BOOK SUMMARY: ARE YOU READY FOR THE END OF TIME? - CHAPTER 1 - WATCH!

The Parable of the Ten Virgins - Matthew 25:1-13 

This parable is one of Christ's most solemn parables. He teaches it just a few days before the crucifixion. In it Jesus speaks against carelessness, slothfulness and inattentiveness to the Lord's coming. It calls everyone to AWAKE and to WATCH!  There are various thoughts this parable opens up but Ryle's purpose is not to write a commentary but to set before us some practical application.

MARRIAGE CUSTOMS IN ANCIENT TIMES

Marriages generally took place in the evening. The groom and his friends came in procession to the bride's home. The bride and her friends would assemble and wait for the groom. When the bridal party saw the lamps and torches from the groom's party, they would light their lamps and go out to meet the groom and his party. As one unified party they would return together to the bride's home. Upon arrival, the entered the home and shut the doors and the ceremony proceeded. No one else was allowed to enter in.  

RYLE'S VIEW OF THE PARABLE

(1).    It is entirely prophetic.

(2).    It speaks to the time when Christ shall return in person to this world--a time yet to come.

(3).    The ten virgins represent the whole body of confessing Christians.  That is to say, the visible Church of Christ (true believers mixed with unbelievers).

(4).    The groom represents our Lord.

(5).    The ten wise virgins represent true believers--the converted part of the visible church.

(6).    The foolish virgins are nominal Christians--the unconverted who are Christian in name only.

(7).    The lamps, which everyone carries, to be the outward profession of Christ as Savior.

(8).    The oil represents the grace of the Holy Spirit.

(9).    The coming of the groom represents the second coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

(10).    The going in to the wedding banquet by the wise virgins represents every believer's entrance into His full reward on the day of His coming.

(11).    The shutting out of the foolish virgins represents the exclusion of unbelievers from the Christ's Kingdom.

WHAT DO WE LEARN FROM THIS PARABLE?

(1).    The visible church of Christ will always be mixed with unbelievers until Christ comes again.

Wise virgins with oil and foolish virgins without oil are mixed together.  There are no grounds for the common opinion that the visible church will gradually advance to a state of perfection.  There is no warrant for believing sin will gradually dwindle away from earth.  There is no warrant for the idea that holiness will gradually increase.  The gospel sometimes makes rapid progress in some countries but people forget that at the same time is it withering in other countries.  

Are you a wise virgin or a foolish virgin?  The wise virgin receives wisdom from the Holy Spirit. They know their sinfulness. They know Christ as Savior. They know how to act upon the knowledge that pleases God. The foolish are without spiritual knowledge. They don't know Christ, nor their sinfulness or the value of their souls.

We are all described in this parable. We are either wise or foolish. We either have oil or we don't. We are members of Christ or the devil.  

(2).    The visible church is always in danger of neglecting the doctrine of Christ's second advent.

"While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept."  This means that between Christ's first and second coming the visible church would get in a dull state regarding the doctrine of the Lord's second coming. The church has gone on for too long neglecting both advents of Christ taught in the Old Testament--His humiliation and His glory. There is a habit of taking all the promises spiritually yet all the denunciations and threats literally. Jacob means Jacob. Israel means Israel. Egypt means Egypt and Babylon means Babylon.  That isn't to say that these terms aren't ever allowed to be used in a spiritual sense, but the primary sense of every prophecy and promise in the OT is literal. 

Some believe the coming of the Son of Man means death. Some believe it means the destruction of Jerusalem. Some believe it manes general judgment and the end of all things. These interpretations are entirely beside the point.  The point is that when the number of the elect is accomplished, Christ will come again in great power and glory. He will raise His saints unto Himself and reward them. He will punish the wicked with fearful judgments. He will establish His universal kingdom. He will gather Israel into their homeland.

We shouldn't forget that the differences that people have with prophecy shouldn't push to the side the main point that Christ is coming again. Be gentle with those who differ from you. Avoid dogmatism especially about symbolic prophecy. Over-zealous friends of prophecy have done much harm to this doctrine. 

Christ's second coming should prompt us to holy living. Christ's second coming should prompt us to missionary work. The parable of Christ's second comings explains why there are unbelievers still in this world. 

(3).    Whenever Christ comes again it will be very sudden.

"At midnight was a cry made, Behold the bridegroom comes, go out ot meet him."  Fixing dates has done much harm. Nevertheless, we know that the coming of Christ will break on the world all at once.  It will startle unbelievers like a trumpet blown at their bedside while they are asleep. Any view of prophecy that destroys the sudden appearing of Christ is fatally defective. Elsewhere Scripture says that the coming of Christ is like "a thief in the night" and "as like lightning."  It's compared to the days of Lot in Sodom. People were buying and selling, eating and drinking, planting and building (see Luke 17:28-30). In another passage is likened to the days of Noah (Luke 17:26-27). The world is not prepared for such an event. The vast majority of people are buried in their work or in their families. Their bellies and their pockets are their gods. People will claim that we are crazy for believing that Christ will come again. Scripture tells us this (2 Peter 3:3-4). 

(4).    Christ's second advent will create an immense change in the visible church, both good and bad.

"Give us some of your oil...Lord, Lord, open to us."  There will be an immense change in the ungodly. Both their opinions and position will change.  They will discover that the godly were wise and that they themselves were foolish. They will turn to the people they once mocked and ask for help.  Hope will be taken away on that day. They will seek salvation and not find it. They will knock loudly and get no answer. 

There will also be an immense change to the godly. They will be free from anything and everything that ruins their comfort. The door will be shut against the fiery darts of Satan and against a cruel world of unbelievers. They will have all their doubts and fears vanquished. The second Eden will be far better than the first. They shall enjoy the presence of all that is good. They will forever be in the company of Christ. Faith shall be swallowed up in sight. Every tear will be wiped away. Psalm 16:11 will be our reality. 

POINTS OF APPLICATION

(1).    Are you ready?

Are you born again? Does the Spirit dwell within you? Do you have oil in your lamp? Are you ready to meet Christ? Everyone who is a true believer is to live like one who expects Christ to return.

(2).    Awake and flee to Christ.

Have you no heartfelt sense of sin? Have you no peace with God? Have you no delight in the Bible and prayer?  I set before you Christ who died to make atonement for sinners. 

(3).    Watch!

Watch against everything that might interfere with your readiness for Christ's appearing.  Watch against SIN of every kind.  Watch against doubts or unbelief regarding the safety of your soul. The Lord Jesus paid for all your sin. Don't tell Him that you think He left you to pay any part. Watch against conformity to this world. Watch against sins of the tongue and temper. Watch against false doctrine. Bad money is never marked bad or else it would never pass.  Watch against slothfulness about the Bible and prayer. Watch against bitterness and uncharitableness towards others. Watch against the sins of Galatia, Ephesus and Laodicea. Watch and be not surprised when the Lord appears. Watch for the world's sake. Watch for your own sake. Watch for the sake of our Lord Jesus Christ.  Never let us think we can watch too much.