Matthew 25:6-10
Mat 25:6 (KJB)
And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out
to meet him.
All the virgins were assembled and waiting to meet the bridegroom. The word
“meet” in the Greek carries with it the meaning of “a welcoming and
accompanying.” This same word is used in Acts 28:15 where the Christians in Rome
came out to meet Paul. (Acts 28:15 KJV) And from thence, when the brethren
heard of us, they came to meet us as far as Appii forum, and The three taverns:
whom when Paul saw, he thanked God, and took courage. This can also be a
picture of the rapture on the last day when the Lord returns and receives all
the Christians and accompanies them to Heaven. Now after hours of waiting, there
came a loud cry or shout that the bridegroom is coming. It is interesting that
the call comes at midnight which is one of the darkest times of night because
one of the signs of the Lord’s return is that the sun will be darkened. The
virgins were probably waiting inside the house of the bride’s parents and then
the groom would come to the house and take the bride back to his house for the
celebration of the marriage. The groom would arrive with his men carrying their
torches and when the groom takes the bride, then the ten virgins accompany them
with the torches ablaze making for a very bright parade. Neither the wise or the
foolish virgins knew when the bridegroom was coming because they had all fallen
asleep but now the call has come.
Mat 25:7 (KJB)
Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps.
Then simultaneously all ten virgins had trimmed their lamps for the procession.
The word “trimmed” in the Greek carries with it the meaning of “put in order or
prepare.” As they began the procession the lamps were now burning at a proper
level for the procession because they all knew at what level to burn the lamps.
Even at this point there was no visible difference between the five foolish and
five wise virgins.
Mat 25:8 (KJB)
And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone
out.
Then it happened, the lamps of the five foolish virgins had gone out and they
asked the five wise for some of their oil. The foolish virgins did not prepare
themselves with the amount of oil they would need for the length of the
procession and as a result their flames were out. When we look at this
spiritually, we will see that the oil could represent the indwelling of the Holy
Spirit and it would be impossible for the five wise to give of the Holy Spirit
to the five foolish. That is something only the Lord can do upon salvation. This
also brings up the parable of the wheat and tares. They all looked like
Christians until they reached a certain point when the difference was obvious.
It is the same thing with the virgins, they all looked wise until a certain
point and then the difference was obvious.
Mat 25:9 (KJB)
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.
The wise virgins knew that the procession would last a certain amount of time
and all their oil would be needed to sustain their lights for the procession and
maybe even afterwards. The wise virgins had told them to go to those who buy and
sell not because they were being insensitive to their needs but because they
knew that the oil they brought was needed for the procession. In other words,
they had prepared themselves. This is a case of people wanting to get right with
God at the last moment but the problem is that no one knows when the last moment
will be plus another major fact is that when the last one is saved, then the
door of salvation will be closed. (Gen 7:16 KJV) And they that went in, went
in male and female of all flesh, as God had commanded him: and the LORD shut him
in. When the last animals entered Noah’s ark, the Lord had shut the
door and nothing else could enter. It will be the same scenario on Judgment Day
when the last of the Elect are saved, no one else will be allowed in.
Mat 25:10 (KJB)
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.
They had now left the area where the procession was to try and find someone who
could sell them some oil. It would have been an absolute miracle if they would
have been able to find someone at the midnight hour who could sell them the oil.
So now the bridegroom arrived at the bride’s house and the procession was about
to begin minus the five foolish virgins. The procession was now ended and the
marriage feast had begun in the house of the bridegroom and the door was shut.
Once all the invited guests were in the house, the door was shut and no one else
was allowed in after that time. A tremendous parallel when the Lord closed the
door on the ark, no one was allowed to enter either.