Matthew 25a:  

Reading #422  The wedding

In this chapter in Matthew we find Jesus describing the church at the time of the first “hour”, using the parable of a wedding.  It is an apt choice, because the experience of October 1844 was the beginning of the first part of the wedding/judgment.  In many parts of the east, weddings lasted seven days, starting with the legal proceedings between the parents and the bridegroom, and only bringing the bride into the situation later.  It’s the same with the first judgment – that takes place in heaven (Daniel 7:9-10, 13-14), and the presence of the people of God as the “bride” is not needed at that point.  

In Israel that part of the wedding which did require the presence of the bride often occurred in the evening, the beginning of the new day, with the bridegroom going to the bride’s house and bringing her back to his own by torchlight for the wedding feast.  In the Son of man’s story He describes a group of young women waiting near the bride’s house to welcome the groom when he arrived, and intending to join in the returning procession. 

He said:

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Matthew 25:

1 Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened to ten virgins [special guests], 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 [extra] oil with them: 4 but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.  

5 While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept. 

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We should note that these people are NOT the bride’s maids as we know them, for they are waiting OUTSIDE the bride’s house for the Groom.  They represent a special section of the church in the last days whose mission is to accompany the Groom.

From my library:

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The class represented by the foolish virgins are not hypocrites [tares].  They have a regard for the truth, they have advocated the truth, they are attracted to those who believe the truth; but they have not yielded themselves to the Holy Spirit's working.  They have not fallen upon the Rock, Christ Jesus, and permitted their old nature to be broken up. 

This class are represented also by the stony-ground hearers.  They receive the word with readiness, but they fail of assimilating its principles.  Its influence is not abiding.  The Spirit works upon man's heart, according to his desire and consent implanting in him a new nature; but the class represented by the foolish virgins have been content with a superficial work.  They do not know God.  They have not studied His character; they have not held communion with Him; therefore they do not know how to trust, how to look and live. 

Their service to God degenerates into a form.  “They come to you as the people comes, and they sit before you as My people, and they hear your words, but they will not do them; for with their mouth they show much love, but their heart goes after their covetousness”.  Ezekiel 33:31.  The apostle Paul points out that this will be the special characteristic of those who live just before Christ's second coming.  He says, “In the last days perilous times shall come: for men shall be lovers of their own selves; .  .  .  lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof”.  2 Timothy 3:1-5. 

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There was a delay, the bridegroom “tarried”, and the watchers became weary and fell asleep.  However, some of the group were forwarding thinking persons, and had brought with them extra oil in case of an emergency. 

Oil in the Bible is used to describe the presence of the Holy Spirit, and was used in anointings to represent Him.  For example: “Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him [young David] in the midst of his brothers: and the Spirit of the LORD came upon David from that day forward.  So Samuel rose up, and went to Ramah [back to his home]”.   1 Samuel 16:13.

 Jesus continued:

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Matthew 25:

6 And at midnight there was a cry made, “Behold, the bridegroom comes; go you out to meet him”.  7 Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps [began to clean the wicks, and top up with oil]. 8 And the foolish said to the wise, “Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out”. 9 But the wise answered, saying, “Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go you rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves”.

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. 11 Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, ‘Lord, Lord, open to us”. 12 But he answered and said, “Verily I say to you, I know you not”.

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This parable had a fulfilment from July to October 1844 to a generation.  At that time the proclamation, “The bridegroom comes” went all around the world, but then the people lapsed into “sleep” again because of a mistake in interpretation of the prophecy!  So it will be at “midnight”, when most have given up expecting the groom to come that night that the Spirit’s voice will be heard warning of His approach to the earth. (This not the voice of the Father literally announcing the day and the hour, but a spiritual call a little while before that.)  The ten “maids” will all “jump up” again to join the procession and add their voices to its glad cry, but five will then find that their lamps are going out and five will find them already out.  Those with the extra oil will have no problem.  It will be those who have neglected to prepare who will find themselves in trouble.  In desperation they will beg the wise ones for a share of their oil. 

In the story the wise look selfish when they refuse, but they are not – they are merely reflecting the reality of the situation as it will be.  They cannot share, for the gift of the Spirit is only given to us individually.  (1 Corinthians 12:11.)  No one can believe for another, no one can develop a character for another.  “Though Noah, Daniel, and Job were in it [the land], as I live, says the LORD God, they shall deliver neither son nor daughter; they shall but deliver their own souls by their righteousness.” Ezekiel 14:20.

While the unprepared ones went to buy, the procession moved on [the resurrection occurred], and left them behind.  The five with lighted lamps joined the throng and finally entered the groom’s house with the bridal party, and the door was shut.  When the foolish virgins reached the banqueting hall [1,000 years later], they received an unexpected denial.  The master of the feast declared, “I know you not”.  They were left standing outside, in the empty street, in the blackness of the night.

What does all this mean?

Near the end a sudden and unlooked-for calamity, something that brings us face to face with death (Esau’s anger), will show whether we have any real faith in the promises of God.  It will show whether we are sustained by grace.  The great final test comes at the time of the close of human probation, when it will be too late for our need to be supplied if we don’t already have it.  “One will be taken and the other left”.  The reason why is easy to see in this parable.  The “foolish” ones are not capable of joining the triumphant throng because they are not connected with the Spirit of God, which means that they will be in the second resurrection.

Jesus warned us of that:

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Matthew 7:

21 Not every one that says to Me, “LORD, LORD”, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but [only] he [or she] that does the will of My Father which is in heaven. 22 Many [not a few] will say to Me in that day, “LORD, LORD, have we not prophesied in Your name?  And in Your name have cast out devils?  And in Your name done many wonderful works? [They are relying on their works.]”

23 And then will I profess to them, “I NEVER knew you: depart from me, you that work iniquity”. [He does not deny that they have done these things – He just says that He was not the power behind them!]

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In this we see that the “foolish” professors were never Christians, they just thought and hoped they were!  (In the Bible a “fool” is one who rejects God’s offer of salvation, not a person of weak mentality.)  They had never fallen on the Rock and been broken because they have accepted a false gospel, which ignored the experience of the REMOVAL of the old nature, so plainly taught in the Passover ceremonies and other places in the Bible.  But they are not hypocrites, for they really believe in an historical Christ.  They have a regard for the truth, they have even taught the truth, they are attracted to those who believe the truth; but they have not yielded themselves daily to the Holy Spirit's working. 

We are told:

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Isaiah 8:

13 Sanctify the LORD of hosts Himself [into yourself]; and let Him be your fear [Guide], and let Him be your dread [do not depart from His word]. 14 And He shall be for [you] a Sanctuary; but for a Stone of stumbling and for a Rock of offence to both the houses of Israel, for a gin [trap] and for a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem. 15 And many among them shall stumble, and fall, and be broken, and be snared, and be taken.

16 [He says,] “Bind up the testimony, seal the law among My disciples”.

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The word explains how we may avoid the traps.  We need to “bind up” the testimonies (the words) of God in our minds, and “seal” the law, the Ten Commandments, as the base of our actions.

Why have the foolish chosen to follow the false gospel when the true one has been offered to them so often?  Because deep down it suits them, they think they can “have their cake and eat it too”; they think they can still be “sinners” while claiming to be “Christians”.  What a “foolish” mistake! They are self-deceived.

We can see that the two classes of watchers represent those who profess to be waiting for the LORD.  Christ is not suggesting that half the church will be ready and the other half not – the figure for the true-hearted ones in THIS parable is probably far too high! Throughout the Bible the ratio of Christians to the people of the world is more often much lower.  He is simply telling us that there is a major split in the church of the advent.  Not in doctrine, but in experience, like the majority of the Laodiceans.  (Revelation 3:14-22.)

In Ezekiel’s picture (which is admittedly an extreme one), there were very few “wise” ones.  The Son of God said to him,

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Ezekiel 5:

1 And you, son of man, take you a sharp knife, take you a barber's razor, and cause it to pass upon your head and upon your beard: then take you balances to weigh, and divide the hair [into three parts].

2 You shall burn with fire a third part in the midst of the city, when the days of the siege are fulfilled [they’ll die of sickness and starvation]: and you shall take a third part, and smite about it with a knife [they’ll die in the fighting]: and a third part you shall scatter in the wind [they’ll be taken as slaves]; and I will draw out a sword [persecution] after them.

3 You shall also take thereof A FEW in number, and bind them in your skirts [for protection].

4 Then take of them again, [some of the few]  and cast them into the midst of the fire, and burn them in the fire; for thereof shall a fire come forth into all the house of Israel [they’ll give up at the last moment].   

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We need not speculate on how many Christians will be alive at the second coming, but should simply be grateful that He will be able to save some for that great event.  The time that lies ahead is a time of great spiritual darkness; a time when men will have no understanding of God’s character, and a message will need to be given to take away their last excuse for rejection.  Into the darkness of the world is to be shed the light of His glory, the light of His goodness, mercy, and truth. Exodus 34:6-8.  This is the work outlined by the prophet Isaiah in the words, “O Jerusalem, that bring good tidings, lift up your voice with strength; lift it up, be not afraid; say to the cities of Judah, ‘Behold your God!’ Behold, the LORD God will come with strong hand, and His arm shall rule for Him; behold, His reward is with Him, and His work before Him”.  Isaiah 40:9-10.

Those who wait for the Bridegroom's coming are to say to the people, “Behold your God”.  The last rays of merciful light, the last message of mercy to be given to the world, is a revelation of His character of love, but this will not be easy.

Using a contrasting story, the Son of God describes that time.

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Luke 18:

1 And He spoke a parable to them to this end [for this reason], that men ought always to pray, and not to faint [give up]; 2 saying, There was in a city a judge, which feared not God, neither regarded man [he was totally selfish]: 3 and there was a widow in that city [with no one to help her]; and she came to him, saying, “Avenge me of my adversary [Give me justice]”.

4 And he would not for a while: but afterward he said within himself, “Though I fear not God, nor regard man; 5 yet because this widow troubles [annoys] me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me”. [She would not give up!]

6 And the LORD said, “Hear what the unjust [unsaved] judge says.

7 “And shall not God [the righteous One] avenge [answer] His own elect, which cry day and night to Him [during Jacob’s trouble], though He bear long with them [seems to delay]? 8 I tell you that He will avenge them speedily [as quickly as He can.]

“Nevertheless when the Son of man comes, shall He find [that kind of] faith [Jacob’s faith] on the earth [among His people]?” 

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At that time it will seem easier to give up and die.  After all, we’ll see Jesus in the resurrection, some will reason.  Like Paul, they’ll agonise over the decision but unlike him, they just can’t do it and let Him down.  Philippians 1:21-24.

The following quote from my library pictures it very well.

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To human sight it will appear that the people of God must soon seal their testimony with their blood, as did the martyrs before them. [Revelation 6:9-11.]  They themselves begin to fear that the LORD has left them to fall by the hand of their enemies. 

It is a time of fearful agony.  Day and night they cry to God for deliverance. 

The wicked exult, and the jeering cry is heard.  “Where now is your faith? Why does not God deliver you out of our hands if you are indeed His people?”

But the waiting ones remember Jesus dying upon Calvary's cross, and the chief priests and rulers shouting in mockery, “He saved others; himself he cannot save.  If he be the King of Israel, let him now come down from the cross, and we will believe him”.  Matthew 27:42.  Like Jacob, all are wrestling with God.  Their countenances express their internal struggle.  Paleness sits upon every face. [Jeremiah 30:6.]  Yet they cease not their earnest intercession.  

Could men see with heavenly vision, they would behold companies of angels that excel in strength stationed about those who have kept the word of Christ's patience. [Revelation 3:10.]  With sympathizing tenderness, angels have witnessed their distress, and have heard their prayers.  They are waiting the word of their Commander to snatch them from their peril.  But they must wait yet a little longer. 

The people of God must drink of the cup, and be baptized with the baptism. [Matthew 20:21-23.]  The very delay, so painful to them, is the best answer to their petitions.  As they endeavor to wait trustingly for the LORD to work, they are led to exercise faith, hope, and patience, which have been too little exercised during their religious experience.  Yet for the elect's sake, the time of trouble will be shortened.  “Shall not God avenge His own elect, which cry day and night to Him? .  .  .  I tell you that He will avenge them speedily”.  Luke 18:7-8.

The end will come more quickly than men expect.  The wheat [the acceptors] will be gathered and bound in sheaves for the garner [basket] of God; the tares [the rejecters] will be bound as fagots for the fires of destruction. [Matthew 13:28-30.]

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Just as the wise and the fools looked like each other, so the people waiting for the second advent will look and talk alike – but there will be a fundamental difference.  In their nature they are different.

They are all called “virgins” because they all profess a pure faith. 

Their “lamps” represent the word of God, and they all have one. “Your word is a lamp to my feet, and a light to my path”. Psalm 119:105. 

As mentioned before, the oil is a symbol of the Holy Spirit, operating in a certain way.

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Zechariah 4:

1 And the angel that talked with me came again, and waked me, as a man that is wakened out of his sleep, 2 and said to me, “What see you? [In your vision]” And I said, “I have looked, and behold a candlestick all of gold [in the sanctuary, Exodus 25:3], with a bowl upon the top of it, and his seven lamps thereon, and seven pipes [from the bowl] to the seven lamps, which are upon the top thereof. 

3 “And two olive trees by it [the lampstand], one upon the right side of the bowl, and the other upon the left side thereof” [continuously supplying oil to the bowl].

4 So I answered and spoke to the angel that talked with me, saying, “What are these, my lord?” . . . 6 Then he answered and spoke to me, saying, “This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel, saying, ‘Not by [earthly] might, nor by  [men’s] power, but by My Spirit, says the LORD of hosts’.” . . .

11 Then answered I, and said to him, “What are these two olive trees upon the right side of the candlestick and upon the left side thereof?” . . . 14 Then said he, “These are the two anointed ones, that stand by the LORD of the whole earth”.

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The two anointed ones, the Old and the New Testaments, are the avenue of connection between the Spirit and the “lamps” and it is they, and they alone, which will guide the feet of the followers of God in the last days, and that’s what the “foolish” ones lack.  They are not enemies like the “tares”, but simply do not rightly divide the word of God, for spiritual things are spiritually discerned.  1 Corinthians 2:14. We cannot be ready to meet the LORD by waking when the cry is heard, “Behold, the Bridegroom!” and then gathering up our empty lamps to have them replenished.  We cannot keep Christ apart from our lives here, and yet be fitted for His companionship in heaven at the last moment.

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Matthew 25:

13 Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man comes.

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Christ warned His disciples that they could not know the time of the second advent from the Bible.  No amount of juggling with texts or surmisings will ever give the truth of that – only when the voice of God the Father is heard from heaven will we be sure that we are actually at the end of time.  We may have suspicions, we may even be right, but we will have no certainty till we are told.   So we must live as though it could happen at any time.  And that is the only safe way, because although we may know all the signs which will occur before the close of probation and the second coming, and even see some begin to happen, there is no guarantee that we will live to see the day.  We may die before then of “natural” causes, or of martyrdom, and that will effectively be the close of probation for us as individuals.

We have to live “by faith” till that time.

Bye for now,

Ron

Some of the comments in these readings are adapted from books in my library.   No recognition is given because they are not intended as authorities, but are used because they express my understanding clearly.  All the ideas expressed in these readings, right or wrong, are my own.

Some of these readings are available at http://www.oocities.org/weprotest.geo/BibleReadings/books_index.html

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