Called to the Wedding
The women, spoken of in Revelation 12, are understood to be either the Church of God or Satan’s church. We are given the extent or a picture of the membership of the end time Church of God in Revelation 12. These verses speak of “the woman” going to a place in the wilderness and the remnant of her seed or offspring.
Rev 12:14 And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent.
Rev 12:17 And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.
We see that the church, the Church of God, was nourished in the wilderness for 3 and 1/2 years. “Her place” in the wilderness is generally known as a “place of safety”. After that period of time the resurrection of the first fruit will occur. That resurrection will include all those who have died who are considered by God as first fruit. Revelation 12:17 informs us that the remnant keep the commandments of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ. The testimony of Jesus would include His teachings that are given in the Bible. This is the fundamental requisite for being a first fruit.
We know come to a parable given by Jesus in Matthew 25. Jesus gave the parables as prophetic instruction to his disciples. It is a part of the “mysteries” that have been given to His servants.
Luke 8:10 And he said, Unto you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God: but to others in parables; that seeing they might not see, and hearing they might not understand.
The parable given in Matthew 25:1-13 contains a very, very serious statement. The whole Church of God, except for the remnant, will be taken to a place where they were safe from the influence of the beast. They were there for a 3 and 1/2 year period. 1 Corinthians 15:52, 1 Timothy 4:16, Revelation 11:3 & 15 provide the time that the resurrection will take place. It will occur for some of those who had been taken to the safe place. The following is the parable with comments.
Mat 25:1 Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom.
Mat 25:2 And five of them were wise, and five were foolishG3474.
Strong’s: G3474 Probably form the base of G3466; dull or stupid (as if shut up), that is, heedless, (morally) blockhead, (apparently) absurd: – fool (-ish, X -ishness).
Thayer’s Definition: – foolish
I personally am more partial to the definition of “heedless”.
Mat 25:3 They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them:
Mat 25:4 But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.
Mat 25:5 While the bridegroom tarriedG5549, they all slumbered and slept.
Jesus tarried or lingered as Strong’s states. They were slumbering or sleeping during that time. I believe it is safe to say that they all were looking forward to becoming part of the bride of Jesus. One could ask; how long did Jesus tarry? The next verse helps to provide an understanding. Since the cry came at midnight we can conclude they were slumbering and sleeping just prior to the call.
Mat 25:6 And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him.
The next verse is very telling. It does not say all the virgins arose. It does say all those virgins arose. This is not a simple substitution using “those”, “that one” G1565 as Strongs has it for — “the”G8497, there is too big a difference between the two words.
Mat 25:7 Then all “those”G1565 virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps.
G1565 ek-i’-nos From G1563; that one (or [neuter] thing); often intensified by the article prefixed: – he, it, the other (same), selfsame, that (same, very), X their, X them, they, this, those. Total KJV occurrences: 251
G3588 ho, hay, to The masculine, feminine (second) and neuter (third) forms, in all their inflections; the definite article; the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom): – the, this, that, one, he, she, it, etc. Total KJV occurrences: 8497
It could be argued that it was only “those” virgins that heard the cry that the bridegroom was coming. Why doesn’t it say all “the” virgins heard the cry? And it was “those” virgins who had brought extra oil enabling them to “trim” their lamps. “Those” virgins were prepared to meet their Lord and savior and husband. The others lamps were going out and it was at that time they realized their significant deficiency. We generally understand that the oil in the lamps represent God’s Spirit. We are shown there were two groups, one having sufficient oil or spirit and one lacking sufficient oil or spirit.
NKJV – – – Mat 25:8 And the foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’
We are familiar with the rest of the parable and how verse 10 shows that one half of the virgins, spoken of in verse 2, will be taken to become the Bride of Jesus.
Mat 25:9 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.
Mat 25:10 And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage (feast): and the door was shut.
Literal versions and other translations all say “marriage feast or feasts“ instead of “marriage”.
Mat 25:11 Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us.
Mat 25:12 But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not.
Mat 25:13 Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.
This parable is picturing Jesus coming to take his bride to the marriage supper. We have seen that the church was taken to a safe place for 3 & 1/2 years. Now we see that after that period one half of those in that place were taken to become the Bride of Jesus Christ.
I have a question. Why after three and one half years being in the “place of safety” is there such a difference between the two groups? It is my natural thought to believe the differences were in their spiritual ideas of spiritual matters. During those three and one half years you would think there were discussions relating to firmly held beliefs. In other words; they had “doctrinal” discussions.
There are even now doctrinal differences within the church. When we look at all the very heart felt differences in beliefs within the Church of God we can understand how these differences would continue after those that are taken to the safe place. Luke 21:36 is a very important verse. It speaks of escaping the future extreme troubles.
Luk 21:36 Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.
The “and” in that verse can be very, very important. With the great degree of truth that has been taught and lived by for those in the Church of God one could understand that they would be accounted worthy to escape the troubles. But who will be those who would be worthy to stand before the Son of man? Because of the parable of Matthew 25, it looks like one half of the church, who are still living, will stand before the Son of man and will go to the marriage supper of the lamb.
Rev 19:6 And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying, Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth.
Rev 19:7 Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath (was) made herself ready.
Rev 19:8 And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.
Rev 19:9 And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God.
1 Thessalonians shows us that all those who were a part of the first fruit and had died before going to the ‘”place of safety” will be in the resurrection.
1 Thes 4:6 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
Matthew 25:1-13 is a parable. But the parables given by Jesus are prophetic. This parable is speaking of the church at the time Jesus comes to take those who are qualified to go to the wedding supper. It does not specifically speak to the whole 3 & 1/2 year period. But I have tried to consider that period of time when the church would be in the safe place. It is important to notice that the five virgins were free to try to acquire more oil (spirit). Being in a safe place there was nothing that would have obstructed their effort. There was no influence by Satan at the place and time. It is most likely that there would have been years of discussions there. It is true that firmly held beliefs are tended to be held onto. Doesn’t this parable show us the importance of the value of what our beliefs are in God’s church?
