coming?” (2 Peter 3:4a, ESV), or
something similar to that, you can know that person is disinterested in the
rapture of the Church. They are unmoved about this part of the gospel message. They
scoff at the doctrine of the rapture because they have worldly desires that
they want to see come to pass. The catching up of God’s people out of the world
is a hinderance to their earthly passions. When you hear a pastor scoff the
doctrine of the rapture you can be sure that it is because he has delusions of
grandeur. He has been convinced by seducing spirits that he is some special
envoy of Heaven. He is seduced into believing that he has been born, “for such
a time as this.” It could be that a fallen angel has appeared to him masquerading
as an angel of light. Because some pastors believe that they are special, and
that the Church exists to only serve them rather then they serve the Body of
Believers, a false aspiration gets birthed within their mind that they believe is
true. These hireling’s rule their church with a religious spirit, their
spiritual ambition is an ecclesiastical nightmare.
Paul warns the Church to not fall
asleep. We are not to be lukewarm concerning the rapture. The rapture will
happen like a thief in the night to those that are not expecting it; a thief
comes without notice. The rapture will happen unexpectedly to those that are
lukewarm. But to those that are expecting the rapture will not be at all
surprised when it happens. They took the warning to watch and be ready
seriously, preparing themselves for their Bridegroom. Paul promises that God
has not appointed the Body of Christ to suffer wrath, meaning we will not go
into the seven-year Tribulation Period. God rescues us from the coming time of
wrath. We will be raptured before the Tribulation begins and receive the
completion of our salvation.[31]
Are you sure that because someone
believes in Jesus Christ they will automatically be raptured? Is there a
guarantee that everyone that believes Jesus is Lord will be caught-up to meet
the Lord in the air? When Paul recorded
the main passage about the rapture of the Body of Christ (1 Thessalonians
4:13-18) he was talking to believers that were warned to live their life to
please God. In fact, the Thessalonian Church, were living to please God; Paul
said they were. He instructed them that it is God’s will they be sanctified, or
be holy (hagios). He warns them to control their own body and to not let it be
in passionate lust like the pagans do. Today, like in Pauls’ day, a Christian should
not take advantage of or sin against a brother. We are not to be impure but
holy. Being holy means to be completely dedicated to the Lord, committed to him
and the Holy Scriptures in every way. If a Christian rejects this instruction
then he rejects God who gives us his Holy Spirit.[32]
We are to actually love one another instead of this fake love that passes for
Christian love in most churches today.
There is a guarantee that the
faithful will meet the Lord in the air, and the evidence of their faithfulness
will be their love for him as I mentioned earlier in this article; they obey
his Word. In Ephesians, chapter five, Paul exhorts us to imitate God, live a
life of love because we are his children and he loves us: “He gave himself up
for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for an odor of a sweet smell” (Ephesians
5:2, ASV). Paul warns us to not be sexually immoral, or be impure, or be greedy,
because we are called to be holy. We should not entertain filth or have a potty
mouth: “For you may be sure of this, that everyone who is sexually immoral or
impure, or who is covetous (that is, an idolater), has no inheritance in the
kingdom of Christ and God” (Ephesians 5:5, ESV). Paul says to the Church, that
God’s wrath comes on those that are disobedient in Ephesians, chapter five,
verse six. Could this mean that those that walk-in disobedience will end up
suffering like the world does in the time of wrath, the Tribulation Period?
What about the Christian that is unenthusiastic about the rapture, the person
that would rather the rapture not happen while they still have life to live,
will God overlook them when he calls his consecrated ones up into Eternity? The
Revelation reveals that there will be millions of people that refuse to follow
the Global Government system during the first 1260 days of the seven-year Tribulation
Period, they finally repent and turn to God but will be killed for disobeying
the Antichrist government. The Revelation reveals their souls under the alter
of God after their deaths asking him to avenge their deaths.[33]
Could some of these people be ones that believe in Jesus right now but do not
live a holy life, they practice disobedience to fulfill their earthly desires every
day and therefore end up suffering the wrath of God in the Tribulation Period
until they finally repent? If they do not want the rapture to happen during
their life on earth, so they can enjoy the fruit of their labors, or because
they just enjoy their sinful nature, will they then be caught up to meet the
Lord in the clouds when the rapture occurs? Will God force a believer to be raptured when
that believer is uninterested in being raptured, when he is lukewarm to this
glorious event? Some say that if a person is born again then they will go in
the rapture. But the Apostle Paul says the believer has a responsibility to
live a holy life once he puts his faith in the Lord; the Christian must
consecrate his life to God, he must make a solid effort. The Holy Scriptures
leave no doubt that those that are truly committed to the Lord will be snatched
up in the rapture.
I would like to mention something
that doesn’t sit well with me when I hear some interpret the parable of the ten
virgins. Many will often suggest that the oil in their lamps represent the Holy
Spirit. I have heard some pastor’s say that wherever we read the word oil in
the Bible that it always refers to the Holy Spirit. I could challenge them on
that. In fact, I could challenge those that say the oil in the lamps of the ten
virgins refer to the Holy Spirit. They say the oil in their lamps refer to the
Spirit of God, and I say the oil in their lamps refers to something else.
The reason why the virgins make
sure that they have oil in their lamps, and that they carry extra with them, is
so that when the bridegroom arrives, they can then lead the wedding party to
the wedding banquet; it is so they can light up the way with their lamps. That
is their duty as they take part in the wedding party. They have been given a
commission and they are honored to fulfil it, so they make sure they fulfill
this endeavor without fault. It is the same with the bride, she makes sure she
has plenty of oil in her lamp so that it doesn’t dry up and go out. The bride
wants to be received by her betrothed so she makes sure that her lamp is
burning to give off light from her father’s house, so that when he comes for her,
he sees that she is ready for him. Both the virgins that light up the way for
the wedding party and the bride are dedicated in making sure that their lamp
oil is plentiful. They devote themselves to this momentous engagement; they are
committed to it. Having oil, and having extra on hand in case the bridegroom is
late in coming to meet them, is a sign that they are faithful and devoted in
making sure the wedding is a success. This I would propose is the message Jesus
is sending out here. When he comes for the Church, will the Church be found
faithful to having been devoted to him and his return? Will the Church be found
committed in making sure they are found without blemish? “So that he might
present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such
thing, that she might be holy and without blemish” (Ephesians 5:27, ESV). This
is what the oil represents, devotion to Jesus and his return. Being committed
to keeping watch (Matthew 24:42; 25:13) and making sure they are ready (Matthew
24:44) when the trumpet sounds. The Church does not know the day and hour the
rapture will happen, like the ten virgins do not know the day and hour the
bridegroom comes for them, but both are expected in making sure they are
committed in making sure they are ready when that hour happens.
Remember when I said two chapters
ago that I could challenge those that say the lamp oil of the ten virgins refers
to the Holy Spirit? And that I could challenge certain pastors that say every
time oil is mentioned in the Scriptures that it refers to the Holy Spirit?
Well, I can. The oil used to fuel lamps back in the days of the disciples was
straight olive oil, but anointing oil which typically refers to the Holy Spirit
has a number of spices added to its olive oil base. So yes, olive oil does
refer to the anointing of the Holy Spirit, but only when it is has four
specific spices added to it to make it sacred anointing oil. But just straight
olive oil does not refer to the Holy Spirit or his anointing; it is just olive
oil used for light or cooking. The four spices used for sacred anointing oil are:
Pure myrrh which is in liquid form, sweet cinnamon, sweet calamus which could
be similar to sugarcane, and cassia which is an essential oil that comes from
the cinnamon family. These specific spices have to be measured out and added to
the right amount of olive oil to make it officially a sacred anointing oil.[34]
Sacred anointing oil had a fragrant smell to it. Anointing oil was used to consecrate
the Tent of Meeting, the ark of the testimony, the table and all its vessels,
the lampstand and its vessels, the alter of incense, the alter of
burnt-offering and its vessels, and the washbasin and its stand used by the
priests for washing. The sacred anointing oil was used to anoint all these
temple articles to make them holy, and then whatever touched them would be made
holy. The sacred anointing oil was symbolic to the anointing of the Holy Spirit
coming upon these articles. The Sacred anointing oil was also used to anoint
Aaron and his sons, so that they could serve the Lord.[35] It
was also used by the Prophets to anoint the kings of Israel. It signified that
they were anointed by the Holy Spirit.
The oil used in the lamps of the
ten virgins was not sacred anointing oil but rather straight olive oil. It was
the same straight olive oil used by Jacob when he woke up early one morning and
poured oil on top of the stone that he used as a pillow the night before
(travelers carried olive oil to cook and to burn in lamps). This was the
morning after the night when the Lord gave him a dream about a stairway
reaching up to heaven from the earth, and the angels were ascending and
descending back and forth on it. Jacob sees Yahweh at the top of the stairway
and the Lord proceeds to make Jacob some promises. You can read the promises
for yourself as the passage reference will be in the endnotes.[36]
Yahweh tells Jacob that he will give him and his descendants all the land in
which he is laying upon. The stone that Jacob poured oil upon was used as a מַצֵּבָה
(mats-tsay-baw'), an image or pillar, to illustrate that he believed the words
God spoke to him, and to demonstrate his dedication to the Lord. This act was
physical evidence of Jacob’s commitment to the will of Yahweh. Consecrating the
place where the Lord spoke to Jacob with straight olive oil was a physical
gesture of his devotion to Yahweh and his plan, even though he had not yet seen
this promise come pass.
And then another time, the Lord
appeared to Jacob again.[37]
This time he changes Jacob’s name to Israel. Yahweh informs Jacob that a nation
(Israel), and a multitude of nations will proceed from him. Yahweh informs
Jacob that the land he gave to Abraham and Isaac he gives to him and his
descendants also. Once this vision ended Jacob set up another image at the
exact location where God visited him, he pours a drink offering on it, and then
pours his cooking and lamp oil over it, straight olive oil. Again, Jacob
confirms his faith and dedication to the Lord’s word. Consecrating the place
where Yahweh spoke to him with a drink offering and straight olive oil was
again physical evidence that Jacob was confident that Yahweh’s promise would
happen.
You maybe can see that in these
two incidences above, that the olive oil used for lamps was symbolic for
consecrating the ground where Yahweh spoke to Jacob. Consecrating both images refer
to the amount of commitment Jacob would muster in seeing Yahweh’s promises coming
to pass. The olive oil in the parable of the ten virgins represents more than
just oil to keep their lamps burning, but rather the message in this parable is
that their lamp oil represents their commitment to the coming of the
bridegroom. Having extra oil on hand to replenish their lamps is symbolic to
their commitment in seeing the betrothal period through to the end, right up
until the moment the bridegroom comes to get them, and then to the point they
get into the wedding banquet. It is the same with the Church, we must be
committed to the Lord right up to the day he comes to get us. We must be
devoted to his plan to rapture us and take us to his Father’s house. Right now,
the Church is in the betrothal period of our relationship with our Husband, the
Lamb of God. Scholars usually call this time, the process of salvation. The
redemption of our physical body completes the process of our salvation; this
occurs at the rapture of the Body of Christ. The oil in this parable doesn’t
represent the Holy Spirit, but rather it is symbolic of the level of devotion
the Bride, the wife of the Lamb, has for her Husband; the Lamb of God. It is also
deeply symbolic to the level of commitment the Church must have in watching and
being ready for the hour that he comes for us. One sign that a Christian is not
devoted to God’s plan to rapture the Church is when they never want to hear
anything about it. When a pastor will never teach on the end-times, or scorns
anyone that wants to hear about this subject, it is a sign that he is not
committed to the Lord’s plan. That pastor may be committed to his own agenda,
but he is surely not committed to God’s plan. The rapture is God’s plan for the
Body of Christ, but there are some in the Church that make it sound as if it is
a doctrine of demons. When the rapture happens, will these deniers be snatched
out of the world or be left to go into the Tribulation Period to experience
God’s wrath? One thing is clear, the Apostles specifically prophesied that
those who are eagerly waiting for Jesus to rapture us will be caught up and
instantly taken out of this world.[38] I
think the best thing is for the Church to have plenty of oil on hand.
Picture:
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:The_wise_and_the_foolish_virgin,_by_Jan_Adam_Kruseman.jpg
[7] John 14:15, 21, 23-24; 15:10-14; 1 John 2:3; 5:3; 2
John 1:6
[9] Romans 12:4-5; 1 Corinthians 12:12-27; Ephesians
5:28-32; Colossians 1:24
[14] Those that have received Christ as Savior, and have
already passed from this life to the next, are the Bride of the Lamb also, and
will receive their glorified bodies at the rapture of the Church as well.
[15] 1 Corinthians 15:50-54; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18
[17] Philippians 3:21; Romans 8:29; 1 Corinthians 15:42-44,
48-54; Colossians 3:4; 2 Peter 1:4
[18] Matthew 24:37-41; Luke 17:26-27
[23] Mark 13:32-37; Luke 12:42-48; 17:26-29, 34-35
[25] 2 Corinthians 5:17; Galatians 6:15
[26] Romans 13:11-14; 1 Corinthians 7:29-31; Galatians
5:19-21; Philippians 3:16-21; 4:5; 1 Thessalonians 5:1-8; 1 Peter 4:7; 5:1-4; 2
Peter 2:1-3; 3:3-9, 13-15; Jude 1:4; Revelation 3:2-3
[27] 1 Thessalonians 4:16
[29] 2 Thessalonians 2:3; 1 Timothy 4:1
[31] 1 Thessalonians 1:10; 5:1-11
[32] 1 Thessalonians 4:1-9
[33] Revelation 6:9-11; 7:9-17
[38] 1 Corinthians 1:7-8; Philippians 3:20-21; 1
Thessalonians 1:10; 2 timothy 4:8; Titus 2:11-13;
Hebrew 9:27-28; 1 Peter
1:13; 2 Peter 3:12; Jude 1:21
