They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them:
The verse describes the foolish ones in the parable of the ten virgins waiting at night for the bridegroom to lead the wedding procession to the feast, a picture of watching for Christ's second coming. Their lamps are the word of God by which all go forth and also the outward profession by which believers are to shine as the light of the world. They are professed believers in the evening of earth's history who hold the theory of truth but lack genuine conversion, starting with burning lamps yet taking no reserve oil because they foresee no delay. The oil they lack is the grace of Christ and the Holy Spirit working by love to purify the soul and keep the light burning, the holy oil of Zechariah's olive trees which must be obtained personally in probationary time and cannot be borrowed or transferred. When the cry announces His coming their lamps go out for want of grace and they are surprised, dismayed and shut out from the marriage supper, so each must now examine himself, wake, and keep his vessel filled by prayer, searching Scripture and obedience.
Parable Setting and Symbols
The words belong to the parable of the ten virgins in Matthew 25:1-13, part of the discourse in Matthew 24-25 about watching for the second coming. It was spoken to the disciples shortly before entering Gethsemane, as Christ looked upon a party waiting for the bridegroom, and its experience illustrates the experience of the church that shall live just before His second coming. It represents the church as those watching for their Lord's appearing and earnestly seeking to be among those acknowledged as the Lamb's wife, with Jesus leaving to receive the kingdom and promising to return for the waiting followers. It teaches vigilant watching and sanctified waiting with continued effort toward eternal life, allowing no relaxation of effort.
The parable is set at an evening wedding procession in which a company waits for the bridegroom to appear so they can join the procession and go to the wedding feast. This reflects the custom of the bridegroom going to meet his bride and bringing her to his home by torchlight.
The lamps are the Bible, the word of God, by whose light all went forth to meet the Bridegroom. Without heavenly grace the word cannot be a lamp to the feet and a light to the path, for it is not by might nor by power but by His Spirit, and the foolish who moved from impulse, excited fears, good emotions and dependence on the faith of their brethren lacked thorough understanding of truth, personal experience, and a genuine work of grace in the heart. The Bible becomes like a lamp without oil when knowledge of its word is turned into speculation and self-interest is mixed into its explanation, causing misunderstanding and confusion, whereas God's truth is to be presented simply so all can understand what it requires. The lamps are also the remnant people who have Bibles but lack the oil of grace, the Holy Spirit, truth and heavenly love in constant supply needed to choose obedience, to trim their lamps, reflect the light, and keep faith from failing and lights from burning dim under trial, delay and disappointment.
The lamps also mean outward semblance of religion and outward preparation, even the highest profession such as ordination for the ministry or appointment as superintendent or teacher in the Sabbath School with high responsibilities entrusted, yet without inward piety, the oil of grace, the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus abiding in the heart and feeding the lamp with clear rays, such outward preparation is worthless, enough only to deaden conscience, deceive the senses, and ruin the soul with the name to live while dead. They mean the calling to be the light of the world, so that holding lamps with no oil in the vessels is an unconsecrated heart and life with little real connection with God, destitute of heavenly wisdom and living power, bringing false security under unconsecrated preaching, leaving the church in severe conflict and peril like a vessel nearing harbor without a competent pilot, and in danger of perishing with the wicked unless the Lord of all grace in abundant mercy and full forgiveness pities, humbles the soul, and heals backsliding. The lamp is applied to the soul and to the Christian entrusted with great light shining on the pathway, to be set high above sensuality in thought or action and to shine in clear steady rays illuminating surrounding darkness, and it must be kept trimmed and replenished with the Spirit through purification and sanctification rather than reliance on eloquence alone. Through unjust business transactions, indulgence of passion, and thoughts allowed to run riot the light burns dim and low and goes out for want of the oil of grace, while the oil is kept by purifying the soul through obeying truth including obedience to physical law, so that life grows in grace. Lamps without oil are splendid endowments, talents and busy activity without humble contrite personal piety cherishing the love of God, resting in the Lord, fearing to walk contrary to His will, with unceasing watchfulness and sincere earnest prayer, and God will not accept the talents of the smartest and most eloquent if the inner lamp of the soul is not trimmed and burning in consecrated surrender, for justification is by faith and judgment by works, requiring diligent trading, meek humble labor, and becoming more than conquerors through Him who loved. Keeping lamps trimmed and burning requires vigilant work combined with faithful waiting, watching, praying, working in every line of service, improving every opportunity, letting Christlike virtues be active and Christ be represented, for by use gifts increase into Christian character and Bible religion, but neglect of personal piety makes even the most splendid endowments and service of no value, and this must be done while probationary time lasts.
The foolish took lamps but made no provision of oil to replenish them and filled no oil flasks, bringing no reserve oil in their vessels. They had not prepared for a long delay and had no foresight of the bridegroom's tarrying, so when he came and their lamps needed replenishing their lights were expiring and going out when needed, and they were left outside the wedding feast. Though they started with lamps trimmed and burning and went forth full of hope in the prospect of immediate reward, they were unready when the bridegroom came, in contrast to Luther who filled his lamp from the storehouse of truth.
Identity of Foolish Virgins
The foolish are professed believers watching for the Lord's appearing in the evening of earth's history just before His second coming, a picture of the spiritual condition of the professed Christian church at that time. They take lamps and go out to meet the Bridegroom, but they take lamps without oil and without reserve oil in their vessels, so outward readiness without inward preparation leaves them unready when He comes. For a time no difference is seen between them and the wise, no human can infallibly separate them, but angels know them by fruits, and each must examine whether he will be among the wise because readiness cannot be supplied at the last moment. Their sleep was uncertainty about the time during the delay, and the renewed midnight cry, Behold, the Bridegroom cometh, was meant to wake them and call them to readiness. The division appeared among those who heard the first and second angels' messages, when those who went forth under those messages refused the third angel's message, the last testing message to the world; only five made the provision essential to walk in the light that had come, and had all who claimed to believe acted as wise virgins the message would ere this have been proclaimed to every nation, kindred, tongue, and people.
Lacking oil means lacking unseen principles, open communion with God, and being known by the Lord, and therefore lacking the character that gives entrance to the marriage supper of the Lamb. Oil cannot come by human birth, descent from Abraham, or membership in any church, but requires a personal, visible connection with God through personal faith in the Word of the living God. That faith works by love to Jesus Christ, revealing true preference, firm reliance, entire willing obedience and consecration, and binds feelings, desires, and interests up with Christ in complete identification with Him. The oil is holy grace from heaven, an inward adornment that enables them to stand when Christ appears, and without it they remain unprepared.
They have lamps and outward profession like the wise, and even the theory of truth and assent to the third angel's message, yet they lack genuine conversion, the Spirit and grace of God, and practice. They are satisfied with a theory of truth, with emotion and outward appearance, and were unprepared to follow Christ by faith through the night of trial into His heavenly work before the marriage. In the 1844 crisis this class acted from fear and impulse, while the wise had spiritual grace and were ready for the Bridegroom. Pride and weakness of faith and failure to humble the heart before the Lord leave them without the oil of Christ's grace that feeds the lamp and causes the light of life to shine forth showing the way to those in darkness, so when the cry is heard they will be surprised and disappointed and the door will be shut, leaving the unprepared outside. Mere assent cannot make the lamp shine, for without living faith the light fails.
They are careless, self-pleasing, self-satisfied professors who live to please and glorify themselves, treat life-giving truth as unessential, and expect to enter heaven but have not purified their souls by obeying the truth. Although they knew the perfect standard of righteousness and had real interest in the gospel, self-love left them without sustaining grace to replenish their lamps, leaving blindness, ignorance, weak faith, darkness, and an unstable religious experience resting on uncertain principles. They trust their feelings, neglect Scripture, cherish hidden sins, and lack a vital connection with God, and must seek God, cleanse themselves from sin, and perfect holiness. They are not open sinners who make no profession, but people who claim to be children of God and church members without practicing the truth, having no burden for souls, not denying self or lifting the cross, seeking an enjoyable time with the world while claiming to be Christians. Wearing a mask, refusing to yield to authority, and living by worldly principles, they do great harm and seduce many, in contrast to true Christians who live and work to restore the moral image of God in man and labor with Christ to show that a consecrated life is a power for good while sin results only in weakness and eternal ruin. They are spiritually cold and senseless despite great light and knowledge, marked by weak, fading piety, because they do not recognize the Holy Spirit as a positive necessity; practicing the life-giving truth of the Bible makes people wise unto salvation.
About half of those who claim to be ready are like them, trusting mere theory instead of using the oil of grace; having it makes the lamp shine so the world takes knowledge that its holder has been with Jesus and learned of Him, while being without it leaves the mind in an unguarded moment for Satan to find and possess. They have knowledge of the truth but are not sanctified through it, do not realize accountability, forget that there is a day of trust and a day of reckoning, neglect the talents committed to them, and fail their sacred responsibility to bless others by opening precious truth to those in error. Their religion is false because, though active in God's work, they do not receive the oil of grace nor practice Christ's lessons in daily life nor show His meekness, lowliness, gentleness, tenderness, sympathy, and love. They are a class of professed religionists who suit men of the world that do not want the light of truth, one in spirit with those who never let their light shine in words of truth and deeds of holiness, unlike those who truly serve God, progress heavenward, help others serve God with whole mind, heart, soul, and strength, and keep their vessels well filled with oil. This includes ministers, teachers, and Sabbath school workers with high profession but no inward piety, and many younger ministers with proud, unconsecrated hearts, lacking consecration, heart-felt piety and devotion, and failing to accept and obey the light given; though sent to be a light to church and world by good works as well as by words and theories, without inward grace they cannot exert powerful influence for good, and those who year after year receive ministerial training and privileges yet fail to take truth into themselves and therefore cannot impart it should be removed from ministry.
Meaning of Oil Lacking
The oil lacking is the grace of God and of Christ, the regenerating, enlightening power of the Holy Spirit in the heart working by love and purifying the soul, which renders the Word a lamp to the feet and a light to the path and keeps the light burning with undimmed flame through the night of watching. It is gained by studying the Scriptures in the fear of God to learn the truth and by earnestly seeking purity of heart and life, giving personal experience and faith in God and His Word that cannot be overthrown by disappointment and delay. Having a lamp without oil is outward profession without inward preparation, like having a name in the church book without using God-given capabilities for the Master, for the present is the trading time calling for close self-examination of how opportunities and talents are used and put out to the exchangers. The lamp must be fed with holy oil to be able to burn and shine on the path of others, and seeking grace and maintaining a living, complete connection with God each day is what makes ready when the day comes. Though knowing the standard of righteousness, self-love leaves without this sustaining grace of truth, making vulnerable to darkness and an unstable religious experience.
The oil is also truth and heavenly love needed in constant supply, the righteousness of Jesus Christ, a character purified from sin and formed by obedience, and living faith that works by love. Without this oil of grace the lamps go out, and the condition is marked by doubts, fear, temptation, confessing bad habits yet continuing in sin instead of forsaking it, calling for dependence on God every hour so as not to be late and shut out from the marriage supper in darkness and despair. Having knowledge of the truth without being sanctified through the truth means not realizing accountability and forgetting the day of trust and day of reckoning, neglecting the talents committed and failing the sacred responsibility to bless others by opening precious truth to those in error. Religion is false when, though active in God's work, the vessels are not supplied with the oil of grace and Christ's lessons are not practiced in daily life in His meekness, lowliness, gentleness, tenderness, sympathy, and love.
Taking no oil means moving from impulse with fears excited by the solemn message, being satisfied with the flickering light of good emotions, depending upon the faith of brethren, loving self and living to please and glorify self, and trusting mere theory without thorough understanding of truth or genuine work of grace in the heart. Going forth full of hope of immediate reward but unprepared for delay and disappointment, faith fails when trials come and lights burn dim, because characters could not stand the test for neglect to receive and cherish the Holy Spirit and Christ's grace with no reserve to keep lamps burning. Unlike the wise, whose faith, patience, and love grew through connection with Christ and daily experience nourished through the Spirit, the foolish treat life-giving truth as unessential, and their blindness, ignorance, and weak faith leave them fluctuating on uncertain principles and vulnerable to Satan's deception. Through unjust dealings, indulged passion, neglected little duties, and thoughts allowed to run riot, the light burns dim and goes out for want of grace.
The oil is the holy oil shown in Zechariah by the two olive trees and two olive branches emptying golden oil through golden pipes into vessels prepared for it, the Holy Spirit in the heart kindled by God in the chambers of the soul to burn brightly and give light to the world through good works, supplied by the two anointed ones who communicate it to the churches. Not having oil means claiming to know and talk the truth but not practicing it, keeping truth in the outer court and Christ out of the heart, building on a sandy foundation as hearers but not doers, cherishing self and hereditary and cultivated traits that misrepresent Christ, not putting on the robe of Christ's righteousness, the same as coming to the gospel feast without the wedding garment. It must be secured personally during probationary time by nourishing faith and Christ's grace now, for each must form his own character and gain an experienced knowledge of His grace beforehand. It cannot be borrowed or transferred or obtained from the wise when the final emergency arrives, so that trying to obtain that experience from others in the crisis fails and neglect of the day of salvation leaves seeking entrance after the door has shut.
Without the Spirit of God a knowledge of His word is of no avail to quicken the soul, sanctify the heart, or transform the character, for the theory of truth unaccompanied by the Holy Spirit cannot make the Word a lamp to the feet and a light to the path, since it is not by might nor by power but by His Spirit. One may be familiar with the commands and promises of the Bible and have lamps and vessels and confidently expect His appearing, yet unless the Spirit sets the truth home the character is not transformed, truth does not enter daily life, and having a theory of truth without godliness leaves unprepared when truth must be lived. Without the enlightenment of the Spirit men cannot distinguish truth from error, discover wondrous things in God's word, or stand against the masterful temptations of Satan, and human wisdom cannot replace heavenly grace. The Holy Spirit implants the principles of God's word in hearts and develops the attributes of God, so that the light of His glory, His character, shines forth in followers to glorify God, swell the illumination for the Bridegroom's honor, and lighten the path to the Bridegroom's home, to the city of God, to the marriage supper of the Lamb, but without oil there is no inward transforming work and no enduring light for the night. Lacking oil means having no living connection with God, not being vitalized by His Holy Spirit, having no saving faith and not having Christ as a personal Saviour, making a show of giving light like the wise while wise only in one's own sight, not growing in grace and knowledge through doing Christ's words, neglecting what might and ought to have been done though He clothed divinity with humanity to bring moral power to combine with human effort, leaving unfit for the kingdom and subject to eternal justice when the books are opened and all are judged according to works.
Fulfillment in Advent History
The going forth to meet the Bridegroom was the widespread reformation under the proclamation of Christ's soon coming. It was the movement under the first angel's message, and then the first and second angels' messages together, culminating in the 1844 midnight cry, Behold, the Bridegroom cometh. That cry announced His coming, aroused thousands, and compelled believers to go out from the churches to meet Him. The parable thus illustrates the experience of the church living in the last days, the same church pointed out at the close of Matthew 24, set forth by the incidents of an Eastern marriage. Those who went forth did so with lamps, which are the Bible, by whose light all went forth, yet the foolish moved from impulse with fears excited by the solemn message, depending on the faith of their brethren and satisfied with flickering good emotions, full of hope of immediate reward but without thorough understanding of truth and genuine work of grace to stand disappointment.
The Bridegroom's tarrying illustrated the passing of the expected time and the disappointment. In that delay believers became uncertain about the time, lost zeal and devotion, and slumbered like the virgins, and the renewed midnight cry was meant to wake them and call them to readiness. The delay was a test of faith to learn whether they had genuine righteousness to stand delay, for the foolish had made no provision to replenish their lights and had no reserve of grace to sustain them through waiting, so when trials came their faith failed, their lights burned dim and went out when needed, and they gave up hope because the wait was long. God takes time to test and prove who has real righteousness of Christ, and passing the test means bearing with patience, watching and working with greater diligence to gather souls rather than waiting in idle expectancy that refuses to plant, build, and labor. The delay also expresses Christ's long-suffering, giving time to repent.
The coming of the Bridegroom represents a change in the position and work of Christ as the great High Priest in heaven concerning the marriage of the Lamb. It is His rising from His mediatorial throne and entering the holiest in heaven in 1844 to receive the kingdom, coming to the Ancient of Days to begin the final work of mediation and plead His blood for sinners. There He closed one ministration and opened another in the most holy place, opening the door of mercy there. This settled the shut-door truth held by those who held fast their Advent experience after the 2300 days, and it was not His return to earth to deliver His people on the tenth day of the seventh month. The foolish, who had accepted a theory of truth but were destitute of grace and acted from fear and impulse, were not ready to follow Him by faith into that work.
The division into wise and foolish appeared among those who heard the first and second angels' messages, when five were wise and five were foolish. The foolish are those who went forth under the first and second messages but refused the third angel's message, the last testing message and final message of mercy to be given to the world. Some were led astray by false shepherds, and some had their minds drawn away from the present message by scientific and spiritualistic philosophy, with criticism and unbelief leaving them vulnerable to deception and threatening faith in the third angel's message. Though all ten should have proclaimed the truth and walked in the light that had come, only five made the provision essential to join the company walking in the light, and had all who claimed to believe acted their part as wise virgins the message would ere this have been proclaimed to every nation, kindred, tongue, and people.
Consequence of Being Unready
The lack of oil is exposed when the midnight call to go out to meet the bridegroom sounds, and those without reserve supply find their need too late to remedy by going to buy. They are surprised and dismayed to be unprepared for the coming King, failing to discern their danger though they expected to join the feast. While they are away seeking supply, the prepared enter in with the bridegroom to the marriage supper and the door is shut. Those shut out afterward meet unexpected denial with the words I know you not, lose their chance to partake of the marriage supper of the Lamb, and are left standing outside in the empty street in the blackness of the night.
Without the oil of grace the lamp cannot keep burning, and light received but not lived and walked in is lost until the lamp goes out for lack of grace. The light of holy love that should grow brighter unto the perfect day instead grows dim, and unless there is a decided change soon it goes out in darkness, leaving spiritual declension, blindness, and an unstable experience where warnings and entreaties can no longer reach and only despair remains. Having no oil means an unconsecrated heart and life with little real connection with God, destitute of heavenly wisdom and living power, marked by carelessness and indifference, want of integrity and uprightness, no growth in spiritual understanding, and no self-denial, cross-bearing, or diligent use of entrusted talents. Love of the world or cherished sin draws away from prayer and meditation, and in an unguarded moment the mind is found and possessed by Satan, leaving the church in severe conflict and peril like a vessel nearing harbor without a competent pilot, vulnerable to deception and unable to stand in the final conflict and time of trouble unless the Lord of all grace in abundant mercy pities, forgives, humbles the soul, and heals backsliding.
The missing grace must be secured during probationary time, for it cannot be obtained when the final emergency arrives and probation has ended. Readiness cannot be borrowed or supplied at the last moment, for no one can obtain a character from another, and character cannot be made or changed when the Lord comes. Those who trusted mere theory instead of forming characters in God's likeness through personal obedience and acceptance of heaven-sent light will have no fitness to join the procession or enter through the closed door, and when woes are pronounced they will feel them but have no power to act. To delay preparation for the day of God is to risk seeking entrance after the door has shut, facing despair in the time of trouble, and meeting Christ with grief instead of joy.
Call to Live Ready
The foolish taking lamps without oil pictures the church's condition at the second coming, where outward readiness is not enough and each person must examine conduct and conversation to know whether he is wise or foolish. The warning calls all to wake from sleep, to trim the lamps and look for the Lord through timely action, because the time of His coming is unknown and must not overtake anyone as a thief. The greatest work is to keep the inner lamp trimmed and its vessel supplied with the oil of grace, making every effort to guard against decline when light is going out and faith in the third angel's message is threatened. Present readiness and faithful work are required now, not delay, for recent experience shows how easily spiritual life fails to stay supplied with what is needed to shine.
Oil is the grace of Christ that keeps the light of truth shining, and without it the light grows dim and goes out, so those who neglect it show no concern to watch words or be careful in behavior. It is gained by prayerfully studying the Scriptures in the fear of God to learn truth, by earnestly seeking purity of heart and life, by obeying what is learned, and by seeking understanding of truth in Jesus and sharing present truth with neighbors. Spiritual life is sustained by prayer, searching the Scriptures, public worship, abiding in God's presence, and repentance and confession, with character developed into Christlikeness, and no soul can prosper without time for these duties. This is especially needful for workers thrown into the society of worldlings, who need Jesus held up before them as the Lamb of God and need personal labor bestowed upon them, lest through close relation to godless influences and Satan's allurements the worldly element steal the heart away from God. Those who moved only from impulse, with fears excited by the solemn message, depended on the faith of brethren and were satisfied with flickering light of good emotion, without thorough understanding of truth or genuine work of grace, and therefore went forth full of hope of immediate reward but were unprepared for delay and disappointment, so that when trials came faith failed and lights burned dim.
Having a lamp without oil is like having a name in the church book without using God-given capabilities for the Master, for the present is the trading time that calls for close self-examination of how opportunities have been used and whether talents are put out to the exchangers. God rewards every servant who works with self-denying, self-sacrificing zeal for the salvation of souls, and each one who has denied self and purified the soul through belief of the truth will begin at once to do missionary work for those perishing in sins. Readiness means keeping the lamp trimmed and filled with holy oil and going out to give light to those in darkness, preparing to bear light and responding to God's call with readiness and action, for half-hearted discipleship is fruitless. The true self-sacrificing laborer whose spiritual lamp is trimmed and burning advances the Lord's work through unselfish service, counting it a privilege to give ability, service, and constant care, and thereby gains precious experience in recognizing God's presence. Such a pure, sanctified life cannot be supplied by a minister in place of each person's own responsibility, and neglect of personal piety makes even splendid gifts worthless.
Those who live merely to please themselves may reach sickness and death without inward readiness, discovering too late that they are unprepared and unfitted to close life well, when recognition can no longer supply what was lacked. Those who knowingly cling to sin corrupt the heart and turn from light into spiritual darkness, unprepared for Christ's appearing and without God's protection, while those who repent, confess, and watch for their Saviour are among the faithful who receive the seal of God. The sleeping virgins describe God's people right now, just before the time of trouble such as was not since there was a nation, asleep amid already-permitted disaster and destruction at their post with minds drawn away by spiritualistic philosophy from the message they should proclaim. They must awaken and trim their lamps, turn attention away from unimportant things, give themselves to God, and ask Jesus to place His everlasting arms underneath and carry them through the trial ahead.
The verse describes the foolish ones in the parable of the ten virgins waiting at night for the bridegroom to lead the wedding procession to the feast, a picture of watching for Christ's second coming. Their lamps are the word of God by which all go forth and also the outward profession by which believers are to shine as the light of the world. They are professed believers in the evening of earth's history who hold the theory of truth but lack genuine conversion, starting with burning lamps yet taking no reserve oil because they foresee no delay. The oil they lack is the grace of Christ and the Holy Spirit working by love to purify the soul and keep the light burning, the holy oil of Zechariah's olive trees which must be obtained personally in probationary time and cannot be borrowed or transferred. When the cry announces His coming their lamps go out for want of grace and they are surprised, dismayed and shut out from the marriage supper, so each must now examine himself, wake, and keep his vessel filled by prayer, searching Scripture and obedience.
Parable Setting and Symbols
The words belong to the parable of the ten virgins in Matthew 25:1-13, part of the discourse in Matthew 24-25 about watching for the second coming. It was spoken to the disciples shortly before entering Gethsemane, as Christ looked upon a party waiting for the bridegroom, and its experience illustrates the experience of the church that shall live just before His second coming. It represents the church as those watching for their Lord's appearing and earnestly seeking to be among those acknowledged as the Lamb's wife, with Jesus leaving to receive the kingdom and promising to return for the waiting followers. It teaches vigilant watching and sanctified waiting with continued effort toward eternal life, allowing no relaxation of effort.
The parable is set at an evening wedding procession in which a company waits for the bridegroom to appear so they can join the procession and go to the wedding feast. This reflects the custom of the bridegroom going to meet his bride and bringing her to his home by torchlight.
The lamps are the Bible, the word of God, by whose light all went forth to meet the Bridegroom. Without heavenly grace the word cannot be a lamp to the feet and a light to the path, for it is not by might nor by power but by His Spirit, and the foolish who moved from impulse, excited fears, good emotions and dependence on the faith of their brethren lacked thorough understanding of truth, personal experience, and a genuine work of grace in the heart. The Bible becomes like a lamp without oil when knowledge of its word is turned into speculation and self-interest is mixed into its explanation, causing misunderstanding and confusion, whereas God's truth is to be presented simply so all can understand what it requires. The lamps are also the remnant people who have Bibles but lack the oil of grace, the Holy Spirit, truth and heavenly love in constant supply needed to choose obedience, to trim their lamps, reflect the light, and keep faith from failing and lights from burning dim under trial, delay and disappointment.
The lamps also mean outward semblance of religion and outward preparation, even the highest profession such as ordination for the ministry or appointment as superintendent or teacher in the Sabbath School with high responsibilities entrusted, yet without inward piety, the oil of grace, the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus abiding in the heart and feeding the lamp with clear rays, such outward preparation is worthless, enough only to deaden conscience, deceive the senses, and ruin the soul with the name to live while dead. They mean the calling to be the light of the world, so that holding lamps with no oil in the vessels is an unconsecrated heart and life with little real connection with God, destitute of heavenly wisdom and living power, bringing false security under unconsecrated preaching, leaving the church in severe conflict and peril like a vessel nearing harbor without a competent pilot, and in danger of perishing with the wicked unless the Lord of all grace in abundant mercy and full forgiveness pities, humbles the soul, and heals backsliding. The lamp is applied to the soul and to the Christian entrusted with great light shining on the pathway, to be set high above sensuality in thought or action and to shine in clear steady rays illuminating surrounding darkness, and it must be kept trimmed and replenished with the Spirit through purification and sanctification rather than reliance on eloquence alone. Through unjust business transactions, indulgence of passion, and thoughts allowed to run riot the light burns dim and low and goes out for want of the oil of grace, while the oil is kept by purifying the soul through obeying truth including obedience to physical law, so that life grows in grace. Lamps without oil are splendid endowments, talents and busy activity without humble contrite personal piety cherishing the love of God, resting in the Lord, fearing to walk contrary to His will, with unceasing watchfulness and sincere earnest prayer, and God will not accept the talents of the smartest and most eloquent if the inner lamp of the soul is not trimmed and burning in consecrated surrender, for justification is by faith and judgment by works, requiring diligent trading, meek humble labor, and becoming more than conquerors through Him who loved. Keeping lamps trimmed and burning requires vigilant work combined with faithful waiting, watching, praying, working in every line of service, improving every opportunity, letting Christlike virtues be active and Christ be represented, for by use gifts increase into Christian character and Bible religion, but neglect of personal piety makes even the most splendid endowments and service of no value, and this must be done while probationary time lasts.
The foolish took lamps but made no provision of oil to replenish them and filled no oil flasks, bringing no reserve oil in their vessels. They had not prepared for a long delay and had no foresight of the bridegroom's tarrying, so when he came and their lamps needed replenishing their lights were expiring and going out when needed, and they were left outside the wedding feast. Though they started with lamps trimmed and burning and went forth full of hope in the prospect of immediate reward, they were unready when the bridegroom came, in contrast to Luther who filled his lamp from the storehouse of truth.
Identity of Foolish Virgins
The foolish are professed believers watching for the Lord's appearing in the evening of earth's history just before His second coming, a picture of the spiritual condition of the professed Christian church at that time. They take lamps and go out to meet the Bridegroom, but they take lamps without oil and without reserve oil in their vessels, so outward readiness without inward preparation leaves them unready when He comes. For a time no difference is seen between them and the wise, no human can infallibly separate them, but angels know them by fruits, and each must examine whether he will be among the wise because readiness cannot be supplied at the last moment. Their sleep was uncertainty about the time during the delay, and the renewed midnight cry, Behold, the Bridegroom cometh, was meant to wake them and call them to readiness. The division appeared among those who heard the first and second angels' messages, when those who went forth under those messages refused the third angel's message, the last testing message to the world; only five made the provision essential to walk in the light that had come, and had all who claimed to believe acted as wise virgins the message would ere this have been proclaimed to every nation, kindred, tongue, and people.
Lacking oil means lacking unseen principles, open communion with God, and being known by the Lord, and therefore lacking the character that gives entrance to the marriage supper of the Lamb. Oil cannot come by human birth, descent from Abraham, or membership in any church, but requires a personal, visible connection with God through personal faith in the Word of the living God. That faith works by love to Jesus Christ, revealing true preference, firm reliance, entire willing obedience and consecration, and binds feelings, desires, and interests up with Christ in complete identification with Him. The oil is holy grace from heaven, an inward adornment that enables them to stand when Christ appears, and without it they remain unprepared.
They have lamps and outward profession like the wise, and even the theory of truth and assent to the third angel's message, yet they lack genuine conversion, the Spirit and grace of God, and practice. They are satisfied with a theory of truth, with emotion and outward appearance, and were unprepared to follow Christ by faith through the night of trial into His heavenly work before the marriage. In the 1844 crisis this class acted from fear and impulse, while the wise had spiritual grace and were ready for the Bridegroom. Pride and weakness of faith and failure to humble the heart before the Lord leave them without the oil of Christ's grace that feeds the lamp and causes the light of life to shine forth showing the way to those in darkness, so when the cry is heard they will be surprised and disappointed and the door will be shut, leaving the unprepared outside. Mere assent cannot make the lamp shine, for without living faith the light fails.
They are careless, self-pleasing, self-satisfied professors who live to please and glorify themselves, treat life-giving truth as unessential, and expect to enter heaven but have not purified their souls by obeying the truth. Although they knew the perfect standard of righteousness and had real interest in the gospel, self-love left them without sustaining grace to replenish their lamps, leaving blindness, ignorance, weak faith, darkness, and an unstable religious experience resting on uncertain principles. They trust their feelings, neglect Scripture, cherish hidden sins, and lack a vital connection with God, and must seek God, cleanse themselves from sin, and perfect holiness. They are not open sinners who make no profession, but people who claim to be children of God and church members without practicing the truth, having no burden for souls, not denying self or lifting the cross, seeking an enjoyable time with the world while claiming to be Christians. Wearing a mask, refusing to yield to authority, and living by worldly principles, they do great harm and seduce many, in contrast to true Christians who live and work to restore the moral image of God in man and labor with Christ to show that a consecrated life is a power for good while sin results only in weakness and eternal ruin. They are spiritually cold and senseless despite great light and knowledge, marked by weak, fading piety, because they do not recognize the Holy Spirit as a positive necessity; practicing the life-giving truth of the Bible makes people wise unto salvation.
About half of those who claim to be ready are like them, trusting mere theory instead of using the oil of grace; having it makes the lamp shine so the world takes knowledge that its holder has been with Jesus and learned of Him, while being without it leaves the mind in an unguarded moment for Satan to find and possess. They have knowledge of the truth but are not sanctified through it, do not realize accountability, forget that there is a day of trust and a day of reckoning, neglect the talents committed to them, and fail their sacred responsibility to bless others by opening precious truth to those in error. Their religion is false because, though active in God's work, they do not receive the oil of grace nor practice Christ's lessons in daily life nor show His meekness, lowliness, gentleness, tenderness, sympathy, and love. They are a class of professed religionists who suit men of the world that do not want the light of truth, one in spirit with those who never let their light shine in words of truth and deeds of holiness, unlike those who truly serve God, progress heavenward, help others serve God with whole mind, heart, soul, and strength, and keep their vessels well filled with oil. This includes ministers, teachers, and Sabbath school workers with high profession but no inward piety, and many younger ministers with proud, unconsecrated hearts, lacking consecration, heart-felt piety and devotion, and failing to accept and obey the light given; though sent to be a light to church and world by good works as well as by words and theories, without inward grace they cannot exert powerful influence for good, and those who year after year receive ministerial training and privileges yet fail to take truth into themselves and therefore cannot impart it should be removed from ministry.
Meaning of Oil Lacking
The oil lacking is the grace of God and of Christ, the regenerating, enlightening power of the Holy Spirit in the heart working by love and purifying the soul, which renders the Word a lamp to the feet and a light to the path and keeps the light burning with undimmed flame through the night of watching. It is gained by studying the Scriptures in the fear of God to learn the truth and by earnestly seeking purity of heart and life, giving personal experience and faith in God and His Word that cannot be overthrown by disappointment and delay. Having a lamp without oil is outward profession without inward preparation, like having a name in the church book without using God-given capabilities for the Master, for the present is the trading time calling for close self-examination of how opportunities and talents are used and put out to the exchangers. The lamp must be fed with holy oil to be able to burn and shine on the path of others, and seeking grace and maintaining a living, complete connection with God each day is what makes ready when the day comes. Though knowing the standard of righteousness, self-love leaves without this sustaining grace of truth, making vulnerable to darkness and an unstable religious experience.
The oil is also truth and heavenly love needed in constant supply, the righteousness of Jesus Christ, a character purified from sin and formed by obedience, and living faith that works by love. Without this oil of grace the lamps go out, and the condition is marked by doubts, fear, temptation, confessing bad habits yet continuing in sin instead of forsaking it, calling for dependence on God every hour so as not to be late and shut out from the marriage supper in darkness and despair. Having knowledge of the truth without being sanctified through the truth means not realizing accountability and forgetting the day of trust and day of reckoning, neglecting the talents committed and failing the sacred responsibility to bless others by opening precious truth to those in error. Religion is false when, though active in God's work, the vessels are not supplied with the oil of grace and Christ's lessons are not practiced in daily life in His meekness, lowliness, gentleness, tenderness, sympathy, and love.
Taking no oil means moving from impulse with fears excited by the solemn message, being satisfied with the flickering light of good emotions, depending upon the faith of brethren, loving self and living to please and glorify self, and trusting mere theory without thorough understanding of truth or genuine work of grace in the heart. Going forth full of hope of immediate reward but unprepared for delay and disappointment, faith fails when trials come and lights burn dim, because characters could not stand the test for neglect to receive and cherish the Holy Spirit and Christ's grace with no reserve to keep lamps burning. Unlike the wise, whose faith, patience, and love grew through connection with Christ and daily experience nourished through the Spirit, the foolish treat life-giving truth as unessential, and their blindness, ignorance, and weak faith leave them fluctuating on uncertain principles and vulnerable to Satan's deception. Through unjust dealings, indulged passion, neglected little duties, and thoughts allowed to run riot, the light burns dim and goes out for want of grace.
The oil is the holy oil shown in Zechariah by the two olive trees and two olive branches emptying golden oil through golden pipes into vessels prepared for it, the Holy Spirit in the heart kindled by God in the chambers of the soul to burn brightly and give light to the world through good works, supplied by the two anointed ones who communicate it to the churches. Not having oil means claiming to know and talk the truth but not practicing it, keeping truth in the outer court and Christ out of the heart, building on a sandy foundation as hearers but not doers, cherishing self and hereditary and cultivated traits that misrepresent Christ, not putting on the robe of Christ's righteousness, the same as coming to the gospel feast without the wedding garment. It must be secured personally during probationary time by nourishing faith and Christ's grace now, for each must form his own character and gain an experienced knowledge of His grace beforehand. It cannot be borrowed or transferred or obtained from the wise when the final emergency arrives, so that trying to obtain that experience from others in the crisis fails and neglect of the day of salvation leaves seeking entrance after the door has shut.
Without the Spirit of God a knowledge of His word is of no avail to quicken the soul, sanctify the heart, or transform the character, for the theory of truth unaccompanied by the Holy Spirit cannot make the Word a lamp to the feet and a light to the path, since it is not by might nor by power but by His Spirit. One may be familiar with the commands and promises of the Bible and have lamps and vessels and confidently expect His appearing, yet unless the Spirit sets the truth home the character is not transformed, truth does not enter daily life, and having a theory of truth without godliness leaves unprepared when truth must be lived. Without the enlightenment of the Spirit men cannot distinguish truth from error, discover wondrous things in God's word, or stand against the masterful temptations of Satan, and human wisdom cannot replace heavenly grace. The Holy Spirit implants the principles of God's word in hearts and develops the attributes of God, so that the light of His glory, His character, shines forth in followers to glorify God, swell the illumination for the Bridegroom's honor, and lighten the path to the Bridegroom's home, to the city of God, to the marriage supper of the Lamb, but without oil there is no inward transforming work and no enduring light for the night. Lacking oil means having no living connection with God, not being vitalized by His Holy Spirit, having no saving faith and not having Christ as a personal Saviour, making a show of giving light like the wise while wise only in one's own sight, not growing in grace and knowledge through doing Christ's words, neglecting what might and ought to have been done though He clothed divinity with humanity to bring moral power to combine with human effort, leaving unfit for the kingdom and subject to eternal justice when the books are opened and all are judged according to works.
Fulfillment in Advent History
The going forth to meet the Bridegroom was the widespread reformation under the proclamation of Christ's soon coming. It was the movement under the first angel's message, and then the first and second angels' messages together, culminating in the 1844 midnight cry, Behold, the Bridegroom cometh. That cry announced His coming, aroused thousands, and compelled believers to go out from the churches to meet Him. The parable thus illustrates the experience of the church living in the last days, the same church pointed out at the close of Matthew 24, set forth by the incidents of an Eastern marriage. Those who went forth did so with lamps, which are the Bible, by whose light all went forth, yet the foolish moved from impulse with fears excited by the solemn message, depending on the faith of their brethren and satisfied with flickering good emotions, full of hope of immediate reward but without thorough understanding of truth and genuine work of grace to stand disappointment.
The Bridegroom's tarrying illustrated the passing of the expected time and the disappointment. In that delay believers became uncertain about the time, lost zeal and devotion, and slumbered like the virgins, and the renewed midnight cry was meant to wake them and call them to readiness. The delay was a test of faith to learn whether they had genuine righteousness to stand delay, for the foolish had made no provision to replenish their lights and had no reserve of grace to sustain them through waiting, so when trials came their faith failed, their lights burned dim and went out when needed, and they gave up hope because the wait was long. God takes time to test and prove who has real righteousness of Christ, and passing the test means bearing with patience, watching and working with greater diligence to gather souls rather than waiting in idle expectancy that refuses to plant, build, and labor. The delay also expresses Christ's long-suffering, giving time to repent.
The coming of the Bridegroom represents a change in the position and work of Christ as the great High Priest in heaven concerning the marriage of the Lamb. It is His rising from His mediatorial throne and entering the holiest in heaven in 1844 to receive the kingdom, coming to the Ancient of Days to begin the final work of mediation and plead His blood for sinners. There He closed one ministration and opened another in the most holy place, opening the door of mercy there. This settled the shut-door truth held by those who held fast their Advent experience after the 2300 days, and it was not His return to earth to deliver His people on the tenth day of the seventh month. The foolish, who had accepted a theory of truth but were destitute of grace and acted from fear and impulse, were not ready to follow Him by faith into that work.
The division into wise and foolish appeared among those who heard the first and second angels' messages, when five were wise and five were foolish. The foolish are those who went forth under the first and second messages but refused the third angel's message, the last testing message and final message of mercy to be given to the world. Some were led astray by false shepherds, and some had their minds drawn away from the present message by scientific and spiritualistic philosophy, with criticism and unbelief leaving them vulnerable to deception and threatening faith in the third angel's message. Though all ten should have proclaimed the truth and walked in the light that had come, only five made the provision essential to join the company walking in the light, and had all who claimed to believe acted their part as wise virgins the message would ere this have been proclaimed to every nation, kindred, tongue, and people.
Consequence of Being Unready
The lack of oil is exposed when the midnight call to go out to meet the bridegroom sounds, and those without reserve supply find their need too late to remedy by going to buy. They are surprised and dismayed to be unprepared for the coming King, failing to discern their danger though they expected to join the feast. While they are away seeking supply, the prepared enter in with the bridegroom to the marriage supper and the door is shut. Those shut out afterward meet unexpected denial with the words I know you not, lose their chance to partake of the marriage supper of the Lamb, and are left standing outside in the empty street in the blackness of the night.
Without the oil of grace the lamp cannot keep burning, and light received but not lived and walked in is lost until the lamp goes out for lack of grace. The light of holy love that should grow brighter unto the perfect day instead grows dim, and unless there is a decided change soon it goes out in darkness, leaving spiritual declension, blindness, and an unstable experience where warnings and entreaties can no longer reach and only despair remains. Having no oil means an unconsecrated heart and life with little real connection with God, destitute of heavenly wisdom and living power, marked by carelessness and indifference, want of integrity and uprightness, no growth in spiritual understanding, and no self-denial, cross-bearing, or diligent use of entrusted talents. Love of the world or cherished sin draws away from prayer and meditation, and in an unguarded moment the mind is found and possessed by Satan, leaving the church in severe conflict and peril like a vessel nearing harbor without a competent pilot, vulnerable to deception and unable to stand in the final conflict and time of trouble unless the Lord of all grace in abundant mercy pities, forgives, humbles the soul, and heals backsliding.
The missing grace must be secured during probationary time, for it cannot be obtained when the final emergency arrives and probation has ended. Readiness cannot be borrowed or supplied at the last moment, for no one can obtain a character from another, and character cannot be made or changed when the Lord comes. Those who trusted mere theory instead of forming characters in God's likeness through personal obedience and acceptance of heaven-sent light will have no fitness to join the procession or enter through the closed door, and when woes are pronounced they will feel them but have no power to act. To delay preparation for the day of God is to risk seeking entrance after the door has shut, facing despair in the time of trouble, and meeting Christ with grief instead of joy.
Call to Live Ready
The foolish taking lamps without oil pictures the church's condition at the second coming, where outward readiness is not enough and each person must examine conduct and conversation to know whether he is wise or foolish. The warning calls all to wake from sleep, to trim the lamps and look for the Lord through timely action, because the time of His coming is unknown and must not overtake anyone as a thief. The greatest work is to keep the inner lamp trimmed and its vessel supplied with the oil of grace, making every effort to guard against decline when light is going out and faith in the third angel's message is threatened. Present readiness and faithful work are required now, not delay, for recent experience shows how easily spiritual life fails to stay supplied with what is needed to shine.
Oil is the grace of Christ that keeps the light of truth shining, and without it the light grows dim and goes out, so those who neglect it show no concern to watch words or be careful in behavior. It is gained by prayerfully studying the Scriptures in the fear of God to learn truth, by earnestly seeking purity of heart and life, by obeying what is learned, and by seeking understanding of truth in Jesus and sharing present truth with neighbors. Spiritual life is sustained by prayer, searching the Scriptures, public worship, abiding in God's presence, and repentance and confession, with character developed into Christlikeness, and no soul can prosper without time for these duties. This is especially needful for workers thrown into the society of worldlings, who need Jesus held up before them as the Lamb of God and need personal labor bestowed upon them, lest through close relation to godless influences and Satan's allurements the worldly element steal the heart away from God. Those who moved only from impulse, with fears excited by the solemn message, depended on the faith of brethren and were satisfied with flickering light of good emotion, without thorough understanding of truth or genuine work of grace, and therefore went forth full of hope of immediate reward but were unprepared for delay and disappointment, so that when trials came faith failed and lights burned dim.
Having a lamp without oil is like having a name in the church book without using God-given capabilities for the Master, for the present is the trading time that calls for close self-examination of how opportunities have been used and whether talents are put out to the exchangers. God rewards every servant who works with self-denying, self-sacrificing zeal for the salvation of souls, and each one who has denied self and purified the soul through belief of the truth will begin at once to do missionary work for those perishing in sins. Readiness means keeping the lamp trimmed and filled with holy oil and going out to give light to those in darkness, preparing to bear light and responding to God's call with readiness and action, for half-hearted discipleship is fruitless. The true self-sacrificing laborer whose spiritual lamp is trimmed and burning advances the Lord's work through unselfish service, counting it a privilege to give ability, service, and constant care, and thereby gains precious experience in recognizing God's presence. Such a pure, sanctified life cannot be supplied by a minister in place of each person's own responsibility, and neglect of personal piety makes even splendid gifts worthless.
Those who live merely to please themselves may reach sickness and death without inward readiness, discovering too late that they are unprepared and unfitted to close life well, when recognition can no longer supply what was lacked. Those who knowingly cling to sin corrupt the heart and turn from light into spiritual darkness, unprepared for Christ's appearing and without God's protection, while those who repent, confess, and watch for their Saviour are among the faithful who receive the seal of God. The sleeping virgins describe God's people right now, just before the time of trouble such as was not since there was a nation, asleep amid already-permitted disaster and destruction at their post with minds drawn away by spiritualistic philosophy from the message they should proclaim. They must awaken and trim their lamps, turn attention away from unimportant things, give themselves to God, and ask Jesus to place His everlasting arms underneath and carry them through the trial ahead.