And five of them were wise, and five were foolish.
The verse divides ten wedding attendants waiting with lamps in the evening to join the bridegroom's torchlight procession into two equal companies, five wise and five foolish. The ten represent the church of professed Christians watching in the evening of earth's history for Christ's second coming. For a time the two classes appear outwardly alike in profession, lamps of truth and expectation, and cannot be told apart by human sight, but the wise have oil in vessels with their lamps while the foolish have lamps without oil. The lamps are the word of God and outward profession, and the oil is the grace of God and the renewing power of the Holy Spirit in faith, love and character. Readiness cannot be borrowed or transferred at the last moment, so when the bridegroom comes only those ready enter and the door is shut against the unprepared.
Words and Wedding Setting
The ten who go out to wait for the bridegroom are divided equally, five wise and five foolish. They are not all equally prepared, for the wise have oil in reserve with their lamps while the foolish have not prepared enough. When the bridegroom arrives only those ready enter the marriage feast, and the shut door leaves the others outside behind. The division is connected with the announcement that the bridegroom is coming and the call to go out to meet him, proclaimed under the first and second angels' messages with the midnight cry.
The setting is an evening wedding in which a company of attendants waits with lamps to join the bridegroom's procession. That procession moves by torchlight from the bride's father's house to bring the bride to the bridegroom's home for the feast. The wedding feast itself is a solemn and joyful occasion, and marriage is thereby honored as a divine institution.
The verse belongs to the parable of the ten virgins in Matthew 25:1-13. That parable is part of the discourse in Matthew 24 and 25 about the second coming, given shortly before entering Gethsemane, presenting the need to be ready by waiting and watching for Jesus' return. Christ told the story of the ten virgins to His disciples while looking upon a party waiting for the bridegroom, and the division into five wise and five foolish illustrates the experience of the church that shall live just before His second coming.
Both the wise and the foolish slumbered and slept during the bridegroom's delay. The delay represents the passing of the expected time, the disappointment, and the waiting that followed, during which believers lost some zeal and devotion. Their sleep was being unaware how long the expected time would tarry, not doubting that Christ would come. The waiting period tests whether there is genuine righteousness and a supply of grace to endure the test and trial of the long wait, and the foolish, lacking that supply, begin to think the Master is not coming. The midnight cry awakens the sleepers and rekindles the lamp, warning each one to awake and trim the lamp so as not to be lost.
Two Classes in Church
The ten virgins are the church of professed Christians watching in the evening of earth's history for Christ's second coming, and especially the last-day Advent people awaiting His personal return. They are divided into two parties, five wise and five foolish, those spiritually prepared and those not, the real Christians with life in themselves and the spurious believers who profess without possessing grace. The wise have oil in vessels with their lamps, the unseen principles of grace, open communion with God, and the character that gives entrance into the marriage supper of the Lamb, marking them as those the Lord knows and whose works He acknowledges. The foolish have lamps without supply to replenish them, no living connection and obedient character, so they are unfit for the marriage supper and when the bridegroom arrives only those ready enter while the shut door leaves the others outside. Each person is therefore called to ask whether he will be among the wise and to be ready, since the time of coming is unknown.
For a time the two classes appear outwardly alike with no visible difference and no human can distinguish them by appearance. All ten go out to meet the bridegroom with lamps and vessels for oil, all have a name, a call, a lamp, profess to do God service, have knowledge of the Scriptures, have heard the message of Christ's near approach, and confidently expect His appearing and start apparently prepared and watching. Those who hold the truth in unrighteousness look like the wise, as tares closely resemble wheat, and men cannot read the heart from which evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness and blasphemies proceed and defile the man, nor say who is wise and who is foolish. Angels know them by their fruits and will make no mistake in gathering the wheat from among the tares, and the difference of inward readiness is revealed after a time of waiting that tries faith, when the cry announces the Bridegroom and many are found unready and destitute of the Holy Spirit. The five foolish take God's promises for granted while not living as Christ enjoins, treating mere profession as enough, presuming they are saved and crying peace when there is no peace, until surprised and dismayed without oil they are left outside the wedding banquet with the door shut.
The wise joyfully expected the Lord and diligently prepared to meet Him, studying Scripture to learn the truth and seeking purity of heart and life. By receiving Christ's grace and the Holy Spirit they gained vigorous spiritual experience and personal faith that withstands disappointment and delay, setting their affections on heavenly things and understanding God as the source of supply. Their experience day by day is nourished by the Holy Spirit, they do not conform to the world in careless inattention, do not put off daily preparation but follow Jesus wherever He leads, daily love God and love truth for truth's sake alone and not for its clear arguments, bring truth into heart and mind, and learn daily more of Jesus with conversation in heaven from whence they look for the Lord. With the oil of grace in the heart through which God's love is shed abroad, their lights burn steadily, they glorify God, shine as light in the world adding light to others following Christ, and follow their Master in seeking and saving the lost, having faith and love and patience. In trial they patiently searched for clearer light and followed Christ by faith into His work in the heavenly sanctuary, showing readiness grounded in God's grace and not mere profession of truth.
The foolish acted from fear and impulse and emotion, relied on others' faith and passing feelings, and were satisfied with a theory of truth but lacked God's grace. They lacked a thorough understanding of truth and a genuine work of grace and conversion, having neglected grace so their characters cannot withstand the test, and when the expected coming was delayed and trials came their faith failed and their lights grew dim and faded toward the shut door. They have lamps but no oil, an interest in the gospel and knowledge of the standard of righteousness, but self-love leaves them without oil to replenish their lamps, and their flickering faith like a lamp going out does not please God. Without the Spirit a knowledge of His word is of no avail, the theory of truth cannot quicken the soul or sanctify the heart or transform the character even where commands and promises are familiar, and without enlightenment men cannot distinguish truth from error and fall under Satan's temptations. They cannot become ready by waking at the last minute when the cry announces the Bridegroom and then trying to replenish burned-out lamps, and so will not be prepared to go in to the marriage supper.
The foolish are lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God who keep natural, hereditary tendencies as choice treasures, hold lax and loose principles, and stand directly in the path of sinners and hinder their conversion. Their God-given capabilities, the rich treasures of character that should be gaining influence and power on the side of truth and righteousness, are mingled with selfishness and self-indulgence, mixing strange fire with the sacred fire so its purity, holiness and divine origin is eclipsed. They advocate Christ in truth with much activity but do not represent Him and do not do His words, so truth is dishonored by its very advocates, and their outward religious profession is not matched by inward Christian character. Even those who have Bibles and can distinguish the true from the false influence are carried away by corrupting, deceiving characters who present a nice appearance as if wise in Bible lore, and living for pleasure and following others leaves them unprepared for the end of life and unable to meet Christ.
The foolish are not open sinners who make no profession of loving God and keeping His commandments, but those who claim to be children of God and church members while not practicing the truth. They have no burden for souls, do not deny self, do not lift the cross, seek an enjoyable time with the world while claiming to be Christians, wear a mask, refuse to yield to any authority, and by worldly principles do great harm to others and seduce many. Although they have heard and assented to the truth, they have not brought it into daily life or secured faith that works by love and purifies the soul, they are not doers of the Word or keepers of God's commandments despite opportunities and privileges to gain light and knowledge, and an outward show of piety with apparent zeal may hide a corrupt heart. They suit worldly men who do not want the light of truth, because they are one in spirit with them and never let their light shine in words of truth and deeds of holiness, while the wise are Christians in deed and in truth who live and work to restore the moral image of God in man and keep their vessels well filled with oil. Where truth is enthroned in the heart it awakens thought that arouses conscience to decided action, adorns the character, and renews the whole nature because the oil of grace is there.
The foolish think themselves full of wisdom and knowledge, feel so well supplied by human understanding that there is no room in their vessels for heavenly grace, and look with pity and disgust on those who earnestly seek to know the way of the Lord more perfectly. They may consider themselves wise while failing to recognize that their lamps are going out, they slumber and will awake to find their lamps going out, and when they awaken to their condition it may be too late to obtain oil, leaving them unready with all their knowledge yet neglecting the one thing that would give entrance to the marriage supper. Others among the foolish are half with Christ and half with the world, lukewarm, neither cold nor hot, through indolence and carelessness and frivolity and careless indifference the great truth they have loses its force upon them. That separation from Christ leaves them as poor worldly subjects, and Satan comes in with specious temptations to work his will with them and lead them away from their Leader.
The foolish include those entrusted with leading papers and influence who weave in false theories and fill the papers with praise and exaltation of those whose main work is to trample upon the seventh day and exalt Sunday as the sabbath, siding with those who make of none effect the law of Jehovah and bring oppression upon God's people. They also include those who lightly regard warnings and go far into worldliness in dress and worldliness of practices, until at last the door is shut and they are left outside. Those who have lived faithfully up to the light they received may accept the full truth at the last hour, while people who had greater light and opportunity but did not live by it may fall away with lamps going out for lack of the oil of grace.
Lamps Oil and Meaning
The lamps are the Bible, the word of God as a lamp to the feet and a light to the path, and they mean also knowledge of the truth and an outward appearance of giving light, the outward semblance of religion and profession. Without inward piety that outward preparation is worthless, even with the highest profession or office, being only enough religion to deaden the conscience and leave the name to live while dead. The foolish profess godliness and have lamps, which are their Bibles, but lack the oil of grace needed to use them to decide to obey the truth. The oil in vessels with the lamps is God's grace and the renewing, enlightening, regenerating and sanctifying power of the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of life abiding in the heart in living connection with God. It is also saving faith in Christ as a personal Saviour, with love shed abroad in the heart, and patience, growing continually through grace into doing Christ's words, advancing in knowledge and power until the light shines brighter unto the perfect day. It is the righteousness of Jesus Christ and a character transformed by beholding Him, which gives moral fitness as members of the royal family and entrance to the marriage. As golden oil flowed from the two olive trees through golden pipes into the bowl and into the lamps that gave light to the sanctuary, so the Spirit is imparted from the holy ones standing in God's presence to consecrated human agencies to communicate the heavenly grace that alone can make the word a lamp to the feet and a light to the path, for the work is not by might nor by power but by the Spirit. Abundant provision for every soul has been made through the two anointed ones who stand by the Lord of the whole earth, the oil being emptied as golden oil into clean, pure, sanctified souls prepared by humbleness to receive it, and each must prepare his own soul by wearing Christ's yoke and learning of Him. The wise took oil in vessels with their lamps and anticipated delay and emergency, keeping lamps trimmed, filled, and burning steadily through the night to honor the bridegroom, light the way to his home and feast, and shine as lights pointing to the city of God and the marriage supper of the Lamb. Their light shows how followers are to shine in the world's darkness, the Holy Spirit using the word to transform those who receive it and form God's character in them to His glory. The foolish took lamps without oil or without supply to replenish them, so their lamps flickered, faded, and went out, and they were left outside when the procession entered and the door was shut. Having only theory of truth without the Spirit, their knowledge of Scripture is of no avail to quicken the soul, sanctify the heart, or transform the character, they cannot distinguish truth from error, they fall under temptation, and the mind left unguarded is possessed by Satan. Their foolishness was not living the truth and failing to obtain the wisdom and grace that makes complete in Christ, leaving them in darkness and despair unable to partake of the marriage supper. The lamps of the remnant people need a constant supply of oil as truth and heavenly love, and those who supply the lamps are God's servants laboring in the harvest. Neglecting to cultivate faith lets it weaken like a sickly plant left without care until the entrusted light is lost, the light growing dim and, without decided change, going out in darkness where warnings no longer reach. Readiness cannot be supplied by others at the last moment and character cannot be transferred from one to another. Waking when the cry sounds and then trying to replenish empty lamps or borrow another's experience and knowledge of grace leaves the foolish unprepared and shut out, for each must have the oil of grace personally through earnest prayer, faith, and personal experience with Christ, keeping the needs of the soul supplied while the bridegroom delays.
Fulfillment in 1844 Advent
The going forth to meet the bridegroom was the widespread response to the first angel's message announcing Christ's soon coming. Under the proclamation of the first and second angels' messages the midnight cry announced the Bridegroom, and those who preached His appearing were compelled to leave the churches. That midnight cry was heralded by thousands and swept like a tidal wave through cities, villages and remote country places until the waiting people were fully aroused to deep searching of heart, confession of sin, forsaking of the world, persevering prayer and preparation to meet the Lord. The parable is thus connected with the 1844 expectation and the announcement that the Bridegroom is coming with the call to go out to meet Him.
The order of waiting and slumber followed by the coming of the bridegroom agrees with prophecy and with Old Testament types pointing to the autumn of 1844 and the time associated with the cleansing of the sanctuary. The bridegroom's delay was the passing of the expected time, the disappointment and the waiting that followed. During that delay believers lost some of their zeal and devotion, like virgins who slept.
In the summer and autumn of 1844 the two classes became distinct when the coming of the Bridegroom was proclaimed. The wise looked with joy for His appearing and diligently prepared to meet Him, having both knowledge of Scripture and the Spirit and grace of God. Through trial they patiently searched for clearer light and by faith followed Christ into His work in the heavenly sanctuary. The foolish acted from fear and impulse, were satisfied with a theory of truth but lacked God's grace to endure. The wise are those who keep their eyes on Jesus and follow Him, keeping their garments spotless and sending their faith to Him in the sanctuary, while the careless multitude are left in darkness when He leaves the throne.
The coming of the Bridegroom was Jesus rising from His mediatorial throne and going into the Most Holy Place in heaven as Bridegroom to receive His kingdom. It was not His coming to this earth to deliver His people on the tenth day of the seventh month. This heavenly coming settles the shut door. It represents a change in the position and work of Christ the great High Priest in heaven in relation to the marriage of the Lamb. Before they understood His ministry in the heavenly sanctuary, those who held fast to their Advent faith concluded that probation for sinners had closed.
The going forth to meet the Bridegroom took place in 1844. Those who went forth then included some who afterward were deceived by false shepherds until they did not know where they were or what they believed. Some of them are now coming out upon the truth alongside those who never heard the Advent doctrine. The lesson is not to rest without the abiding witness that one's ways please God.
The midnight cry and the Bridegroom's coming are distinct parts, shown separately. The midnight cry was shown in December 1844, and the Bridegroom's coming was not shown until February following. At the time of the December vision the midnight cry had been given up as in the past and was thought to be future by most of the band. The light given on the midnight cry was to be delivered to the band.
The call to go out to meet the Bridegroom was to be heard by the whole world. All ten should have proclaimed the truth, and if all who claimed to believe had acted their part as wise virgins the message would already have gone to every nation, kindred, tongue and people. The five wise are those who made the provision essential to join the company walking in the light that had come to them and who accepted the third angel's message. The five foolish are those who went forth to meet the Bridegroom under the first and second angels' messages but refused the third angel's message, the last testing message to be given to the world. The bridegroom's delay gives the world time to hear the final message, yet many who accepted the first and second angels' messages refused the third and were therefore unprepared to join the wise and enter the marriage supper of the Lamb as keepers of God's commandments and the faith of Jesus.
The parable is connected with the Advent band and the midnight cry, whose Bridegroom-coming message was understood as future before the vision of that message. It is cited in connection with renewed expectation of Christ's coming and the need for a true experience and unmistakable evidence of acceptance with God.
Judgment and Final Separation
When the bridegroom arrives only those who are ready go in with him to the marriage, and the door is shut against the rest. The foolish come afterward to the banqueting hall seeking entrance to the marriage supper but are denied with I know you not, losing their chance because they did not live the truth and failed to obtain the wisdom and grace that makes complete. Left outside in the empty street in the blackness of night and outer darkness, they find it too late to replenish their lamps after long slumbering without provision for the time of need. Their lack was oil in vessels with their lamps, which is grace to be secured during probationary time before the final emergency, for profession and outward form without genuine conversion and living connection cannot give fitness to share heaven's joy and companionship.
The whole chapter sets forth the principles of eternal justice by which works will be judged from the books according to character and fitness as members of the royal family, children of the heavenly King. Lamps mean knowledge of truth and an outward appearance of giving light, while oil in the vessels means receiving God's grace, being vitalized by the Holy Spirit, saving faith with Christ as personal Saviour, growing in grace and knowledge, and doing Christ's words. The offense of the foolish was taking no oil, supposing themselves wise while wise only in their own sight, without saving faith. Their condemnation was not especially for revolting crimes and outbreaking sins but for neglecting to do what they might and ought to have done, because they lacked the moral qualifications placed within reach when divinity was clothed with humanity to bring moral power to fallen man to become a laborer together with God, transformed in character by beholding Christ.
At Christ's coming character cannot be made or changed, and it will be too late to obtain what is lacking or to gain fitness to join the procession once probation has ended. The oil of Christ's righteousness and a character purified from sin cannot be transferred from one person to another, so hearing the message and having a lamp are not enough unless each obtains supply for himself beforehand. Christ will then separate the obedient from the disobedient, and the parable illustrates the final separation of the righteous and the wicked. This is the division at the end of the world in the peculiar and momentous period now present, for which only the wise who study God's Word, work apart from the world's customs and counsellors, and do not say the Lord delays His coming will be prepared to go forth to meet the bridegroom with oil in vessels with lamps.
Preparation for the day of God cannot be delayed until the time of trouble, and those who meet the final conflict unprepared will be overcome. They may confess their sins in despair while the wicked exult over their distress, realizing too late when the time for preparation has passed and when the plagues fall. The present condition of God's people is like that of sleeping virgins standing on the borders of the greatest event in earth's history, with the signs of the end fast fulfilling. The time of trouble such as was not since there was a nation comes right upon them with strait places as never before, while destroying angels are already permitted to bring disaster and destruction, showing unreadiness for the trial ahead.
To be wise is to awake from sleep, turn away from unimportant things, give oneself to God, and seek Jesus. They must be sure their feet are in the narrow path, gain an experience they have not yet had, and ask the Lord Jesus to place His everlasting arms underneath them and carry them through the trial before them, with assurance that the God of all grace is a very present help in time of need. The oil in the lamps of the professed churches is now almost consumed and has not been replenished, yet that desperate closed-door position has not yet been reached. There is still time before probation ends to obtain the gold of truth, faith, and love and the white raiment of Christ's righteousness.
At the time of the last great final contest, when evil angels unite with evil men in intense activity and all the world is on one side or the other, the wise are wide awake and not sleeping. They have oil in vessels with lamps, which is grace, the power of the Holy Ghost upon them sustaining their faith and courage by the power of God. Thus upheld they stand in the battle of Armageddon while the Captain of the Lord's host stands at the head of the angels of heaven to direct the battle.
Readiness in Daily Life
Readiness is lamps trimmed and burning with vessels filled with holy oil, which means vigilant watching, prayer, searching of Scripture, worship, and guarding against spiritual decline, carelessness, and being drawn away by worldly influences. It is waiting watchfully while faithfully working, with the lamp filled and carefully trimmed so its light shines clearly, in obedience to God and in alerting others to danger and the coming of Christ. The light is in danger of going out when faith in the testing message is threatened, and the sleeping are called to wake, trim lamps, and fill vessels in renewed consecration.
Wisdom is securing grace without delay before it is too late, keeping the soul's lamp trimmed and its vessel filled, making every effort to avoid decline, and being ready at any moment for the Bridegroom's call. The end is very near and will come unexpectedly as a thief in the night, and neglected watchfulness leaves lamps going out and the unready unprepared to meet the Bridegroom. Each person is therefore to examine spiritual standing and accountability and remain watchful without delay, for preparation cannot be postponed when the day may come unexpectedly and the time is short.
Being wise blends working, waiting, watching, and praying into genuine Christianity, rather than idle expectancy or restless activity that neglects personal piety. It employs every God-given capability in active service while day lasts, for night comes when no one can work, and it includes warning others, carrying present truth to neighbors, and beginning at once missionary work for the perishing. The sleeping are called to return to the neglected Bible, understand truth, repent past neglect, gain experience by Christlike character, watch and work earnestly to save others, and refuse neutrality, hap-hazard work, and careless labor that bring spiritual declension. A name in the church book does not secure entrance to the kingdom; close critical self-examination is required over how opportunities and talents are traded and whether they are put out to use.
The wise receive grace and share light, letting lived truth shine to those in darkness, passing newly unfolding truth on to others, reflecting light on pathways, and bearing fruit. The lamp is the surrendered believer receiving the Holy Spirit and giving light to sinners, and the Christian life depends on receiving in order to impart. Receiving without sharing becomes darkness, while one prepared, faithfully burning lamp does more good than a showy procession of lights.
The wise keep light burning through good works, learn Christ's ways, practice truth, deny self, take up the cross daily, do and teach even the least commandments, obey with watchfulness over words and conduct, restrain thoughts, regulate small duties, and are transformed in character by inward adornment of holy grace. All may start apparently prepared with name, call, lamp, and profession of service, yet mere profession, baptism, ordination, office, eloquence, appointment, or church membership does not make one wise when old habits and worldly ideas remain. Without the oil of grace, which is the Spirit of life abiding in the heart and linking the soul with Christ so the lamp sends clear rays, all outward preparation is worthless, only enough religion to deaden conscience, deceive senses, and ruin the soul while having a name to live. Those who take promises for granted without living as enjoined, presume salvation, cry peace where there is none, keep truth as mere theory apart from daily work, and fail in sanctification will be surprised with lamps without oil and left outside with the door shut.
The foolish neglect trading talents, forget accountability and the day of reckoning, leave eternity out of choices, continue careless self-service, give God's time to temporal business, and fail to bless others by opening truth to those in error. They trust theory without grace and trust their own intelligence to correct Scripture, count ordinances and mediatorial work unimportant, entangle themselves in science, sophistry, skepticism, and vain speculation, and leave the mind unguarded for Satan to possess under spiritualistic deception. Through unjust transactions, passion, sensuality, self-indulgence, complaining, gloom, ignorance, doubt, fear, unforsaken sin, faultfinding, and sowing doubt, they waste probationary time, darken understanding, blur spiritual vision, make truth ineffective, contribute nothing to spiritual strength, and let lamps go out.
The warning falls especially on ministers and workers who have received great light and knowledge yet are cold, spiritually senseless, and fading in piety, with lamps but no oil as the final crisis nears. They may have words and theories but no consecration, and they need faith working by love and purifying the soul, prayer, solemn concern for salvation, and the power of godly example, or they should be removed. Younger ministers and conference preachers are particularly warned not to sleep when vigilance is needed.
The call to be wise reaches self-sacrificing laborers in institutions whose lamps are trimmed and burning, teachers whose character lights students, homes, and neighborhoods, canvasser-evangelists circulating warnings, medical workers who need conversion first, parents reforming for children, and the home circle keeping lamps replenished. Knowing truth and agreeing with its teachings, even assenting to the third angel's message, is not enough without the oil of Christ's grace feeding the lamp and causing the light of life to shine to those in darkness. True conversion means humbling the heart, working out salvation with fear and trembling, falling broken upon the Rock in repentance and confession, being born again of the Spirit, partaking of the divine nature, escaping corruption through lust, revealing the fruit of the Spirit, and keeping a pure uplifting example that cannot be left to a minister; without it pride and weakness of faith bring surprise and disappointment at the cry, and health reform itself requires grace feeding the lamp lest the Bridegroom surprise.
Each person is called to close self-examination of opportunities and talents, testing character by righteousness, cleansing from sin, perfecting holiness, humbling the heart, confessing, being converted, becoming a laborer together with God, and choosing now to be among the wise by revival, repentance, and action without delay. Conduct and conversation reveal true condition, and the foolish are careless and indifferent, lacking integrity, failing to grow though entrusted with treasures of truth, slumbering instead of keeping the vessel filled, trimmed, and burning brighter until it flickers out. The remedy is to sink the empty vessel into the fullness of divine love, have Christ within as a well springing up to everlasting life, use God-given power well, seek Christ's righteousness, and return to the Bible to carry present truth to neighbors.
Having no oil means being unfit when life ends, for sickness and death reveal lack of preparation too late to remedy. The end of life and the day of reckoning require grace today, a living daily connection with God, watching, praying, putting talents to use, bringing souls to the Master, eating Christ's flesh and drinking His blood by practicing His words, diffusing every ray and digging deeper, rather than assenting faith that professes without practicing and buries the talent. That oil is the great daily necessity that cannot safely be neglected because the work bears eternal results.
The division into wise and foolish is Christ's own, and every specification must be studied with serious thought and earnest seeking from the Word. Both classes appear outwardly alike, as holders of truth in unrighteousness resemble the wise and tares resemble wheat, so no human can distinguish hearts or declare who is wise, for angels know by fruits and will gather without mistake, and a time comes when the door shuts and the classes are fixed. Practicing life-giving truth makes wise unto salvation, with the Holy Spirit received as a positive necessity, obedience making pure and keeping pure, no slackening in seeking eternal life; Christ gave His life so all may be wise, complete in Him, partakers of divine nature, perfect without spot and blameless.
The presence of the foolish without oil does not mean there is no church or that the church has failed; as tares among wheat they remain alongside the faithful, and imperfections do not justify separating in self-sufficiency. The foolish are in danger of losing eternal life when perplexities and cares overwhelm them and their light goes out in darkness unless they arise and shine now. With the Lord at the door it will be proved who are wise and who are foolish, and the church as depository of truth must send clear steady rays that never dim, have works corresponding to privilege and opportunity, and be sanctified through truth for special service to represent it rightly.
The verse divides ten wedding attendants waiting with lamps in the evening to join the bridegroom's torchlight procession into two equal companies, five wise and five foolish. The ten represent the church of professed Christians watching in the evening of earth's history for Christ's second coming. For a time the two classes appear outwardly alike in profession, lamps of truth and expectation, and cannot be told apart by human sight, but the wise have oil in vessels with their lamps while the foolish have lamps without oil. The lamps are the word of God and outward profession, and the oil is the grace of God and the renewing power of the Holy Spirit in faith, love and character. Readiness cannot be borrowed or transferred at the last moment, so when the bridegroom comes only those ready enter and the door is shut against the unprepared.
Words and Wedding Setting
The ten who go out to wait for the bridegroom are divided equally, five wise and five foolish. They are not all equally prepared, for the wise have oil in reserve with their lamps while the foolish have not prepared enough. When the bridegroom arrives only those ready enter the marriage feast, and the shut door leaves the others outside behind. The division is connected with the announcement that the bridegroom is coming and the call to go out to meet him, proclaimed under the first and second angels' messages with the midnight cry.
The setting is an evening wedding in which a company of attendants waits with lamps to join the bridegroom's procession. That procession moves by torchlight from the bride's father's house to bring the bride to the bridegroom's home for the feast. The wedding feast itself is a solemn and joyful occasion, and marriage is thereby honored as a divine institution.
The verse belongs to the parable of the ten virgins in Matthew 25:1-13. That parable is part of the discourse in Matthew 24 and 25 about the second coming, given shortly before entering Gethsemane, presenting the need to be ready by waiting and watching for Jesus' return. Christ told the story of the ten virgins to His disciples while looking upon a party waiting for the bridegroom, and the division into five wise and five foolish illustrates the experience of the church that shall live just before His second coming.
Both the wise and the foolish slumbered and slept during the bridegroom's delay. The delay represents the passing of the expected time, the disappointment, and the waiting that followed, during which believers lost some zeal and devotion. Their sleep was being unaware how long the expected time would tarry, not doubting that Christ would come. The waiting period tests whether there is genuine righteousness and a supply of grace to endure the test and trial of the long wait, and the foolish, lacking that supply, begin to think the Master is not coming. The midnight cry awakens the sleepers and rekindles the lamp, warning each one to awake and trim the lamp so as not to be lost.
Two Classes in Church
The ten virgins are the church of professed Christians watching in the evening of earth's history for Christ's second coming, and especially the last-day Advent people awaiting His personal return. They are divided into two parties, five wise and five foolish, those spiritually prepared and those not, the real Christians with life in themselves and the spurious believers who profess without possessing grace. The wise have oil in vessels with their lamps, the unseen principles of grace, open communion with God, and the character that gives entrance into the marriage supper of the Lamb, marking them as those the Lord knows and whose works He acknowledges. The foolish have lamps without supply to replenish them, no living connection and obedient character, so they are unfit for the marriage supper and when the bridegroom arrives only those ready enter while the shut door leaves the others outside. Each person is therefore called to ask whether he will be among the wise and to be ready, since the time of coming is unknown.
For a time the two classes appear outwardly alike with no visible difference and no human can distinguish them by appearance. All ten go out to meet the bridegroom with lamps and vessels for oil, all have a name, a call, a lamp, profess to do God service, have knowledge of the Scriptures, have heard the message of Christ's near approach, and confidently expect His appearing and start apparently prepared and watching. Those who hold the truth in unrighteousness look like the wise, as tares closely resemble wheat, and men cannot read the heart from which evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness and blasphemies proceed and defile the man, nor say who is wise and who is foolish. Angels know them by their fruits and will make no mistake in gathering the wheat from among the tares, and the difference of inward readiness is revealed after a time of waiting that tries faith, when the cry announces the Bridegroom and many are found unready and destitute of the Holy Spirit. The five foolish take God's promises for granted while not living as Christ enjoins, treating mere profession as enough, presuming they are saved and crying peace when there is no peace, until surprised and dismayed without oil they are left outside the wedding banquet with the door shut.
The wise joyfully expected the Lord and diligently prepared to meet Him, studying Scripture to learn the truth and seeking purity of heart and life. By receiving Christ's grace and the Holy Spirit they gained vigorous spiritual experience and personal faith that withstands disappointment and delay, setting their affections on heavenly things and understanding God as the source of supply. Their experience day by day is nourished by the Holy Spirit, they do not conform to the world in careless inattention, do not put off daily preparation but follow Jesus wherever He leads, daily love God and love truth for truth's sake alone and not for its clear arguments, bring truth into heart and mind, and learn daily more of Jesus with conversation in heaven from whence they look for the Lord. With the oil of grace in the heart through which God's love is shed abroad, their lights burn steadily, they glorify God, shine as light in the world adding light to others following Christ, and follow their Master in seeking and saving the lost, having faith and love and patience. In trial they patiently searched for clearer light and followed Christ by faith into His work in the heavenly sanctuary, showing readiness grounded in God's grace and not mere profession of truth.
The foolish acted from fear and impulse and emotion, relied on others' faith and passing feelings, and were satisfied with a theory of truth but lacked God's grace. They lacked a thorough understanding of truth and a genuine work of grace and conversion, having neglected grace so their characters cannot withstand the test, and when the expected coming was delayed and trials came their faith failed and their lights grew dim and faded toward the shut door. They have lamps but no oil, an interest in the gospel and knowledge of the standard of righteousness, but self-love leaves them without oil to replenish their lamps, and their flickering faith like a lamp going out does not please God. Without the Spirit a knowledge of His word is of no avail, the theory of truth cannot quicken the soul or sanctify the heart or transform the character even where commands and promises are familiar, and without enlightenment men cannot distinguish truth from error and fall under Satan's temptations. They cannot become ready by waking at the last minute when the cry announces the Bridegroom and then trying to replenish burned-out lamps, and so will not be prepared to go in to the marriage supper.
The foolish are lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God who keep natural, hereditary tendencies as choice treasures, hold lax and loose principles, and stand directly in the path of sinners and hinder their conversion. Their God-given capabilities, the rich treasures of character that should be gaining influence and power on the side of truth and righteousness, are mingled with selfishness and self-indulgence, mixing strange fire with the sacred fire so its purity, holiness and divine origin is eclipsed. They advocate Christ in truth with much activity but do not represent Him and do not do His words, so truth is dishonored by its very advocates, and their outward religious profession is not matched by inward Christian character. Even those who have Bibles and can distinguish the true from the false influence are carried away by corrupting, deceiving characters who present a nice appearance as if wise in Bible lore, and living for pleasure and following others leaves them unprepared for the end of life and unable to meet Christ.
The foolish are not open sinners who make no profession of loving God and keeping His commandments, but those who claim to be children of God and church members while not practicing the truth. They have no burden for souls, do not deny self, do not lift the cross, seek an enjoyable time with the world while claiming to be Christians, wear a mask, refuse to yield to any authority, and by worldly principles do great harm to others and seduce many. Although they have heard and assented to the truth, they have not brought it into daily life or secured faith that works by love and purifies the soul, they are not doers of the Word or keepers of God's commandments despite opportunities and privileges to gain light and knowledge, and an outward show of piety with apparent zeal may hide a corrupt heart. They suit worldly men who do not want the light of truth, because they are one in spirit with them and never let their light shine in words of truth and deeds of holiness, while the wise are Christians in deed and in truth who live and work to restore the moral image of God in man and keep their vessels well filled with oil. Where truth is enthroned in the heart it awakens thought that arouses conscience to decided action, adorns the character, and renews the whole nature because the oil of grace is there.
The foolish think themselves full of wisdom and knowledge, feel so well supplied by human understanding that there is no room in their vessels for heavenly grace, and look with pity and disgust on those who earnestly seek to know the way of the Lord more perfectly. They may consider themselves wise while failing to recognize that their lamps are going out, they slumber and will awake to find their lamps going out, and when they awaken to their condition it may be too late to obtain oil, leaving them unready with all their knowledge yet neglecting the one thing that would give entrance to the marriage supper. Others among the foolish are half with Christ and half with the world, lukewarm, neither cold nor hot, through indolence and carelessness and frivolity and careless indifference the great truth they have loses its force upon them. That separation from Christ leaves them as poor worldly subjects, and Satan comes in with specious temptations to work his will with them and lead them away from their Leader.
The foolish include those entrusted with leading papers and influence who weave in false theories and fill the papers with praise and exaltation of those whose main work is to trample upon the seventh day and exalt Sunday as the sabbath, siding with those who make of none effect the law of Jehovah and bring oppression upon God's people. They also include those who lightly regard warnings and go far into worldliness in dress and worldliness of practices, until at last the door is shut and they are left outside. Those who have lived faithfully up to the light they received may accept the full truth at the last hour, while people who had greater light and opportunity but did not live by it may fall away with lamps going out for lack of the oil of grace.
Lamps Oil and Meaning
The lamps are the Bible, the word of God as a lamp to the feet and a light to the path, and they mean also knowledge of the truth and an outward appearance of giving light, the outward semblance of religion and profession. Without inward piety that outward preparation is worthless, even with the highest profession or office, being only enough religion to deaden the conscience and leave the name to live while dead. The foolish profess godliness and have lamps, which are their Bibles, but lack the oil of grace needed to use them to decide to obey the truth. The oil in vessels with the lamps is God's grace and the renewing, enlightening, regenerating and sanctifying power of the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of life abiding in the heart in living connection with God. It is also saving faith in Christ as a personal Saviour, with love shed abroad in the heart, and patience, growing continually through grace into doing Christ's words, advancing in knowledge and power until the light shines brighter unto the perfect day. It is the righteousness of Jesus Christ and a character transformed by beholding Him, which gives moral fitness as members of the royal family and entrance to the marriage. As golden oil flowed from the two olive trees through golden pipes into the bowl and into the lamps that gave light to the sanctuary, so the Spirit is imparted from the holy ones standing in God's presence to consecrated human agencies to communicate the heavenly grace that alone can make the word a lamp to the feet and a light to the path, for the work is not by might nor by power but by the Spirit. Abundant provision for every soul has been made through the two anointed ones who stand by the Lord of the whole earth, the oil being emptied as golden oil into clean, pure, sanctified souls prepared by humbleness to receive it, and each must prepare his own soul by wearing Christ's yoke and learning of Him. The wise took oil in vessels with their lamps and anticipated delay and emergency, keeping lamps trimmed, filled, and burning steadily through the night to honor the bridegroom, light the way to his home and feast, and shine as lights pointing to the city of God and the marriage supper of the Lamb. Their light shows how followers are to shine in the world's darkness, the Holy Spirit using the word to transform those who receive it and form God's character in them to His glory. The foolish took lamps without oil or without supply to replenish them, so their lamps flickered, faded, and went out, and they were left outside when the procession entered and the door was shut. Having only theory of truth without the Spirit, their knowledge of Scripture is of no avail to quicken the soul, sanctify the heart, or transform the character, they cannot distinguish truth from error, they fall under temptation, and the mind left unguarded is possessed by Satan. Their foolishness was not living the truth and failing to obtain the wisdom and grace that makes complete in Christ, leaving them in darkness and despair unable to partake of the marriage supper. The lamps of the remnant people need a constant supply of oil as truth and heavenly love, and those who supply the lamps are God's servants laboring in the harvest. Neglecting to cultivate faith lets it weaken like a sickly plant left without care until the entrusted light is lost, the light growing dim and, without decided change, going out in darkness where warnings no longer reach. Readiness cannot be supplied by others at the last moment and character cannot be transferred from one to another. Waking when the cry sounds and then trying to replenish empty lamps or borrow another's experience and knowledge of grace leaves the foolish unprepared and shut out, for each must have the oil of grace personally through earnest prayer, faith, and personal experience with Christ, keeping the needs of the soul supplied while the bridegroom delays.
Fulfillment in 1844 Advent
The going forth to meet the bridegroom was the widespread response to the first angel's message announcing Christ's soon coming. Under the proclamation of the first and second angels' messages the midnight cry announced the Bridegroom, and those who preached His appearing were compelled to leave the churches. That midnight cry was heralded by thousands and swept like a tidal wave through cities, villages and remote country places until the waiting people were fully aroused to deep searching of heart, confession of sin, forsaking of the world, persevering prayer and preparation to meet the Lord. The parable is thus connected with the 1844 expectation and the announcement that the Bridegroom is coming with the call to go out to meet Him.
The order of waiting and slumber followed by the coming of the bridegroom agrees with prophecy and with Old Testament types pointing to the autumn of 1844 and the time associated with the cleansing of the sanctuary. The bridegroom's delay was the passing of the expected time, the disappointment and the waiting that followed. During that delay believers lost some of their zeal and devotion, like virgins who slept.
In the summer and autumn of 1844 the two classes became distinct when the coming of the Bridegroom was proclaimed. The wise looked with joy for His appearing and diligently prepared to meet Him, having both knowledge of Scripture and the Spirit and grace of God. Through trial they patiently searched for clearer light and by faith followed Christ into His work in the heavenly sanctuary. The foolish acted from fear and impulse, were satisfied with a theory of truth but lacked God's grace to endure. The wise are those who keep their eyes on Jesus and follow Him, keeping their garments spotless and sending their faith to Him in the sanctuary, while the careless multitude are left in darkness when He leaves the throne.
The coming of the Bridegroom was Jesus rising from His mediatorial throne and going into the Most Holy Place in heaven as Bridegroom to receive His kingdom. It was not His coming to this earth to deliver His people on the tenth day of the seventh month. This heavenly coming settles the shut door. It represents a change in the position and work of Christ the great High Priest in heaven in relation to the marriage of the Lamb. Before they understood His ministry in the heavenly sanctuary, those who held fast to their Advent faith concluded that probation for sinners had closed.
The going forth to meet the Bridegroom took place in 1844. Those who went forth then included some who afterward were deceived by false shepherds until they did not know where they were or what they believed. Some of them are now coming out upon the truth alongside those who never heard the Advent doctrine. The lesson is not to rest without the abiding witness that one's ways please God.
The midnight cry and the Bridegroom's coming are distinct parts, shown separately. The midnight cry was shown in December 1844, and the Bridegroom's coming was not shown until February following. At the time of the December vision the midnight cry had been given up as in the past and was thought to be future by most of the band. The light given on the midnight cry was to be delivered to the band.
The call to go out to meet the Bridegroom was to be heard by the whole world. All ten should have proclaimed the truth, and if all who claimed to believe had acted their part as wise virgins the message would already have gone to every nation, kindred, tongue and people. The five wise are those who made the provision essential to join the company walking in the light that had come to them and who accepted the third angel's message. The five foolish are those who went forth to meet the Bridegroom under the first and second angels' messages but refused the third angel's message, the last testing message to be given to the world. The bridegroom's delay gives the world time to hear the final message, yet many who accepted the first and second angels' messages refused the third and were therefore unprepared to join the wise and enter the marriage supper of the Lamb as keepers of God's commandments and the faith of Jesus.
The parable is connected with the Advent band and the midnight cry, whose Bridegroom-coming message was understood as future before the vision of that message. It is cited in connection with renewed expectation of Christ's coming and the need for a true experience and unmistakable evidence of acceptance with God.
Judgment and Final Separation
When the bridegroom arrives only those who are ready go in with him to the marriage, and the door is shut against the rest. The foolish come afterward to the banqueting hall seeking entrance to the marriage supper but are denied with I know you not, losing their chance because they did not live the truth and failed to obtain the wisdom and grace that makes complete. Left outside in the empty street in the blackness of night and outer darkness, they find it too late to replenish their lamps after long slumbering without provision for the time of need. Their lack was oil in vessels with their lamps, which is grace to be secured during probationary time before the final emergency, for profession and outward form without genuine conversion and living connection cannot give fitness to share heaven's joy and companionship.
The whole chapter sets forth the principles of eternal justice by which works will be judged from the books according to character and fitness as members of the royal family, children of the heavenly King. Lamps mean knowledge of truth and an outward appearance of giving light, while oil in the vessels means receiving God's grace, being vitalized by the Holy Spirit, saving faith with Christ as personal Saviour, growing in grace and knowledge, and doing Christ's words. The offense of the foolish was taking no oil, supposing themselves wise while wise only in their own sight, without saving faith. Their condemnation was not especially for revolting crimes and outbreaking sins but for neglecting to do what they might and ought to have done, because they lacked the moral qualifications placed within reach when divinity was clothed with humanity to bring moral power to fallen man to become a laborer together with God, transformed in character by beholding Christ.
At Christ's coming character cannot be made or changed, and it will be too late to obtain what is lacking or to gain fitness to join the procession once probation has ended. The oil of Christ's righteousness and a character purified from sin cannot be transferred from one person to another, so hearing the message and having a lamp are not enough unless each obtains supply for himself beforehand. Christ will then separate the obedient from the disobedient, and the parable illustrates the final separation of the righteous and the wicked. This is the division at the end of the world in the peculiar and momentous period now present, for which only the wise who study God's Word, work apart from the world's customs and counsellors, and do not say the Lord delays His coming will be prepared to go forth to meet the bridegroom with oil in vessels with lamps.
Preparation for the day of God cannot be delayed until the time of trouble, and those who meet the final conflict unprepared will be overcome. They may confess their sins in despair while the wicked exult over their distress, realizing too late when the time for preparation has passed and when the plagues fall. The present condition of God's people is like that of sleeping virgins standing on the borders of the greatest event in earth's history, with the signs of the end fast fulfilling. The time of trouble such as was not since there was a nation comes right upon them with strait places as never before, while destroying angels are already permitted to bring disaster and destruction, showing unreadiness for the trial ahead.
To be wise is to awake from sleep, turn away from unimportant things, give oneself to God, and seek Jesus. They must be sure their feet are in the narrow path, gain an experience they have not yet had, and ask the Lord Jesus to place His everlasting arms underneath them and carry them through the trial before them, with assurance that the God of all grace is a very present help in time of need. The oil in the lamps of the professed churches is now almost consumed and has not been replenished, yet that desperate closed-door position has not yet been reached. There is still time before probation ends to obtain the gold of truth, faith, and love and the white raiment of Christ's righteousness.
At the time of the last great final contest, when evil angels unite with evil men in intense activity and all the world is on one side or the other, the wise are wide awake and not sleeping. They have oil in vessels with lamps, which is grace, the power of the Holy Ghost upon them sustaining their faith and courage by the power of God. Thus upheld they stand in the battle of Armageddon while the Captain of the Lord's host stands at the head of the angels of heaven to direct the battle.
Readiness in Daily Life
Readiness is lamps trimmed and burning with vessels filled with holy oil, which means vigilant watching, prayer, searching of Scripture, worship, and guarding against spiritual decline, carelessness, and being drawn away by worldly influences. It is waiting watchfully while faithfully working, with the lamp filled and carefully trimmed so its light shines clearly, in obedience to God and in alerting others to danger and the coming of Christ. The light is in danger of going out when faith in the testing message is threatened, and the sleeping are called to wake, trim lamps, and fill vessels in renewed consecration.
Wisdom is securing grace without delay before it is too late, keeping the soul's lamp trimmed and its vessel filled, making every effort to avoid decline, and being ready at any moment for the Bridegroom's call. The end is very near and will come unexpectedly as a thief in the night, and neglected watchfulness leaves lamps going out and the unready unprepared to meet the Bridegroom. Each person is therefore to examine spiritual standing and accountability and remain watchful without delay, for preparation cannot be postponed when the day may come unexpectedly and the time is short.
Being wise blends working, waiting, watching, and praying into genuine Christianity, rather than idle expectancy or restless activity that neglects personal piety. It employs every God-given capability in active service while day lasts, for night comes when no one can work, and it includes warning others, carrying present truth to neighbors, and beginning at once missionary work for the perishing. The sleeping are called to return to the neglected Bible, understand truth, repent past neglect, gain experience by Christlike character, watch and work earnestly to save others, and refuse neutrality, hap-hazard work, and careless labor that bring spiritual declension. A name in the church book does not secure entrance to the kingdom; close critical self-examination is required over how opportunities and talents are traded and whether they are put out to use.
The wise receive grace and share light, letting lived truth shine to those in darkness, passing newly unfolding truth on to others, reflecting light on pathways, and bearing fruit. The lamp is the surrendered believer receiving the Holy Spirit and giving light to sinners, and the Christian life depends on receiving in order to impart. Receiving without sharing becomes darkness, while one prepared, faithfully burning lamp does more good than a showy procession of lights.
The wise keep light burning through good works, learn Christ's ways, practice truth, deny self, take up the cross daily, do and teach even the least commandments, obey with watchfulness over words and conduct, restrain thoughts, regulate small duties, and are transformed in character by inward adornment of holy grace. All may start apparently prepared with name, call, lamp, and profession of service, yet mere profession, baptism, ordination, office, eloquence, appointment, or church membership does not make one wise when old habits and worldly ideas remain. Without the oil of grace, which is the Spirit of life abiding in the heart and linking the soul with Christ so the lamp sends clear rays, all outward preparation is worthless, only enough religion to deaden conscience, deceive senses, and ruin the soul while having a name to live. Those who take promises for granted without living as enjoined, presume salvation, cry peace where there is none, keep truth as mere theory apart from daily work, and fail in sanctification will be surprised with lamps without oil and left outside with the door shut.
The foolish neglect trading talents, forget accountability and the day of reckoning, leave eternity out of choices, continue careless self-service, give God's time to temporal business, and fail to bless others by opening truth to those in error. They trust theory without grace and trust their own intelligence to correct Scripture, count ordinances and mediatorial work unimportant, entangle themselves in science, sophistry, skepticism, and vain speculation, and leave the mind unguarded for Satan to possess under spiritualistic deception. Through unjust transactions, passion, sensuality, self-indulgence, complaining, gloom, ignorance, doubt, fear, unforsaken sin, faultfinding, and sowing doubt, they waste probationary time, darken understanding, blur spiritual vision, make truth ineffective, contribute nothing to spiritual strength, and let lamps go out.
The warning falls especially on ministers and workers who have received great light and knowledge yet are cold, spiritually senseless, and fading in piety, with lamps but no oil as the final crisis nears. They may have words and theories but no consecration, and they need faith working by love and purifying the soul, prayer, solemn concern for salvation, and the power of godly example, or they should be removed. Younger ministers and conference preachers are particularly warned not to sleep when vigilance is needed.
The call to be wise reaches self-sacrificing laborers in institutions whose lamps are trimmed and burning, teachers whose character lights students, homes, and neighborhoods, canvasser-evangelists circulating warnings, medical workers who need conversion first, parents reforming for children, and the home circle keeping lamps replenished. Knowing truth and agreeing with its teachings, even assenting to the third angel's message, is not enough without the oil of Christ's grace feeding the lamp and causing the light of life to shine to those in darkness. True conversion means humbling the heart, working out salvation with fear and trembling, falling broken upon the Rock in repentance and confession, being born again of the Spirit, partaking of the divine nature, escaping corruption through lust, revealing the fruit of the Spirit, and keeping a pure uplifting example that cannot be left to a minister; without it pride and weakness of faith bring surprise and disappointment at the cry, and health reform itself requires grace feeding the lamp lest the Bridegroom surprise.
Each person is called to close self-examination of opportunities and talents, testing character by righteousness, cleansing from sin, perfecting holiness, humbling the heart, confessing, being converted, becoming a laborer together with God, and choosing now to be among the wise by revival, repentance, and action without delay. Conduct and conversation reveal true condition, and the foolish are careless and indifferent, lacking integrity, failing to grow though entrusted with treasures of truth, slumbering instead of keeping the vessel filled, trimmed, and burning brighter until it flickers out. The remedy is to sink the empty vessel into the fullness of divine love, have Christ within as a well springing up to everlasting life, use God-given power well, seek Christ's righteousness, and return to the Bible to carry present truth to neighbors.
Having no oil means being unfit when life ends, for sickness and death reveal lack of preparation too late to remedy. The end of life and the day of reckoning require grace today, a living daily connection with God, watching, praying, putting talents to use, bringing souls to the Master, eating Christ's flesh and drinking His blood by practicing His words, diffusing every ray and digging deeper, rather than assenting faith that professes without practicing and buries the talent. That oil is the great daily necessity that cannot safely be neglected because the work bears eternal results.
The division into wise and foolish is Christ's own, and every specification must be studied with serious thought and earnest seeking from the Word. Both classes appear outwardly alike, as holders of truth in unrighteousness resemble the wise and tares resemble wheat, so no human can distinguish hearts or declare who is wise, for angels know by fruits and will gather without mistake, and a time comes when the door shuts and the classes are fixed. Practicing life-giving truth makes wise unto salvation, with the Holy Spirit received as a positive necessity, obedience making pure and keeping pure, no slackening in seeking eternal life; Christ gave His life so all may be wise, complete in Him, partakers of divine nature, perfect without spot and blameless.
The presence of the foolish without oil does not mean there is no church or that the church has failed; as tares among wheat they remain alongside the faithful, and imperfections do not justify separating in self-sufficiency. The foolish are in danger of losing eternal life when perplexities and cares overwhelm them and their light goes out in darkness unless they arise and shine now. With the Lord at the door it will be proved who are wise and who are foolish, and the church as depository of truth must send clear steady rays that never dim, have works corresponding to privilege and opportunity, and be sanctified through truth for special service to represent it rightly.