Hi Lewis,  Just a comment about the 10 virgins.  This may have already been discussed before but I wanted to address the issue. You told Nansings that the foolish virgins had no oil. - Had no Holy Spirit in them-

Matt. 25:1 says all the virgins went to meet the bridegroom

Matt. 25:2 says the foolish took their lamps but no extra oil

Matt. 25:5 says they ALL fell asleep

Matt. 25:7 says they ALL trimmed their lamps-  you only do that when the lamp has been burning for a long time and the charred wick becomes long

 and the light the lamp produces flickers and produces more smoke than a trimmed wick.

Matt. 25:8 says the foolish ask the wise for extra because they are afraid their lamps might go out.

…...Because they had oil but were afraid they didn’t have enough with the view to what was happening, 

All the virgins had oil, only half had a double portion.  Those that did not have the double portion were told to go purchase more…. (you can not purchase your spiritual quickening… it is a free gift.)  But you can and must put in time and effort into becoming sanctified which does not work on the spirit, but works on the soul.  As believers the amount of work on the soul- transformed from trusting in the ways of the world to trusting in the ways of the Lord- will vary greatly.  Look at the parable of the sower.  The seed are the ways of the kingdom and Satan does much to try to diminish the work of the words of the Kingdom.  Neglect of those words doesn’t land you a trip to hell because that is for those who choose not to have anything to do with God’s kingdom, but it lands you outside of the favor of the Lord because you took the words carelessly.  Like Esau took his birthright.  He sold it to his brother for a portion of porridge.  Then wept bitterly when he finally understood the magnitude of what he had given up.  He still got an inheritance, just not the one he was banking on.

Thanks for pondering this with me.

Blessings while we wait for Christ’s return for us!!!