THE MIDNIGHT CRY

The Parable of the Ten Virgins

 “At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom.  Five of them were foolish and five were wise.  The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them. The wise ones, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps.  The bridegroom was a long time in coming, and they all became drowsy and fell asleep.

 “At midnight the cry rang out: ‘Here’s the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!’

 “Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps.  The foolish ones said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out.’

 “‘No,’ they replied, ‘there may not be enough for both us and you. Instead, go to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.’

 “But while they were on their way to buy the oil, the bridegroom arrived. The virgins who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet. And the door was shut.

 “Later the others also came. ‘Lord, Lord,’ they said, ‘open the door for us!’

 “But he replied, ‘Truly I tell you, I don’t know you.’

 “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.  Matthew 25:1-13 NIV

THE RAPTURE OF BELIEVERS

 “There are many Christians who believe that the second coming of Jesus Christ will be in two phases. First, He will come for believers, both living and dead, in the “rapture” (read 1 Thessalonians 4:13-17). In this view, the rapture—which is the transformation and catching up of all Christians, dead or alive, to meet Christ in the air—will be secret, for it will be unknown to the world of unbelievers at the time of its happening.”  (What is The Rapture? Answers Billy Graham Association September 21, 2017)

This parable of the ten virgins, many Bible scholars agree, represents those believers who are ready for the rapture of the Church.  The oil represents the Holy Spirit.  Only those who have been true believers, the faithful, will be the ones that the Bridegroom, Jesus Christ, will come for.  We, as believers need to be ready so that we will avoid the wrath that will happen before the Second Coming of Jesus Christ.

I believe we need to always be prepared just as the wise virgins were prepared to meet their groom.  How do we, as believers, prepare?  We need to always remain in a state of grace, meaning we need to confess our sins asking for forgiveness as well as forgiving others.  We need to prepare our hearts so we can be spotless because of the blood of Jesus.  Jesus is coming for a spotless bride.

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.

 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.  Revelation 19:7-8 NIV

There is a movie called, “Before The Wrath.”  The following link is where it is available.  I recommend it.  It describes a Jewish wedding and exemplifies how the bride (the Church) is readied for her Bridegroom (Jesus Christ).   www.beforethewrath.com

 Marcella Ward October 13, 2021