TO LAURIE
RE:(Laurie (8 July 2013)
"Patti C, Donna C. David B - The Kingdom of heaven is likened unto ten virgins...")
Hi Laurie,
Thanks for your letter, and I understand where you are coming from in your questions and will try to do my best to give answers.
First, let's look at Hebrew people throughout the Old Testament, they are the only people who had one TRUE GOD, they did not defile themselves with other gods and idols. They were pure in that they have always worshiped God Almighty. That is why they have had such a difficult time accepting Christ as their Messiah, to them they would judge Christians to be worshiping another god....not knowing that Christ is God!!
The wise virgins will come to know that Christ is God and will be born again and have a personal relationship with God, (Christ) via the Holy Spirit, the extra oil, so to speak. The foolish have the law, the Torah the lamp, and also they have been preached the Gospel during the Tribulation by the 144,000 and the Two Witnesses, therefore, they have the oil....they know the truth and the truth is Christ, but they are not born again, and therefore have no personal relationship with Christ via the Holy Spirit which is the extra oil necessary to make it into the Kingdom of God.
lamp= Torah, the Law of Moses, a lamp on their path (all ten have this)
oil = the Gospel of Christ preached during the Tribulation( all have this opportunity to hear and believe)
extra oil= the Holy Spirit that Christ sends when we are born again, and begin to have a PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP WITH HIM.
The same will be true for the Rapture, if a believer is not BORN AGAIN, they will not go in the Rapture of the Bride. Likewise unless Israel be Born again they will not go to the Wedding Supper in the Kingdom with Christ, the bridegroom, at His Second Coming.
I feel that all ten virgins want to make into the Kingdom of God, not that are already in the kingdom.
(The following info is excerpts from my studies, where I feel that I did give types and biblical evidence supporting my thesis.)
Who are the 10 virgins? As we continue to look at the Jewish wedding traditions, we find the virgins are the friends of the Bride and Groom.
In this parable they represent the Nation of Israel during the tribulation. They are those invited to the wedding feast of Jesus and His Church, after His Second Coming.
Where in the Bible is Israel spoken of as a virgin? 'Virgins' describe the in gathering of the exiles in the end of days.
KJV Jeremiah 31:4 Again I will build thee, and thou shalt be built, O virgin of Israel: thou shalt again be.
KJV Jeremiah 31:13 Then shall the virgin rejoice in the dance, both young men and old together: for I will turn their mourning into joy, and will comfort them, and make them rejoice from their sorrow.
KJV Jeremiah 31:21 Set thee up way marks, make thee high heaps: set thine heart toward the highway, even the way which thou wentest: turn again, O virgin of Israel, turn again to these thy cities.
Ami 5:2 The virgin of Israel is fallen; she shall no more rise: she is forsaken upon her land; [there is] none to raise her up.
E Ephraim (Jeremiah 31:9) (known as the TEN tribes) are being gathered as a 'shepherd does his flock' (Jeremiah 31:10). The exiles who are being gathered as called, 'virgins' (Jeremiah 31:4 and Jeremiah 31:13).
Therefore the TEN VIRGINS represent the in gathering of the Ten Tribes / Ephraim in the end of days.
With this concept now in mind, let's look at the parable itself and see what we find:
Mat 25:1 ¶ Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom.
The lamps represent the Torah, the law, the Word of God. The light of the World. The Word of God is like a lamp to our feet.
Mat 25:2 And five of them were wise, and five [were] foolish.
The five wise virgins had the lamp (the Torah) and the oil (the Gospel) and had believed and were born again, thus having the jar of extra oil which is the Holy Spirit.
The five foolish virgins had the lamp( the Torah) and the oil (the Gospel had been preached to them) but did not have faith and believe it, therefore they did not have the jar of extra oil which is the Holy Spirit, which they would have had, had they been born again.
Mat 25:3 They that [were] foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them:
They had been preached the Gospel, but had no faith and did not receive the Holy Spirit.
Mat 25:4 But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.
The oil is the Gospel, preached to them by the 144,000 and the Two Witnesses. The extra oil, or the jars of extra oil ,is the Holy Spirit. After believing the Gospel and accepting Christ into their hearts they receive the Holy Spirit and are born again. Unless we are born again we cannot have a PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP with Christ.
Mat 25:5 While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept.
Some accepted the Antichrist as the Messiah and all slumbered during the 7 year tribulation.
Mat 25:7 Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps.
The tribulation rages and they are awoken by the sound of the last trump.
Mat 25:6 And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him.
Midnight is the end of the Tribulation and they all awake, but only those with extra oil in their lamps (the Holy Spirit) can go out to meet Christ.
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I totally feel that this is what the parable is about, and it makes me really happy to understand it. That being said, it has many layers and if one wants to see this parable as to the church, then that is what they will see and that is fine. Doing personal studies is always a challenge as well as a thrill.
Thanks for you nice letter, good questions and sound advice.
In the Lord's awesome love, may you always be!
Patti C.