The Parable of the Ten Virgins Explained
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It's all good. I don't mind being wrong about things. However, what WOULD bother me is if I knew that I was wrong, yet persisted in a wrongful position. I don't want to "be" right, but want to "get things right." Huge difference. 
On to answer your question. And hang in there . . . it's a long read, but I think that it is WELL WORTH IT.
Based upon a few Bibilical passages, I would say that the Bible says that the Disciples received Circumcision of the heart before Christ had died. Jesus cast His Pearls upon them, just as He did for Joshua, Caleb, Abraham, etc. It seems fair to suggest that no person can be considered Pure, Righteous, and Holy if they remain under the Curse of the Lord. It would be fundamentally impossible to be Pure if Cursed.
I believe it is fair to say that the physical healings of all in the New Testament were not about their physical healing, but their Spiritual Healing, hence, those without Faith could not be healed. John chapter 9 should make this clear, as that chapter outlines physical healing, but then Christ explains what True Healing is all about.
John 9:39 NLT - "Then Jesus told him, "I entered this world to render judgment--to give sight to the blind and to show those who think they see that they are blind."
Many say that Christ came to earth to provide physical healing. The problem with that is that the death-rate is 1 per person. There is no guarantee of physical healing. I have cancer, but I do not expect Christ to heal me. I know, conclusively, that God is capable of healing me and it is something that I ask for, but the Lord's Grace is sufficient for me, just as it was for Paul. That Grace is Circumcision of the heart, the lifting of the Curse that was pronounced, or made clear by the Law.
The death of Christ is the capstone act that makes a person Right with God, though previously, a person would be Purified by Christ. My studies have determined that there are four basic but distinct Works of Christ. They are as follows:
1. Jesus Circumcises the heart of the Curse.
2. Jesus then grants the Ability to Repent.
3. Jesus then sends the Indwelling Holy Spirit who teaches and leads.
4. The final act is Christ on the Cross, applying the Curse upon Himself that was initially given to ourselves, and pays the debt for that Curse so that we, the ones who the Father had given to Him, would live in Eternity.
I think that it is fair to suggest that the first three Works of Christ were all given to those prior to the death and Resurrection of Christ. This would be to suggest that Christ is capable of Purifying anyone He chooses . . . and at ANY time. The dept is simply a debt that has nothing to do with Purity or corruption. Hence, our Patriarchs would wait in Paradise for the Resurrection of Christ so that they would "place their Faith" in Him. I haven't found any indication that any Patriarch found their way to Heaven prior to Christ, perhaps with the exception of Enoch.
Christ on the cross as described in Colossians 2:9-15 is the fulfillment of Old Testament passages like those in Ezekiel chapters 11, 36, and Deuteronomy 30:6:
Deuteronomy 30:6 NKJV - "And the LORD your God will circumcise your heart and the heart of your descendants, to love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul, that you may live."
Unless I am wildly misunderstanding Deut 30:6, we are dead until Circumcision of the Heart has been completed, and this is confirmed in Colossians 2:9-15.
Colossians 2:13-15 NLT - "You were dead because of your sins and because your sinful nature was not yet cut away. Then God made you alive with Christ, for he forgave all our sins. He canceled the record of the charges against us and took it away by nailing it to the cross. In this way, he disarmed the spiritual rulers and authorities. He shamed them publicly by his victory over them on the cross."
Because of this Spiritual Circumcision, and because Christ is in the Father, we are considered whole and complete, hence Colossians 2:9-10.
Colossians 2:9-10 NLT - "For in Christ lives all the fullness of God in a human body. 10 So you also are complete through your union with Christ, who is the head over every ruler and authority."
No one can be complete in Christ until we have received all four of the basic Works of Christ mentioned above. But for our Patriarches, they may have been blameless, Pure, Righteous, and Holy, but they were not yet made "complete," for Christ had yet to die.
So, the woman and her daughter, who appear to be Canaanite's, the daughter was able to be healed because of Faith, which is what cannot happen unless a person has been alleviated of the Curse of the Lord . . . the effect of Adam and Eve's unholy work. But Christ granted perhaps both the mother and daughter of the Curse, thus they were able to be healed; made Pure, Righteous, and Holy. However, they were yet to be completed in Christ, for He had yet to die.
Does this seem reasonable?
On to answer your question. And hang in there . . . it's a long read, but I think that it is WELL WORTH IT.
Based upon a few Bibilical passages, I would say that the Bible says that the Disciples received Circumcision of the heart before Christ had died. Jesus cast His Pearls upon them, just as He did for Joshua, Caleb, Abraham, etc. It seems fair to suggest that no person can be considered Pure, Righteous, and Holy if they remain under the Curse of the Lord. It would be fundamentally impossible to be Pure if Cursed.
I believe it is fair to say that the physical healings of all in the New Testament were not about their physical healing, but their Spiritual Healing, hence, those without Faith could not be healed. John chapter 9 should make this clear, as that chapter outlines physical healing, but then Christ explains what True Healing is all about.
John 9:39 NLT - "Then Jesus told him, "I entered this world to render judgment--to give sight to the blind and to show those who think they see that they are blind."
Many say that Christ came to earth to provide physical healing. The problem with that is that the death-rate is 1 per person. There is no guarantee of physical healing. I have cancer, but I do not expect Christ to heal me. I know, conclusively, that God is capable of healing me and it is something that I ask for, but the Lord's Grace is sufficient for me, just as it was for Paul. That Grace is Circumcision of the heart, the lifting of the Curse that was pronounced, or made clear by the Law.
The death of Christ is the capstone act that makes a person Right with God, though previously, a person would be Purified by Christ. My studies have determined that there are four basic but distinct Works of Christ. They are as follows:
1. Jesus Circumcises the heart of the Curse.
2. Jesus then grants the Ability to Repent.
3. Jesus then sends the Indwelling Holy Spirit who teaches and leads.
4. The final act is Christ on the Cross, applying the Curse upon Himself that was initially given to ourselves, and pays the debt for that Curse so that we, the ones who the Father had given to Him, would live in Eternity.
I think that it is fair to suggest that the first three Works of Christ were all given to those prior to the death and Resurrection of Christ. This would be to suggest that Christ is capable of Purifying anyone He chooses . . . and at ANY time. The dept is simply a debt that has nothing to do with Purity or corruption. Hence, our Patriarchs would wait in Paradise for the Resurrection of Christ so that they would "place their Faith" in Him. I haven't found any indication that any Patriarch found their way to Heaven prior to Christ, perhaps with the exception of Enoch.
Christ on the cross as described in Colossians 2:9-15 is the fulfillment of Old Testament passages like those in Ezekiel chapters 11, 36, and Deuteronomy 30:6:
Deuteronomy 30:6 NKJV - "And the LORD your God will circumcise your heart and the heart of your descendants, to love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul, that you may live."
Unless I am wildly misunderstanding Deut 30:6, we are dead until Circumcision of the Heart has been completed, and this is confirmed in Colossians 2:9-15.
Colossians 2:13-15 NLT - "You were dead because of your sins and because your sinful nature was not yet cut away. Then God made you alive with Christ, for he forgave all our sins. He canceled the record of the charges against us and took it away by nailing it to the cross. In this way, he disarmed the spiritual rulers and authorities. He shamed them publicly by his victory over them on the cross."
Because of this Spiritual Circumcision, and because Christ is in the Father, we are considered whole and complete, hence Colossians 2:9-10.
Colossians 2:9-10 NLT - "For in Christ lives all the fullness of God in a human body. 10 So you also are complete through your union with Christ, who is the head over every ruler and authority."
No one can be complete in Christ until we have received all four of the basic Works of Christ mentioned above. But for our Patriarches, they may have been blameless, Pure, Righteous, and Holy, but they were not yet made "complete," for Christ had yet to die.
So, the woman and her daughter, who appear to be Canaanite's, the daughter was able to be healed because of Faith, which is what cannot happen unless a person has been alleviated of the Curse of the Lord . . . the effect of Adam and Eve's unholy work. But Christ granted perhaps both the mother and daughter of the Curse, thus they were able to be healed; made Pure, Righteous, and Holy. However, they were yet to be completed in Christ, for He had yet to die.
Does this seem reasonable?
i like to the simplicity that is in Christ and Scripture - It's a children's Book written for God's Children.
Who first preached the Gospel in the OT?
In the Bible oil is always a symbol of the Holy Spirit. So we need to start with that in view. The Bridegroom is Christ Himself who will come for His Bride at the Rapture.
Since the Bride (the Church) consists of many believers, the five wise virgins represent believers who have received the gift of the Holy Spirit, and have the unction of the Holy Spirit. Trimming their lamps speaks of their faithful Christian testimony. They will be received into the Kingdom of Heaven because they are genuine children of God, having the indwelling Holy Spirit, and who remain watchful for the coming of Christ.
On the other hand the five foolish virgins represent those who are professing Christians but have not been regenerated, hence they do not have the Holy Spirit. As a result they are not watching for the coming of Christ for His Bride. Therefore they are shut out of the Kingdom of Heaven.
Since the Bride (the Church) consists of many believers, the five wise virgins represent believers who have received the gift of the Holy Spirit, and have the unction of the Holy Spirit. Trimming their lamps speaks of their faithful Christian testimony. They will be received into the Kingdom of Heaven because they are genuine children of God, having the indwelling Holy Spirit, and who remain watchful for the coming of Christ.
On the other hand the five foolish virgins represent those who are professing Christians but have not been regenerated, hence they do not have the Holy Spirit. As a result they are not watching for the coming of Christ for His Bride. Therefore they are shut out of the Kingdom of Heaven.
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I am, but instead of placing me on a hunt, I'd rather just receive it if you have it. I am extremely busy preparing for a court case, looking for a new place to live, trying to prepare for a Real Estate exam, dealing with cancer . . . yadda yadda. Needless to say, I'm a bit overwhelmed but come here for a reprieve from the chaotic world of flesh.
But honestly, I don't understand why you are asking about who taught the Gospel first and how that fits in with the discussion at hand. Abel was the first True Prophet of God.
But honestly, I don't understand why you are asking about who taught the Gospel first and how that fits in with the discussion at hand. Abel was the first True Prophet of God.
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Most likely not the Holy Spirit. There are many good reasons for that, which we can discuss, if you are open to that.
Consider these verses where oil is used in context of forgiveness:
Proverbs 21:20-21
20There is treasure to be desired and oil in the dwelling of the wise; but a foolish man spendeth it up.
21He that followeth after righteousness and mercy findeth life, righteousness, and honour.
Psalm 23:5-6
5Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
6Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.
Isaiah 61:3
3To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified.
Luke 7:46-47
46My head with oil thou didst not anoint: but this woman hath anointed my feet with ointment. 47Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little.
James 5:14-15
14Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: 15And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.
Consider these verses where oil is used in context of forgiveness:
Proverbs 21:20-21
20There is treasure to be desired and oil in the dwelling of the wise; but a foolish man spendeth it up.
21He that followeth after righteousness and mercy findeth life, righteousness, and honour.
Psalm 23:5-6
5Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
6Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.
Isaiah 61:3
3To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified.
Luke 7:46-47
46My head with oil thou didst not anoint: but this woman hath anointed my feet with ointment. 47Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little.
James 5:14-15
14Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: 15And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.
Thank you. Unfortunately, Christianchat wants to be paid to send you an email. If you'd like to share those ideas, you can send an email to [email protected].
Thanks!
Thanks!
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Is it fair to suggest that the Grace of God produces Holy "Work"?
Romans 2:29 NLT - "No, a true Jew is one whose heart is right with God. And true circumcision is not merely obeying the letter of the law; rather, it is a change of heart produced by God's Spirit. And a person with a changed heart seeks praise from God, not from people."
As I understand it, the "changed heart" is the greatest Grace one can receive. And a changed heart is for clear purposes:
1. To Obey God
2. To Love God
3. To Live Forever With God
Deuteronomy 30:6 NLT - "The LORD your God will change your heart and the hearts of all your descendants, so that you will love him with all your heart and soul and so you may live!"
Ezekiel 11:19-20 NLT - "And I will give them singleness of heart and put a new spirit within them. I will take away their stony, stubborn heart and give them a tender, responsive heart, so they will obey my decrees and regulations. Then they will truly be my people, and I will be their God."
Key word/s: "So" & "So That" - These Words are Grace and they are Effectual.
Ephesians 3:7 KJV - "Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his power."
Romans 2:29 NLT - "No, a true Jew is one whose heart is right with God. And true circumcision is not merely obeying the letter of the law; rather, it is a change of heart produced by God's Spirit. And a person with a changed heart seeks praise from God, not from people."
As I understand it, the "changed heart" is the greatest Grace one can receive. And a changed heart is for clear purposes:
1. To Obey God
2. To Love God
3. To Live Forever With God
Deuteronomy 30:6 NLT - "The LORD your God will change your heart and the hearts of all your descendants, so that you will love him with all your heart and soul and so you may live!"
Ezekiel 11:19-20 NLT - "And I will give them singleness of heart and put a new spirit within them. I will take away their stony, stubborn heart and give them a tender, responsive heart, so they will obey my decrees and regulations. Then they will truly be my people, and I will be their God."
Key word/s: "So" & "So That" - These Words are Grace and they are Effectual.
Ephesians 3:7 KJV - "Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his power."
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That's a good question. I don't recall any Biblical person who was Truly saved but lost their Salvation. I don't recall any Biblical character that was referred to as Holy, Righteous or Pure, but fell away. Peter and Barnabas were pretty daggon close, in my opinion.
That said, I am aware of certain passages that seem to indicate that what you're saying is true.
Revelation 3:5 NKJV - "He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life; but I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels."
The above verse really plays havoc with a couple doctrines . . . for sure. It's tough for me to read the Bible and not see that God is making things happen according to the Scroll of the Lord. All of it . . . for this is Power. To have an Eternal, pre-written Plan being changed doesn't make sense. Changing an Eternal, pre-written Plan sounds like a God who cannot do what He Promised that He would do.
The next question (for me) would be to consider the True Nature of the Book of Life.
That said, I am aware of certain passages that seem to indicate that what you're saying is true.
Revelation 3:5 NKJV - "He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life; but I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels."
The above verse really plays havoc with a couple doctrines . . . for sure. It's tough for me to read the Bible and not see that God is making things happen according to the Scroll of the Lord. All of it . . . for this is Power. To have an Eternal, pre-written Plan being changed doesn't make sense. Changing an Eternal, pre-written Plan sounds like a God who cannot do what He Promised that He would do.
The next question (for me) would be to consider the True Nature of the Book of Life.
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.
The foolish take only their lamps, which have a reservoir of oil but doesnt hold an overly large amount. The wise take extra containers of oil, vessels, so they have a larger supply.
Many believe that the oil is truth, or The Holy Spirit. It doesn't really matter for the purpose of the parable which it represents since all the virgins are intending to meet the bridegroom as verse 1 says, and all have lamps and oil, though some have more oil. However, I believe it represents truth and will allude to that in this work.
So who would have "some" truth and who want to meet Christ but fall short? I would say they are most Christians of today. They have the milk of the word, and they certainly want to go to Christ, but they dont have the whole truth and they believe doctrines like the pre-tribulation rapture.
The wise ones have more of the truth, they carry it on purpose, its more labor but they know it's important. These will have enough truth to know about the tribulation and the false Christ and they will stay true to Christ until He returns.
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.
The darkness at midnight will be the tribulation. The cry being made is by those who are the watchers, who are telling that the true Christ is coming even though the whole world sleeps because of the darkness. The 5 wise virgins are the elect and the ones "calling" that the true Christ is coming are the watchers and the two prophets. When this call is made by them the elect will "wake up" and trim their lamps and use that oil they have. They get all this extra oil before the tribulation, which is now, through the teachings of those God has anointed with truth, that oil. So, even the wise 5 virgins slumber right until Christ was announced!
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.
The lamps of the foolish are out because they were on all night and they ran out of oil, and they didnt have enough oil to light them up again. At some point in the night the foolish ones were in complete darkness, their "nightlights" went out. The wise had light/truth all night (think of the night as the tribulation). The lamps of the wise did not go out during the early part of the night.
The wise had a lamp that had oil plus they brought an oil container like above. The foolish only had a lamp with some oil and it was lighted but they didn't have the oil container which is why their lamps went out while the slept. This means they were in darkness without even knowing it. Those that take the mark of the beast and those who commit Apostasy will also be in spiritual darkness in the Great Tribulation and they won't even know it until it is too late to do anything about it.
Also, this trimming of lamps has something to do with adjusting the wick. In the days before electricity most people had either candles or oil lamps going through the night. The trimming probably refers to extending the wick so the flame would grow larger and emit more light. Only a modest flame would have been needed while they slept.
G2885
??sµe´?
kosmeo¯
Thayer Definition:
1) to put in order, arrange, make ready, prepare
2) to ornament, adore
3) metaphorically to embellish with honour, gain honour
Part of Speech: verb
A Related Word by Thayer’s/Strong’s Number: from G2889
Citing in TDNT: 3:867, 459
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.
Certainly this is another reference to the tribulation:
Luke 17:28 Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded;
Luke 17:29 But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all.
Luke 17:30 Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed.
"they bought, they sold". If this example was compared to the end times before the destruction came would be like the tribulation period, this buying and selling etc....and the destruction would be Christ's return and the wrath of God 7th trump. Lot would be the elect who are gathered by angels.
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.
I think the foolish "bought" or bartered their "virginity" for the oil they got. There were no 24 hour stores in this time as there is today. No honest person would be selling after midnight so where they went, who they bought from and what they had to give is seriously questionable. Regardless, the wise ones are TAKEN to the marriage by the bridegroom and the foolish will be LEFT behind exactly as the One taken and one left also taught by Christ. It's the same story with the same players and in the same exact order.
In my opinion, when it says the 5 foolish go out to buy, they do buy "false oil", false teachings....they take the mark and are therefore allowed to "buy and sell".
The elect in the tribulation won't take the mark and won't be allowed to buy and sell, but if the parable of the ten virgins helps at all then we know that there won't be any need for any wise virgins to buy anything because they prepared ahead of time with extra oil.
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.
One interesting thought is what would have happened had the 5 foolish virgins remained, with unlit lamps, and were there while Christ had returned? It seems a critical element is that they were gone when he arrived. They were late because they hadn't been properly prepared for his return. They were lacking something and realized it too late.
This whole parable applies to His return and symbolically how the world will be divided up, those who are foolish and those who are wise, those with enough oil and those that had some of the oil but ran out of it at the wrong time.
they all were virgins
they all had lamps
they all had some oil for part of the night
they all had lamps that were lit for part of the night
they all waited for the bridegroom
they all slept
they all awoke when the watchman called out
they all trimmed their lamps
the part that is different is that the wise had plenty of oil and the
foolish didn't.
then the differences start:
the wise get ready for the bridegroom
the foolish leave in search for oil
the wise meet the bridegroom
the foolish arent there to meet him
the wise are taken to the wedding
the foolish are not allowed to enter the wedding
the wise are accepted
the foolish are not
Luk 12:35 Let your loins be girded about, and your lights burning;
Luk 12:36 And ye yourselves like unto men that wait for their lord, when he will return from the wedding; that when he cometh and knocketh, they may open unto him immediately.
Luk 12:37 Blessed are those servants, whom the lord when he cometh shall find watching: verily I say unto you, that he shall gird himself, and make them to sit down to meat, and will come forth and serve them.
Luk 12:38 And if he shall come in the second watch, or come in the third watch, and find them so, blessed are those servants.
We are to let our lights burning to be ready when he cometh and knocketh! If you don't have enough oil your light will not burn, will not shine!
This is also the same type of people as the foolish virgins:
Mat 13:5 Some fell upon stony places, where they had not much earth: and forthwith they sprung up, because they had no deepness of earth:
Not enough oil, not enough earth. Same essential problem.
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.
The foolish take only their lamps, which have a reservoir of oil but doesnt hold an overly large amount. The wise take extra containers of oil, vessels, so they have a larger supply.
Many believe that the oil is truth, or The Holy Spirit. It doesn't really matter for the purpose of the parable which it represents since all the virgins are intending to meet the bridegroom as verse 1 says, and all have lamps and oil, though some have more oil. However, I believe it represents truth and will allude to that in this work.
So who would have "some" truth and who want to meet Christ but fall short? I would say they are most Christians of today. They have the milk of the word, and they certainly want to go to Christ, but they dont have the whole truth and they believe doctrines like the pre-tribulation rapture.
The wise ones have more of the truth, they carry it on purpose, its more labor but they know it's important. These will have enough truth to know about the tribulation and the false Christ and they will stay true to Christ until He returns.
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.
The darkness at midnight will be the tribulation. The cry being made is by those who are the watchers, who are telling that the true Christ is coming even though the whole world sleeps because of the darkness. The 5 wise virgins are the elect and the ones "calling" that the true Christ is coming are the watchers and the two prophets. When this call is made by them the elect will "wake up" and trim their lamps and use that oil they have. They get all this extra oil before the tribulation, which is now, through the teachings of those God has anointed with truth, that oil. So, even the wise 5 virgins slumber right until Christ was announced!
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.
The lamps of the foolish are out because they were on all night and they ran out of oil, and they didnt have enough oil to light them up again. At some point in the night the foolish ones were in complete darkness, their "nightlights" went out. The wise had light/truth all night (think of the night as the tribulation). The lamps of the wise did not go out during the early part of the night.
The wise had a lamp that had oil plus they brought an oil container like above. The foolish only had a lamp with some oil and it was lighted but they didn't have the oil container which is why their lamps went out while the slept. This means they were in darkness without even knowing it. Those that take the mark of the beast and those who commit Apostasy will also be in spiritual darkness in the Great Tribulation and they won't even know it until it is too late to do anything about it.
Also, this trimming of lamps has something to do with adjusting the wick. In the days before electricity most people had either candles or oil lamps going through the night. The trimming probably refers to extending the wick so the flame would grow larger and emit more light. Only a modest flame would have been needed while they slept.
G2885
??sµe´?
kosmeo¯
Thayer Definition:
1) to put in order, arrange, make ready, prepare
2) to ornament, adore
3) metaphorically to embellish with honour, gain honour
Part of Speech: verb
A Related Word by Thayer’s/Strong’s Number: from G2889
Citing in TDNT: 3:867, 459
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.
Certainly this is another reference to the tribulation:
Luke 17:28 Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded;
Luke 17:29 But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all.
Luke 17:30 Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed.
"they bought, they sold". If this example was compared to the end times before the destruction came would be like the tribulation period, this buying and selling etc....and the destruction would be Christ's return and the wrath of God 7th trump. Lot would be the elect who are gathered by angels.
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.
I think the foolish "bought" or bartered their "virginity" for the oil they got. There were no 24 hour stores in this time as there is today. No honest person would be selling after midnight so where they went, who they bought from and what they had to give is seriously questionable. Regardless, the wise ones are TAKEN to the marriage by the bridegroom and the foolish will be LEFT behind exactly as the One taken and one left also taught by Christ. It's the same story with the same players and in the same exact order.
In my opinion, when it says the 5 foolish go out to buy, they do buy "false oil", false teachings....they take the mark and are therefore allowed to "buy and sell".
The elect in the tribulation won't take the mark and won't be allowed to buy and sell, but if the parable of the ten virgins helps at all then we know that there won't be any need for any wise virgins to buy anything because they prepared ahead of time with extra oil.
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.
One interesting thought is what would have happened had the 5 foolish virgins remained, with unlit lamps, and were there while Christ had returned? It seems a critical element is that they were gone when he arrived. They were late because they hadn't been properly prepared for his return. They were lacking something and realized it too late.
This whole parable applies to His return and symbolically how the world will be divided up, those who are foolish and those who are wise, those with enough oil and those that had some of the oil but ran out of it at the wrong time.
they all were virgins
they all had lamps
they all had some oil for part of the night
they all had lamps that were lit for part of the night
they all waited for the bridegroom
they all slept
they all awoke when the watchman called out
they all trimmed their lamps
the part that is different is that the wise had plenty of oil and the
foolish didn't.
then the differences start:
the wise get ready for the bridegroom
the foolish leave in search for oil
the wise meet the bridegroom
the foolish arent there to meet him
the wise are taken to the wedding
the foolish are not allowed to enter the wedding
the wise are accepted
the foolish are not
Luk 12:35 Let your loins be girded about, and your lights burning;
Luk 12:36 And ye yourselves like unto men that wait for their lord, when he will return from the wedding; that when he cometh and knocketh, they may open unto him immediately.
Luk 12:37 Blessed are those servants, whom the lord when he cometh shall find watching: verily I say unto you, that he shall gird himself, and make them to sit down to meat, and will come forth and serve them.
Luk 12:38 And if he shall come in the second watch, or come in the third watch, and find them so, blessed are those servants.
We are to let our lights burning to be ready when he cometh and knocketh! If you don't have enough oil your light will not burn, will not shine!
This is also the same type of people as the foolish virgins:
Mat 13:5 Some fell upon stony places, where they had not much earth: and forthwith they sprung up, because they had no deepness of earth:
Not enough oil, not enough earth. Same essential problem.