Through the years,
I have been asked if I think the
five foolish virgins represent
50% of all Christians. My
response is that Jesus used this
percentage three times in Matthew
24 and 25. Five of the ten
virgins were foolish, one of the
two men working in the field was
taken and the other was left, and
one of the two women grinding
with a hand mill was taken and
the other was left. Was
Jesus hinting that 50% of the
people who claim to follow Him
are foolish or was Jesus hinting
that every follower has to make a
50-50 choice? I think each
of us indivdually can make that
choice to be among the wise or to
be among the foolish.
Jesus wants every
Christian to have an open heart
to advancing truth.
God’s truth never stops
moving forward and if we are
unable to move forward, we become
a foolish virgin. Jesus
said, “Enter through
the narrow gate. For wide is the
gate and broad is the road that
leads to destruction, and many
enter through it. But small is
the gate and narrow the road that
leads to life, and only a few
find it.” (Matthew
7:13,14) This means most of
the world will not be able to
understand your thinking.
In closing, many
considerations can be gleaned
from the parable of the ten
virgins. First, this is a
parable about Christians living
at the time of Christ’s
return. Second, the
separating difference between the
virgins was possession of sufficient
oil. The foolish had some
oil in their lamps, but not
enough. Third, the foolish
did not realize they were fatally
foolish until they were
awakened. Fourth, the
foolish could not obtain the oil
and get back in time to enter the
wedding banquet. They were
shut out with these words, “I
never knew you.”
Fifth, allof the virgins
went to sleep. Christians
are asleep and cannot awaken the
world to the return of
Jesus. We live in a world
of religious gridlock. The
internet is full of endless
argument over religious
views. Jesus will soon take
care of this. Four
trumpet-judgments will change
everything. The coming
destruction of thousands of
cities and the death of
approximately two billion people
will be overwhelming.
Sixth, who gives the cry, “Here’s
the Bridegroom. Come out to
meet Him?” The
virgins are asleep, so prior to
Day 1, Jesus will select and
empower 144,000 people to serve
as His prophets (the
groomsmen). After
God’s wrath has pummeled and
humbled the world, a great hush
will occur. Then Jesus will
speak through the lips of the
144,000 and everyone will hear
them!
Finally, Jesus
ended this parable with a
warning. Be on the
lookout! Day 1 is
coming. If you want to know
the proximity of Day 1 and the
timing and manner of
Christ’s return, you will
have to carefully study the
Bible, specifically the
prophecies in Daniel and
Revelation. These books are
full of amazing insights and
treasures. Now that the
book of Daniel has been unsealed
and the rules governing
apocalyptic interpretation are
known, Peter’s words can be
applied in a timely way: “The
end of all things is near.
Therefore be clear minded and
self-controlled so that you can
pray.” (1 Peter 4:7) ]
Larry Wilson
