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Reading: Matthew 26: 30-45

Introduction

1. Virgins

I should imagine that in these days almost everyone above the age of 13 knows what a virgin is. But this parable about 'virgins' is not about the physical virginity of young girls. It is about spiritual purity and the faithfulness of believers. So we ask the question again:

One answer would be: A spiritual virgin is a true believer who will remain faithful to the Most High when all others become immoral: a holy believer who has not spiritually 'slept around' with pagan gods and their forms of worship: one who will have nothing to do with error in any form whatsoever. This parable is not highlighting a potential weakness in the fallen church. No, it is for the True Church of Elohim; whose members in the last days face the seductions of Satan.

2. The Bridegroom Tarried

Every Christian knows that YAHUSHUA the Messiah is the bridegroom. But few, by comparison, know who the bride is, or who the wise and foolish virgins represent. Before the Savior ascended to heaven, he promised:

That promise was made nearly 2000 years ago and he still hasn't come. Millions of Christians have died in the blessed hope that they would be alive (without seeing death) when the Savior returns. But the bridegroom has tarried. He has tarried so long that unbelievers today scoff at the very idea of him ever returning: that is, even presupposing that he is alive!

The Savior's unexpected delay - if it was a delay - has wearied the church. Centuries have rolled by and still the bridegroom hasn't come. Has the wedding been called off? The parable states that all ten virgins fell asleep! It wasn't simply a case of some exceptionally holy believers keeping awake and the majority dozing off. Oh no! The whole church fell asleep!

4. At Midnight there was a Cry

The bridegroom's delay was unexpected; but his arrival will be infinitely more surprising. Have you ever attended a wedding where the bridegroom arrived at midnight? I haven't. When eventually the bridegroom's arrival was announced there was blind panic. All ten virgins awoke together, and all their lamps needed attention. Frantically they put on their shoes, arranged their clothes and hair and attempted to trim their lamps. Pandemonium reigned! Five of the ten virgins discovered that their lamps had gone out and - to add to the disaster - they had no spare oil.

5. Oil in Their Vessels

Notice how the parable states that the 'wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.' In other words they had allowed for the possibility of a delay and not only had they filled their lamps with oil, but also 'took oil in their vessels with their lamps.' This means that they would have a good supply of the Holy Spirit to last till the bridegroom arrived.

6. Our Lamps have gone Out!

Imagine the shock that overtook the foolish virgins when they discovered that their lamps had gone out. Sleepy eyes, unkempt hair, ruffled dresses, all these things paled into insignificance when compared to the tragedy that their lamps had gone out and they had no oil. In a frantic effort to re-light their lamps they rushed of to buy oil.

The Door Was Shut

What does this phrase mean? Does it mean that the foolish virgins will lose eternal life? That, for all their dedication, purity and faith, they would be shut out of the Kingdom of Heaven? I doubt it. The Bible teaches in John 3:15-16 and elsewhere that:

This includes the five foolish virgins. To be sure they were foolish; because they had failed to take into account that the bridegroom would tarry so long. But remember, they were spiritual virgins - true believers! This means that though they were not allowed to get past that shut door, they will not lose everlasting life. After all, in the wedding parable of Matthew 22: 8-10 even the bad gained entrance.

What then did the foolish virgins lose when 'the door was shut?' In my opinion, this parable is introducing the virgin church who is to become the Messiah's wife: the morally pure, obedient and dedicated believers who are filled with an abundant supply of the Holy Spirit.

The door that was shut isn't the door to the banqueting hall. Why even the 'bad' were allowed to enter through that door. I think that in this parable the door that was shut is the door to the bridal chamber! This is the door that is open only to the bridegroom and his bride. To all others this door is shut.

The Bible tells us that millions of believers will enter the Kingdom of YaHuWaH. Their number will be greater than the stars in heaven and the sands on the sea shore. But not all believers will become the Lamb's bride. That privilege is reserved for the wise virgins: those believers who are deemed to be absolutely true, stainless, chaste, humble and holy. They will become YAHUSHUA the Messiah's Bride, the virgin daughter of Zion whose beauty and character will astonish the entire universe.

7. Be Filled with the Spirit

The Scriptures make many urgent appeals to believers to 'awake out of sleep,' to 'hold fast,' to 'be filled with the Spirit,' to 'cast off the works of darkness' and to 'put on the armor of light.' Are you doing these things? I can assure you that if you want to be allowed into the bridal chamber as the BRIDE! you will need to be much more than just a believer in YAHUSHUA the Messiah. His bride, remember, is not just an ordinary virgin: she is a wise virgin and she is filled with the Holy Spirit.

8. The Wedding Canopy... (Chupah)

Many of us have heard about Jewish wedding couples taking their marriage vows under a canopy called the chupah (pronounced khapah). The chupah symbolizes the Almighty's presence in the open field or wilderness: because no man made building, however large, can contain Him. The chupah is made of cloth - often of several prayer shawls. It is held aloft by four poles. It has no walls, symbolizing the Almighty's heavenly dwelling which stretches from one end of the universe to the other. The chupah is used at marriage ceremonies even inside the largest synagogue. A Jewish wedding is a highly symbolic ceremony and the parable of the ten virgins is taken from it.

In view of this, could it be?

Yes, could it be that this ancient Hebrew ceremony under a canopy prefigures the time when the heavenly bridegroom, YAHUSHUA the Messiah, comes to Earth to take His virgin bride; and that the marriage vows will be taken during the Feast of Tabernacles when the true church of YaHuWaH is out in the open fields in temporary shelters (khupahs)? Could it be? If my assumption is right that the marriage of the heavenly bridegroom will follow the ancient Hebrew pattern, then the possibility is very strong that the wise virgins will, in fact, turn out to be the Messiah's Bride! Pause dear reader and try to appreciate what you have just read.

9. I Know You Not

Matthew 25:1 Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the Bridegroom.
2 And five of them were wise, and five were foolish.
3 They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them:
4 But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.
5 While the Bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept.
6 And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the Bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet Him.
7 Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps.
8 And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out.
9 But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves.
10 And while they went to buy, the Bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with Him to the marriage: and the door was shut.
11 Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us.
12 But He answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not.
13 Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.

Question: Why does the bridegroom state in verse 12 above, "I know you not"? Doesn’t it seem a bit out of place?

Answer: The Bridegroom returned on an Appointed Day. The five foolish virgins went to buy on the Appointed Day, not keeping the commandment (doing the will) of the Bridegroom’s Father to keep the Sabbath holy. The foolish virgins didn't observe the Father's appointed Feast Days such as the Sabbaths, Passover, Feast of Tabernacles, etc. It's these appointed days that the Father has set apart for His people to meet with Him and have fellowship with Him and His Son. The foolish virgins didn't meet with the Father and His Son at the appointed times (Sabbaths and Feast Days), and so didn't develop a respectful relationship with Him and His Son. Instead the foolish virgins decided amongst themselves to keep the appointed times on the first day of the week (Sunday), or Easter, or Christmas. The Father wasn't officially present at assemblies on those days because He doesn't disobey His own Instructions (Torah). If YaHuWaH did officially observe other than His Appointed Sabbaths and Feasts, He would sin. The definition of sin is 'disobedience to the Torah' (the instructions and commandments of YaHuWaH).

It is this lack of appointed fellowship with the Father and the Son that yields the words: "I know you not" from the Bridegroom.

Matthew 7:21 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.
22 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?
23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from Me, ye that work iniquity (Greek – anomia, meaning – without Torah, without law). (Not keeping the Sabbaths and Instructions of Torah)

Which Appointed Day did the Bridegroom return on?

The Day of Trumpets, a high Sabbath, a day that the Father has commanded everyone to rest. The Father has set apart the Sabbath for fellowship with Him, and commanded to abstain from buying and selling on that day. Because the Son obeys His Father's commandments, the Son also keeps the Father's appointed Sabbaths, times of rest and fellowship (getting to know those you love).

10. Summary

A wise virgin is a faithful and obedient believer who remains chaste and holy when all others engage in immoral worship: a believer who does not spiritually 'sleep around with pagan gods' or embrace remnants of unclean doctrines or forms of worship such as the observance of Sunday (a day reserved not in obedience to YaHuWaH but for the Babylonian sun god) and Easter (the remnant of pagan fertility goddess Ishtar worship).

The bridegroom is YAHUSHUA the Messiah who promised to return to Earth, but tarried. Meanwhile the true church of YaHuWaH has fallen asleep.

• Only faithful and obedient believers, keeping the appointed days of the Father, with a good supply of the Holy Spirit will enter the nuptial chamber as the Messiah's Bride! The Holy Spirit is given to those who obey the Father and the Son. To all others the door will be shut. They might enter the marriage banqueting hall along with the good and the bad, but they will not enter the nuptial room.
• It is more than likely that the Hebrew marriage ceremony under a canopy (chupah) pictures the wedding of YAHUSHUA the Messiah and His virgin bride: and that the marriage vows will be exchanged during a coming Feast of Tabernacles under the canopy of Heaven itself - in the open fields!
• Will you be there? Or does the very thought of keeping the Feast of Tabernacles ruffle your nerves? Remember the midnight cry was: Go ye out to meet Him! Would you go?