The Kingdom of God and the 10 Virgins!
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Question: What does the lamp and oil represent in Matthew 25?
This is a very interesting comment by our Lord!
There are many opinions as to meaning, the following is my own; which still with me, is the subject of prayerful contemplation over many years.
In a simplistic attempt to know the Lord’s meaning:
“The Kingdom likened to 10 virgins”: (beings who were pure in intention and action at a developed stage of their lives, with dedicated intention)!
“Went out to meet the “Bridegroom”: (they knew the ‘Bridegroom’ was coming)!
“5 were wise, 5 were foolish”: (implies that all had the same opportunity)!
The foolish took their lamps (cars), but no fuel to run them: (lack of natural forethought and planning)!
The wise took oil (fuel) in their lamps: (were prepared in a natural way)!
The Bridegroom delayed, all 10 “slumbered and slept”: (naturally, as all need rest)!
At Midnight the cry was heard, “Behold, The Bridegroom”: (NKJV omits “is coming”).
“Go out to meet Him”: (a firm command/invitation to meet and greet the Lord).
All 10 rose to meet Him trimming their lamps: (which is the equivalent of checking basics continually).
The foolish demanded oil from the wise: (the oil has been likened in many comments as the Holy Spirit gifted by Almighty God at conversion, but may not be in this case, see below).
The following is based on trying to reconcile Church teaching with God’s Word. Jesus said many times that He was speaking/came only to “the lost sheep of Israel” Matt.15:24.
In Matt. 25:10, those with “the oil” were allowed into the Wedding, “and the door was shut”!
There is only one definite description of the “wedding of the Lamb” in Scripture, Rev.19:6–9!
The point here is that this Parable of Matt. 25:1–13 applies in the strict prophetic sense to Israel the Bride of Christ, and is the Israel who was lost Temporarily at Acts 28:25–28; but as prophesied many times in the Old Testament is saved by the Grace of Almighty God; “for His Name’s Sake”!
The conclusion that seems to apply here is that the “Body of Christ” is separate to the “Bride of Christ”, and that the Body will be completed (Romans 11:25–27) prior to the final dealing of God with His “Chosen People”, (Romans 9:25–33)!
See: Israel Lost, Israel Saved!
& Body of Christ and the Bride of Christ:
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