Article
Title: The Parable of the Ten Virgins
"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 unto 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."
When the
ten virgins went forth to meet the bridegroom, their lamps were trimmed and
burning. Apparently there was no difference between the five who were wise and
the five who were foolish. To outward appearance all were prepared, robed in
white, and carrying their lighted lamps. But only five of these virgins were
wise. These anticipated delay, and filled their flagons with oil, ready for any
emergency. Five of the number had not this foresight; they made no provision
for disappointment or delay.
All the
virgins are watching for the bridegroom. Hour after hour passes, and they are
still anxiously looking for his appearing. But at last the weary, watching ones
fall asleep. And at midnight, the very darkest hour, when their lamps are
most needed, the cry is heard, "Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out
to meet him."
At the
call, the sleeping eyes are opened, and every one is aroused. They see the
procession they are to join moving on, bright with torches and glad with music.
They hear the voice of the bridegroom and the voice of the bride. The five wise
virgins trim their lamps, and go forth to meet the bridegroom.
The
foolish virgins made no provision for their lamps; and when aroused from their
slumbers, they found that their lights were going out. They now see the
consequences of their carelessness, and plead with their companions for a
supply of oil: "Give us of your oil," they say; "for our lamps
are going out." But the waiting five, with their freshly trimmed lamps,
have emptied their vessels. They have no oil to spare, and they answer:
"Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you. But go ye rather to them
that sell, and buy for yourselves." But while they went to buy, the
procession moved on, and left them behind. The bridal train entered the house,
and the door was shut. When the foolish virgins reached the banqueting hall,
they received an unexpected denial. They were left outside in the blackness of
the night.
This
parable is not a representation of open sinners, but of those who profess
Christ. The bride is the church who is waiting for the second appearing of our
Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. In the proclamation of the first and second
angels of Revelation 14, a special message has come to our world. Speaking of
these messages, John says: "I saw another angel fly in the midst of
heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the
earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people, saying with a
loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is
come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the
fountains of waters. And there followed another angel, saying, Babylon is
fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she made all nations drink of the
wine of the wrath of her fornication."
The first and second angels' messages are united and made
complete in the third. -John says: "And the third angel followed them,
saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and
receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, the same shall drink of the
wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of
his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the
presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb."
Under the
proclamation of these messages the cry was made, "Behold, the bridegroom
cometh." The believers in these messages were compelled to go out from the
churches because they preached the second appearing of Christ in the clouds of
heaven. The whole world was to hear the message, "Behold, the bridegroom
cometh; go ye out to meet him." Many who heard these messages thought they
would live to see Christ come; but there was a delay in the coming of the
Bridegroom, in order that all might have an opportunity to hear the last
message of mercy to a fallen world.
Had those
who claimed to believe the truth acted their part as wise virgins, the message
would ere this have been given to every nation, kindred, tongue, and people.
But five were foolish. The truth should have been proclaimed by the ten
virgins, but only five had made the provision essential to join the company
that walked in the light given to them.
The first, second, and third angels' messages are to be
repeated. The call is to be given to the church: "Babylon the great
is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of
every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird. For all
nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, and the kings
of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the
earth have waxed rich through the abundance of her delicacies. . . . Come out
of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive
not of her plagues. For her sins have reached unto heaven, and God hath
remembered her iniquities."
Many who went forth to meet the Bridegroom under the messages
of the first and second angels, refused the third, the last testing message to
be given to the world, and a similar position will be taken when the last call
is made.
Every
specification of this parable should be carefully studied. We are represented
either by the wise or by the foolish virgins. There are many who will not
remain at the feet of Jesus, and learn of him. They have not a knowledge of his
ways; they are not prepared for his coming. They have made a pretense of
waiting for their Lord. They have not watched and prayed with that faith which
works by love and purifies the soul. They have lived a life of carelessness.
They have heard and assented to the truth, but they have never brought it into
their practical life. The oil of grace is not feeding their lamps, and they are
not prepared to enter into the marriage supper of the Lamb. The oil is the holy
grace that is sent from heaven; and there must be an inward adorning with that
grace, if we would stand when he appears.
The men of the world do not wish the light of truth, and they
are one in spirit with those who, while professing to be children of God, do
not let their light shine in words of truth and deeds of holiness. Unconverted men who claim to be Christians
only encourage the sinner to continue in his sin. In the place of
seeking to save the souls that are ready to perish, they live for self. Their
vessels are empty, and therefore they can not keep their lamps replenished. To
these Christ says, I know you not. You have not taken me as your counselor. You
have not walked in the light of my word. You have not come under my yoke. Your
light is darkness, because you have walked in the sparks of the fire of your
own kindling. Depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
We are not to rest in the idea that because we are
church-members we are saved, while we give no evidence that we are conformed to
the image of Christ, while we cling to our old habits, and weave our fabric
with the threads of worldly ideas and customs. Christ declares: "Not every
one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but
he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in
that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have
cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I
profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work
iniquity."
This
representation should call forth our earnest study in order that we may know
what preparation to make that we may enter in and partake of the marriage
supper of the Lamb. "Blessed are
they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life,
and may enter in through the gates into the city."
The ten
virgins are watching in the evening of this earth's history. All claim to be
Christians. All have a call, a name, a lamp, and all claim to be doing God
service. All apparently watch for his appearing. But five are wanting. Five
will be found surprised, dismayed, outside the banquet hall. There are many who
cry, Peace, peace, when there is no peace. This is the most perilous belief
that the human soul can entertain. Christ calls upon all who bear his name, who
claim to be his followers, to eat his flesh and drink his blood, or they can
have no part with him.
Be not
like the foolish virgins, who take for granted that the promises of God are
theirs, while they do not follow the injunctions of Christ. Christ teaches us
that profession is nothing. "If any man will come after me," he says,
"let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me."
"Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and
shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but
whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the
kingdom of heaven. For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall
exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case
enter into the kingdom of heaven."
When we
stand the test of God in the refining, purifying process; when the furnace fire
consumes the dross, and the true gold of a purified character appears, we may
still say, with Paul, "Not as though I had already attained, either were
already perfect: but I follow after. . . . This one thing I do, forgetting
those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are
before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in
Christ Jesus."
Php 3:12 Not
as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow
after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ
Jesus.
Php 3:13
Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do,
forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things
which are before,
Php 3:14 I
press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ
Jesus.
THE REVIEW
AND HERALD
October
31, 1899
Matthew
25:1-13, Revelation 14:6-12, Revelation 18:2-5, Matthew 7:21-23, Revelation
22:14, Luke 9:23, Matthew 5:19,20, Philippians 3:12-14
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