We are continuing our study of the Parable of the Ten Virgins, focusing on what Jesus was prophesying about His return.
The Lord said that the Bridegroom’s coming would be at the darkest point, at midnight. The five wise virgins that were prepared with extra oil went into the Marriage Supper with Him as soon as He came. The Bridegroom didn’t come for a while and disappear and come again later. Christ didn’t talk about two separate comings for His arrival, one before the darkness and one in the midst. There will be great joy welling up from within when we make our entrance into the banqueting hall with Christ. We will not come with Him into the wedding hall as witnesses to His marriage; we are to be married to Him. Not a wedding on earth; this is a wedding in heaven. This celebration will be many times more glorious than any marriage you have ever seen, and I remind you again, if you are a believer in Christ, you are the bride!
Genuine believers will one day hear Him speak eternal vows of marriage. At the moment, on this side of heaven, we are only espoused or promised in marriage as Paul explained in the below passage to the Corinthian church:
I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy. I promised you to one husband, to Christ, so that I might present you as a pure virgin to him (2 Corinthians 11:2).
When the Bridegroom comes, then will be the wedding. Next time you go to a wedding on earth, you can view it as foreshadowing that day when He comes for you to lead you up the aisle. They that were ready went in with Him into the wedding banquet. Tenderly He will come to each of us who have gone through many tearful times, and with a handkerchief in hand:
He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death, mourning or pain, for the old order of things has passed away (Revelation 21:4).
There is one more thought that I cannot pass by. It is that the door was shut behind them: “The virgins who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet. And the door was shut” (Matthew 25:10). This closure of the door symbolizes that our experience of this new order of things is eternal. That which God has been doing in your life has been but a preparation for that day, but when that day comes, it will be eternal, and pleasing to know that we are shut in with Christ (Matthew 25:10).
None are naturally ready for the joys of heaven; no man or woman can ever be good enough. There must be a bestowing, a divine transfusion, of the life of God into your spirit. Each of us has to change within. And he said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 18:3). In another place, Jesus said, “You must be born again,” or born from above (John 3:3). When we sincerely repent (a turnaround from our sin toward obedience to the Lord Jesus) and receive the gift of God, eternal life in Christ, from the point of receiving God’s gift our names are written in the Lamb's book of life (Revelation 21:27). As much as it is painful for those who are outside, it is pure joy for those of us, who by God's grace alone, is inside the door at the wedding. Let’s talk some more about this parable tomorrow. Keith Thomas
If you can’t wait, go to the Home Page and click on the Parables of Jesus box, then click on the Parable of the Ten Virgins.