“Then the kingdom of heaven will be comparable to ten virgins, who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish, and five were prudent. For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them, but the prudent took oil in flasks along with their lamps. Now while the bridegroom was delaying, they all got drowsy and began to sleep. But at midnight there was a shout, ‘Behold, the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.’ Then all those virgins rose and trimmed their lamps. The foolish said to the prudent, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ But the prudent answered, ‘No, there will not be enough for us and you too; go instead to the dealers and buy some for yourselves.’ And while they were going away to make the purchase, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding feast; and the door was shut. Later the other virgins also came, saying, ‘Lord, lord, open up for us.’ But he answered, ‘Truly I say to you, I do not know you.’ Be on the alert then, for you do not know the day nor the hour."(Matthew 35:1-13)
The context of this parable is a discussion of the end times. Jesus had already laid out the theme of being ready for His return in this passage. What is the oil, in a spiritual sense? I would say that there are many possibilities, but perhaps the answer is that it is everything which strengthens a Christian's witness, spiritual life; that which gives us endurance under trial and temptation; most of all evidence that he or she belongs to Christ.
The context shows us that this oil fuels the light which makes us recognizable to the Lord as Christians. Again, the context is key with the principles of being alert and being faithful already discussed. Both this parable and the one which precedes it tell us to live in expectation of Christ's return and foretells a long wait, one which may even become wearying. The ten virgins did fall asleep as they were waiting. Jesus didn't describe that as an act of unfaithfulness, it was merely an illustration of how long the wait had become.
While there are many ways that this parable might apply, what concerns me for the American church today is that expectation the rapture has many people believing that they will not see tribulation. Some rebuke others as if it were a heresy to warn them of the danger in not preparing their souls to endure trial. They are content to merely be saved and waiting for the Bridegroom to show up. My concern for them is that they may not have the "oil' to make it through should tribulation of any sort come, let alone the time of trials which the Bible warns will be worse than any previously seen on earth.
The word “αρπαγησομεθα” ("rapturo" in Latin, which is the root for the word "rapture" in English) occurs once in the whole Bible, and that is in 1 Thessalonians 4:17. The overcomers are addressed in eight verses. The placement of seven of these verses in the opening of the book of Revelation also tells us something of His priorities, since they come before the discussion of what the church will endure before the Lord returns. Clearly He wanted us to think about being overcomers first as many generations were yet to come and many times of tribulation would follow long before the end times.
Looking at the ways in which the church endured the tribulations of the past, I can see evidence of the oil in their lamps consisting of memorized scriptures, songs, spiritual disciplines, acts of love and service, bold declaration of the gospel despite opposition and deep personal prayer life as a hallmark of their walks with God. We would do well to emulate the overcomers who have gone before us as we await the midnight call.
The context of this parable is a discussion of the end times. Jesus had already laid out the theme of being ready for His return in this passage. What is the oil, in a spiritual sense? I would say that there are many possibilities, but perhaps the answer is that it is everything which strengthens a Christian's witness, spiritual life; that which gives us endurance under trial and temptation; most of all evidence that he or she belongs to Christ.
The context shows us that this oil fuels the light which makes us recognizable to the Lord as Christians. Again, the context is key with the principles of being alert and being faithful already discussed. Both this parable and the one which precedes it tell us to live in expectation of Christ's return and foretells a long wait, one which may even become wearying. The ten virgins did fall asleep as they were waiting. Jesus didn't describe that as an act of unfaithfulness, it was merely an illustration of how long the wait had become.
While there are many ways that this parable might apply, what concerns me for the American church today is that expectation the rapture has many people believing that they will not see tribulation. Some rebuke others as if it were a heresy to warn them of the danger in not preparing their souls to endure trial. They are content to merely be saved and waiting for the Bridegroom to show up. My concern for them is that they may not have the "oil' to make it through should tribulation of any sort come, let alone the time of trials which the Bible warns will be worse than any previously seen on earth.
The word “αρπαγησομεθα” ("rapturo" in Latin, which is the root for the word "rapture" in English) occurs once in the whole Bible, and that is in 1 Thessalonians 4:17. The overcomers are addressed in eight verses. The placement of seven of these verses in the opening of the book of Revelation also tells us something of His priorities, since they come before the discussion of what the church will endure before the Lord returns. Clearly He wanted us to think about being overcomers first as many generations were yet to come and many times of tribulation would follow long before the end times.
Looking at the ways in which the church endured the tribulations of the past, I can see evidence of the oil in their lamps consisting of memorized scriptures, songs, spiritual disciplines, acts of love and service, bold declaration of the gospel despite opposition and deep personal prayer life as a hallmark of their walks with God. We would do well to emulate the overcomers who have gone before us as we await the midnight call.
"Who is the one who overcomes the world,
but he who believes that
Jesus is the Son of God?"
1 John 5:5 (NASB)
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