What does the oil represent in the 10 virgins parable?

PaulNew · Jun 20, 2021

Just read this parable this morning and not sure what the oil represents because the wise virgins COULD have shared with the foolish ones, but through wisdom chose not to.

So what is it that a wise Christian could possibly share with a foolish one, but wouldn't?

Looked on GotQuestions.org but it didn't cover this aspect.

I wonder if it could be something like their time, as though the urgency of their own efforts to prepare for the wedding means they can't put that on hold to help others prepare?

Does anyone have any insights that could help me understand this better?

JaumeJ · Jun 20, 2021

I would share my understanding but it could be off. So, you might meditate and pray on the question. If yo are given satisfaction your sharing would be appreciated. God bless you.

throughfaith · Jun 20, 2021

PaulNew said:

I don't believe it applies to anyone outside the Tribulation. The Church won't be there ,so it doesn't apply to the body of christ .

Unearthed · Jun 20, 2021

This is why it is now called Extra Virgin Olive Oil. Because there was not just one virgin, but 9 extra.

Blain · Jun 20, 2021

PaulNew said:

Fascinating that this is what you were brought to today. The oil represents the holy spirit but more than that it represents an annointing, people often refer an anointing to being saved but it is far more than that when oil is poured or used it is a very sacred and powerful calling it was not done often for that very reason

I believe everything happens for a reason and God has lately been guiding my steps with shocking results I was recently reminded of a poem I wrote back in 2020 having to do with the anointing and honestly I would post it but it is lengthy so I don't want to force people to read it unless they want to I have no doubt I would be attacked and called a false witness and prophet but I don't care about that I care about being an inconvience to others as like I said it is lengthy

Ahwatukee · Jun 20, 2021

PaulNew said:

Hello PaulNew,

The answer to your question is found right in v.10 & 13 in the context of the parable of the ten virgins:

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“At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. 2Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. 3The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take along any extra oil. 4But the wise ones took oil in flasks along with their lamps. 5When the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and fell asleep.

6At midnight the cry rang out: ‘Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!’

7Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps. 8The foolish ones said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out.’

9‘No,’ said the wise ones, ‘or there may not be enough for both us and you. Instead, go to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.’

10But while they were on their way to buy it, the bridegroom arrived. Those who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet, and the door was shut.

11Later the other virgins arrived and said, ‘Lord, lord, open the door for us!’

12But he replied, ‘Truly I tell you, I do not know you.’

13Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.

================================================================================

* Those who were ready

* Therefore keep watch

The five foolish virgins took their lamps but no extra oil. The lamps give light. The fact that their lamps were going out and not having any oil, infers that they will have turned from their faith (lamps going out) and because of that will not be watching and ready because they are caught up in the cares of this world and back living according to the sinful nature. In that state they are no longer watching and ready for the Lord's appearing to gather His church. Jesus warns believers about this in Luke 21

"“Be careful, or your hearts will be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness and the anxieties of life, and that day will close on you suddenly like a trap. For it will come on all those who live on the face of the whole earth. Be always on the watch, and pray that you may be able to escape all that is about to happen, and that you may be able to stand before the Son of Man.”

The reference to their hearts being weighed down with carousing, drunkenness and the cares of this life, is referring to believers falling away from faith and going back to willfully living according to the sinful nature. As I said, in this state a believer will not be watching nor will they be ready when that voice that sounds like a trumpet calls us up to meet Him in the air.

Sadly, there will be many that will be in this state when the Lord comes to gather the church and the Day of the Lord will close on them like a trap, meaning that they will remain on the earth during the time of God's wrath via the seals, trumpets and bowl judgments and the beasts kingdom. Many of them will probably become those great tribulation saints. In any case, when the church is removed they will understand what has happened and will know the time period that they are in and what they are going to have to go through for their faith in Jesus, which will be the worst time in the history of the world, from the beginning, until now and never to be equaled again.

I hope this is beneficial

Blain · Jun 20, 2021

Ahwatukee said:

Hello PaulNew,

The answer to your question is found right in v.10 & 13 in the context of the parable of the ten virgins:

================================================================================

“At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. 2Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. 3The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take along any extra oil. 4But the wise ones took oil in flasks along with their lamps. 5When the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and fell asleep.

6At midnight the cry rang out: ‘Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!’

7Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps. 8The foolish ones said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out.’

9‘No,’ said the wise ones, ‘or there may not be enough for both us and you. Instead, go to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.’

10But while they were on their way to buy it, the bridegroom arrived. Those who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet, and the door was shut.

11Later the other virgins arrived and said, ‘Lord, lord, open the door for us!’

12But he replied, ‘Truly I tell you, I do not know you.’

13Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.

================================================================================

* Those who were ready

* Therefore keep watch

The five foolish virgins took their lamps but no extra oil. The lamps give light. The fact that their lamps were going out and not having any oil, infers that they will have turned from their faith (lamps going out) and because of that will not be watching and ready because they are caught up in the cares of this world and back living according to the sinful nature. In that state they are no longer watching and ready for the Lord's appearing to gather His church. Jesus warns believers about this in Luke 21

"“Be careful, or your hearts will be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness and the anxieties of life, and that day will close on you suddenly like a trap. For it will come on all those who live on the face of the whole earth. Be always on the watch, and pray that you may be able to escape all that is about to happen, and that you may be able to stand before the Son of Man.”

The reference to their hearts being weighed down with carousing, drunkenness and the cares of this life, is referring to believers falling away from faith and going back to willfully living according to the sinful nature. As I said, in this state a believer will not be watching nor will they be ready when that voice that sounds like a trumpet calls us up to meet Him in the air.

Sadly, there will be many that will be in this state when the Lord comes to gather the church and the Day of the Lord will close on them like a trap, meaning that they will remain on the earth during the time of God's wrath via the seals, trumpets and bowl judgments and the beasts kingdom. Many of them will probably become those great tribulation saints. In any case, when the church is removed they will understand what has happened and will know the time period that they are in and what they are going to have to go through for their faith in Jesus, which will be the worst time in the history of the world, from the beginning, until now and never to be equaled again.

I hope this is beneficial

I am glad to see you I have recently felt God leading me to seek deeper on the end times and I have reason to believe the tribulation might verty well start this year as well as the rapture and I made a thread about a little of what found but didn't want to continue posting it unless I found likeminded believers who are looking and want to discuss it.
With all that is going on and with what the scriptures say honestly we would have to be purposely blind to not expect something major to happen soon.

Ahwatukee · Jun 20, 2021

Blain said:

First, I'm sorry to hear about your current situation regarding your family sending you to that institution. I'll keep you in prayer.

You are correct in that a person would have to be purposely blind to not see that the tribulation, the time of God's wrath, is approaching quickly which means that the Lord's appearing to gather His church is even nearer.

Today there is no reverence for God and people seem to be eagerly embracing the sinful nature these days. I can't even begin to image what it will be like on the earth once the Restrainer is taken out of the way and the full force of sin is no longer held back and that man of sin is revealed.

"Be careful, or your hearts will be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness and the anxieties of life, and that day will close on you suddenly like a trap. For it will come on all those who live on the face of the whole earth. Be always on the watch, and pray that you may be able to escape all that is about to happen, and that you may be able to stand before the Son of Man.”

soberxp · Jun 20, 2021

oil represent holy spirit work in us.
if the oil work in us, we could be shine as the glory of word of God.

Gideon300 · Jun 20, 2021

PaulNew said:

Oil represents the Holy Spirit. Virgins are Christians. Sleep is a euphemism for death. We all get to face the Lord Jesus (the bridegroom) when we leave this life.

The parable exhorts us not to grow cold and slack in our spiritual life. I had a period of several years where I had no real active Christian life. I believed, but I stopped praying, stopped studying God's word and I rarely went to church. If I had died in that time, I would have faced Lord Jesus in that condition.

It's not an issue of heaven or hell. It is matter of rewards and placement in the kingdom. Those who are careless and lazy will miss out on the best that they could have had. We do not compare ourselves to others. God only asks that we be faithful in whatever He call us to do.

Another point of the parable is that we cannot depend on others to live our lives for us. We need a relationship with God through Jesus, not the pastor. Pastors need to allow this to happen instead of trying to micromanage people's lives. If each individual is strong in the Lord, the church will prosper. If all you have is a thousand sickly babes, you have nothing but problems. The church will be inward focused instead of outward.

PennEd · Jun 21, 2021

Ahwatukee said:

What version is this?

Anyone can type in for Matthew 25 for Strongs Concordance and see this is NOT what the text says.

Here it is from the NKJV

Matthew 25
New King James Version

The Parable of the Wise and Foolish Virgins
25 “Then the kingdom of heaven shall be likened to ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. 2 Now five of them were wise, and five were foolish. 3 Those who were foolish took their lamps and took no oil with them, 4 but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.

There is NOTHING about “extra oil”. This rendition changes the whole meaning of the parable.

The oil is indeed the Holy Spirit in the parable, but the foolish virgins had NONE to begin with. Nowhere in the text does it say they ever had any oil.

The vessels are our human bodies. The foolish were NEVER saved, NEVER had the Holy Spirit.

The wise are saved and have the Holy Spirit.

I think the purpose of that incorrect version is to try and say God’s Children can lose their salvation.

ResidentAlien · Jun 21, 2021

PaulNew said:

The wise virgins said there wouldn't be enough for all of them. They could've shared, but then they wouldn't have had enough.

I think the point of the parable was to point out the foolish virgins were foolish because they thought that even though they weren't prepared someone else could fix things for them. But they needed to watch and be prepared.

ewq1938 · Jun 21, 2021

throughfaith said:

Of course the church will be there. The entire purpose of the Great Tribulation is to persecute and kill the church. Some will survive it but I don't think it's very many.

Ahwatukee · Jun 21, 2021

PennEd said:

Hi PennEd,

The word "Extra" was a slip on my part. However, it does not change the meaning of the foolish not taking any oil with them. My intention was not based on loss of salvation.

But regarding this, you know that I am not a proponent of OSAS. There are many scriptures that I have provided in the past which demonstrates that a believers salvation is dependent on faith from beginning to end. If a believer goes back to willfully living according to the sinful nature and dies in that state it leads to death and condemnation. Just because we are chosen by God for salvation does not give a believer free will to live according to the sinful nature. Paul makes this clear in speaking about some in Israel as branches that were broken off:

===========================================================

I ask then, did they stumble so as to fall beyond recovery?f Certainly not! However, because of their trespass, salvation has come to the Gentiles to make Israel jealous. 12But if their trespass means riches for the world, and their failure means riches for the Gentiles, how much greater riches will their fullness bring!

13I am speaking to you Gentiles. Inasmuch as I am the apostle to the Gentiles, I magnify my ministry 14in the hope that I may provoke my own people to jealousy and save some of them. 15For if their rejection is the reconciliation of the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead? 16If the first part of the dough is holy, so is the whole batch; if the root is holy, so are the branches.

17Now if some branches have been broken off, and you, a wild olive shoot, have been grafted in among the others to share in the nourishment of the olive root, 18do not boast over those branches. If you do, remember this: You do not support the root, but the root supports you.

19You will say then, “Branches were broken off so that I could be grafted in.” 20That is correct: They were broken off because of unbelief, but you stand by faith. Do not be arrogant, but be afraid. 21For if God did not spare the natural branches, He will certainly not spare you either.

===========================================================

That's just one example. So there is no question in that Paul is speaking to Gentile believers in Rome and therefore all believers as well. If OSAS was true, then Paul could not have stated the above in v.21. Faith is required from first to last. If a believer turns away from faith and goes back into the world willfully living according to the sinful nature, then he is accumulating sin and is on his way to condemnation if he dies in that state. If he returns to faith, then a multitude of sins are covered and is saved from condemnation.

PaulNew · Jun 22, 2021

Imagine we magically all find ourselves on a volcanic island.

But, BAD NEWS! A reliable person tells us the volcano is going to erupt at any moment!

But, GOOD NEWS! there is a safe island that we can swim to.

But, BAD NEWS, none of us remembers how to swim.

But, GOOD NEWS! there are swimming teachers here who will teach us how to swim for money.
They don't really believe the volcano could erupt at any moment otherwise they too would be swimming to safety.
So they are happy to teach people to swim for payment.

So, we pay and learn to swim and get half way to the safe island.
Then someone on the island who has just heard or finally believed the news of the impending eruption calls to us, saying "friend, please swim back here and teach me how to swim." But, we, being wise, call back and say, "No, lest I myself might not have enough time or energy left to get to safety myself. But, rather, go to those who make a living off the sheep, and they will happily teach you how to swim, though they do not swim to safety themselves."

I'm sure the essence of this parable, as has been stated in the replies above, is DO NOT DELAY YOUR OWN PREPARATION for the day you meet The LORD!

Gideon300 · Jun 22, 2021

PennEd said:

They were all virgins, which speaks of purity. Only those who are born again are pure in heart. It is possible for the born again to backslide and lose the power of the Holy Spirit. It says somewhere that we should "be being filled" with the Holy Spirit, i.e. continually filled. Some people just coast through their Christians lives, refusing to consecrate themselves to the Lordship of Christ. They will be found in heaven but with little or no rewards. God's best is reserved for those who will pay the price of discipleship here and now.

Eternal life is just that - eternal. If God can die, so can those who are born again. However, there is vastly more to the Christian life than getting into heaven when you die, Tragically, many Christians are unaware of what it means to carry the cross and deny themselves. It does not help that there is not a lot of sound teaching about the place of the cross in the Christian experience. The elites know it. Ivor Marshall, Watchman Nee, Andrew Murray, Derek Prince for example. Such men are different because they'd allowed the cross to work to break the power of the natural life and release the Spirit instead. We need more like them.

OldSage · Jun 22, 2021

PaulNew said:

One of the purposes of the parable is to instuct people do their own homework!
Not to accept the received doctrine but to study like a Berean for oneself.
The Church is presently awash with doctrines, and they obviously cannot all be right.
So you can read all scripture, including the Old Testament, and form a personal understanding
of what being a Christian really means and entails.

Regarding the lamps and the oil. The oil seems to represent the Holy Spirit,
which is the lifeblood of our lives in Christ.
The lamps can perhaps represent churches.

Some churches will have a proper eschatology, some will be off-beam.
Those people subject to off-beam eschatologies will get confused about the time of the Lord's return.
The risks associated with this are
being unprepared for Christ, beating up fellow servants,
joining the drunken throng, and being 'cut in half'.

So you can study all these things and draw your own conclusions.

Personally I think the bottom line here is to do your own proper study.
If you just accept some prevalent teaching you risk getting disappointed.
Disappointment can lead to bad things.

soberxp · Jun 22, 2021

Gideon300 said:

They were all virgins, which speaks of purity. Only those who are born again are pure in heart. It is possible for the born again to backslide and lose the power of the Holy Spirit. It says somewhere that we should "be being filled" with the Holy Spirit, i.e. continually filled. Some people just coast through their Christians lives, refusing to consecrate themselves to the Lordship of Christ. They will be found in heaven but with little or no rewards. God's best is reserved for those who will pay the price of discipleship here and now.

Eternal life is just that - eternal. If God can die, so can those who are born again. However, there is vastly more to the Christian life than getting into heaven when you die, Tragically, many Christians are unaware of what it means to carry the cross and deny themselves. It does not help that there is not a lot of sound teaching about the place of the cross in the Christian experience. The elites know it. Ivor Marshall, Watchman Nee, A manndrew Murray, Derek Prince for example. Such men are different because they'd allowed the cross to work to break the power of the natural life and release the Spirit instead. We need more like them.

do you know what is watchman?
If someone commits a crime and the watchman does not warn the sinner, God will punish watchman.

Evmur · Jun 22, 2021

PaulNew said:

Wisdom

The wise maidens had the wisdom to understand that wisdom is only to be got from the source of wisdom and cannot be obtained secondhand.

Ahwatukee · Jun 22, 2021

Gideon300 said:

It's a matter of rewards and position if you continue in faith. Those who have gone back to the world willfully living according to the sinful nature are not even in the running. They have have apostatized. The person in that state needs to repent and turn back to faith in the Lord. We are saved by grace through faith and this not of our selves. It is the gift of God, not by works. When a person goes back into the world and is willfully living according to the sinful nature, that person is no longer having faith, is not bearing fruit, is not being transformed into the image of Christ. Consider the following:

"My brothers, if one of you should wander from the truth and someone should bring him back, consider this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of his way will save his soul from death and cover over a multitude of sins."

"My brothers" would refer to other believers.

"Wandering away from the truth" is referring to apostacy, i.e. no longer having faith.

In in order to wander away from the truth, that person would have to have previously been in the truth.

Notice that the person who was in that wander state, that he was accumulating sin and was on his way to death (condemnation).

Once he returns from that wandered stated, a multitude sins are covered over and he is saved from death/condemnation.

Consider what Paul wrote to the Colossians, Corinthians and Hebrews:

===============================================================

"Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior. But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation— [if] you continue in your faith, established and firm, and do not move from the hope held out in the gospel.

"But Christ is faithful as the Son over God’s house. And we are his house, if indeed we hold firmly to our confidence and the hope in which we glory."

"For we have become partakers of Christ, [if] we hold fast the beginning of our assurance firm until the end,

"Now, brothers, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, and in which you stand firm. By this gospel you are saved, [if] you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain.

============================================================================

The word "If" in each of those scriptures, is a condition for salvation, which is if we continue in faith.

Here is another scripture which disproves OSAS:

"But suppose that servant is wicked and says in his heart, ‘My master will be away a long time.’ And he begins to beat his fellow servants and to eat and drink with drunkards. The master of that servant will come on a day he does not expect and at an hour he does not anticipate. Then he will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the hypocrites, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth."

"beating his fellow servants, eating and drinking with drunkards, is figurative for going back to willfully living according to the sinful nature.

Once Saved always saved is true, if we continue in faith from beginning to end.

The Righteous will live by faith. And without faith it is impossible to please God.

What does the oil represent in the 10 virgins parable?

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