Hi John & Fellow Doves:
Thank you all for your tireless work helping us watchers stay awake.  It
gets so hard to remain encouraged sometimes. Remember how hard it was to
stay awake at "all-nighters" at your friends sleepovers or church youth
group when you were young?   That time just before dawn is the hardest
to stay awake!  That's where I feel we are right now and I really need
your help to stay watchful.  That brings me to my question.  Can any of
you help me with a verse in Matthew 25 that has always troubled me?
Verse 5  says they *all* (wise and foolish) slumbered and slept before
the bridegroom arrived.  Here's the verse in it's context:
 

        Matthew 25

   ^1 Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins,
which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom.

   ^2 And five of them were wise, and five were foolish.

   ^3 They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them:

   ^4 But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.

   ^5 While the bridegroom tarried, they* all *slumbered and slept.

   ^6 And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom
cometh; go ye out to meet him.

   ^7 Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps.

   ^8 And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our
lamps are gone out.

   ^9 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.

   ^10 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.

   ^11 Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open
to us.

   ^12 But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not.

   ^13 Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein
the Son of man cometh.

My question is the *ALL* in verse 5!  It looks like they were all
sleeping when the bridegroom arrived!  Here at Doves we're a unique
group of watchers who are at it 24/7!  Dates come and go and we remain
strong and committed to our watch.  But does these verse imply that
eventually we will ALL fall into a slumber?!!! Oh my - I surely hope not
as I have tried so hard since 1998 to keep my lamp burning even when
we've experienced so many disappointments!  But this verse troubles me.
Will we all fall into a state of slumber eventually?  I hope my fellow
watchers can ease my fears on this!

Thanks for all your hard work and faithful study in the Word!

Your drowsy, but still awake sister,
Liz