Jesus Christ often spoke in parables. Some people have the misunderstanding that He did so to further clarify the meaning of His teachings, yet scripture reveals that Jesus did just the opposite (Matt. 13:10-17). The Bible reveals that God has hidden the true understanding of Scripture from the world, but He reveals that vital information through His Spirit to those He is calling. During His ministry, Jesus, the Bridegroom related a parable about “10 virgins” (Matt. 25:1-13). He talked about lamps, oil and a wedding? How does this parable relate to us today? Is there any relevance in our lives? What vital lessons can we learn and draw from out of this parable?
The parable relates that the bridegroom delayed His coming and they all slept (v5). The Ephesian Era lost its "first love" (Rev. 2:4). It ceased to actively carry God's truth to the world. It went to sleep spiritually (Matt. 25:5). Jesus Christ therefore removed its "candlestick," and continued His Work through the Smyrna Era, who were rich in faith. History shows that many Christians of this era were persecuted to death. Yet centuries later the Church of God was still in existence! Some of the congregations of God's Church had migrated eastward. They became the original "Paulicians" (descendants of those congregations raised up by the apostle Paul) in Pontus (Armenia), of the Pergamos Era. Most of the long Thyatira Era—were not converted. These people merely sympathized with the truth. They were not willing to give their very lives for it. A characteristic of the of the Sardis Era of God's Church is the lack of true spirituality. This era of the Church of God did not "remember how" it had received the truth from earlier Christians who were faithful even to death by fire. Nor did it, like those, "hold fast" what truth it had. It did not emphasize repentance. It did not "watch" (Matt. 25:13). The Philadelphian era of God’s Church began in 1933 through God’s Apostle Herbert W. Armstrong. This Church Era had "(only) a little strength" of itself (Rev. 3:8)—it did not work many mighty miracles, but it was magnified greatly through the "doors" of radio, television and the printing press—and most important of all, through the power of the Holy Spirit!
It seems the parable in Matthew 25 explains this long slumber—culminating in the final era. The "virgins" represent the members of God's Church through the ages. The apostolic age expected Christ's return momentarily (I Thes. 4:15). But when He did not immediately appear, they grew drowsy and lost their first love (Rev. 2:4) and went to sleep on the job. For nearly 1900 years God's Church continued to slumber and sleep. Then in 1934, a voice on the radio “cried out” to proclaim the intervention of Christ in the world affairs was near (v6). The Philadelphia era began to zealously do Christ's work (v7). But toward the end of the work of "Philadelphia," many were found to lack a sufficient supply of "oil" (v8).
Notice the five foolish (unprepared) "virgins" are admonished to go and figuratively buy a supply of oil (v9). Revelation 3:17-18 also shows that the typical Laodicean belongs in this category? Obviously, one cannot literally buy the Holy Spirit, which is the guarantee of salvation. Simon the Sorcerer tried this method to no avail (Acts 8). What is this telling us? It is a pointed way of indicting them of the proper way—the only legitimate way—of obtaining this needed and precious element, placing before them the vision or goal for having it now to seek. The word "buy" is significant; for we are elsewhere told, “I counsel you to buy from Me [Christ] gold refined in the fire…” (Rev. 3:18). Now, since what we pay the demanded price for becomes our own, the salvation, which we obtain by the gift of God's hands, being bought in His own sense of that word, comes under our absolute ownership. (Compare Prov. 23:23; Matt. 13:44).
The “virgins” are directed to buy from those who sell. The word “buy” is resultant from the Greek agorazo(ag-or-ad'-zo), which is derived from agora. Notice the revealing definition of agora from Vines expository dictionary of New Testament words: “…In the N.T. it denotes a place of assembly, a public-place or forum, a market-place. A variety of circumstances, connected with it as a public gathering-place, is mentioned, e.g., business dealings such as the hiring of labourers, Matt. 20:3; the buying and selling of goods, Mark 7:4; the games of children, Matt. 11:16; the holding of trials, Acts 16:19; public discussions, Acts 17:17. And finally a tremendous piece of the puzzle: ‘Mark 6:56 records the bringing of the sick there’ (pg. 725). Mark writes, “Wherever He entered, into villages, cities, or the country, they laid the sick in the marketplaces [agora, ag-or-ah'], and begged Him that they might just touch the hem of His garment. And as many as touched Him were made well.” Do you see? The foolish virgins are instructed to pursue that which will heal them. Moses taught that one of God’s names is YHWH Rapha, “the God who heals or our Healer God.” Is not the most important necessary healing, spiritual healing? Spiritual “sickness” is a condition of the heart and mind that must be healed through God’s Holy Spirit. “Jesus answered and said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance” (Luke 5:31-32).
The Apostle Peter instructed: “But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you” (1 Peter 5:10). Remember they were told to “buy” (agorazo). Regarding this word Vines further relates: “to frequent the market-place” (pg. 163). The “virgins” are being admonished to desperately seek this spiritual healing. These members of God's Church can still be born of God if they do as Christ instructs. But they will have to prove their spiritual dedication to God by overcoming amid the Great Tribulation—most likely through martyrdom! Matthew 25:10-12 indicates that some of the end-time "foolish virgins" will not yet be "ready" when Christ arrives.
Despite Christ's persistent warning the spiritual condition of the "Laodiceans" is found to be lukewarm—neither hot nor cold, not really stirred up about overcoming (Rev. 3:15. The name Laodicea is Greek. It means the “people rule, judge or decide” and "the (self-) righteous people." Why will the Laodiceans find themselves in such a pitiable state (Rev. 3:17)? They will have been self-deceived. They "know not" that they themselves are "the ones pitiable and beggarly and blind and naked" (according to the original Greek). They thought they had made proper preparation for the return of Christ. They will say, "I have become rich (physically and spiritually) ... and have need of nothing." The present-day "Laodiceans" will be products of this modern age of skepticism, division, unbelief, creature comforts, medicine and permissiveness. They are too close to the ways of this world to get really "shook up" about God's truth until finally shaken out of their lukewarmness by having to suffer in the Great Tribulation—still because of God’s love (Rev. 3:19; Heb. 12:6-11)! It is important to remember that the Laodiceans actually have been begotten of God's Spirit. Their lamps are lit (Matt. 25:8), but are "going out" because the supply of "oil" (the Holy Spirit) has not been continually replenished and increased. Christ does not want to cast off these people. Revelation 3:16 should be translated "I am about to spue you out," not "I will spue you out." He stands ever ready to receive the overcomers—to give them everlasting life and rulership with Him (verses 20-21).
What we do during this delay reveals much about our conviction, character and ultimately our conversion—as illustrated by the two servants in Matthew 24:45-51—please read it! Many in the church have started off with a relish and love for the truth, but in time they have faded, slipped backed and veered off course—why—for some because of trials, passing pleasure of sin, wealth and pleasures. For some it was “prediction addiction”—it hasn’t happened yet; therefore, many questioned and eventually fell away! “But Jesus said to him, “No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God” (Luke 9:62). If we begin to look back at what might have been or what we “missed” in this world—we are not fit for God’s kingdom! Our challenge is to hold fast the truth, our convictions and continue to do the work until the end—whatever that end is!
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