|
THE REVIEW AND HERALD Article
Title: The Parable of the Ten Virgins
"Then shall the kingdom of heaven be
likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the
bridegroom. And five of them were wise, and five were foolish. They that were
foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them: but the wise took oil in
their vessels with their lamps. While the bridegroom tarried, they all
slumbered and slept. And at "Afterward came also the other virgins,
saying, Lord, Lord, open unto us. But he answered and said, Verily I say unto
you, I know you not. Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour
wherein the Son of man cometh." When the ten virgins went forth to meet the
bridegroom, their lamps were trimmed and burning. Apparently there was no
difference between the five who were wise and the five who were foolish. To
outward appearance all were prepared, robed in white, and carrying their
lighted lamps. But only five of these virgins were wise. These anticipated
delay, and filled their flagons with oil, ready for any emergency. Five of the
number had not this foresight; they made no provision for disappointment or
delay. All the virgins are watching for the
bridegroom. Hour after hour passes, and they are still
anxiously looking for his appearing. But at last the weary, watching ones fall
asleep. And at At the call, the sleeping eyes are opened,
and every one is aroused. They see the procession they are to join moving on,
bright with torches and glad with music. They hear the voice of the bridegroom
and the voice of the bride. The five wise virgins trim their lamps, and go
forth to meet the bridegroom. The foolish virgins made no provision for
their lamps; and when aroused from their slumbers, they found that their lights
were going out. They now see the consequences of their carelessness, and plead
with their companions for a supply of oil: "Give us of your oil,"
they say; "for our lamps are going out." But the waiting five, with
their freshly trimmed lamps, have emptied their vessels. They have no oil to
spare, and they answer: "Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you.
But go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for
yourselves." But while they went to buy, the procession moved on, and left
them behind. The bridal train entered the house, and the door was shut. When
the foolish virgins reached the banqueting hall, they received an unexpected
denial. They were left outside in the blackness of the night. This parable is not a representation of open
sinners, but of those who profess Christ. The bride is the church who is
waiting for the second appearing of our Lord and Saviour
Jesus Christ. In the proclamation of the first and second angels of Revelation
14, a special message has come to our world. Speaking of these messages, John
says: "I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the
everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every
nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people, saying with a loud voice, Fear
God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship
him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters. And
there followed another angel, saying, The first and second angels' messages are united and made complete in
the third. -John says: "And the third angel followed them, saying with a
loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in
his forehead, or in his hand, the same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of
God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and
he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy
angels, and in the presence of the Lamb." Under the proclamation of these messages the
cry was made, "Behold, the bridegroom cometh." The believers in these
messages were compelled to go out from the churches because they preached the
second appearing of Christ in the clouds of heaven. The whole world was to hear
the message, "Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him."
Many who heard these messages thought they would live to see Christ come; but
there was a delay in the coming of the Bridegroom, in order that all might have
an opportunity to hear the last message of mercy to a fallen world. Had those who claimed to believe the truth
acted their part as wise virgins, the message would
ere this have been given to every nation, kindred, tongue, and people. But five
were foolish. The truth should have been proclaimed by the ten virgins, but
only five had made the provision essential to join the company that walked in
the light given to them.
The first, second, and third
angels' messages are to be repeated. The call is to be given to the church:
"
Many who went forth to meet the Bridegroom under the messages of the
first and second angels, refused the third, the last testing message to be
given to the world, and a similar position will be taken when the last call is
made. Every specification of this parable should
be carefully studied. We are represented either by the wise or by the foolish
virgins. There are many who will not remain at the feet of Jesus, and learn of
him. They have not a knowledge of his ways; they are
not prepared for his coming. They have made a pretense of waiting for their
Lord. They have not watched and prayed with that faith which works by love and
purifies the soul. They have lived a life of carelessness. They have heard and
assented to the truth, but they have never brought it into their practical
life. The oil of grace is not feeding their lamps, and they are not prepared to
enter into the marriage supper of the Lamb. The oil is the holy grace that is
sent from heaven; and there must be an inward adorning with that grace, if we
would stand when he appears. The men of the world do not wish the light of truth, and they are one in
spirit with those who, while professing to be children of God, do not let their
light shine in words of truth and deeds of holiness. Unconverted men who claim
to be Christians only encourage the sinner to continue in his sin. In the place
of seeking to save the souls that are ready to perish, they live for self.
Their vessels are empty, and therefore they can not keep their lamps
replenished. To these Christ says, I know you not. You
have not taken me as your counselor. You have not walked in the light of my
word. You have not come under my yoke. Your light is darkness, because you have
walked in the sparks of the fire of your own kindling. Depart from me, ye that
work iniquity. We are not to rest in the idea that because we are church-members we are
saved, while we give no evidence that we are conformed to the image of Christ,
while we cling to our old habits, and weave our fabric with the threads of
worldly ideas and customs. Christ declares: "Not every one that saith unto
me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the
will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord,
Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy
name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many
wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart
from me, ye that work iniquity." This representation should call forth our
earnest study in order that we may know what preparation to make that we may
enter in and partake of the marriage supper of the Lamb. "Blessed are they
that do his commandments, that they may have right to
the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city." The ten virgins are watching in the evening
of this earth's history. All claim to be Christians. All have a call, a name, a
lamp, and all claim to be doing God service. All apparently watch for his
appearing. But five are wanting. Five will be found surprised, dismayed,
outside the banquet hall. There are many who cry, Peace, peace, when there is
no peace. This is the most perilous belief that the human soul can entertain.
Christ calls upon all who bear his name, who claim to be his followers, to eat
his flesh and drink his blood, or they can have no part with him. Be not like the foolish virgins, who take
for granted that the promises of God are theirs, while they do not follow the
injunctions of Christ. Christ teaches us that profession is nothing. "If
any man will come after me," he says, "let him deny himself, and take
up his cross daily, and follow me." "Whosoever therefore shall break
one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the
least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same
shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the
righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the
kingdom of heaven." When we stand the test of God in the
refining, purifying process; when the furnace fire consumes the dross, and the
true gold of a purified character appears, we may still say, with Paul,
"Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I
follow after. . . . This one thing I do, forgetting those things which are
behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward
the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus."
(Bold, underscored, and italicized emphasis
added) |