The Parable of the Ten Virgins does not refer to the church

[GWH]

What makes better sense is that Jesus was describing the Galilean wedding tradition where a bride has ten bridesmaids who light the way for the wedding procession. The midnight cry is a great sign in the heavens, because those would be the Lord's attendants coming to wake us up. Now of course, since Jesus has told us that we don't know the day or hour and therefore we need to watch we would be told what to watch for. Revelation 12 tells us of a great sign in the heavens of a woman clothed with the sun, the moon is at her feet and she has a crown of twelve stars. That is exactly what we saw in the heavens on Feast of Trumpets 2017. Revelation 12 also tells us this woman is in labor to bring forth the Manchild, that also was in this sign. We are also told that the "Manchild" is caught up to heave, surely a picture of the rapture, but he isn't caught up to heaven as an infant, he isn't caught up to heaven as a toddler, he is caught up to heaven as a child. To do what? To rule. OK, we only have one shadow of such an event and it is Josiah who became king when he was 8 years old. Feast of Trumpets in 2017 was September 20-22, Feast of Trumpets in 2026 is September 11-13. So if Jupiter represents the manchild who was born in 2017 he will be 8 this coming Feast of Trumpets. After being born Jupiter has made a complete circuit of the ecliptic and the day before the wedding feast which is the Feast of tabernacles Jupiter enters the crown. Jesus Christ entered the crown on the day of ascension, the bride is joined to the crown on the wedding day. I think this makes a lot more sense. We have seen ten virgins light the way. Besides the 2017 sign on the Feast of Trumpets we also had:
1. The Abraham Accords — signed 3 days before Trumpets 2020
Signed at the White House on September 15, 2020, with Trumpets falling September 18–20 that year. Several commentators at the time noted that the assigned Torah reading for that Rosh Hashanah was Genesis 21:22–27 — Abimelech's covenant with Abraham — which several rabbis and writers flagged as a striking coincidence given the accords' name and timing.


2. Israel's second national COVID lockdown — began hours before Trumpets 2020
Israel's second nationwide lockdown took effect at 2pm on September 18, 2020, just hours before Rosh Hashanah began that evening — the first time an advanced economy had imposed a repeat national shutdown, and one that extended through Yom Kippur and Sukkot as well.


3. Iran's largest-ever direct missile attack on Israel — launched on the eve of Trumpets 2024
On October 1, 2024, Iran fired roughly 180 ballistic missiles at Israel in its biggest direct strike of the conflict, in retaliation for the killings of Nasrallah, Haniyeh, and an IRGC general. Netanyahu delivered his response "on the eve of Rosh Hashanah," which fell October 2–4 that year.


4. Mass recognition of a Palestinian state / UN Gaza proceedings — Trumpets 2025
The UN's high-level conference on the two-state solution (where the UK, France, Canada, Australia, and others announced recognition of a Palestinian state) took place September 22, 2025 — the first day of Rosh Hashanah (Sept 22–24). The UN Security Council also drew criticism for deliberately scheduling a Gaza-focused session during the holiday, which Israel's delegation skipped in observance.

Now those are five very clear announcements that the Bridegroom comes.

I see that you think it makes sense to connect the Parable of the Ten Virgins with Rev. 12: "The midnight cry is a great sign in the heavens". I appreciate the attempt, but it does not work, because only five virgins were welcomed into heaven and the others did not satisfy God’s condition for forgiveness.

You should connect the parable with the teaching of Paul in 1Thes. 4:13-5:11, which indicates the Second Coming will begin with the cry of the archangel and a trumpet. That passage also indicates that sleep can refer both to those who died as believers and to living children of the night.

Thus, it makes more sense for the answer or point of the parable to be "Don't be late to the pearly gate, so stay awake, because "Today" is the opportunity for salvation per Heb. 3-4. The archangel's cry will be answered by the raptured: "Hallelujah!!"

 

[ZNP]

I see that you think it makes sense to connect the Parable of the Ten Virgins with Rev. 12: "The midnight cry is a great sign in the heavens". I appreciate the attempt, but it does not work, because only five virgins were welcomed into heaven and the others did not satisfy God’s condition for forgiveness.

You should connect the parable with the teaching of Paul in 1Thes. 4:13-5:11, which indicates the Second Coming will begin with the cry of the archangel and a trumpet. That passage also indicates that sleep can refer both to those who died as believers and to living children of the night.

Thus, it makes more sense for the answer or point of the parable to be "Don't be late to the pearly gate, so stay awake, because "Today" is the opportunity for salvation per Heb. 3-4. The archangel's cry will be answered by the raptured: "Hallelujah!!"

Would there really be time after the cry of the archangel to talk to others who were being raptured and for them to tell you to go and buy oil for yourself? I thought that this cry and the rapture takes place in the twinkling of an eye, that seems far to short a time to even worry about your lamp going out. Also being locked out of the wedding indicates they will not be raptured, doesn't mean they can't be martyred for their testimony of the Lord Jesus, and we do see two different groups that are welcomed into heaven, the ones that come out of the tribulation is so great it can't be numbered. They are standing on the glassy sea mingled with fire. Also your interpretation does not explain why there are ten virgins, my interpretation does describe these ten virgins with lamps lit escorting the Bride into the wedding.

 

[GWH]

Would there really be time after the cry of the archangel to talk to others who were being raptured and for them to tell you to go and buy oil for yourself? I thought that this cry and the rapture takes place in the twinkling of an eye, that seems far to short a time to even worry about your lamp going out. Also being locked out of the wedding indicates they will not be raptured, doesn't mean they can't be martyred for their testimony of the Lord Jesus, and we do see two different groups that are welcomed into heaven, the ones that come out of the tribulation is so great it can't be numbered. They are standing on the glassy sea mingled with fire. Also your interpretation does not explain why there are ten virgins, my interpretation does describe these ten virgins with lamps lit escorting the Bride into the wedding.

I see you missed how to harmonize

Would there really be time after the cry of the archangel to talk to others who were being raptured and for them to tell you to go and buy oil for yourself? I thought that this cry and the rapture takes place in the twinkling of an eye, that seems far to short a time to even worry about your lamp going out. Also being locked out of the wedding indicates they will not be raptured, doesn't mean they can't be martyred for their testimony of the Lord Jesus, and we do see two different groups that are welcomed into heaven, the ones that come out of the tribulation is so great it can't be numbered. They are standing on the glassy sea mingled with fire. Also your interpretation does not explain why there are ten virgins, my interpretation does describe these ten virgins with lamps lit escorting the Bride into the wedding.

I see that you did not take time to read and ponder the Scripture I cited, which indicate that the way to harmonize the Virgin Parable with them (to make sense) is what I shared: "Don't be late to the pearly gate, so stay awake, because "Today" is the opportunity for salvation." IOW, when the cry/trumpet is heard it will be too late to get saved/oil/the HS. I1W: Persevere!

 

[ZNP]

I see you missed how to harmonize


I see that you did not take time to read and ponder the Scripture I cited, which indicate that the way to harmonize the Virgin Parable with them (to make sense) is what I shared: "Don't be late to the pearly gate, so stay awake, because "Today" is the opportunity for salvation." IOW, when the cry/trumpet is heard it will be too late to get saved/oil/the HS. I1W: Persevere!

I have said repeatedly in posts throughout this thread that this principle is quite clear, it is taught by everyone, and is valid.

But that "principle" doesn't explain all the finer details.

1. Jesus is describing a Galilean wedding procession with Bridesmaids lighting the way. That is the context. So then, who are the bridesmaids to the wedding, we know who the bride is.

2. The big event at the end of the age which wakes these ten virgins up is called the Midnight cry. What is this event. We are given signs by the Lord of His coming, and we are told to watch because we don't know the day or hour. This is clearly a reference to a very big sign.

I have answered both of those questions, no one else has.

Why are so many people refusing to believe that God has yet more light and truth to break forth from His word?

 

[ZNP]

The term Teruah in Hebrew means "awakening blast". Yom Teruah, is the Hebrew name for Feast of Trumpets. It literally means "Day of awakening blasts". I am interpreting the Feast of Trumpets in 2017 as "the awakening blast" which woke up the ten virgins.

 

[GWH]

I have said repeatedly in posts throughout this thread that this principle is quite clear, it is taught by everyone, and is valid.

But that "principle" doesn't explain all the finer details.

1. Jesus is describing a Galilean wedding procession with Bridesmaids lighting the way. That is the context. So then, who are the bridesmaids to the wedding, we know who the bride is.

2. The big event at the end of the age which wakes these ten virgins up is called the Midnight cry. What is this event. We are given signs by the Lord of His coming, and we are told to watch because we don't know the day or hour. This is clearly a reference to a very big sign.

I have answered both of those questions, no one else has.

Why are so many people refusing to believe that God has yet more light and truth to break forth from His word?

It is better to begin by getting the main point right before explaining/speculating about the finer details,
but I have agreed that Jesus described actual wedding custom, and I answered the question regarding
whom the virgins represented (= sheep and goats = wheat and tares).

Regarding the really big event/the second coming: Yes, it won't be possible to miss!

I frequently/regularly wonder why many folks seem apathetic about seeking truth/light (2Thes. 2:10, 1Tim. 2:3-4),
because it has been a love/desire of mine my entire life.

HAND, GWH

 

[dkontner]

Jude
5 I will therefore put you in remembrance, though ye once knew this, how that the Lord, having saved the people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed them that believed not.

 

[PaulThomson]

Explain the parable to us. Instead of giving us a bunch of hypotheticals have the courage to say what you believe is the meaning and let's see if it can stand up to scrutiny.

I was supplying a few alternatives that came to mind as I read others comments and yours. If I have to choose one particular theory, I would suggest that the five foolish virgins are different Christians such as those represented by the seven churches of Asia minor in Revelation 1-3. Those saints whom Jesus is rebuking for going off track: born again believers who were walking with Jesus, but have wandered off, but still hanging out with the bride. The bride would be those walking with Jesus. The bridesmaids would be those hanging out with the bride, but not presently walking with Jesus The wise virgins are wise because they had the sense to both get a Bible and receive Jesus and the Holy Spirit in order to understand the Bible. And may be bridesmaids because they still hang out with the bride, those walking with Jesus; or virgins because they are in need of a spiritual husband. Hence they had lamps and oil.

The foolish virgins are foolish because they have the Bible, but they have not received Jesus whom it points to, and so have not received the Holy Spirit in order to understand it and Jesus properly. They may be bridesmaids because they are also hanging out with the bride, but not hanging out with Jesus; or virgins because they are in need of a spiritual husband. The wake up call may be the preaching of the two witnesses from Jerusalem, who appear to have a planet-wide influence, so these warn the wise virgins to get back on track with Jesus, and warn the foolish that they need to receive Jesus and through Him the Spirit, if they want to be saved when He returns which will be soon. The foolish ask the wise to give them the Holy Spirit, but they point them to the sellers: the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Purchasing the Spirit is not just a matter of a simple transaction with some physically present person who can give Hm to you. It is a matter of seeking Him and counting the cost and deciding I am willing to suffer with Him so that I may inherit with Him. And the suffering of Christians will be great in those days, and the decision difficult. Before the foolish make up their minds, Jesus returns, but these wise, having previously known the Spirit and how they received Him, are able to refocus on Jesus as their first love, and are ready when He comes. They enter the millennial kingdom with Him walking with Him and the rest of His bride.

 

[PaulThomson]

Explain the parable to us. Instead of giving us a bunch of hypotheticals have the courage to say what you believe is the meaning and let's see if it can stand up to scrutiny.

Sorry, I wrote “the five foolish virgins" where I should have written “the five wise virgins”, in my first paragraph, but could not edit or delete my typo, so I’ll post the corrected response here.

I was supplying a few alternatives that came to mind as I read others comments and yours.

If I have to choose one particular theory, I would suggest that the five wise virgins are different Christians such as those represented by the seven churches of Asia minor in Revelation 1-3. Those saints whom Jesus is rebuking for going off track: born again believers who were walking with Jesus, but have wandered off, but still hanging out with the bride. The bride would be those walking with Jesus. The bridesmaids would be those hanging out with the bride, but not presently walking with Jesus The wise virgins are wise because they had the sense to both get a Bible and receive Jesus and the Holy Spirit in order to understand the Bible. And may be bridesmaids because they still hang out with the bride, those walking with Jesus; or virgins because they are in need of a spiritual husband. Hence they had lamps and oil.

The foolish virgins are foolish because they have the Bible, but they have not received Jesus whom it points to, and so have not received the Holy Spirit in order to understand it and Jesus properly. They may be bridesmaids because they are also hanging out with the bride, but not hanging out with Jesus; or virgins because they are in need of a spiritual husband. The wake up call may be the preaching of the two witnesses from Jerusalem, who appear to have a planet-wide influence, so these warn the wise virgins to get back on track with Jesus, and warn the foolish that they need to receive Jesus and through Him the Spirit, if they want to be saved when He returns which will be soon. The foolish ask the wise to give them the Holy Spirit, but they point them to the sellers: the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Purchasing the Spirit is not just a matter of a simple transaction with some physically present person who can give Hm to you. It is a matter of seeking Him and counting the cost and deciding I am willing to suffer with Him so that I may inherit with Him. And the suffering of Christians will be great in those days, and the decision difficult. Before the foolish make up their minds, Jesus returns, but these wise, having previously known the Spirit and how they received Him, are able to refocus on Jesus as their first love, and are ready when He comes. They enter the millennial kingdom with Him walking with Him and the rest of His bride.

 

[ZNP]

I was supplying a few alternatives that came to mind as I read others comments and yours. If I have to choose one particular theory, I would suggest that the five foolish virgins are different Christians such as those represented by the seven churches of Asia minor in Revelation 1-3. Those saints whom Jesus is rebuking for going off track: born again believers who were walking with Jesus, but have wandered off, but still hanging out with the bride. The bride would be those walking with Jesus. The bridesmaids would be those hanging out with the bride, but not presently walking with Jesus The wise virgins are wise because they had the sense to both get a Bible and receive Jesus and the Holy Spirit in order to understand the Bible. And may be bridesmaids because they still hang out with the bride, those walking with Jesus; or virgins because they are in need of a spiritual husband. Hence they had lamps and oil.

The foolish virgins are foolish because they have the Bible, but they have not received Jesus whom it points to, and so have not received the Holy Spirit in order to understand it and Jesus properly. They may be bridesmaids because they are also hanging out with the bride, but not hanging out with Jesus; or virgins because they are in need of a spiritual husband. The wake up call may be the preaching of the two witnesses from Jerusalem, who appear to have a planet-wide influence, so these warn the wise virgins to get back on track with Jesus, and warn the foolish that they need to receive Jesus and through Him the Spirit, if they want to be saved when He returns which will be soon. The foolish ask the wise to give them the Holy Spirit, but they point them to the sellers: the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Purchasing the Spirit is not just a matter of a simple transaction with some physically present person who can give Hm to you. It is a matter of seeking Him and counting the cost and deciding I am willing to suffer with Him so that I may inherit with Him. And the suffering of Christians will be great in those days, and the decision difficult. Before the foolish make up their minds, Jesus returns, but these wise, having previously known the Spirit and how they received Him, are able to refocus on Jesus as their first love, and are ready when He comes. They enter the millennial kingdom with Him walking with Him and the rest of His bride.

OK, so the five wise virgins who were asleep were walking with Jesus. Was that in their sleep? There are two ways to interpret falling asleep. Either they are dead, which makes no sense. Or they sleep and cannot watch with the Lord for one hour. We have been charged to watch, we are "night watchmen" and all ten of these fell asleep. I explain why they "slept" and I explain what woke them up. You don't do either.

Jesus has one bride, why are there ten virgins? The context of this story is about bridesmaids with lamps that light the way to escort the bride. So where in the story do ten virgins become one bride? Are you hallucinating?

If the foolish virgins have not yet received the Lord Jesus why are they waiting on the Bridegroom to come? Why do they have lamps that are lit. They don't say "loan me a match, I can't light my lamp", they say "loan me some oil, my lamp is going out". So unbelievers who are in darkness, and under the authority of the Prince of darkness have lamps that are lit and are waiting for Jesus, the bridegroom, to come?

Why do you ignore the fact that according to the Galilean wedding tradition these ten virgins would be bridesmaids? All ten of them.

Also, what is the midnight cry which wakes up Christians who are "sleeping" when the Lord is coming? I have pointed out that Yom Teruah means "day of the awakening blasts" and that the Revelation 12 sign of the woman in the heavens with twelve stars, clothed in the sun with the moon at her feet, is Virgo, "the virgin" and it was a great sign in 2017 on the Feast of Trumpets, the day of the awakening blast. Now if you have a better explanation of what the midnight cry is by all means share it with us.

 

[ZNP]

Sorry, I wrote “the five foolish virgins" where I should have written “the five wise virgins”, in my first paragraph, but could not edit or delete my typo, so I’ll post the corrected response here.

I was supplying a few alternatives that came to mind as I read others comments and yours.

If I have to choose one particular theory, I would suggest that the five wise virgins are different Christians such as those represented by the seven churches of Asia minor in Revelation 1-3. Those saints whom Jesus is rebuking for going off track: born again believers who were walking with Jesus, but have wandered off, but still hanging out with the bride. The bride would be those walking with Jesus. The bridesmaids would be those hanging out with the bride, but not presently walking with Jesus The wise virgins are wise because they had the sense to both get a Bible and receive Jesus and the Holy Spirit in order to understand the Bible. And may be bridesmaids because they still hang out with the bride, those walking with Jesus; or virgins because they are in need of a spiritual husband. Hence they had lamps and oil.

I have explained why saying the foolish virgins are not yet saved makes no sense. But then why do "ten virgins" depict the believers in the seven churches, or even 5 wise virgins, why would they depict believers in seven churches? We, the believers collectively, are the bride of christ. Not ten brides, not five brides, but one bride. Jesus gives a parable about ten bridesmaids, not about the bride, but about the bridesmaids. When the light shines it exposes, when their light shines it exposes foolish from the wise. The reason some are foolish is because they didn't prepare for this moment, the reason some are wise is because even though they did slumber and sleep, they still had prepared beforehand for this moment.

This parable gives us a glimpse of that moment before the Lord returns, when the believers realize He is coming. Perhaps they hear a news report that the Jews are going to resume sacrifices and oblations on the temple mount. Perhaps they hear of a Peace treaty promising peace and security and which allows the Jews to resume sacrifices and oblations. Whatever they hear that wakes them up causes them to realize they aren't ready. That is the superficial understanding.

But the deeper truth would dig into what sign they are talking about that qualifies as "the midnight cry". Buying the oil from the two witnesses takes place during the Day of the Lord, after the rapture has already taken place. That is not the "midnight cry" that is something that takes place after the midnight cry.

 

[ZNP]

The picture is that a really big prophetic event takes place, the midnight cry, and that causes these ten bridesmaids to wake up. They get up, they trim their lamps, that means you cut off the old charred part and light it. Then half of them realize their lamps are going out, so they ask the others to help them because their job is to light the way to wedding.

I am describing these ten Virgins and a 9 year period. The feast of Trumpets in 2017 was when we had "the awakening blast" or "the awakening trumpet". Since that time what happened. Many, many Christians have started Youtube channels for the first time. They are "virgins". They didn't have a ministry before, but their ministry now is to "light the way". But half of them are like the seeds that spring up on rocky ground without any roots and wither when the sun comes up.

The church is the bride of Christ, but watchmen are servants of the Lord. The Bridesmaids with the Lamps are serving the wedding party.

But what happens when you tell someone that this sign is pointing to the Lord's soon return? You get challenged, you get mocked, ridiculed, insulted, etc. You need to have a lot of oil to keep that light burning. Many of the people who eagerly started a youtube channel or some other ministry stopped. They realized they need more oil. They are not going to return until after the rapture. They are like Thomas, they need to see the event before they'll believe. At that point the door for rapture is shut.

 

[PaulThomson]

OK, so the five wise virgins who were asleep were walking with Jesus.

Please read my post again and engage with what I said, not some parody straw man you have made up. Highlight where I said,
"the five wise virgins who were asleep were walking with Jesus”. I suggested they had previously received Jesus, hence has the Holy Spirit, but had stopped walking with him when they fell asleep.

 

[PaulThomson]

If the foolish virgins have not yet received the Lord Jesus why are they waiting on the Bridegroom to come?

They are nominal Christians who believe the traditions but have not received Jesus. Traditions teach that Jesus will return. There are nominal Christian who believe Jesus will return.

Why do they have lamps that are lit. They don't say "loan me a match, I can't light my lamp", they say "loan me some oil, my lamp is going out". So unbelievers who are in darkness, and under the authority of the Prince of darkness have lamps that are lit and are waiting for Jesus, the bridegroom, to come?

The lamps I suggest are the scriptures. the Holy Spirit lighten the scriptures even to nominal Christians, even if they don’t understand they need a personal relationship with the risen Saviour. Their Bible was lit, but they did not have the Holy Spirit in their vessels (ther spirits) which they had along with their lamps.

Why do you ignore the fact that according to the Galilean wedding tradition these ten virgins would be bridesmaids? All ten of them.

I suggested how they could be bridesmaids. They are associating with the church, the bride, but are not the bride, because the bride is those who are fellowshipping with the Groom, which the born again Christians (wise virgins) have stopped doing, and the nominal Chrstians (the foolish virgins) never started doing.

 

[Anchorite]

It’s referring to the 12 tribes of Israel. But where else do you see 12. The 12 disciples when Judas died, who became the 12th disciple? It was Paul.

No. Paul did not replace Judas.

Saint Matthias was chosen to replace Judas Iscariot as the twelfth apostle. According to the Acts of the Apostles, the remaining disciples selected him after Jesus' ascension by casting lots. Matthias was chosen because he had followed Jesus throughout his entire earthly ministry, from his baptism to his resurrection.

Acts 1

15 In those days Peter stood up among the believers (a group numbering about a hundred and twenty)

16 and said, “Brothers and sisters, the Scripture had to be fulfilled in which the Holy Spirit spoke long ago through David concerning Judas, who served as guide for those who arrested Jesus.

17 He was one of our number and shared in our ministry.”

18 (With the payment he received for his wickedness, Judas bought a field; there he fell headlong, his body burst open and all his intestines spilled out.

19 Everyone in Jerusalem heard about this, so they called that field in their language Akeldama, that is, Field of Blood.)

20 “For,” said Peter, “it is written in the Book of Psalms:

“‘May his place be deserted;
let there be no one to dwell in it,’

and,

“‘May another take his place of leadership.’

21 Therefore it is necessary to choose one of the men who have been with us the whole time the Lord Jesus was living among us,

22 beginning from John’s baptism to the time when Jesus was taken up from us. For one of these must become a witness with us of his resurrection.”

23 So they nominated two men: Joseph called Barsabbas (also known as Justus) and Matthias.

24 Then they prayed, “Lord, you know everyone’s heart. Show us which of these two you have chosen

25 to take over this apostolic ministry, which Judas left to go where he belongs.”

26 Then they cast lots, and the lot fell to Matthias; so he was added to the eleven apostles.

 

[ZNP]

Please read my post again and engage with what I said, not some parody straw man you have made up. Highlight where I said,
"the five wise virgins who were asleep were walking with Jesus”. I suggested they had previously received Jesus, hence has the Holy Spirit, but had stopped walking with him when they fell asleep.

They were walking with the Lord, then they fell asleep when they were supposed to be watching, then a midnight cry woke them up, then the foolish ones came to them and said "hey, my lamp is going out, I need Oil", those people left to buy oil, then the Lord returned.

Your "theory" doesn't explain anything. It doesn't explain why Jesus is using Bridesmaids as an illustration, it doesn't explain what the midnight cry is, it doesn't explain why there are ten virgins, it doesn't explain what happened to the people that left, or why when they return it is too late.

Everything you have said is the same thing that people have been saying for a hundred years. There is nothing of value or insight in your interpretation. It is simply parroting stuff that has no bearing on the questions I am asking and then pretending that it does.

I have given a theory that does explain all of that. I am not interested in hearing the same old debunked theories regurgitated for the umpteenth time.

 

[GWH]

They were walking with the Lord, then they fell asleep when they were supposed to be watching, then a midnight cry woke them up, then the foolish ones came to them and said "hey, my lamp is going out, I need Oil", those people left to buy oil, then the Lord returned.

Your "theory" doesn't explain anything. It doesn't explain why Jesus is using Bridesmaids as an illustration, it doesn't explain what the midnight cry is, it doesn't explain why there are ten virgins, it doesn't explain what happened to the people that left, or why when they return it is too late.

Everything you have said is the same thing that people have been saying for a hundred years. There is nothing of value or insight in your interpretation. It is simply parroting stuff that has no bearing on the questions I am asking and then pretending that it does.

I have given a theory that does explain all of that. I am not interested in hearing the same old debunked theories regurgitated for the umpteenth time.

What about the interpretation that the accepted and rejected virgins = sheep and goats = wheat and tares in those parables?

 

[ZNP]

What about the interpretation that the accepted and rejected virgins = sheep and goats = wheat and tares in those parables?

They are all virgins, whereas sheep and goats are two different animals. They all have lamps and they are all lit. The difference is not in anything other than the quantity of the oil. the wise ones prepared for this day, the foolish ones didn't prepare, they assumed.

In order to get the oil we can assume the wise ones paid the price. We can also assume the foolish ones depended on others to supply them oil. They went to church once a week, sat in the Pews and depended on the pastor to supply them with one week's worth of oil.

 

[GWH]

They are all virgins, whereas sheep and goats are two different animals. They all have lamps and they are all lit. The difference is not in anything other than the quantity of the oil. the wise ones prepared for this day, the foolish ones didn't prepare, they assumed.

In order to get the oil we can assume the wise ones paid the price. We can also assume the foolish ones depended on others to supply them oil. They went to church once a week, sat in the Pews and depended on the pastor to supply them with one week's worth of oil.

Are you acting obtuse or blind accidentally?
Obviously the key difference is wise versus foolish--which you implied in your reply "the wise ones... foolish ones" (Matt. 25:2)!

The most obvious meaning of oil is faith: some did not persevere (Matt; 10:22).
I learned a comparison from RBT: Viewing GW as water, we need to learn and store it in our reservoir (lamp/heart),
so that it will be available in times of doubt/drought to sustain us (also cf. the famine for which Joseph prepared--
like a good Boy Scout :^).

Matt. 25:12 obviously is in the same vein as Matt. 7:21-23.

C'mon ZNP; learn something today.

 

[ZNP]

Are you acting obtuse or blind accidentally?
Obviously the key difference is wise versus foolish--which you implied in your reply "the wise ones... foolish ones" (Matt. 25:2)!

The most obvious meaning of oil is faith: some did not persevere (Matt; 10:22).
I learned a comparison from RBT: Viewing GW as water, we need to learn and store it in our reservoir (lamp/heart),
so that it will be available in times of doubt/drought to sustain us (also cf. the famine for which Joseph prepared--
like a good Boy Scout :^).

Matt. 25:12 obviously is in the same vein as Matt. 7:21-23.

C'mon ZNP; learn something today.

Wise and foolish is defined in the parable as having prepared for this event or not having prepared. Why would the Bride invite unbelievers to be her bridesmaids? Why would unbelievers have lamps that are lit, even if they are going out. Oil does not represent faith, it represents the Spirit. Some of these believers are "Spirit filled" and some barely have enough oil to keep it lit for a very short period of time.

Once again, all of this is traditional teaching going back a hundred years. Darby, Watchman Nee, and many others taught this. You are simply regurgitating and parroting what many others have taught.

What they didn't teach is:

1. Why bridesmaids?
2. What is the Midnight Cry?

I think it is a valid point to say they go to the two witnesses to buy the oil, but the two witnesses begin their ministry when the first lamp of Hanukkah is lit, and 1,260 days later they are martyred on 2nd Passover. What directly ties to this parable is that the first day of Hanukkah is also the first day that you can no longer offer the first fruit of oil to God. Hence the door is shut on that day.

C'mon GWH; learn something today.