Matthew 25:13 Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming.

 

In the 25th Chapter of the Gospel of Matthew, we find the Parable of the Ten Virgins. This Parable is rarely taught or preached about because it’s not understood by many. Those who do understand it don’t want to discuss it because it’s a hard-hitting Truth that few want to hear and it speaks against the false doctrine of once saved, always saved.

 

Then the Kingdom of Heaven shall be likened to ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. The ten virgins are representative of the Body of Christ just prior to the Rapture of the Church. Their lamps represent the Light of the Lord that is in every born-again believer.

 

Now five of them were wise, and five were foolish. Those who were foolish took their lamps and took no oil with them, but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. The oil represents the Holy Spirit which is needed to keep the lamps burning bright. Without oil in a lamp, there is no light. Jesus referred to those with no oil as foolish. Many believers today have cast aside the Holy Spirit. These people are like the five virgins with no oil in their lamps. There is no light, only darkness.

 

But while the bridegroom was delayed, they all slumbered and slept. This speaks of today as we await the return of Jesus. The Church is the Bride of Christ and Jesus is the bridegroom. He is coming back for us and in the meantime, many are asleep with no oil in their lamps.

 

And at midnight a cry was heard: “Behold the bridegroom is coming; go out to meet him!” Jesus is coming back and we are to be ever ready to meet Him! The day or the hour is not for us to know. Our duty is to be constantly ready to go.

 

Then all those virgins arose and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said to the wise, “Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.” When Jesus returns for His Bride, many who believe will not be ready to go. They will be found with no oil in their lamp which is the Power of the Holy Spirit of God alive and leading their lives. At that time, these foolish people will seek the Holy Spirit from those who have Him.

 

But the wise answered, saying, “No, lest there should not be enough for us and you; but go rather to those who sell, and buy for yourselves.” No one can obtain the Holy Spirit from others. We must each go to the Source ourselves and seek the Holy Spirit.

 

And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding; and the door was shut. When Jesus comes for His Bride, only those who are ready will go with Him. These are those who live their lives led by the Holy Spirit of God and whose lives reflect the Light of the Lord Jesus Christ. This has nothing to do with religious activity. Religious people believe they are saved, but without the Holy Spirit, there is no Light, only darkness.

 

Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, “Lord, Lord, open to us!” But he answered and said, “Assuredly, I say to you, I do not know you.” Once the door is shut, it’s shut. Jesus never recognized religious activity as Salvation. Sitting in Church every week for fifty years does not make one a born-again Christian. Nor does singing in the choir, serving on committees, or working in a food bank. Without the operation of the Holy Spirit (the oil) there is no light and Jesus is not coming back for religious people. He is coming back for His Bride, illuminated with the Light of the Lord; full of the Holy Spirit!

 

Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming. Please consider the condition of your lamp. Is your lamp filled with oil? Is your lamp burning bright with the Light of the Lord Jesus Christ? Are you seeking the Power of the Holy Spirit and being led by Him every day?

 

At some point, it’s going to be too late. Jesus will come and then the door will be shut. I pray you have oil for your lamp because if you don’t you will hear, “Assuredly, I say to you, I do not know you.”

 

Keep your lamp filled. Jesus will soon……….turn the tide……..in this world.

 

Lamp filled and ready to go!         Doreen

 

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