-- 2 Timothy 3:1
Commentary on the Parable of the Ten Virgins
These are just my thoughts and my end time theories may not line up with yours.
"...when the Son of Man comes,
will he find faith on earth?"
Luke 18:8
When the parable of the 10 virgins is researched and you ask a dozen people what it means, you are likely to get 12 different answers.
Here is what I believe:The light of the lamps represent their "testimonies." **
All 10 virgins are followers of Jesus Christ. All 10 were eagerly waiting to meet the bridegroom.
The oil symbolizes the Spirit of God by which the light of testimony could be maintained in the hour of darkness.
They all had testimonies but the 5 foolish virgins did not prepare spiritually and maintain their testimonies during the end times (probably when persecution came).
The 5 foolish virgins ran out of oil (the light of their testimonies) and did not go in to the Marriage Feast of the Lamb.
The 5 foolish virgins might be those who hide in basements or in the countryside when the persecution starts thinking that they would hide out until Jesus came.
If we hide our testimony in the end times by hiding out in a bunker or in the wilderness, will this make us like one of the foolish virgins in this parable?
Remember what happened in the end time parable about the man who buried his "talent." (Matthew 25: 14-30).
He was thrown "into the outer darkness; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth." -- Matthew 25:30
Jesus said "Don't hide your light! Let it shine for all;" --- Matthew 5:15 (Living Bible)
Jesus says in Matthew 10:16, "Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves." This Bible chapter is full of end time overtones.
There may be a season of hiding because of persecution. And there may be a time to hide from the evil.
And there will be clandestine underground churches. But not continuous hiding such that we never share our testimony.
We must be "wise", yes, but we cannot live in a bunker until Jesus comes.
We cannot hide our testimony
of Jesus Christ.
Jesus says in Matthew 10:33, "whoever denies Me before men, I will also deny him before My Father who is in heaven."
Is living in a bunker during the end times and withholding our testimony of Jesus Christ from a lost and deceived world around us tantamount to denying Jesus?
When it's put that way,
I believe the answer is YES!
Moreover what we do know is that Jesus told the five foolish virgins
"Truly, I say to you,
I do not know you."
(Matthew 25:12).
Jesus says the same thing in Matthew 7:23 to false followers but adds "depart from me you workers of lawlessness."
I think it follows that if Jesus does not know you then you are not going to heaven.
We have to "choose this day whom you (we) will serve." (Joshua 24:15)
And does the 10 virgin parable tie in to the "hidden talent" parable (also in Matthew 25) more than many think?
In the "talent parable" the Master (God) "cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness" for hiding (and not using) what God had given him.
Are these 2 parables more linked than most think?
Scripture says "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven." --- Matthew 5:16
The Bible emphasizes that we should share the gospel.
"And he said to them, "Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation." --- Mark 16:15
Jesus said, "But whoever denies Me before men, I will also deny him before My Father who is in heaven."
-- Matthew 10:33
And remember, our testimony is not only what we say. Our testimony is also the way we live our life.
Whoever believes in the Son of God has the testimony in himself.
--- 1 John 5:10a
And here is a sobering fact: martyrdom is in itself
a testimony.
Jesus says to the end time church in Smyrna, "Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life."
--Revelation 2:10
Hiding our testimony has
eternal consequences.
It is important that we maintain our testimony during the end times.
If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it.
--- Matthew 16:25 NLT
Decide in your heart today not to let your testimony "go out."
Decide before any persecution that "if we live, we live for the Lord, or if we die, we die for the Lord; therefore whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s." -- Romans 14:8
More testimony references:
Philippians 1:27-30, Hebrews 2:12 , Psalm 22:22, Romans 1:16, Luke 12:8-9, Revelation 20:4, Revelation 1:2, Matthew 5:16, Revelation 6:9, 1 Chronicles 16:8, 1 Peter 3:15, Acts 1:8, Romans 10:14, Psalm 35:28, Psalm 66:16
Footnote Credit:
** In Part from Nelson Walter's YouTube channel video: "Unlocking the Mystery of the Ten Virgins Parable"
will he find faith on earth?"
Luke 18:8
When the parable of the 10 virgins is researched and you ask a dozen people what it means, you are likely to get 12 different answers.
Here is what I believe:
All 10 virgins are followers of Jesus Christ. All 10 were eagerly waiting to meet the bridegroom.
The oil symbolizes the Spirit of God by which the light of testimony could be maintained in the hour of darkness.
They all had testimonies but the 5 foolish virgins did not prepare spiritually and maintain their testimonies during the end times (probably when persecution came).
The 5 foolish virgins ran out of oil (the light of their testimonies) and did not go in to the Marriage Feast of the Lamb.
The 5 foolish virgins might be those who hide in basements or in the countryside when the persecution starts thinking that they would hide out until Jesus came.
If we hide our testimony in the end times by hiding out in a bunker or in the wilderness, will this make us like one of the foolish virgins in this parable?
Remember what happened in the end time parable about the man who buried his "talent." (Matthew 25: 14-30).
He was thrown "into the outer darkness; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth." -- Matthew 25:30
Jesus said "Don't hide your light! Let it shine for all;" --- Matthew 5:15 (Living Bible)
Jesus says in Matthew 10:16, "Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves." This Bible chapter is full of end time overtones.
There may be a season of hiding because of persecution. And there may be a time to hide from the evil.
And there will be clandestine underground churches. But not continuous hiding such that we never share our testimony.
We must be "wise", yes, but we cannot live in a bunker until Jesus comes.
of Jesus Christ.
Jesus says in Matthew 10:33, "whoever denies Me before men, I will also deny him before My Father who is in heaven."
When it's put that way,
I believe the answer is YES!
Moreover what we do know is that Jesus told the five foolish virgins
"Truly, I say to you,
I do not know you."
(Matthew 25:12).
Jesus says the same thing in Matthew 7:23 to false followers but adds "depart from me you workers of lawlessness."
I think it follows that if Jesus does not know you then you are not going to heaven.
And does the 10 virgin parable tie in to the "hidden talent" parable (also in Matthew 25) more than many think?
In the "talent parable" the Master (God) "cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness" for hiding (and not using) what God had given him.
Are these 2 parables more linked than most think?
God gives us all a testimony
to proclaim, not to hide.
Is it wise to hide it?
Scripture says "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven." --- Matthew 5:16
The Bible emphasizes that we should share the gospel.
"And he said to them, "Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation." --- Mark 16:15
Jesus said, "But whoever denies Me before men, I will also deny him before My Father who is in heaven."
-- Matthew 10:33
Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, nor of me his prisoner, but share in suffering for the gospel by the power of God,
--- 2 Timothy 1:8-9
And remember, our testimony is not only what we say. Our testimony is also the way we live our life.
Whoever believes in the Son of God has the testimony in himself.
--- 1 John 5:10a
a testimony.
Jesus says to the end time church in Smyrna, "Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life."
--Revelation 2:10
Our testimony in the end times is more powerful and important
than many think.
God uses our testimony,
in part, to overcome
the Anti-Christ.
"And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and
by the word of their testimony,
for they loved not their lives
even unto death."
--- Revelation 12:11
This verse changes everything.
I hope you can see how important our testimony is in the end times.
eternal consequences.
It is important that we maintain our testimony during the end times.
If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it.
--- Matthew 16:25 NLT
Decide in your heart today not to let your testimony "go out."
Decide before any persecution that "if we live, we live for the Lord, or if we die, we die for the Lord; therefore whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s." -- Romans 14:8
More testimony references:
Philippians 1:27-30, Hebrews 2:12 , Psalm 22:22, Romans 1:16, Luke 12:8-9, Revelation 20:4, Revelation 1:2, Matthew 5:16, Revelation 6:9, 1 Chronicles 16:8, 1 Peter 3:15, Acts 1:8, Romans 10:14, Psalm 35:28, Psalm 66:16
Footnote Credit:
** In Part from Nelson Walter's YouTube channel video: "Unlocking the Mystery of the Ten Virgins Parable"