The Parable of the Ten Virgins Explained

[DavidTree]

The 144,000 are all the Jews who repent, seen HERE...... Zechariah 13:8 And it shall come to pass, that in all the land, saith the Lord, two parts therein shall be cut off and die; but the third shall be left therein.

9 And I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried: they shall call on my name, and I will hear them: I will say, It is my people: and they shall say, The Lord is my God.

And here.......Rev. 12:14 And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent. 15 And the serpent cast out of his mouth water as a flood after the woman, that he might cause her to be carried away of the flood. 16 And the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed up the flood which the dragon cast out of his mouth.

That is why they are seen with Jesus at his return, they are The Wheat. The Gentile Church ae the Barley. The Barley doesn't need to be CRUSHED in order to be sifted, Wheat dos have to be crushed first. Thus Rev. 14, is the Harvest Chapter. We see the Wheat with Jesus at his return, we have a FLASHBACK to the Barley (Rev. 14:14) Rapture of the Church which is pre-trib, and needs not to be crushed to be sifted. Lastly, we have the Grape Harvest of the Wicked in verses 17-20. The word tribulation comes from a Greek word that calls a machine that crushes the Wheat the TRIBULINE that is because Wheat has to be crushed before it can e sifted, that is why God calls Israel the Wheat. They have to go through the 70th-week tribulation before they will repent (they are thus CRUSHED, and then sifted).



Now reread Gal. 3 and think JUST TE OPPOSITE of what you know to think, that is what Paul was actually teaching the Galatians. They wanted to act like Jews because someone had taught them you have to observe God like the Jews in order to get to heaven, don't believe me, go reread it. He starts out, WHO HAS BEWITCHED YOU, that starting out in the Faith, you have now returned ut the Fesh (trying to earn your way to heaven via THE LAW) Then Paul goes into all the reasoning why the Law can not save us and only faith can save is. He reminds them that the original covenant was not the Law but was the Promise !! Then he asks, why was the Law given? And he explains, because of sin, but once Jesus (the Promise) come there is now no need of the Law, the Law was a schoolmaster to bring us unto the Promise, but once the Promised Messiah has come we no longer have need of the Law, because we are justified by faith alone.

So, when Paul says here is neither Jew nor Greek, Male nor Female, neither Slave nor Freeman, he's not saying that all In Christ are one per se (even though we are) he is making just the opposite point as you and others pull out of this chapter, he's chastising the Galatians for thinking they have to observe the LAWS like the Jews in order to make it to heaven (this is why he mentions them leaving the faith and living BY FLESH at the start of the chapter)

So, at the very end, he's not trying to say Jews and Gentiles are all one because of Faith, he's saying to the Galatians just the opposite, we are all the same via our FAITH, so stop tryi g to be like the Jews who serve the Law. Hes not saying the Jews and Gentiles are the same as called by God, we know that is not true, the Gentiles have a TIME allotted to them (the time of the Gentiles) and the Jews go through the 70th week after the Rapture, they are the Wheat, we are the Barley. So, while ot is true that we all come unto Christ the exact same way, we d0n;t do it at the same time per se. Some Jews come unto Christ and are ruptured with us, but most come unto Christ after the start of the 70th week (3-5 million).

The key that lets us know Paul is not saying that the Jews and Gentiles are all seen as the exact same entities are the mention of the Males and Females, none of us see that as Paul saying there are now no Male nor Females, thus he's also not saying there are no Jews nor Gentiles, he's saying that in God's eyes we DO NOT HAVE to serve the Law like Jews in order to make it to Heaven, thus Paul chastises them for thinking they have to become "Jews" in order to find favor with God.

So, the whole chapter you cite is not Paul tryi g to say there are now no Jews or Gentiles, he's simply telling these Gentile Galatians, HEY GUYS, stop trying to earn your way to heaven by serving the Law as the Jews do, go back unto what we taught you, lie by FAITH ALONE.

The 144k are not the Jews of Zech 13:8 - this is IMPOSSIBLE as the LORD said so - in Fact.

- Read and Believe CHRIST who said: O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones those sent to her, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were unwilling! 38Look, your house is left to you desolate.h 39For I tell you that you will not see Me again until you say, ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord.’i”
Matt 23

 

[ewq1938]

Notice in the Parable of the Ten Virgins, the wise tell the foolish to go buy more oil:
Matthew 25:9-10
9But 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. 10And 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.

Now notice in Acts 8:12-22 says that attempting to purchase the Holy Spirit with money is a sin:
Acts 8:18-22
18And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles' hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money, 19Saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost. 20But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money. 21Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart is not right in the sight of God. 22Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee.


What this means is that the five wise virgins could not have been telling the five foolish virgins to go buy more Holy Spirit with money or they would have been sinning.

Except it's equally incorrect to think they could go buy love, faith, truth or anything else the oil might represent. Telling them to go buy oil should be understood in the context of story not what it might represent metaphorically.

They ran out of something that is essential in being accepted by Christ. Whatever it is cannot be purchased from some other person who isn't even allowed to be there to meet Christ. That means those sellers aren't Christians so whatever is bought from them isn't going to be right stuff anyways. They went and bought some oil but it didn't change anything. Whatever the oil is, you have to have it with you and it needs to be lit with flame before Christ returns. Whatever it is, it lights your path to Christ and no other oil or light will have the same result.


Psa_119:105 Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.

 

[ewq1938]

My OP is about the oil being forgiveness.

Your belief is the oil is the Holy Spirit. As proven to you using Acts 8:18-22, where attempting to purchase the Holy Spirit is a sin, you have to either take the position that Jesus used a parable where righteous people are telling others to go "buy the Holy Spirit" and sin or you need to adjust your interpretation of the parable of the ten virgins. It's that simple brother DavidTree.

You can't buy forgiveness either.

 

[ewq1938]

IMO the foolish maids went seeking the antichrist

I agree. Going out at midnight to buy something sounds like people who are marked and can buy or sell during the great tribulation. The 5 foolish virgins are Christians that commit the Apostasy Paul wrote about.

 

[DavidTree]

Except it's equally incorrect to think they could go buy love, faith, truth or anything else the oil might represent. Telling them to go buy oil should be understood in the context of story not what it might represent metaphorically.

They ran out of something that is essential in being accepted by Christ. Whatever it is cannot be purchased from some other person who isn't even allowed to be there to meet Christ. That means those sellers aren't Christians so whatever is bought from them isn't going to be right stuff anyways. They went and bought some oil but it didn't change anything. Whatever the oil is, you have to have it with you and it needs to be lit with flame before Christ returns. Whatever it is, it lights your path to Christ and no other oil or light will have the same result.


Psa_119:105 Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.

Your getting closer............

 

[DavidTree]

I agree. Going out at midnight to buy something sounds like people who are marked and can buy or sell during the great tribulation. The 5 foolish virgins are Christians that commit the Apostasy Paul wrote about.

2 Thessalonians 2:3 and 1 Timothy 4:1

 

[Runningman]

Except it's equally incorrect to think they could go buy love, faith, truth or anything else the oil might represent. Telling them to go buy oil should be understood in the context of story not what it might represent metaphorically.

They ran out of something that is essential in being accepted by Christ. Whatever it is cannot be purchased from some other person who isn't even allowed to be there to meet Christ. That means those sellers aren't Christians so whatever is bought from them isn't going to be right stuff anyways. They went and bought some oil but it didn't change anything. Whatever the oil is, you have to have it with you and it needs to be lit with flame before Christ returns. Whatever it is, it lights your path to Christ and no other oil or light will have the same result.


Psa_119:105 Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.

You can't buy forgiveness either.

I more or less agree. I don't think the oil is something that can be bought or exchanged or acquired through anyone other than God. That's why in my OP I think that the errand to go buy more oil was a test. All anyone present needed to do was just stay awake and wait for the bridegroom to come in order to get more oil.

The reason I think that the oil is forgiveness and sleeping is sin is because when the FFV fell asleep they ran out of oil. What is something that we need more of when we sin? Forgiveness. Where can forgiveness only be obtained from? God.

In my view, the oil is something we lose when we sin and need to obtain more of from God. That sounds like forgiveness to me.

Side note, something to consider, is that the 10 virgins brought oil to the wedding procession, but it does not say where the oil initially came from. It seems feasible to me that the bridegroom was the one who supplied the necessary equipment to facilitate his wedding.

 

[ewq1938]

The reason I think that the oil is forgiveness and sleeping is sin is because when the FFV fell asleep they ran out of oil.

Sleeping isn't a sin. Jesus slept. Again, the context of is human being who sleep at night which is normal for all humans. I don't think sleeping has any metaphorical meaning here. As mentioned before, not all things have a metaphoric meaning in a story/parable.

What is something that we need more of when we sin? Forgiveness. Where can forgiveness only be obtained from? God.

Yet we cannot carry extra forgiveness with us. The oil cannot be forgiveness. Whatever it is, it is something we can have extra of, preparing in advance to have it. We can be forgiven of pretty much all sin so there is no need to have it with us because forgiveness comes from God to us.

In my view, the oil is something we lose when we sin and need to obtain more of from God. That sounds like forgiveness to me.

It doesn't make sense because the oil is supposed to be lit and eventually run out or at least run low and then refilled. If this is forgiveness because of sin then the sinning would be intentional which doesn't sound right to me.

See if it makes sense this way:

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.
Mat 25:2 And five of them were wise, and five were foolish.
Mat 25:3 They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no FORGIVENESS with them:
Mat 25:4 But the wise took FORGIVENESS in their vessels with their lamps.
Mat 25:5 While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept.
Mat 25:6 And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him.
Mat 25:7 Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps.
Mat 25:8 And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your FORGIVENESS ; for our lamps are gone out.
Mat 25:9 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.
Mat 25:10 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.
Mat 25:11 Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us.
Mat 25:12 But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not.
Mat 25:13 Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.

Repentance would work much better but I think that falls short. I think faithfulness fits better.

Mat_24:45 Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season?

Here servant not only faithful but wise! Like the wise virgins who did not run out of faith.

Mat_25:21 His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.

Mat_25:23 His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.

Luk_12:42 And the Lord said, Who then is that faithful and wise steward, whom his lord shall make ruler over his household, to give them their portion of meat in due season?

Luk_16:10 He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much.

Luk_16:11 If therefore ye have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches?

Luk_16:12 And if ye have not been faithful in that which is another man's, who shall give you that which is your own?

Luk_19:17 And he said unto him, Well, thou good servant: because thou hast been faithful in a very little, have thou authority over ten cities.

He spoke so much about the faithful servant when he returned and the parable of the ten virgins is about who he finds when he returnand he finds ten wise virgins. They were faithful and wise IMO just like the others Christ mentioned above.


Rev_17:14 These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful.

 

[Rondonmon]

The 144k are not the Jews of Zech 13:8 - this is IMPOSSIBLE as the LORD said so - in Fact.

- Read and Believe CHRIST who said: O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones those sent to her, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were unwilling! 38Look, your house is left to you desolate.h 39For I tell you that you will not see Me again until you say, ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord.’i”
Matt 23

You totally missed what you just cited right there, when Jesus returns, the Jews will then utter "Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord" thus they are saved by Faith BEFORE Jesus returns.

Why do the 2/3 get CUT OFF and die if the Jews don't repent before the 2nd Coming? That is because the 1/3 who repent then flee Judea and go to the Mountainous area of Petra/Bozrah.

The 144,000 are a CODE just like the Woman, just like the New Jerusalem is not 144,000 cubits, that just means the COMPLETE New Jerusalem. One day yu guys will understand how God uses CODES and NUBMERS.

 

[Runningman]

Sleeping isn't a sin. Jesus slept. Again, the context of is human being who sleep at night which is normal for all humans. I don't think sleeping has any metaphorical meaning here. As mentioned before, not all things have a metaphoric meaning in a story/parable.



Yet we cannot carry extra forgiveness with us. The oil cannot be forgiveness. Whatever it is, it is something we can have extra of, preparing in advance to have it. We can be forgiven of pretty much all sin so there is no need to have it with us because forgiveness comes from God to us.






It doesn't make sense because the oil is supposed to be lit and eventually run out or at least run low and then refilled. If this is forgiveness because of sin then the sinning would be intentional which doesn't sound right to me.

See if it makes sense this way:

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.
Mat 25:2 And five of them were wise, and five were foolish.
Mat 25:3 They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no FORGIVENESS with them:
Mat 25:4 But the wise took FORGIVENESS in their vessels with their lamps.
Mat 25:5 While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept.
Mat 25:6 And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him.
Mat 25:7 Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps.
Mat 25:8 And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your FORGIVENESS ; for our lamps are gone out.
Mat 25:9 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.
Mat 25:10 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.
Mat 25:11 Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us.
Mat 25:12 But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not.
Mat 25:13 Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.

Repentance would work much better but I think that falls short. I think faithfulness fits better.

Mat_24:45 Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season?

Here servant not only faithful but wise! Like the wise virgins who did not run out of faith.

Mat_25:21 His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.

Mat_25:23 His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.

Luk_12:42 And the Lord said, Who then is that faithful and wise steward, whom his lord shall make ruler over his household, to give them their portion of meat in due season?

Luk_16:10 He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much.

Luk_16:11 If therefore ye have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches?

Luk_16:12 And if ye have not been faithful in that which is another man's, who shall give you that which is your own?

Luk_19:17 And he said unto him, Well, thou good servant: because thou hast been faithful in a very little, have thou authority over ten cities.

He spoke so much about the faithful servant when he returned and the parable of the ten virgins is about who he finds when he returnand he finds ten wise virgins. They were faithful and wise IMO just like the others Christ mentioned above.


Rev_17:14 These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful.

I would offer you what I said in post #92 to show that, in eschatological contexts, that sleeping is not literal sleep, but rather sinning. I quoted several verses.

The rest of what you said regarding faith and faithfulness seems sound and plausible, but faith can't be bought either. Buying in the parable most likely just describes that something needs to be acquired and not literally purchased. I still think that "buying" oil from vendors at midnight, rather than going to God, was a test for the FFV.

It can be demonstrated that faith does come from God. One of the spiritual gifts is faith per 1 Cor. 12:9. The surrounding verses to Matthew 25 do seem to convey the idea of faith being central theme to the main idea Jesus is trying to explain via parables.

This is why I think your interpretation of oil being faith is totally possible and maybe even likely.

 

[ewq1938]

I would offer you what I said in post #92 to show that, in eschatological contexts, that sleeping is not literal sleep, but rather sinning. I quoted several verses.

Sorry, I can't agree regarding this parable. Sleeping isn't the issue. The lack of enough oil is the issue.

The rest of what you said regarding faith and faithfulness seems sound and plausible, but faith can't be bought either.

False faith can be. Either way, what they bought did not change the bridegrooms mind.

It can be demonstrated that faith does come from God. One of the spiritual gifts is faith per 1 Cor. 12:9. The surrounding verses to Matthew 25 do seem to convey the idea of faith being central theme to the main idea Jesus is trying to explain via parables.

This is why I think your interpretation of oil being faith is totally possible and maybe even likely.

Thanks.

 

[DavidTree]

You totally missed what you just cited right there, when Jesus returns, the Jews will then utter "Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord" thus they are saved by Faith BEFORE Jesus returns.

Why do the 2/3 get CUT OFF and die if the Jews don't repent before the 2nd Coming? That is because the 1/3 who repent then flee Judea and go to the Mountainous area of Petra/Bozrah.

The 144,000 are a CODE just like the Woman, just like the New Jerusalem is not 144,000 cubits, that just means the COMPLETE New Jerusalem. One day yu guys will understand how God uses CODES and NUBMERS.

The Complete New Jerusalem are not Jews according to the flesh.

the 144k is not a literal number of fleshly Jews either - it is symbolic of Some One close to Christ.

There is no 144k Jews who will be waiting for the Lord fulfilling Matt 23.

There will be a much greater number of Jews who will be saying "Blessed is HE"

The false teaching of 'pre-trib' and 'dispensation' have been a cancer to understanding Scripture in Spirit and Truth.

 

[Lafftur]

The Blood and Body of Jesus Christ is forgiveness. The oil is NOT forgiveness. The oil is the Holy Spirit.

All that believe in Jesus Christ and receive salvation are sealed with the Holy Spirit but the infilling of the power of the Holy Spirit is the “extra” oil.

It’s the difference of in John 20 where Jesus breathes on His disciples and says “Receive the Holy Spirit” then later on at Pentecost the Holy Spirit is poured out infilling them with power to be witnesses of Jesus Christ….that’s when they received their “extra” oil.

 

[DavidTree]

The Blood and Body of Jesus Christ is forgiveness. The oil is NOT forgiveness. The oil is the Holy Spirit.

All that believe in Jesus Christ and receive salvation are sealed with the Holy Spirit but the infilling of the power of the Holy Spirit is the “extra” oil.

It’s the difference of in John 20 where Jesus breathes on His disciples and says “Receive the Holy Spirit” then later on at Pentecost the Holy Spirit is poured out infilling them with power to be witnesses of Jesus Christ….that’s when they received their “extra” oil.

BINGO in row 7

 

[Lafftur]

 

[Rondonmon]

I would offer you what I said in post #92 to show that, in eschatological contexts, that sleeping is not literal sleep, but rather sinning. I quoted several verses.

The rest of what you said regarding faith and faithfulness seems sound and plausible, but faith can't be bought either. Buying in the parable most likely just describes that something needs to be acquired and not literally purchased. I still think that "buying" oil from vendors at midnight, rather than going to God, was a test for the FFV.

It can be demonstrated that faith does come from God. One of the spiritual gifts is faith per 1 Cor. 12:9. The surrounding verses to Matthew 25 do seem to convey the idea of faith being central theme to the main idea Jesus is trying to explain via parables.

This is why I think your interpretation of oil being faith is totally possible and maybe even likely.

In many instances God does use Sleeping as not being "Alert to our Sin Nature" but in this instance, I don't think that is the case, because Jesus is comparing this to a real-life Jewish Wedding, and the Groom was usually sent by the father after midnight, so in order to go out and meet the Groom, (they didn't have street lights) the brides must need to keep their lamps full of oil (Holy Spirit). Thus I think sleeping here si ply means they will be called t the wedding and they need to have enough oil in order to find the Bridegroom who is calling them. Being awakened after midnight it is a given the brides would all be sleeping.

 

[DavidTree]

Apostle??? i don't think so

 

[Rondonmon]

The Complete New Jerusalem are not Jews according to the flesh.

I didn't say that, I stated the 144,000 measurements of New Jerusalem is also a CODE for the complete New Jerusalems dimensions, it is not 144,000 cubits.

the 144k is not a literal number of fleshly Jews either - it is symbolic of Some One close to Christ.

The 144,000 is all the Jews who repent, that is why all the 12 tribes are named, then TIMED 12 x 10 which just so happens to equal Fulness and Completeness. It is 3-5 million Jews. The Church is already in Heaven by this time. When people get the Rapture wrong they usually get everything else as per the timing, wrong.

There is no 144k Jews who will be waiting for the Lord fulfilling Matt 23.

That's right, it will be 3-5 million Jews because 1/3 of all the Jews repent, and there are 9 million (maybe 10) living in Israel and 15 million Jews worldwide. The 144,000 is a CODE for all the Jews who repent.

There will be a much greater number of Jews who will be saying "Blessed is HE"

Yes, and if you slowed down a bit you might have understood that is what I stated, the 144,000 are actually 3-5 million Jews who repent just before the coming DOTL.

The false teaching of 'pre-trib' and 'dispensation' have been a cancer to understanding Scripture in Spirit and Truth.

You and your ilk are the ones who are wrong, and you will be proven so in Heaven, whenever I see anyone who can't understand the simple Rapture timing, I truly have a hard time trusting them on anything else.

 

[DavidTree]

I didn't say that, I stated the 144,000 measurements of New Jerusalem is also a CODE for the complete New Jerusalems dimensions, it is not 144,000 cubits.



The 144,000 is all the Jews who repent, that is why all the 12 tribes are named, then TIMED 12 x 10 which just so happens to equal Fulness and Completeness. It is 3-5 million Jews. The Church is already in Heaven by this time. When people get the Rapture wrong they usually get everything else as per the timing, wrong.



That's right, it will be 3-5 million Jews because 1/3 of all the Jews repent, and there are 9 million (maybe 10) living in Israel and 15 million Jews worldwide. The 144,000 is a CODE for all the Jews who repent.



Yes, and if you slowed down a bit you might have understood that is what I stated, the 144,000 are actually 3-5 million Jews who repent just before the coming DOTL.



You and your ilk are the ones who are wrong, and you will be proven so in Heaven, whenever I see anyone who can't understand the simple Rapture timing, I truly have a hard time trusting them on anything else.

Error #1 - "the Church is in heaven at that time"

SIMPLE TRUTH of the rapture TIMING = 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

Brothers, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you will not grieve like the rest, who are without hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, we also believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in Him.

By the word of the Lord, we declare to you that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord
will by no means precede those who have fallen asleep.

For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a loud command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will be the first to rise.
After that,
we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will always be with the Lord.

If you reject, bypass, or corrupt this CLEAR and SIMPLE STRAIGHT TRUTH = By the word of the LORD = you are in error.

 

[Runningman]

In many instances God does use Sleeping as not being "Alert to our Sin Nature" but in this instance, I don't think that is the case, because Jesus is comparing this to a real-life Jewish Wedding, and the Groom was usually sent by the father after midnight, so in order to go out and meet the Groom, (they didn't have street lights) the brides must need to keep their lamps full of oil (Holy Spirit). Thus I think sleeping here si ply means they will be called t the wedding and they need to have enough oil in order to find the Bridegroom who is calling them. Being awakened after midnight it is a given the brides would all be sleeping.

I don't know. I still think sleeping has something to do with sin and oil is related to something else other than God's Holy Spirit. This probably comes from my firmly-held belief that God does not withdraw His Holy Spirit from believers in Christ. Making the oil the Holy Spirit that can be lost and refilled opens up some rather questionable doctrines.

Consider 1 Thessalonians 5.

"Sleeping" is an activity for children of the night or those in darkness. Contrasted those who stay awake in the day and remain sober. Sleeping seems to be sin.

1 Thess. 5:5-6
5Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness. 6Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober