The Parable of the Wise and Foolish Virgins

The Parable of the Wise and Foolish Virgins

Matt 25:1-13 “Then the kingdom of heaven shall be likened to ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. ² Now five of them were wise, and five were foolish. ³ Those who were foolish took their lamps and took no oil with them, ⁴ but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. ⁵ But while the bridegroom was delayed, they all slumbered and slept. ⁶ “And at midnight a cry was heard: ‘Behold, the bridegroom is coming; go out to meet him!’ ⁷ Then all those virgins arose and trimmed their lamps. ⁸ And the foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ ⁹ But the wise answered, saying, ‘No, lest there should not be enough for us and you; but go rather to those who sell, and buy for yourselves.’ ¹⁰ And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding; and the door was shut. ¹¹ “Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, ‘Lord, Lord, open to us!’ ¹² But he answered and said, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, I do not know you.’ ¹³ “Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming.

It is very important that God’s children be spiritually ready for the Lord’s return. Faith alone is not enough to inherit the Kingdom of God, a person must be born again. The Lord is returning for a bride without spot or wrinkle. I believe that the Great Tribulation will be a time of purification for the body of Christ. When people no longer have electricity to power their televisions or internet, then they may get serious about cleaning their lives up. Some of the greatest revivals in history have occurred during times of persecution or distress. Many communist nations have seen these great revivals spring up from the persecuted home churches. I believe that the time of the great testing and shaking, will once again bring about true revival. A true revival, is marked by repentance of sins, and mass conversions.

The counterfeit revivals of today, where people act like drunks, and fall on the floor laughing, as well as make animal noises, are a mockery to a holy God. There is no true repentance, or genuine conversions, occurring in these flesh fests. In fact, most of their revival leaders, have been caught in sexual immorality. The modern church of today is dyeing spiritually, because of the grace for everything theology, which produces big tithers. When you tell people what they want to hear, they will fill the offering plates up. A healthy church where God’s Spirit is still present will preach holiness (to be set apart from the sinful world by God’s Spirit).

In the parable of the ten virgins, Christ makes the comment, “Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming.” Christ gives us an analogy of five wise and five foolish virgins, in order to stress the importance of being prepared for his return. The five wise virgins were prepared to meet the bridegroom, because they took oil in their vessels with their lamps. The five foolish virgins took their lamps, but no oil to keep their lamps burning. As the bridegroom tarried, they all slept until they heard the midnight cry, “Behold, the bridegroom is coming, go out to meet him!” The five wise virgins were prepared for the Lord’s return, because they were the overcomers who kept their light burning until the end. The oil they took for their lamps, is symbolic of being filled with the Holy Spirit. It is essential for all Christians, to be baptized in the Holy Spirit, in order to be prepared for the Lord’s return. The foolish virgins were also born again Christians, because they are labeled as virgins. However, the foolish virgins let their lamps grow dark because they were empty vessels. Christians must remain filled with God’s Holy Spirit (God’s oil), by remaining faithful to the Lord until the end. To remain faithful to the Lord, is to be obedient to him, by keeping his commandments and ridding our lives of sin. Christ said, that those who endure unto the end, shall be saved.

 While the foolish virgins went to buy oil for their lamps, the bridegroom came and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding; and the door was shut. Afterward the other virgins came also,  saying, “Lord, Lord, open to us!” but he said, “Assuredly, I say to you, I do not know you.” Un-repented of sin will lead to spiritual divorce with God; that is why the Apostle Paul taught that we must cross the finish line in order to receive the crown of eternal life. 1 Cor 9:24 Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it.  25 And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown.  26 Therefore I run thus: not with uncertainty. Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air.  27 But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified.

We need to keep our lamps burning with the oil of God’s Spirt until the end, to inherit the Kingdom of God. Even Paul said that if he didn’t discipline his body to bring it into subjection, that after preaching to others, he could become disqualified. Paul was saying that like a runner in a race keeps his body in good physical condition, we must also keep our spiritual body in good condition, so that we might be able to cross the finish line and win our crown.

 

 Matt 10:22 And you will be hated by all for My name’s sake. But he who endures to the end will be saved.

 Matt 24: 12 And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold.  13 But he who endures to the end shall be saved.  14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come.

 Rev 2: 4 Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love.  5 Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place—unless you repent.

Rev 3:1  “And to the angel of the church in Sardis write, ‘These things says He who has the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars: “I know your works, that you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead.  2 Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die, for I have not found your works perfect before God.  3 Remember therefore how you have received and heard; hold fast and repent. Therefore if you will not watch, I will come upon you as a thief, and you will not know what hour I will come upon you.            

   

Halleluiah Jesus is Coming!

Halleluiah Jesus is Coming!

On Saturday, the Lord gave me a vision. I saw an opened magazine and both the pages were black, with a picture of Donald Trump in the upper right hand corner. I saw a profile of Trump’s face turned to the right, facing the edge of the magazine. Trump had a fierce countenance and appeared very stern. Above Trump’s head, was a full, very dark red, blood moon.  I also heard a female voice singing, “Halleluiah, Jesus is coming!”

This vision indicates that President-Elect Trump, will play a major part, in end time events. The black pages of the magazine, indicate a time of both spiritual, as well as, physical darkness. The two black pages, may also represent, two terms in office, or possibly the start of the Great Tribulation. The dark red, blood moon, probably indicates the great war to come. Trump’s profile, was facing the edge of the right side of the magazine, this may indicate that, Trump will be America’s final president. I am going to pray more for the interpretation of this vision. The good news is that Jesus is coming back immediately after the Great Tribulation! Those who endure unto the end, will be given the crown of everlasting life!               

 

 Joel 2:30 “And I will show wonders in the heavens and in the earth: Blood and fire and pillars of smoke. 31 The sun shall be turned into darkness, And the moon into blood, Before the coming of the great and awesome day of the Lord.

 NKJV Matt 24:29  “Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. ³⁰ Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. ³¹ And He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.

Clay for the Potter's Hand

Clay for the Potter’s Hand

Romans 9:20 But indeed, O man, who are you to reply against God? Will the thing formed say to him who formed it, "Why have you made me like this?" 21 Does not the potter have power over the clay, from the same lump to make one vessel for honor and another for dishonor?

 

If you belong to Christ, you are an ambassador for the Kingdom of Heaven, and your life should be a living testimony to those around you. We are not all called to be pastors or evangelists, but there are many members to the body of Christ, and we are called to be faithful to the ministry that God has placed us in. God is the potter and we are the clay, if we will allow His Spirit to have His perfect work in us, then we will be vessels of honor that He may work through. A potter is an artist that molds, and shapes vessels into many forms, for many different uses. It is the work of the Holy Spirit to refine us or set us apart from the world, so that we may be usable for the Kingdom of Heaven. If we live a sinful lifestyle, then we will be vessels of dishonor, to be destroyed, by the potter. For the wages of sin is death, but there is forgiveness through Christ, if we repent and turn from sin. The Bible also gives us examples of people who were vessels of dishonor, like pharaoh king of Egypt, whose heart, was hardened by the Lord, so that God could show the world His miraculous power. Through His foreknowledge, God knows who will be vessels of honor or dishonor, however we still have a freewill. We must choose this day, whom we will serve.

 

If you do not know where you fit into the body of Christ, I suggest that you pray, as well as fast, for an answer. When a person goes on a fast, they are showing God that they desire heavenly food, more than earthly food. When you seek after God, as well as, put his Kingdom first, He will reveal his plan for your life. God’s timing is perfect, but we sometimes get impatient waiting upon the Lord to open doors to ministry. A Christian preparing for a ministry, does not need a theological degree, or any training from man- made institutions. However, we are to study God’s Word to show ourselves approved, a workman who is not ashamed. We need to get alone with God, and allow his Holy Spirit to teach us the ways of the Kingdom of Heaven. I refer to this time of Spirit led training, as the wilderness experience.

 

 There are many examples in God’s Word, of holy men who left their home towns, and spent time in wilderness locations, or foreign lands, being taught by God’s Spirit. After being water baptized, the Spirit led Christ into the wilderness, to be tested, and tried, by the devil for forty days and nights. Christ fasted during this time of testing, and fought off the devil, by quoting scripture. After this time of preparation, Christ began his ministry. We are not above our master, if Christ, was tested, and tried by Satan, we will also, most surely be tested. When Moses was forty years old, he fled pharaoh, and dwelled in the land of Midian for another forty years, before beginning his ministry at the age of eighty. During his forty years in the wilderness, God was purging Moses of his former life in Egypt, and preparing him to be a vessel of honor that he might work through. The wilderness experience is a time, when the potter molds and shapes his vessel into the object that he desires. Joseph is another example of a man who was hand crafted by God for a great purpose. When Joseph was seventeen years old, he was sold into slavery, by his brothers. After the incident with Potiphar’s wife, he was thrown into prison, for thirteen years, until the day he was brought before Pharaoh. This time of preparation for leadership was necessary, for Joseph to be the humble man, useable for God’s purpose. When Joseph’s wilderness experience was concluded, Pharaoh made him governor over all of Egypt, and he prepared for the time of famine.

      

 After his road to Damascus encounter with the risen Christ, the Apostle Paul also had his time of preparation for ministry. Paul did not confer with any man, nor did he go immediately to Jerusalem to see the apostles. Instead, Paul went into Arabia for three years, to be taught by God’s Spirit, before going back to Jerusalem.  When he returned to Jerusalem, he stayed with Peter for fifteen days, and also met with James the brother of Christ. Then Paul went into Syria and Cilicia, for another fourteen years, before he presented himself to the churches in Judea.  It was by revelation from God’s Spirit, that Paul knew when it was time to present himself to the Judean church. A true vessel that God can work through, is taught, and led by God, not man, nor man- made institutions. Man- made theology stifles the Spirit, as well as shuts people out of the Kingdom of Heaven.

 

 

Galatians 1:15 But when it was the good pleasure of God, who separated me, even from my mother's womb, and called me through his grace, 16 to reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the Gentiles; straightway I conferred not with flesh and blood: 17 neither went I up to Jerusalem to them that were apostles before me: but I went away into Arabia; and again I returned unto Damascus. 18 Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to visit Cephas, and tarried with him fifteen days. 19 But other of the apostles saw I none, save James the Lord's brother. 20 Now touching the things which I write unto you, behold, before God, I lie not. 21 Then I came unto the regions of Syria and Cilicia. 22 And I was still unknown by face unto the churches of Judaea which were in Christ: 23 but they only heard say, He that once persecuted us now preacheth the faith of which he once made havoc; 24 and they glorified God in me. Galatians 2:1 Then after the space of fourteen years I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, taking Titus also with me. 2 And I went up by revelation; and I laid before them the gospel which I preach among the Gentiles but privately before them who were of repute, lest by any means I should be running, or had run, in vain.