His response, known as the Olivet prophecy begins in Matthew 24. Christ prophesied an increase in troubles leading to world catastrophe just before His appearance. He then continued with instructions about how to face that time and, in Matthew 25, related the parable of the ten virgins to drive His points home.
The ten virgins represent true Christians, portrayed as spiritually pure, going out to meet the returning Christ to join Him in glory. Each carries a lamp, and we are told: “Now five of them were wise, and five were foolish. Those who were foolish took their lamps and took no oil with them, but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps” (Matthew 25:2-4). All had God’s Spirit, symbolized by the oil in the lamps, but their difference in preparation would yield a difference in spiritual growth.
When the bridegroom was delayed “they all slumbered and slept” (verse 5). This delay represents the time between Christ’s first and second coming. Peter warned scoffers would ask, “Where is the promise of His coming?” (2 Peter 3:4). Even those who are watching and waiting for Christ’s return can grow weary and lose their sense of urgency as the parable points out — all the virgins ‘slumbered and slept’. (verse 5).
When the cry was heard that “… the bridegroom is coming; go out to meet him!’” (Matthew 25:6) it became apparent that five of the virgins had not adequately prepared and did not have enough oil: “And the foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out’” (verse 8). In spiritual terms this does not work. Salvation is a personal matter. We cannot borrow a relationship with God. We are told to, “Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling” (Philippians 2:12).
Another way to understand this parable is to recognize the preaching of the Gospel today is part of the shout that the Bridegroom is coming. God exhorts the “lukewarm” church at Laodicea in Revelation 3 to “buy” from Him “gold refined in the fire”—godly character obtained amid trials—and urges repentance (Revelation 3:16 and 18). As the parable of the ten virgins teaches, a time will come when no further opportunity remains: “Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, ‘Lord, Lord, open to us!’ But he answered and said, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, I do not know you.’ Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming” (Matthew 25:11-13).
We live in a time between two great salvation events—the first coming of Jesus the Christ as the Redeemer for humanity and His second coming to set up God’s Kingdom on the earth. We should be anticipating that future through daily communication with God through prayer and Bible study, as well as doing our part to assist in preaching the Gospel of the kingdom “in all the world for a witness unto all nations…”(Matthew 24:14).
Jesus taught: “Blessed are those [servants] whom the master, when he comes, will find watching…for the Son of Man is coming at an hour [when] you do not expect” (Luke 12:37 and 40). This is a stern warning from Jesus Christ. Many people will believe in His return but will not be prepared for it.
