THE TEN VIRGINS by Uriah Smith

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jan 20, 1876

THE TEN VIRGINS.

By Uriah Smith

The Restitution, of Dec. 15, 1875, in answer to an inquirer, scouts the idea that the parable of the ten virgins, Matt. 25, applies to the Advent movement of 1844, “as claimed by Sabbatarians.” It says:—

“Sabbatarians themselves do not believe that the kingdom is yet in existence, neither will be until the coming of our Lord. How, then, can the parable apply to scenes and events which have occurred so long before the kingdom does come.”

It is astonishing how well some people know just what our views are, especially when they stumble on to some absurdity and want to make us responsible for it. Please, friends, don’t be quite so free with our belief. You don’t know half so well what we believe as you think you do.

But the strong point the Restitution tries to make is on verse 10, which it quotes as follows: “They that were ready went into the marriage supper, and the door was shut.” We would like to know what kind of a Bible the Restitution uses. It goes on to say, “Did the Adventists go into the supper in 1844?” Could anything be more luscious than going “into the supper”? We do not know how the editor of the Restitution is in the habit of going “into” such things; but we hope he will not judge all others by himself. We quote again:—

“Were they [Adventists] not all on earth after the time passed? If Mr. and Mrs. White were among the wise, why did they not pass into the marriage? Now either the marriage has not taken place, or else none of the Adventists is included among those who are ready. There is no escape from this dilemma.”

How cruel in the Restitution to hold us up, without note or warning, in such an awful dilemma. If it only knew our belief a little better, it would know that we do not believe the marriage has yet taken place; and if it had only studied the parable a little more carefully, it would have seen that the going in to the marriage occupies, like other events in the parable, a space of time—a space not yet terminated. Guests are still getting ready. A goodly number are putting on the wedding garment according to the counsel of the faithful and true Witness, Rev. 3:18. Soon the king will come in to see the guests, Matt. 22:11, as the work of salvation is concluded in the sanctuary on high. Then the door will be shut. Then, the marriage being consummated, those who have occupied that position represented by being ready and entering in with him into the marriage, will be invited to participate in the marriage supper.

U. S.