Only days before our Lord’s Crucifixion, He instructed His disciples on the Mount of Olives concerning His Coming (Matthew 24-25, Mark 13, and Luke 21). Then, He told the story like this, “Then the kingdom of heaven shall be likened to ten virgins (pure in heart) who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom” (Matt. 25:1-12, NKJ).

This story tells about two types of believers: 1). Those who receive truth fully and apply it -- and 2). those who seem to receive the truth but do not apply it. John the Baptist called Jesus, “the Bridegroom” (John 3:29). The number ten represents the whole church or the fullness of all believers (ten being the number of order, government, restoration, and responsibility). ALL TEN HAD LAMPS. All ten “looked like” believers (spiritual virgins).

• To understand their lanterns, let’s remember And again, Jesus stated, “Your eye is the lamp of your body. When your eyes are good, your whole body is also full of light. But when they are bad, your body also is full of darkness” (Lk. 11:34).

• Psalm 119:105 -- The Word is both a LAMP (an empty container) and LIGHT - knowledge and application of truth. Lamps need fire (to ignite) and oil (the application of the Holy Spirit) in order to maintain light. Jesus, of course, is the fire that ignites these lamps.

• Zechariah 4:1-6 tells how an angel asked Zerubbabel, “What do you SEE?” He described a seven piped LAMP that was continuously lit. The angel told him that the LAMP was, “The WORD of the LORD”…that says, ‘Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit.” The Word of God is a LAMP -- Those who SEE walk after the Word with opened understanding eyes.

When we are in a situation where we do not know what to do (darkness)… then, we need to SEE into a scripture (the LAMP). The Holy Spirit gives understanding to that particular scripture – causing it to generate LIGHT within our being. There’s much we don’t understand about this parable. We know that the first type were five (wise virgins. (Five is the number of grace, atonement, life, the cross, 5-fold ministry, 5 loaves – the bread of life, Gen. 1:20-23, Lev. 1-7, Eph. 4:11, Ex. 13:18, Jos. 1:14, etc.). These five made themselves “ready” (Rev.19:7). They anticipated the lateness of the Bridegroom and were prepared to receive His image. They had LAMPS (Bibles, the Word of God)– but not only that, they had oil.

Oil represents the application of the Holy Spirit that comes only to those who are OBEDIENT, “And we are His witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, Whom God hath given to them that OBEY Him” (Acts 5:32). The Wise Virgins are the believers who walk according to the Word (2 Tim. 3:15). Without obedience to the Spirit of God, our knowledge of His Word is of no avail. Oil means that we allowed the Holy Spirit to teach us how to apply the Word. Of course, oil (a type of the Holy Spirit) represents the ability to maintain light. The wise are capable of keeping their lamps lit.

Why do the wise virgins pack extra oil in the first place? They must have had prior perception of having to endure long into the deep of the night. We ought to think about that… long enduring part. Especially those of the hyper-dispensational eschatology that focuses on the hope that they will “fly away” and escape all difficulties unscathed. Perhaps we should think again. The message of this parable could be: don't just wait around expecting to get instant miracles whenever things get tough. Pay attention: Anyone who believes that they must live through the difficulties of the night must get ready to OVERCOME with the nature and character of Christ.

Why didn’t the wise virgins help the foolish ones? Perhaps it’s because the Holy Spirit only works upon a willing heart -- only if we allow that to happen. We must consent to allowing the embedded Word to change us. The foolish virgins were content with a superficial relationship. They had a form of godliness. It goes without saying that (even in times of peril) nobody else can fix someone else’s spiritual insufficiencies. You can’t believe for me. You can’t obey for me. You can’t receive the Spirit for me. You can’t impart your redeemed character into me, if I’m not interested.

Had the Bridegroom not been delayed, everyone may have been ready. There would have been no necessity for extra oil. However, we know that the five were foolish because they had lamps (they took their Bibles), but they were without the UNDERSTANDING AS TO HOW TO APPLY THE WORD (lamp) and make it work (become light). They only had head knowledge. Their passion was spent on distractions and not on targeting readiness.

The Foolish are disobedient – they may intellectually remember their salvation experience, but the Holy Spirit is no longer activated within. Make no mistake, foolishness-- as used in this context—isn’t accidental, but purposely being apathetic. Foolishness, like this, is sin (Prov 24:9). They need to repent lest they weep and gnash their teeth because they missed the wedding night party. They will still receive some rewards, but not the abundant entrance they had desired (2 Pet. 1:11).

Of course, we know that the five foolish virgins had not prepared to see WHEN they needed to SEE (NOW!). Perhaps the five foolish believers tried to please God with their own works, doctrines, and ideas (Jn 15:4&5). They became preoccupied and distracted. Empty lamps without light represent “human effort “(wood, hay, and stubble) rather than being led by the Spirit. Empty lamps are doctrines created from our own ideas. There will be no light from that, no matter how “good” those efforts seem (1 Cor 3:9-15).

The watchman stayed awake (to WATCH and warn) while all the virgins slept. The word “watchman” suggests a perceptive and vigilant activity. The watchman is commissioned with the purpose of awakening the sleeping church. At midnight, he cries the awakening call. “It’s time to get up! Put on your armor of Light! (Rom. 13:12).

We may wonder if He’s actually going to return at midnight? Well, it will have to be midnight for someone in the world—but right now, the time has come for you to hear this command, “Go ye out to meet Him” (25:6). My friend, it’s time to arise. The night is far spend and the day is at hand. Let us go out (go forth, consider outloud, rehearse) to meet Him (literally have an encounter). This is not a story for later – but for now. Go out to connect light to Light.

THE STORED OIL ALLOWED THE WISE TO BE SEEN. Therefore, the LIGHT was the IDENTIFYING FEATURE enabling Christ to recognize the brides that were His own. When the Bridegroom arrived (to merge with the many membered bride), He found them “enlightened” in readiness. They were able to comprehend and apply Truth. They were ignited and shining brightly in His likeness (they looked like Him). Whether He would come late or early, they were prepared. He found them and led their gleaming a torch-light Bridal procession out of the darkness. Those who are “lit up” can enter into Divine marriage in this lifetime. They posess the gates and change world systems.

While the foolish ones returned to get ready, the wedding party left. These FIVE (unprepared grace offices) missed the crucial and intimate encounter with the Bridegroom. These would-be-brides not only missed the wedding, but the groom didn’t know them.
Jesus probably told this parable because He knew that the church would want to sleep. Our eyes have tired from waiting. Sooooo, be wise my friend. You have to be ready. Why did Jesus tell this story? Because He knows that His coming will not be what we expect. It’s easy to be ready if the Bridegroom comes like the Sunday flannel board lessons. But it’s hard “be ready” if we don’t understand. (Remember how Israel expect Jesus to come the first time as a ruling king and not a baby in swaddling clothes. They missed him. Then later, at the Triumphal entry when people were singing and waving palm branches, Jesus left to be alone. He cried and said how Jerusalem had missed His visitation. Let us be wise and not miss this one.

Without lighted LAMPS, the unwise are not recognizable -- Jesus didn’t know them -- they didn’t look like Him (1 Jn. 3:2). And, if he finds that we have fixed our eyes, our desires, and our affections on all the temporal stuff, then we will hear Him say, “I do not know you.” Consider Matthew 25:42, For I (Christ) was hungry, and YOU … [the foolish virgin (Mat. 25:1), the one woman at the grinding mill (24:41), the one who did not invest his talent (25:42), the goat on the left (Mat. 25:31), the tares (Mat. 13:25)]. YOU gave me no meat (no sustenance). I was thirsty, and YOU gave me no drink, etc.

Yes, surely He’s coming again in a literal personal way. But don’t sit around and wait for Him to come get you and take you out of here. Occupy the land. Take dominion. SEE what is accomplished already. Jesus is ALSO already coming forth in us. Let God arise! See Jesus in others. See the living church. The 5 wise virgins typify those who will inherit the earth and become the reproducing and ruling church. NOW.

Marriage and intimacy reveal purpose.
What does it mean for us to have reserve oil? Only one thing: God wants us to desire being with Him more than anything else in this life. The oil has to do with maintaining our passion and desire. That doesn’t seem like much to ask, but it really is. And, it's the only thing He requires. Many people start out wanting to believe – but who will remain committed and walk into that finished place. Our supply must outlast all disappointments and difficulties. Our preparation is the spiritual readiness that comes from “longing to see Jesus” and having Him “see us.” We need oil in the middle of the night -- so that we can be enlightened to shine forth with beauty, comfort, edification, direction, assurance, strength, health, peace, teaching, joy, love, and faith.

What is the analogy in our lives today? Jesus said once, “Many are called, but few are chosen.” We could say that in this parable: Many are invited and will join in wait for the bridegroom, but not all of them are actually ready light their lamps and act like the Bridegroom is come. When will the readied bride says “come quickly Lord Jesus?” (Rev. 22:12-20).

Enlightened minds WATCH (keep our eyes open, stay on active guard) for His coming. Luke 12:35 tells us to let our waist be girded (have your skirt tied up in your belt so you can run) and have our lamps (the human spirit light by the Word of God) burning. The Lord wants to find you watching – It’s imperative to be on alert (Luke 12:37). Oh, beloved, be dressed in readiness and keep your lamps lit. Let the Word set fire within yourself... and SEE. Jesus told the Pharisees (Luke 17:21), “Don’t say, ‘See here or see there!” For the kingdom of God is within you.” We are LIGHT. We speak life to those without form and void.
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“Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man comes” (Mat. 24:44). “Be dressed ready for service and keep your lamps burning, like men waiting for their master to return from a wedding banquet, so that when he comes and knocks they can immediately open the door for him. It will be good for those servants whose master finds them watching when he comes. I tell you the truth, he will dress himself to serve, will have them recline at the table and will come and wait on them. It will be good for those servants whose master finds them ready, even if he comes in the second or third watch of the night. But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into. You also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him” (Lk. 12:35-40 MSG).

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