THE PARABLE OF THE TEN VIRGINS - A PICTURE OF THE 2ND COMING
TEXT - Matt. 24:37 - 25:13
INTRO. - The Second Coming of Christ is the next event on the
calendar of God. One out of 25 verses in the whole Bible is
about the Second Coming. when Jesus was here on earth he
promised that at the end of time he would come again. See
John 14:1 -3
There are 318 different places in the New Testament
dealing with the Second Coming of the Lord. The doctrine of
the Second Coming is the object of derision and ridicule and
yet it is one of the most important doctrines of the Bible.
LET US LOOK FOR A FEW MINUTES INTO THIS PARABLE AND SEE GOD’S
MESSAGE FOR US THIS HOUR ON THE SECOND COMING.
I. THE SIMILARITY - Vs. 1
Notice that all were virgins, all had lamps, and all went out
to meet the bride-groom. "Virgins" here means "bridesmaids".
They were the women who attended to the bride. They were to
keep the bride company until the bridegroom arrived.
One of the exciting elements of the wedding in Bible times
was the arrival of the bridegroom. the bridegroom kept the
time of his arrival secret. There was a gamelike atmosphere
at the wedding because the bridegroom tried to arrive at the
wedding unexpected while the wedding party of bride,
bridesmaids, and guests tried to be on the lookout for his
arrival and catch him coming into the feast. The bridegroom
tried to come at an unexpected moment or at some unlikely
hour such as in the middle of the night when the bridal party
might be napping.
Here are ten virgins -- they all looked alike.
Each had a lamp.
Each dressed in the garment of a bridesmaid.
Each claimed to have been invited.
They all acted like the others.
They all had the same purpose.
None suspected that there was anything wrong with any of the
others.
This is a picture of the visible church today with its
members. People who claim to be Christians look pretty much
the same outwardly. They all claim to be going to heaven.
they all claim to be outwardly working for God.
I am sure that if a person were to look at Noah and the
people in the day of the flood there would have been alot of
difficulty determining who was right with God and who was
not. I am sure that the places of sacrifice were filled when
the religious services were being held. Remember that genuine
Christianity can be immitated.
II. THE SEPARATION - Vs. 2 - 4
They all looked alike but there was a difference. There is a
difference between the saved and the unsaved. The foolish
bridesmaids had no oil. Lamps are of no use without oil. Oil
in the Bible is a symbol of the Holy Spirit. See Ex.29:7,
Lev. 8:12, I Jn.2:27 and Jn. 14:16,17,26.
The five foolish bridesmaids were without the Spirit in their
lives. Romans 8:9 says that if any man have not the Spirit
then he is not saved.
Noah was different from the rest of the world in his day. He
found grace in the eyes of the Lord. He was saved.
There must be alot of unsaved people in the visible church
today when statistics say:
1 American out of 12 attends church regularly.
7 out of 10 children quit church before the age of 15.
5% of reported church members cannot be found because the
don’t exist.
105 cannot be found.
20% never pray.
25% never read their Bibles.
30% never attend church.
405 never give to any cause.
50% never go to Sunday School.
60% never go to Sunday night services.
70% never gives to Missions.
80% never go to Prayer Meeting.
95% never win anyone to Jesus.
Truly there is a difference within the church between the
true and the false believer.
III. THE SLEEP - Vs. 5
They all gave up the hope of his coming and went to sleep.
The thing to notice is that ALL went to sleep. The wise and
the foolish bridesmaids alike went to sleep. The church in
the last days is pictured here. The church as a whole has
gone to sleep and has forgotten the promise of the Lord’s
return. "The Lord delayeth his coming" (Matt.24:48) is the
attitude of the age.
The second Coming of Christ was the hope of the church during
the first 400 years of the church age but it has been
forgotten. Titus 2:13 says that the Coming of Christ is the
"blessed hope" of the church. We need to return to that
blessed hope.
IV. THE SHOUT - Vs. 6
Notice the time of the shout. It was at midnight.
The Bible does not tell us when the return of the Lord will
come. See Matt.24:36
When Jesus was on earth he had voluntarily given up that
knowledge to be born as a man. See Mark 13:32
I can tell you one thing about when it will be. It will be in
an hour when you think not. See Matt. 24:44
It will be sudden and unexpected. It will be as sudden as
death is sudden and as unexpected as a thief. See Matt.24:42-
43. See also Rev. 16:15 and I Thess. 5:2
It will be at midnight. Midnight symbolizes the darkest hour.
V. THE SHAKE-UP - Vs. 7 - 9
The counterfeits passed for awhile but in the hour of need
they lacked what they needed most. They did not have the oil
of the Spirit. They did not have the Spirit. They were not
saved. When the Lord returns, the most important thing that
you can possess is the Person of Jesus Christ in your heart
and life.
VI. THE SHAME - Vs. 10 - 12
The door was shut. The foolish were found to be caught on the
outside. It was the same as in Noah’s day. The door was open
for 120 years but when it closed it closed forever to those
on the outside. Noah was on the inside because he was on the
right side.
They that were ready went into the marriage feast. The
unprepared were left out. The saved will be taken out of this
troubled world to heaven. The lost will be left to face the
wrath of the tribulation and eternal punishment.
The foolish virgins tried to get into the wedding - vs.11
Notice the Lord’s answer - vs.12 The Shame! See Matt.7:21-23
VII. THE SOLUTION - WHAT WE NEED TO DO TO BE PREPARED FOR THE
RETURN OF CHRIST.
1st - We should WATCH - Matt.24:42 - Don’t be negligent.
2nd - We should BE READY - Matt.24:44 - Accept Christ! NOW!
3rd - We should GIVE THEM MEAT - Matt.24;45 - Witness for
Christ
