The Church Prior to the Resurrection
There are critical prophecies relating to the Church of God that will occur a short while before and at the time of the resurrection of the saints. It includes something that we should be concerned about. Especially when we read that Paul had concerns about being a "cast-away"
1Co 9:27 But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.
There are three distinct elements of the church that will be present at the time just spoken of. I'll do what I can to elaborate on these three particular parts of the Church of God in their apparent order of time.
TAKEN TO A SAFE PLACE
We are so familiar with the term "place of safety" and we have the biblical information that speaks about that place.
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.
Rev 12:13 And when the dragon saw that he was cast unto the earth, he persecuted the woman which brought forth the man child.
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 12:15 And the serpent cast out of his mouth water as a flood after the woman, that he might cause her to be carried away of the flood.
Rev 12:16 And the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed up the flood which the dragon cast out of his mouth.
Zep 2:3 Seek ye the LORD, all ye meek of the earth, which have wrought his judgment; seek righteousness, seek meekness: it may be ye shall be hid in the day of the LORD'S anger.
Isa 26:20 Come, my people, enter thou into thy chambers, and shut thy doors about thee: hide thyself as it were for a little moment, until the indignation be overpast.
Isa 26:21 For, behold, the LORD cometh out of his place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity: the earth also shall disclose her blood, and shall no more cover her slain (Ezek 39:17-20 and Rev 19:17).
The words of Luke 21:36 are a great comfort as we grow more and more in our love for God and the brethren.
1Th 5:9 For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,
THE REMNANT
We do pray that we will not have to experience the plight of the remnant. The wording of Rev 12:17 leads one to understand that after those who are taken to a "place of safety" the remnant of the Church of God will suffer the rage of Satan. It also indicates that these people will maintain their dedication and love for God and His commandments in whatever they face.
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.
2Co 1:7 And our hope of you is stedfast, knowing, that as ye are partakers of the sufferings, so shall ye be also of the consolation.
Heb 3:14 For we have become partakers of Christ, if truly we hold the beginning of the assurance firm to the end;
FIVE OF THE TEN VIRGINS
This parable of Jesus is very direct. It says "the kingdom of heaven be likened unto". I believe the words of the parable are prophetic. It reveals that one half of the Church of God will not have grown enough to become part of the wife of Jesus. The parable shows us that they are not aware of their lack. They all slept prior to the time that they recognized they needed more oil (spirit).
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 foolish.
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 tarried, they all slumbered and slept.
Mat 25:6 And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him.
Mat 25:7 Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps.
Mat 25:8 And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out.
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: and the door was shut.
Mat 25:11 Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us.
Mat 25:12 YLT --- and he answering said, Verily I say to you, I have not known you.
Barns commentary: The word “know” is often used in the sense of approving, loving, acknowledging as real friends and followers.
Mat 25:13 Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.
My understanding is that we are betrothed to Jesus when we are baptized and receive the earnest of the spirit of God. According to first century Jewish wedding protocol the actual marriage occurs when the groom takes possession of the bride. Lastly there is normally a seven day "wedding supper".
2Co 5:5 Now he that hath wrought us for the selfsame thing is God, who also hath given unto us the earnest of the Spirit.
2Co 11:2 For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.
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 made herself ready.
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.
Verse 5 of Rev 19 shows us there is a lapse of time as the virgins waited for the bride groom to come. He only receives half of them to his chambers. In prophetic terms, Jesus gathers only half of the virgins at the time of the resurrection of the saints. They then, after a period of time, are privileged to share the "wedding supper".
This is not what the other half of the virgins will experience. Verse 10 shows that they were expecting to be included in the wedding but were left out. We can conclude from this parable that one half of the end time Church of God will either be --- resurrected and become part of the bride of Jesus or not be included in the resurrection of the saints.
Since the time that this paper was written, it has been brought to my attention that the five virgins that were left and the remnant may be the same people. I don't think so. The following are my thoughts concerning possible circumstances of the end time church.
The remnant people will be at the mercy of Satan's vengeance which would begin at the start of the 31/2 year period given to the Beast. The verses concerning the 10 virgins occurs prior to the resurrection and shortly after. These virgins seem to be in a setting of a relative state of peacefulness. After 5 of the "virgins" are received (by Jesus) the others were left and then made their request. That request may possibly be made by their urgent prayers.
This would likely place all of the 10 virgins together in the "place of safety" and likely with differing beliefs. They all would have been accounted worthy to escape the tribulation because of their faith and love. But half of them lacked the degree of the faith and love that was complete enough to be part of the bride of Jesus. We are so often urged to be complete.
After further consideration of verses 6 & 7, very interesting elements were observed. Verse 6: And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him. Verse 7: Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps. Verse 7 specifically states that "those" virgins arose. Not --- the virgins arose. The Greek for "the" is G3588: ho, hay, to. The Greek for "those" is G1565: ek-i'-nos. There is no real chance mistaking one for the other. It is important to carefully consider the specific nature of G1565.
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. See also G3778.
"Those" virgins were aroused out of a sleep. We can now ask, what were those virgins responding to? Verse 6 gives the answer. The cry that was made was a command to "go ye out to meet" the bridegroom. "Those virgins" refer to those who heard the command and were aroused. It would be appropriate that only those who had sufficient oil (spirit) would hear the command to meet the bridegroom. 1Jn 4:6 gives the sense of the 5 virgins that first arose.
1Jn 4:6 We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.