Wise and Foolish Virgins

The New Testament is far clearer in its dealing with the subject of the readiness of the bride. We need to take some time to focus on the clearest relevant presentation – the parable of the five wise and five foolish virgins who took lamps in order to go out and meet the bridegroom. “Those who were foolish took their lamps and took no oil with them, but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. But while the bridegroom was delayed, they all slumbered and slept. And at midnight a cry was heard: ‘Behold, the bridegroom is coming; go out to meet him!’ Then all those virgins arose and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ But the wise answered, saying, ‘No, lest there should not be enough for us and you; but go rather to those who sell, and buy for yourselves.’ And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding; and the door was shut. Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, ‘Lord, Lord, open to us!’ But he answered and said, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, I do not know you.’”[1]

   It is significant that there were 10 virgins. According to Alfred Edersheim[2] (1825-1889), the Hebrew Christian commentator, 10 was the number required to be present at a marriage ceremony in New Testament times. It was the custom to carry 10 or so lamps in the bridal procession. Even to the modern Jewish mind, 10 also suggests a congregation, due to the requirement for a quorum (minyan) of 10 adult male Jews to conduct various religious activities including reciting certain prayers and the priestly blessing.[3] The lamps held by the virgins were not small personal clay oil lamps often depicted by artists in paintings of the scene. Instead they were public lanterns, held up for all to see in the bridal procession.[4]

   The size of the lamp, together with the long wooden pole, is most relevant to our study. Some effort was involved in carrying such a contraption. This is a reminder of where Jesus instructs us: “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.”[5] Furthermore, the public nature of the torch being held brings to mind, “that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world.”[6] Wise virgins in these Last Days are visibly different to the world around them and do not compromise to fit in. They are bold and take personal responsibility to prepare for what is ahead, rather than passively assuming that their Christian leader, fellowship or religious duties will suffice to provide spare oil.

   In modern Western culture, if guests are held up on their way to the wedding ceremony or the celebratory meal that typically follows, they can usually quietly sneak in late to join the event. However, ancient Jewish wedding customs dictated that no one else could enter the wedding celebrations once the door was shut.[7] Not one of us can afford to be casual about being ready to be admitted to the marriage supper of the Lamb. This is not the time or place to be “fashionably late.” We want to be safely behind those doors during the time of Tribulation and the outpouring of the wrath of God: “Come, my people, enter your chambers, and shut your doors behind you; hide yourself, as it were, for a little moment, until the indignation [or wrath] is past. For behold, the Lord comes out of His place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity.”[8]

   Each of the 10 were virgins and this implies that they were Christians set apart for the Lord: “For I am jealous for you with godly jealousy. For I have betrothed you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.”[9] Furthermore, each virgin had oil to start with because the lamps were initially alight. Oil is widely understood to represent the Holy Spirit and the lamp the word of God.[10] However, as the coming of the bridegroom grew close, the foolish virgins ran out of oil, meaning that they still read their Bibles (the lamp), yet their portion of the Holy Spirit (the oil) to illuminate the Scriptures ran low and was finally extinguished. Each of the virgins was waiting for the return of the bridegroom. Most relevant for our study is the fact that although the foolish went out to purchase some oil, there was neither opportunity nor time to complete this transaction before the door to the wedding feast was permanently shut.  Now if the foolish virgins were simply unsaved people reading their Bibles, as many believe, then it would not take long for them to repent and pray to receive the Lord in salvation.

[1] Matthew 25:6-12

[2] “The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah” Hendrickson Publications

[3] Chabad.org “Minyan: The Prayer Quorum”

[4] Distinction explained by Nelson Walters in YouTube video; “Unlocking the Mystery of the Ten Virgins Parable: They Carry TORCHES not Lamps and What it MEANS Nelson Walters 2023”

[5] Matthew 16:24

[6] Philippians 2:15

[7] “Ready or Not – He is Coming” Stephanie Cottam
www.bereanbiblechurch.org  “The Wise and Foolish Virgins”

[8] Isaiah 26:20-21

[9] 2 Corinthians 11:2

[10] For a full discussion see https://www.bibletools.org for the oil. Psalm 119:105 re the lamp.

To return to the page on The Rapture: Wise Up & Rise Up, click here

Scripture taken from the New King James Version®.