I agree with most of what you say but would like to suggest to you that a strict interpretation which denies seeing the Church in Old Testament Scripture is not the proper way to approach the Mystery of the Dispensation of Grace.

 

Paul, the Apostle to the Gentiles found within the Old Testament Scriptures the hidden Mystery via the Holy Spirit and a personal calling to declare the Mystery. Much is hidden in the Old Testament that is revealed applicable to us and many Scriptures have duel applications. An example is the Calling of God’s Son out of Egypt, all Christians experience that call.

 

We must be careful as you say in thinking the New Testament actually begins at Christ’s birth, it does not, but neither is Matthew 25 secluded by a division from Matt. 24. In fact, Matt. 25 begins with the word “Then”. This word is referring to what Jesus had related to His disciples previously. What was that? It was the conditions of the servants and their attitudes. Jesus divided them, calling one set “evil servants” and the other “faithful servants”.

 

Mat 24:44  Therefore you also be ready, for in that hour you think not, the Son of Man comes. Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his Lord has made ruler over His household, to give them food in due season? Blessed is that servant whom his Lord shall find him doing so when He comes. Truly I say to you that He shall make him ruler over all His goods. But if that evil servant shall say in his heart, My Lord delays His coming, and shall begin to strike his fellow servants, and to eat and drink with the drunken, the Lord of that servant shall come in a day when he does not look for Him, and in an hour which he does not know. And He shall cut him apart and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites. There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

 

Mat 25:1 Then shall the kingdom of Heaven be likened to ten virgins, who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. And five of them were wise, and five were foolish.

 

What I wish to point out here is that the Bridegroom comes at a time when the think not. In the Tribulation, they are all expecting Him to come and men are actually going into the caves to hide themselves from Him having seen His sign in the heavens. The Tribulation period is a time of KNOWING he is coming, not a time of questioning it. At the End of the Tribulation they are all looking for Him and fearful of His return. To separate the Faithful and evil  servants from the Wise and foolish virgins is to miss part of the Mystery hid within  the parable. That the Parable applied to Jews and a Jewish context is true, but, the Mystery to later be revealed through Paul is that Jew and Gentile would be of ONE NEW MAN, or, Body of People.  

We must not exclusively demand that all Parables are for the Jews alone and not recognize that the Mystery of the Gentiles is imbedded in the workings of God and the communication of God concerning the Gentiles

It is at a time when the Evil Servants are smiting the Faithful for believing He is coming that the Virgins are looking for Him. It is at a time when naturally it does not appear that He will come that the Five Wise and the Five Foolish are going out to meet Him. The Tribulation declares His coming.

The “evil servants” doubt His “coming”.

What is the promise of His coming to According to the MYSTERY OF THE REVELATION OF JESUS CHIRST? This is the question we need to ask. To the Believer looking for His return it is to meet HIM in the Air according to Paul’s revelation, not meet Him at the end of the Tribulation period when all know He is coming. Do you really think any one will be "sleeping"? :)

It for these reasons I believe that the Virgin parable clearly points to the Church (Jew and Gentile) before the Tribulation and not to Jews during the Tribulation.

 Pretend to be converted to Paul's revelation after you heard Jesus speak.

 

Blessings

 

Brother Stephen Martin