Lyn Mize:
 
I recently read (and am re-reading) your book The Open Door and want to thank you for an excellent study on the distinction between spirit, soul and body salvation. Your web site FirstFruits is also very informative and helpful in understanding these important differences.
 
Thank you for taking the time and making the effort to present these truths which, as a believer who has been misled by the traditional OSAS advocates, can now see more clearly what Jesus and Paul were saying regarding salvation.
 
The 10 virgins are as you point out is a very important part of the Olivet discourse meant for the Church. I agree with your statement that "the reason that the parable of the ten virgins has been misinterpreted so often is the fact that it contains some hard truths that the majority of the Church is unwilling to accept. It makes Christians accountable for their lives, and it shows consequences for being a foolish Christian. It is more palatable to assign the foolish virgins to the ranks of the lost than to face the realities of what this parable teaches. This is an uncomfortable message for casual and lukewarm Christians."
 
This parable warns of a midnight cry. Steve Berryman in his post of 8 Mar 2008 on this site says that by calculating backwards he sees the midnight cry (resurrection of the dead) on Friday evening/Saturday, 16/17 May 2008. The parable of the ten virgins states that this will be a cry of  warning or turmoil. A signal that the Bridegroom is at the door. In your book you state: "This could easily be a social or economic upheaval...". let us be watchful.
 
Your book is a powerful and highly recommended companion to the Scriptures. It brings new blessing to me each time I read from it. God bless you for your faithfulness and obedience to Jesus' commands.
 
Robert

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Another quote from Lyn Mize's book The Open Door is important to us all.
 
"Millions of Christians in the Church today have been taught that they are prepared to meet Jesus at his return because of the fact of simple evangelical salvation. These Christians are still babes in Christ and will not be prepared, Growing is not something that can take place over night. It takes time to become a mature Christian. If a Christian is not prepared when he hears the "midnight cry", it will be too late. He will likely be aware of the rapture, but he will be left behind just like Elisha....Those Christians who study, give thought to, and understand these truths reprressent only a small minority in the Church today. These are the Philadelphia Christians who will be taken out through the open door of Revelation 3:8. They are the FIrstfruits(i.e., hasty fruit) who have believed the Word and matured early before the hot summer sun. These Christians are described in the following Scripture:
 
2 Cor. 6:17-18(KJV) Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, 18 And I will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty. 7:1 Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
 
There may not be time enough between the midnight cry and the open door for Christians to mature. We all must immediately begin to do everything we can now before it is too late to fulfill the commandments that were given by Jesus. In short, we must love God and follow the new commandment too: "A new commandment I give unto you, That you love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another." (John 13:34 KJV)

Dear Doves, let us love one another more every day!
 
Robert