Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps.
At the evening wedding all ten waiting companions woke at the midnight announcement and hastily made their torches ready to burn for joining the torchlight procession to the bridegroom's home. That waking was fulfilled when the coming was proclaimed in the summer of 1844 between the first expected date and the corrected autumn end of the 2300 years, awakening sleeping believers to search Scripture, confess, consecrate, and go out to meet him. The lamps are the word of God and outward profession and faith of the soul, and the oil in vessels with them is the Holy Spirit and grace of Christ and righteousness received by hourly dependence, which keeps faith alive and makes the word give light. All appear alike and no human can read the heart, but the foolish have only theory without living connection and transforming power while the wise have living faith that shines in good works and perfected character. Readiness must be secured beforehand by daily connection and tending the lamp, for empty lamps cannot be replenished at the last call, and those without oil go to buy while the wise enter and the door shuts.
Words and Wedding Setting
The parable is set at an evening wedding where a company waits for the bridegroom in order to join the bridal procession. That procession moves at night by torchlight from the bride's father's house to the bridegroom's home, and the lamps are torches carried to light the way.
When the cry announces the bridegroom's coming, all ten virgins wake and hastily make their lamps ready to burn so they can go out to meet him and join the procession. Trimming the lamps means getting them ready to burn as he approaches. The five who brought no extra oil are unprepared for the long delay, while the five with oil in their flasks have freshly trimmed, brightly burning lamps and are ready to go on. The lamps represent readiness for Christ's coming and must be trimmed and burning, and the oil in the vessels represents grace needed to meet the Bridegroom. Those who prayerfully study God's Word and obey keep that oil of grace in their vessels and are ready to respond, while those who neglect watchfulness and care in conduct are unprepared. The wise have oil to keep their lamps burning through the night, but the foolish failed to bring enough and cannot replenish theirs. Their continuing light honors the bridegroom and illuminates the way to his home and the marriage feast.
The story was told while looking upon such a party waiting for the bridegroom. Its arising and trimming of the lamps illustrates the experience of the church that shall live just before Christ's second coming. The parable presents events connected with that coming and teaches readiness, waiting, and watching for it. The ten virgins represent the church, those watching for their Lord's appearing and earnestly seeking to be acknowledged as the Lamb's wife, the professed Christian church watching in the closing period of earth's history. All ten went out with lamps and vessels for oil, so for a time no difference is seen between them, meaning all have a knowledge of the Scriptures, all have heard the message of Christ's near approach, and all confidently expect His appearing. A time of waiting intervenes in which faith is tried, and when the cry is heard many are unready because they have no oil in their vessels with their lamps, meaning they are destitute of the Holy Spirit and the oil of grace. Without the Spirit a knowledge of His word is of no avail, the theory of truth cannot quicken the soul or sanctify the heart, familiarity with the commands and promises of the Bible will not transform the character unless the Spirit sets the truth home, and without His enlightenment men cannot distinguish truth from error and will fall under Satan's masterful temptations. The verse therefore comes as a solemn warning that genuine Christianity is working, waiting, watching, and praying blended together, not idle expectancy and not bustle to the neglect of personal piety, with the needs of the soul constantly supplied and increasing in spiritual power.
Midnight Cry in 1844
The rising and trimming was fulfilled in the summer of 1844 when the coming of the bridegroom was proclaimed in the very words of Scripture. It took place midway between the spring date first expected for the end of the 2300 days and the corrected autumn date to which they were afterward found to extend. The reckoning rested on the discovery that the decree of Artaxerxes for the restoration of Jerusalem went into effect in the autumn of 457 B.C. and not at the beginning of the year, so that 2300 years from autumn 457 bring their termination in autumn 1844.
The going forth was the widespread movement under the first message, and the delay was the waiting time after the expected date had passed. The slumber was the loss of zeal and devotion during that tarrying time. The midnight cry awakened the sleeping believers in 1844 to wake and prepare and go out to meet him, both wise and foolish arising to make ready for the expected coming. That cry announcing his near coming was proclaimed by thousands under the first and second angels' messages, and those who preached Christ's second coming went out from the churches because of it.
That preparation meant studying the word with an intensity of interest not known before, so as to give the warning that the Bridegroom was coming. It stirred them through prayer and confession and consecration to prepare to meet the Lord. The humble and devoted were first to hear and obey, leaving ordinary work to join the movement, while many former leaders joined late and the churches generally rejected it. Their proclamation united with the second angel's message and gave power to that work. All ten arose expecting to live to see Christ coming in the clouds and all should have proclaimed the truth, and had all acted as wise the message would already have gone to every nation, kindred, tongue, and people, but five lacked the essential provision to walk in the light that had come. Many who thus arose under the first and second messages then refused the third angel's message, the last testing message to the world, making that message necessary.
The proclamation revealed two classes, those prepared with the Spirit and grace and those having only a theory of truth and lacking that grace. The wise had patiently searched Scripture and by faith followed Christ in His heavenly sanctuary ministry, and were ready to enter the marriage. The message led the waiting ones to seek a living experience for themselves rather than lean on one another. Before light came on the sanctuary some concluded probation had closed, but at the end of the 2300 days in 1844 Christ closed one ministration and began another in the most holy place presenting His blood, so mercy remained open. Some who went out to meet the Bridegroom in 1844 were later misled by false shepherds until they lost clarity about what they believed and did not know where they were, and others now coming to the truth had never heard the Advent doctrine, so none should rest without the abiding witness that his ways please God.
The arising and trimming in the midnight cry was light from God for the Advent band shown in December 1844. After the disappointment it was still future and not already past, belonging to that past travel and not still future. It is distinct from the coming of the Bridegroom, which was not shown until February following. The message was confirmed when the same thing was told out by another the evening before it was delivered, and the band received it as from God.
The Bridegroom's coming in the parable is Christ's coming to the Ancient of Days in heaven to receive His kingdom and begin the work connected with the cleansing of the sanctuary, going as High Priest to the Most Holy Place and to the marriage. It is connected with the shut door and with the change in His priestly work in relation to the marriage of the Lamb. It means Jesus rising from His mediatorial throne and going into the holiest as Bridegroom to receive His kingdom, not His coming to this earth on the tenth day of the seventh month to deliver His people, and distinct from His later return to earth. Those ready went in by faith following His sanctuary ministry while they waited on earth.
The 1844 expectation remains an example of trimmed and burning lamps picturing readiness to meet Christ at any time, even if the call comes while asleep. The lamps kept trimmed and burning picture cherishing the light God gives, supplied by the oil of grace. The light given at the 1893 General Conference was from God to lighten the world, but minds were led away from it and from the Spirit's deep work, leaving the light uncherished.
Lamps and Their Light
The lamps are the word of God, a lamp to the feet and a light to the path, the old-fashioned lamp of the living oracles of God and the Bible alone giving solid, healthful light amid moral darkness and showing things to come. When night comes and the cry sounds that the bridegroom is coming, all professed believers arise to attend to their lamps, and it is then revealed that the new costly lamps many have preferred are destitute of oil. Those new lamps are human power, human devising and human inventions, giving an uncertain, sickly light, in contrast to the old lamp exchanged for human inventions for which honest men and women then cry eagerly when they discern between the pure golden oil from the olive branches and the spurious article they have been using. Trimming requires oil, which is the Holy Spirit and the oil of grace, imparted from the holy ones that stand in God's presence to consecrated human workers, communicating the heavenly grace that alone can make the word give light, for it is not by might nor by power but by God's Spirit. To trim the lamp means to obtain that oil to refresh the lamp and reflect its light with rejoicing and to use the Bible to decide to obey the truth, and God now calls all who have lamps to trim them, for when the foolish begin to see their defects and try to buy or borrow oil from the wise, before they can obtain it the bridegroom comes and their chance to trim their lamps and enter into the joy of the marriage supper is gone.
The lamps also represent outward profession, a name, a call, and knowledge of truth held as theory by church members, and all who know the truth as sleeping virgins, half wise and half foolish, profess godliness and have lamps while professing to be waiting for the Lord with a pure faith. Having a lamp is not enough without oil in the vessel to feed it and make it burn and give light, for outward readiness without the needed inward grace, faith, love and spiritual life leaves people unprepared to endure conflict and be ready for the Lord. Those who have received much light and great light and knowledge but fail to live by it will lose that light and see their lamps go out, becoming spiritually cold and senseless with piety weak, waning and fading, and may fall away and even become worse sinners after professing the truth, because knowing God without honoring Him leaves self-indulgence to harden the heart and shut Jesus out. By contrast, people who have lived up to the light they had may accept the truth even at the eleventh hour.
The lamps represent faith and the lamp of the soul and inner life, which must be kept trimmed and supplied with the oil of Christ's grace so a person can arise and respond at a moment's warning, since spiritual watchfulness and obedience are necessary because the day of God may come suddenly and the time for preparation and service is short. Merely agreeing with the truth and professing belief in Scripture is not enough, for saving faith must be the right kind of faith and grace must make the light of life shine in work weighty with eternal results, which is the great daily necessity for every soul and cannot safely be neglected. That inner lamp must be kept trimmed and burning so that it shines brightly and does not flicker and go out, and this readiness follows humility before God, overcoming personal defects, and faith that works by love and purifies the soul, shown in faithful, earnest, consecrated work for one's children.
The lamp imagery represents the remnant people, whose lamps need a constant supply of oil through continuing supply and active care. The oil is truth and heavenly love that God's people need, and those who supply it represent God's servants laboring in the harvest.
The wise have oil in their vessels and keep their lamps burning through the night to honor the bridegroom and illuminate the way to his home, the marriage feast, the city of God and the marriage supper of the Lamb. Christ's followers are likewise to shine in the world's darkness: through the Holy Spirit, God's word transforms their lives and develops God's character in them, so their light glorifies God and guides perishing people in darkness to Christ and the city of God. That holy grace sent from heaven adorns the heart within and makes a person conformed to the image of Christ, with evidence in changed habits and godly influence, while those who cling to old habits and weave worldly ideas and customs into life have no oil and are not ready, and baptism, ordination, high position or mere theory without that inward converting oil cannot make one ready or able to stand when He appears. Keeping the lamp filled with oil and carefully trimmed means being ready to meet Christ with thoughts, motives and desires brought into obedience to God, so the lamp's light shines clearly as present truth awakening the world to its danger, warning that the end is near, and causing the world to know that believers have been with Jesus and learned of Him, whereas those without oil leave the mind unguarded for Satan to seize. Each believer's light must be kept burning through heavenly oil received by being emptied of self and ready to serve, and a consecrated personal witness can then bring light to a sinner's path.
The lamp must keep burning by being fed with holy oil, and the oil is effective as its light is shared with others, so readiness joins devotion with active service. The church's light comes only from Christ, who supplies the oil and kindles the flame, and no church shines by itself; those who receive His light must also spread it to people in darkness, for receiving light without sharing it leads to darkness.
Oil and Its Supply
The oil in the vessels with the lamps is the Holy Spirit, continually supplied and replenished to nourish faith and love and patience and to keep the lamp shining. It is golden oil imparted from the holy ones standing in God's presence, emptied from the olive trees into clean, sanctified, consecrated souls, and it alone can make the word give light, for it is not by might nor by power but by God's Spirit. It must be received individually and cannot be bought or borrowed or communicated or obtained from another in the time of testing, because character cannot be transferred and faith and grace must be cultivated beforehand. The foolish try to obtain from others the experience and knowledge of Christ's grace they have not gained for themselves, but the wise cannot give them character or discernment, and without oil they cannot light their lamps or join the procession to the marriage supper. When their lamps go out it shows that faith and love and knowledge of God and of truth have left them, leaving piety cold and senseless and fading while those spiritually alive receive new life and light and power from above.
The oil is grace, the grace of Christ and holy grace sent from heaven, the righteousness of Jesus Christ adorning the heart within and conforming the life to His image with evidence in changed habits and godly influence. It is received by depending on God every hour as a branch grafted into the living Vine draws sap and nourishment every day, and it must be kept in the vessels by prayerful study and obedience of God's Word with watchfulness in conduct. Without that daily and hourly supply the lamps flicker and go out, leaving a lamp of knowledge and light but no inward life, no strength to resist sin, and a faith which is faith and love weakened when love and prayer grow cold. Readiness to meet the Bridegroom requires this inward grace kept with a trimmed and burning lamp, and neither baptism nor clinging to old habits and worldly ideas and customs will make one ready to stand when He appears. Those who have it remain with Jesus and let light burn in good works and enter to the marriage supper, while those belated without it are left outside in midnight darkness and gloom and despair without hope.
The oil is also faith kept alive by the ordinances of grace and by the instrumentalities God employs, including the mediatorial work of Christ from which comes whatever illuminates the understanding and warms the heart. It is experience gained by developing Christlike character, preparing people to join those who overcome through the Lamb's blood and their testimony. To have a lamp without oil is to neglect those ordinances and see no necessity in those instrumentalities, to make science everything and make much of powers inherent in man and nature, to wander in skepticism and fail to exalt the power and glory of God. It is to sleep in guilty repose over the sacred elevating truths for this time, unholy and guilty before God even while opening the Scriptures to others. Living by faith means having that oil, and having it ends guilty sleep and carries a burden to wake the thirsty and repeat Christ's invitation to come and take the water of life freely.
The holy golden oil comes through the two golden pipes in Zechariah 4, emptied from the olive trees into vessels prepared for it by the two anointed ones who stand by the Lord of the whole earth, with provision that every soul may be abundantly supplied. It is the Holy Spirit in the heart working by love and purifying the soul, requiring cleansing of soul and spirit, reformation of heart, and consecration to God. Trimming without it leaves lamps going out, labors without the Holy Spirit, and a presentation of truth that is superficial and weak and ineffective for want of living experience and pure influence and godly example. Those who do not practice the truth have not received it, though they talk the Word and come to the banquet they keep Christ out of the heart, like the foolish virgins with no oil and like the man without the wedding garment who had not put on the robe of Christ's righteousness. The word of the Lord is Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, and that Spirit is the strength and healing of every child of God, received by placing himself in right relation to God and trusting Him.
Having oil is living in hourly contact and conscious communion with the principles of truth and righteousness and mercy that reveal the attributes of God within the soul. It is unseen principles and open communion with God and that character which gives entrance into the marriage supper and marks those whom the Lord knows, which neither human birth nor descent nor membership in any church can supply. Safety is in binding up life with God and cooperating with Him, for God is the deep Source of all moral and intellectual power. Beholding the cross of Calvary gives spiritual efficiency and skill and understanding in the Scriptures to represent truth in its attractive principles by precept and example, through personal faith in the Word working by love in preference and reliance and obedience and consecration and complete oneness with Christ.
The oil of grace can be lost from the heart, and its loss is shown by conduct such as selfish and dishonest dealings. Spiritual life requires maintaining vital connection with God, sustained by the Spirit and the words of Christ.
Wise and Foolish Classes
When the midnight announcement sounds, all ten rise and tend their lamps together, so that outwardly wise and foolish look alike and give the same appearance of light, hiding the inner lack until readiness is tested. No human can now tell who is wise and who is foolish, for men cannot read the heart, just as tares so closely resemble wheat that it is not given to human beings to separate them. The true condition is made manifest only by conduct and conversation, for fruits declare character, and while angels never mistake wheat for tares in counterworking those who fight the truth, the final separation waits until the door is shut. Outward tending of lamps therefore does not prove inward preparation, since the foolish have heard and accepted truth without living it and have not sought the faith that works by love and purifies the soul.
The ten are the professed Christian church watching in the closing evening of earth's history, all having a call, a name, a lamp, professing to do God's service and to wait for Christ's appearing while earnestly seeking to be acknowledged as the Lamb's wife. The parable does not describe open sinners making no profession of loving God and keeping His commandments, but those claiming to be children of God and church members who do not practice the truth. They have no burden for souls, do not deny self or lift Christ's cross, seek enjoyment with the world, wear a mask, refuse to yield to authority, do great harm and seduce many by worldly principles, living for self with empty vessels, walking in sparks of their own kindling without the sacred fire from God and without taking Christ as Counsellor or coming under His yoke. They are half with Christ and half with the world, lukewarm, lightly regarding warnings, and self hardens their hearts and shuts Christ out, so that knowing God without worshiping Him as God makes them greater sinners than before belief, until worldliness in dress and practice leaves them surprised, dismayed, outside the banquet hall, denied with I know you not and shut out by their own unfitness for heavenly companionship.
The foolish have lamps but no oil because self-love weakens spiritual life and they treat life-giving truth as unessential, knowing theory without living connection with God. They neglect Scripture, cherish hidden sin, and need to obey truth and seek cleansing and holiness, for outward readiness and knowledge of the standard of righteousness cannot sustain them and leave them vulnerable to false light and unstable experience. Though they have received great light and knowledge they are spiritually cold, senseless, lifeless and weak or waning in piety, with hearts untransformed, the law not written within, and truth assented to only by the understanding. In that state they are overcome by masterful temptation and brought into vilest bondage while borrowing heaven's livery, including leaders who weave false theories and praise workers who trample the Sabbath and exalt Sunday.
At the last call, Behold the Bridegroom cometh, the rising and trimming exposes that while mingling with the world their light has gone out for want of a continued supply of grace, hushed to slumber by the peace and safety cry and left ease-loving, world-loving and careless about shining. So many are foolish because though knowing truth they are not sanctified through it, failing to realize accountability, the day of trust and day of reckoning, and the use of talents to bless others and open precious truth to those in error. Ministers among them may have great spiritual privileges yet year after year fail to absorb truth into life so they cannot give it to others and lack likeness to Christ, showing they need grace, faith and love rather than mere outward profession. Those who received much light but fail to live by it will see light go out, while those who lived up to light they had may accept truth even at the eleventh hour, for character is not transferable.
The wise keep lamps supplied with holy grace from heaven through vital connection with Christ, so that at the announcement their discernment remains, they receive Christ's grace and the Spirit, and their lamps burn brightly and steadily through moral darkness into the festal hall. They let light burn in good works by remaining with Jesus, revealing progression heavenward and helping others serve wholly, doing Christ's work of seeking and saving the lost with hearts filled with God's love. Readiness requires more than theory, baptism, profession while clinging to old habits and worldly customs, ordination or high position, for oil must feed the lamp so living faith shines; the wise are transformed, perfecting character, washing robes white in the Lamb's blood, following Jesus with faith, love and patience nourished daily by the Spirit, with increasing desire for peace and joy. Receiving the life-giving truth practiced makes wise unto salvation, and receiving the Holy Spirit is a positive necessity.
Five wise and five foolish give the average proportion of ready and unready among professed believers facing great events soon to open. Only a small number of those with great light, privilege and continuous opportunities have more than theoretical knowledge, while many think theory and even assent to the third angel's message is enough yet are not doers of the Word, deprived by pride and weakness of faith and left with lamp but no oil in the vessel. The arising is the sounding of Come, for all things are now ready, with heaven's light shining and the trumpet giving a certain sound upon justification by faith and the imputed righteousness of Christ, which excuse-makers neglect to their loss. The wise are those worked by the Spirit who bear living testimony, walk in received light, search Scripture, communicate precious truth, receive more as they impart what they have, and cooperate with heavenly agencies to guide those in darkness by the light of life.
All must secure oil beforehand, for waking then to replenish empty lamps cannot make one ready when signs are fulfilling and slumbering churches are roused to act. The trimming exposes the foolish with no oil, and their going to buy leaves them absent when the wise enter the marriage supper and the door is shut, so they come to the banqueting hall only to be denied with I know you not and left standing without in the empty street in blackness of night. Those neglecting preparation and failing to form character after the divine likeness will find it too late to join the procession, for probation has ended and the door is closed, and lamps that are going out warn of the urgency of receiving grace before the end. The end comes unexpectedly as a thief, and late confession in crisis and plagues brings only despair, gloom and hopeless midnight darkness for the belated.
Before the Master comes there is long delay because God uses time to test and prove who has real, genuine righteousness of Christ. In that trial the foolish grow weary in waiting, begin to think He is not coming, and adopt the world's counsel of delay, having no supply of grace to stand the test. Readiness means bearing with patience, watching and working with more diligence to gather souls, planting, building meetinghouses and caring for the lost, not waiting in idle expectancy that stops work while souls perish. Worldly schemes and engrossments crowd God from the thoughts and drain strength for service, calling for awakening from spiritual sleep and neglect.
Readiness in Life and Service
Readiness to meet Christ requires preparation beforehand, like the wise who keep oil in vessels with lamps ready and do not delay in expectation of His coming. Keeping the lamp trimmed and burning means maintaining a complete living connection with God every day and hour as the source of growth, so that added grace is received in special need and spiritual decline does not leave the day to overtake unexpectedly. More than theory is required, for the oil of grace and the Spirit must feed the lamp so living faith shines and shows the way to those in darkness, while outward preparation alone leaves the foolish with lamps but no oil. Thoughts must be restrained to obedience and words, actions and little duties guarded, since crisis cannot be met on unpracticed principles and indulged trifles leave names in danger.
Trimming the lamp means tending it so it can give light, rekindling dim love for truth and concern for others, and keeping the light burning by constantly receiving heavenly oil which is the grace of the Spirit. That oil is truth enthroned in the heart, awakening thought, arousing conscience to decided action, adorning character and renewing nature, and the consecrated Christlike life receives grace in order to impart it, each vessel filled to be emptied into others so that as light is shed new light is imparted. Faith kindled from the divine altar must be cultivated and cherished and walked in, for uncultivated faith weakens, fades from mind and heart, and leaves the lamp to go out for want of supply. Without holiness and virtuous character, one who has received light cannot see the value of self-control and obedience and is worse than a sinner without that light.
Arising and making ready is vigilant watching and sanctified waiting with no relaxation of effort, blending working, waiting, praying and watching, forbidding both idle expectancy and bustle that neglects piety. It joins quiet prayerful hours apart from excitement to commune with God and learn His will, as Enoch walked with God in obedient holy life and stands as example of those caught up to meet Christ, with bearing a positive warning to clear the King's highway and prepare a people. Sleeping like the foolish means folding the hands and ceasing earnest effort to save souls, and haphazard unprepared work brings spiritual declension and causes the day to overtake as a thief. Those fallen asleep at post must wake, prepare, hold firmly to present truth, reject doubt and deception, strengthen mind to discern reasons of faith, purify the soul temple by truth, and turn toward the promised land rather than Egypt.
Keeping lamps trimmed describes ministers staying spiritually ready by ministry of the Word, prayer, growth in knowledge of God and Christ, purification and replenishing with the Spirit rather than own judgment, cultivating piety that shines in good works. Having a lamp is not enough without oil, and ministers need faith working by love to purify the soul and keep the light burning to give light in moral darkness. Teachers must maintain Christian character as clear lights to students, homes, neighborhoods and the world, and all need time to pray, search Scripture and attend public worship, especially workers among worldlings who need Jesus held up and personal labor lest godless talk steal the heart. Canvasser-evangelists and God's people must faithfully shine amid unbelief and circulate warning publications, for worship and prayer give strength for daily duty.
Everyone in the home must keep his lamp constantly replenished with the oil of grace, which is the full love of God making human affection stronger, purer, more elevated, refined and holy, so the light burns brightly and does not go out. This requires refusing to let temporal interests and conversation supplant eternal interests and the Word, giving religion its proper place through uplifting family association, family worship, a whole heart made a reservoir of divine love, habitual communion shown in words and actions, thoughts captive to Christ, and hope, sympathy and brotherly love flowing forth. Each person's inner lamp must shine in faithful earnest work for children in humility overcoming defects, with faith working by love purifying the soul, and each must trim his own lamp by taking heed to self first then doctrine, giving self without reserve, freed from self with holy root and sound fruit. Such inner trimming creates sanctified influence in the home carried into the church, keeps a sweet disposition in daily toil, and bringing Jesus near leads others to glorify the Father.
The church's duty to arise and prepare lamps for clearer light means becoming purified and spiritually alert, renewing consecration, defending law and Sabbath, studying the Bible and sharing present truth with neighbors, with each taking personal responsibility rather than leaving work to ministers. Diligent use of abilities is called for now, since membership alone does not secure heaven and many expect the marriage supper unprepared and unaware of danger. Luther filling his lamp with gospel truth in imprisonment to shine brighter illustrates such preparation. Accusation, dissension, fault-finding, jealousy and murmuring must be put away, past neglect repented, and truth as it is in Jesus understood.
Having lamps trimmed and burning means being ready for the heavenly refreshing of the latter rain and closing work, requiring daily seeking of the Spirit's enlightenment upon soul and character. To arise and trim means keeping vessels filled with oil and lamps burning brighter by growing in understanding and power, keeping the soul in God's love, practicing self-denial and cross-bearing, and using talents earnestly daily to the utmost. Keeping the lamp requires consecration, humiliation and works corresponding to light, which perfects character in Christ's likeness and flashes light on others to receive more, while cherishing precious light and revelations with personal piety while probation lasts, working, watching, praying, waiting patiently without hurried movement. When light and deep movings are not cherished the enemy allures from allegiance, doubt and unbelief arise and rays are eclipsed, and pride and weak faith leave only theory, so hearts must be humbled and emptied of self to receive holy oil; those letting lamps flicker in darkness cannot expect blessing.
Trimming requires going beyond profession to truth in the heart through self-sacrifice and converting power, so work is accepted and the light of truth warns the perishing of the near end. It means tending inner life to shine to others, valuing Christ's righteousness above outward dress, keeping the lamp ready by a heart sanctified by truth with wisdom in speech and action, and attending to inward readiness, purity and sanctification rather than talent or eloquence. All professing connection must trim and keep burning by following the Word, helping the Lord without wasting time for a world to save, refusing frivolous lightness that drains strength, humbling the soul, and keeping faith brightly active to guide others. The inner life must be continually kept by habitual obedience and useful work, first wholly consecrated with soul temple cleansed, self hid in God, moving forward with Christ's mind as doers adorning doctrine.
The faithful worker whose lamp is trimmed shows readiness in unselfish labor, vigilance and self-denial, remaining spiritually ready and advancing the Lord's interests. Receiving heavenly oil requires being emptied of self and ready to serve, so consecrated witness brings light to sinners and grace shared shines to those in darkness. God's workers must keep lamps constantly trimmed by preaching in simplicity to Jews and Gentiles without barriers, instructing the heathen as children, establishing schools, publishing truth worldwide without letting business absorb all, working while it is day to gather harvest as faithful stewards. Failure shows lack of appreciation for life purchased at infinite cost and brings condemnation as slothful, for life is not for selfish use.
The verse calls sleeping virgins to wake, trim lamps and check oil because lights are going out, confess sins, seek pardon, lay hold on hope, be cleansed from selfish purpose, be converted, and become laborers ready to unite with the redeemed when He comes without tarrying. While He goes to receive the kingdom garments must be kept spotless to await His return, with oil feeding the lamp and final mercy accepted in obedience and faith to enter the marriage supper. Heeding God's voice in revival means bearing light with action, seeking God through Christ to partake of divine nature, giving self wholly, and holding affirmative truth by study, prayer and consecration so faith stays bright and good works lead men to glorify the Father, rather than remaining in skepticism or dwelling on negatives.
Keeping lamps trimmed and burning means loving the Lord supremely with whole-hearted careful service, not half-hearted negligent deceit, receiving nourishment to grow up into Christ, advance in piety, improve talents, walk and disperse light and honor religion with strength for warfare. Christ's presence makes the lamp shine continually, while selfishness, unrighteous acts, harsh angry words and concealment dim it, and vigilance guards against careless words and actions and helps discern God's voice through Scripture and humble prayer. Those without it make no advancement though named Christians, lose germinating power, love amusements, become dead branches and stumbling blocks having a name to live while dead, disperse no light, dishonor Christ, and have no armor against darkness because they never put on God's armor nor crucified the flesh.
The call is urgent now because perils of the last days are present, with Satan working on minds thought secure and spiritualistic sophistries drawing minds by scientific philosophy, leaving strong men under a spell living to criticize. In the final contest when evil angels unite with evil men for Armageddon none must sleep but all must be wide awake as wise with oil of grace and power of the Holy Ghost to sustain faith and courage, while the Captain of the Lord's host directs the battle. God's people now like sleeping virgins before trouble such as never was must awake, turn from unimportant things, give selves fully to God, realize the nearness of the end, keep feet in the narrow path, gain assuring experience of present help, and ask Jesus to carry them through trial lest Satan keep them sleeping. All must now arise and shine, build for eternity giving hearts wholly to Christ, refuse amusement, self-will, lustful appetite and cares that eclipse light, follow on to know the Lord, when Babylon is fallen is cried.
Trimming is applied to servants arousing to prepare gospel light and seek the lost with zeal, kindling the taper from the divine altar to diffuse overflowing influence with burden, love and sympathy, hunting up lost sheep. Those not trimming live cold and dead with no influence, grumbling at work for the lost, feeling no burden and expecting nursing, however great their advantages and solemn truths. It means stopping complaint and gloom, pouring in grace, rejoicing in the Saviour's love so the lamp burns in steady rays cheering the weak, seeking fresh supply before worship with joyfulness, and carrying oil so truth shines in bright rays distinct from the world through earnest prayer in simple faith, with words and actions convicting unbelievers. It means purifying soul by obeying truth including physical law, not engaging in unjust business or passion, bringing religion to the Bible standard separate from the world, refusing to side with those judging God's reproofs, contending for the faith and striving for perfection in constant warfare.
The verse warns churches that briefly mourn then return to careless self-service leaving eternity out, bound by confessed but unforsaken doubts, fears, temptations and sins, letting lamps burn dim and flicker out so blessing cannot come. Arising means keeping vessels filled, growing in understanding and power, keeping souls in God's love, practicing self-denial, using talents daily, and maintaining worship and fellowship to reflect God's light and glory. Absenting from meetings lays off spiritual garments and leaves light feeble, and formal Sabbath-keeping as mere cessation and form without power leaves religion dead with low spiritual temperature. The wise must obtain oil now so as not to be counted foolish, as part of fitting a people to stand in the day of the Lord.
Lack of oil pictures being unprepared for life's end, where those living merely to please themselves have no inward preparation and are unfitted when sickness and death come. The oil of grace in the heart also prevents friction and keeps believers united in harmony.
Being ready means having the oil of grace and the robe of Christ's righteousness and wedding garment, without which no one can be ready, and discerning danger of being unprepared. It requires humbling the soul low at the cross, cleansing the temple, sanctifying tongue and being with a live coal from the altar, and learning thanksgiving and adoration. It requires conversion and new birth, knowing God and Christ, representing new life in character on the foundation of Christ by seeking first the kingdom, with honest self-searching, whole-hearted love, evidence of entering Christ's fold, digging deep on the Rock, faith working by love purifying from defilement, bearing the Bible test in word, practice and disposition, showing fragrant regenerated influence where selfishness has died.
God wants His people to shine with a distinct special message awakening the dead in trespasses, supplying holy oil when the vessel is prepared, through plain truth on true conversion repeated often and understanding man's relation to law which gives power. This is urgent because the world converts churches and false shepherds delude without It is written. In Battle Creek the church must arouse before sleeping the sleep of death, seeing in the unwise its future if asleep, with holy kindling first and divine wisdom, inquiring what the Lord would have done and doing it wholeheartedly, dedicating time to missionary work where souls hunger so light increases in brightness in saving the perishing.
At the evening wedding all ten waiting companions woke at the midnight announcement and hastily made their torches ready to burn for joining the torchlight procession to the bridegroom's home.
That waking was fulfilled when the coming was proclaimed in the summer of 1844 between the first expected date and the corrected autumn end of the 2300 years, awakening sleeping believers to search Scripture, confess, consecrate, and go out to meet him.
The lamps are the word of God and outward profession and faith of the soul, and the oil in vessels with them is the Holy Spirit and grace of Christ and righteousness received by hourly dependence, which keeps faith alive and makes the word give light.
All appear alike and no human can read the heart, but the foolish have only theory without living connection and transforming power while the wise have living faith that shines in good works and perfected character.
Readiness must be secured beforehand by daily connection and tending the lamp, for empty lamps cannot be replenished at the last call, and those without oil go to buy while the wise enter and the door shuts.
Words and Wedding Setting
The parable is set at an evening wedding where a company waits for the bridegroom in order to join the bridal procession. That procession moves at night by torchlight from the bride's father's house to the bridegroom's home, and the lamps are torches carried to light the way.
When the cry announces the bridegroom's coming, all ten virgins wake and hastily make their lamps ready to burn so they can go out to meet him and join the procession. Trimming the lamps means getting them ready to burn as he approaches. The five who brought no extra oil are unprepared for the long delay, while the five with oil in their flasks have freshly trimmed, brightly burning lamps and are ready to go on. The lamps represent readiness for Christ's coming and must be trimmed and burning, and the oil in the vessels represents grace needed to meet the Bridegroom. Those who prayerfully study God's Word and obey keep that oil of grace in their vessels and are ready to respond, while those who neglect watchfulness and care in conduct are unprepared. The wise have oil to keep their lamps burning through the night, but the foolish failed to bring enough and cannot replenish theirs. Their continuing light honors the bridegroom and illuminates the way to his home and the marriage feast.
The story was told while looking upon such a party waiting for the bridegroom. Its arising and trimming of the lamps illustrates the experience of the church that shall live just before Christ's second coming. The parable presents events connected with that coming and teaches readiness, waiting, and watching for it. The ten virgins represent the church, those watching for their Lord's appearing and earnestly seeking to be acknowledged as the Lamb's wife, the professed Christian church watching in the closing period of earth's history. All ten went out with lamps and vessels for oil, so for a time no difference is seen between them, meaning all have a knowledge of the Scriptures, all have heard the message of Christ's near approach, and all confidently expect His appearing. A time of waiting intervenes in which faith is tried, and when the cry is heard many are unready because they have no oil in their vessels with their lamps, meaning they are destitute of the Holy Spirit and the oil of grace. Without the Spirit a knowledge of His word is of no avail, the theory of truth cannot quicken the soul or sanctify the heart, familiarity with the commands and promises of the Bible will not transform the character unless the Spirit sets the truth home, and without His enlightenment men cannot distinguish truth from error and will fall under Satan's masterful temptations. The verse therefore comes as a solemn warning that genuine Christianity is working, waiting, watching, and praying blended together, not idle expectancy and not bustle to the neglect of personal piety, with the needs of the soul constantly supplied and increasing in spiritual power.
Midnight Cry in 1844
The rising and trimming was fulfilled in the summer of 1844 when the coming of the bridegroom was proclaimed in the very words of Scripture. It took place midway between the spring date first expected for the end of the 2300 days and the corrected autumn date to which they were afterward found to extend. The reckoning rested on the discovery that the decree of Artaxerxes for the restoration of Jerusalem went into effect in the autumn of 457 B.C. and not at the beginning of the year, so that 2300 years from autumn 457 bring their termination in autumn 1844.
The going forth was the widespread movement under the first message, and the delay was the waiting time after the expected date had passed. The slumber was the loss of zeal and devotion during that tarrying time. The midnight cry awakened the sleeping believers in 1844 to wake and prepare and go out to meet him, both wise and foolish arising to make ready for the expected coming. That cry announcing his near coming was proclaimed by thousands under the first and second angels' messages, and those who preached Christ's second coming went out from the churches because of it.
That preparation meant studying the word with an intensity of interest not known before, so as to give the warning that the Bridegroom was coming. It stirred them through prayer and confession and consecration to prepare to meet the Lord. The humble and devoted were first to hear and obey, leaving ordinary work to join the movement, while many former leaders joined late and the churches generally rejected it. Their proclamation united with the second angel's message and gave power to that work. All ten arose expecting to live to see Christ coming in the clouds and all should have proclaimed the truth, and had all acted as wise the message would already have gone to every nation, kindred, tongue, and people, but five lacked the essential provision to walk in the light that had come. Many who thus arose under the first and second messages then refused the third angel's message, the last testing message to the world, making that message necessary.
The proclamation revealed two classes, those prepared with the Spirit and grace and those having only a theory of truth and lacking that grace. The wise had patiently searched Scripture and by faith followed Christ in His heavenly sanctuary ministry, and were ready to enter the marriage. The message led the waiting ones to seek a living experience for themselves rather than lean on one another. Before light came on the sanctuary some concluded probation had closed, but at the end of the 2300 days in 1844 Christ closed one ministration and began another in the most holy place presenting His blood, so mercy remained open. Some who went out to meet the Bridegroom in 1844 were later misled by false shepherds until they lost clarity about what they believed and did not know where they were, and others now coming to the truth had never heard the Advent doctrine, so none should rest without the abiding witness that his ways please God.
The arising and trimming in the midnight cry was light from God for the Advent band shown in December 1844. After the disappointment it was still future and not already past, belonging to that past travel and not still future. It is distinct from the coming of the Bridegroom, which was not shown until February following. The message was confirmed when the same thing was told out by another the evening before it was delivered, and the band received it as from God.
The Bridegroom's coming in the parable is Christ's coming to the Ancient of Days in heaven to receive His kingdom and begin the work connected with the cleansing of the sanctuary, going as High Priest to the Most Holy Place and to the marriage. It is connected with the shut door and with the change in His priestly work in relation to the marriage of the Lamb. It means Jesus rising from His mediatorial throne and going into the holiest as Bridegroom to receive His kingdom, not His coming to this earth on the tenth day of the seventh month to deliver His people, and distinct from His later return to earth. Those ready went in by faith following His sanctuary ministry while they waited on earth.
The 1844 expectation remains an example of trimmed and burning lamps picturing readiness to meet Christ at any time, even if the call comes while asleep. The lamps kept trimmed and burning picture cherishing the light God gives, supplied by the oil of grace. The light given at the 1893 General Conference was from God to lighten the world, but minds were led away from it and from the Spirit's deep work, leaving the light uncherished.
Lamps and Their Light
The lamps are the word of God, a lamp to the feet and a light to the path, the old-fashioned lamp of the living oracles of God and the Bible alone giving solid, healthful light amid moral darkness and showing things to come. When night comes and the cry sounds that the bridegroom is coming, all professed believers arise to attend to their lamps, and it is then revealed that the new costly lamps many have preferred are destitute of oil. Those new lamps are human power, human devising and human inventions, giving an uncertain, sickly light, in contrast to the old lamp exchanged for human inventions for which honest men and women then cry eagerly when they discern between the pure golden oil from the olive branches and the spurious article they have been using. Trimming requires oil, which is the Holy Spirit and the oil of grace, imparted from the holy ones that stand in God's presence to consecrated human workers, communicating the heavenly grace that alone can make the word give light, for it is not by might nor by power but by God's Spirit. To trim the lamp means to obtain that oil to refresh the lamp and reflect its light with rejoicing and to use the Bible to decide to obey the truth, and God now calls all who have lamps to trim them, for when the foolish begin to see their defects and try to buy or borrow oil from the wise, before they can obtain it the bridegroom comes and their chance to trim their lamps and enter into the joy of the marriage supper is gone.
The lamps also represent outward profession, a name, a call, and knowledge of truth held as theory by church members, and all who know the truth as sleeping virgins, half wise and half foolish, profess godliness and have lamps while professing to be waiting for the Lord with a pure faith. Having a lamp is not enough without oil in the vessel to feed it and make it burn and give light, for outward readiness without the needed inward grace, faith, love and spiritual life leaves people unprepared to endure conflict and be ready for the Lord. Those who have received much light and great light and knowledge but fail to live by it will lose that light and see their lamps go out, becoming spiritually cold and senseless with piety weak, waning and fading, and may fall away and even become worse sinners after professing the truth, because knowing God without honoring Him leaves self-indulgence to harden the heart and shut Jesus out. By contrast, people who have lived up to the light they had may accept the truth even at the eleventh hour.
The lamps represent faith and the lamp of the soul and inner life, which must be kept trimmed and supplied with the oil of Christ's grace so a person can arise and respond at a moment's warning, since spiritual watchfulness and obedience are necessary because the day of God may come suddenly and the time for preparation and service is short. Merely agreeing with the truth and professing belief in Scripture is not enough, for saving faith must be the right kind of faith and grace must make the light of life shine in work weighty with eternal results, which is the great daily necessity for every soul and cannot safely be neglected. That inner lamp must be kept trimmed and burning so that it shines brightly and does not flicker and go out, and this readiness follows humility before God, overcoming personal defects, and faith that works by love and purifies the soul, shown in faithful, earnest, consecrated work for one's children.
The lamp imagery represents the remnant people, whose lamps need a constant supply of oil through continuing supply and active care. The oil is truth and heavenly love that God's people need, and those who supply it represent God's servants laboring in the harvest.
The wise have oil in their vessels and keep their lamps burning through the night to honor the bridegroom and illuminate the way to his home, the marriage feast, the city of God and the marriage supper of the Lamb. Christ's followers are likewise to shine in the world's darkness: through the Holy Spirit, God's word transforms their lives and develops God's character in them, so their light glorifies God and guides perishing people in darkness to Christ and the city of God. That holy grace sent from heaven adorns the heart within and makes a person conformed to the image of Christ, with evidence in changed habits and godly influence, while those who cling to old habits and weave worldly ideas and customs into life have no oil and are not ready, and baptism, ordination, high position or mere theory without that inward converting oil cannot make one ready or able to stand when He appears. Keeping the lamp filled with oil and carefully trimmed means being ready to meet Christ with thoughts, motives and desires brought into obedience to God, so the lamp's light shines clearly as present truth awakening the world to its danger, warning that the end is near, and causing the world to know that believers have been with Jesus and learned of Him, whereas those without oil leave the mind unguarded for Satan to seize. Each believer's light must be kept burning through heavenly oil received by being emptied of self and ready to serve, and a consecrated personal witness can then bring light to a sinner's path.
The lamp must keep burning by being fed with holy oil, and the oil is effective as its light is shared with others, so readiness joins devotion with active service. The church's light comes only from Christ, who supplies the oil and kindles the flame, and no church shines by itself; those who receive His light must also spread it to people in darkness, for receiving light without sharing it leads to darkness.
Oil and Its Supply
The oil in the vessels with the lamps is the Holy Spirit, continually supplied and replenished to nourish faith and love and patience and to keep the lamp shining. It is golden oil imparted from the holy ones standing in God's presence, emptied from the olive trees into clean, sanctified, consecrated souls, and it alone can make the word give light, for it is not by might nor by power but by God's Spirit. It must be received individually and cannot be bought or borrowed or communicated or obtained from another in the time of testing, because character cannot be transferred and faith and grace must be cultivated beforehand. The foolish try to obtain from others the experience and knowledge of Christ's grace they have not gained for themselves, but the wise cannot give them character or discernment, and without oil they cannot light their lamps or join the procession to the marriage supper. When their lamps go out it shows that faith and love and knowledge of God and of truth have left them, leaving piety cold and senseless and fading while those spiritually alive receive new life and light and power from above.
The oil is grace, the grace of Christ and holy grace sent from heaven, the righteousness of Jesus Christ adorning the heart within and conforming the life to His image with evidence in changed habits and godly influence. It is received by depending on God every hour as a branch grafted into the living Vine draws sap and nourishment every day, and it must be kept in the vessels by prayerful study and obedience of God's Word with watchfulness in conduct. Without that daily and hourly supply the lamps flicker and go out, leaving a lamp of knowledge and light but no inward life, no strength to resist sin, and a faith which is faith and love weakened when love and prayer grow cold. Readiness to meet the Bridegroom requires this inward grace kept with a trimmed and burning lamp, and neither baptism nor clinging to old habits and worldly ideas and customs will make one ready to stand when He appears. Those who have it remain with Jesus and let light burn in good works and enter to the marriage supper, while those belated without it are left outside in midnight darkness and gloom and despair without hope.
The oil is also faith kept alive by the ordinances of grace and by the instrumentalities God employs, including the mediatorial work of Christ from which comes whatever illuminates the understanding and warms the heart. It is experience gained by developing Christlike character, preparing people to join those who overcome through the Lamb's blood and their testimony. To have a lamp without oil is to neglect those ordinances and see no necessity in those instrumentalities, to make science everything and make much of powers inherent in man and nature, to wander in skepticism and fail to exalt the power and glory of God. It is to sleep in guilty repose over the sacred elevating truths for this time, unholy and guilty before God even while opening the Scriptures to others. Living by faith means having that oil, and having it ends guilty sleep and carries a burden to wake the thirsty and repeat Christ's invitation to come and take the water of life freely.
The holy golden oil comes through the two golden pipes in Zechariah 4, emptied from the olive trees into vessels prepared for it by the two anointed ones who stand by the Lord of the whole earth, with provision that every soul may be abundantly supplied. It is the Holy Spirit in the heart working by love and purifying the soul, requiring cleansing of soul and spirit, reformation of heart, and consecration to God. Trimming without it leaves lamps going out, labors without the Holy Spirit, and a presentation of truth that is superficial and weak and ineffective for want of living experience and pure influence and godly example. Those who do not practice the truth have not received it, though they talk the Word and come to the banquet they keep Christ out of the heart, like the foolish virgins with no oil and like the man without the wedding garment who had not put on the robe of Christ's righteousness. The word of the Lord is Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, and that Spirit is the strength and healing of every child of God, received by placing himself in right relation to God and trusting Him.
Having oil is living in hourly contact and conscious communion with the principles of truth and righteousness and mercy that reveal the attributes of God within the soul. It is unseen principles and open communion with God and that character which gives entrance into the marriage supper and marks those whom the Lord knows, which neither human birth nor descent nor membership in any church can supply. Safety is in binding up life with God and cooperating with Him, for God is the deep Source of all moral and intellectual power. Beholding the cross of Calvary gives spiritual efficiency and skill and understanding in the Scriptures to represent truth in its attractive principles by precept and example, through personal faith in the Word working by love in preference and reliance and obedience and consecration and complete oneness with Christ.
The oil of grace can be lost from the heart, and its loss is shown by conduct such as selfish and dishonest dealings. Spiritual life requires maintaining vital connection with God, sustained by the Spirit and the words of Christ.
Wise and Foolish Classes
When the midnight announcement sounds, all ten rise and tend their lamps together, so that outwardly wise and foolish look alike and give the same appearance of light, hiding the inner lack until readiness is tested. No human can now tell who is wise and who is foolish, for men cannot read the heart, just as tares so closely resemble wheat that it is not given to human beings to separate them. The true condition is made manifest only by conduct and conversation, for fruits declare character, and while angels never mistake wheat for tares in counterworking those who fight the truth, the final separation waits until the door is shut. Outward tending of lamps therefore does not prove inward preparation, since the foolish have heard and accepted truth without living it and have not sought the faith that works by love and purifies the soul.
The ten are the professed Christian church watching in the closing evening of earth's history, all having a call, a name, a lamp, professing to do God's service and to wait for Christ's appearing while earnestly seeking to be acknowledged as the Lamb's wife. The parable does not describe open sinners making no profession of loving God and keeping His commandments, but those claiming to be children of God and church members who do not practice the truth. They have no burden for souls, do not deny self or lift Christ's cross, seek enjoyment with the world, wear a mask, refuse to yield to authority, do great harm and seduce many by worldly principles, living for self with empty vessels, walking in sparks of their own kindling without the sacred fire from God and without taking Christ as Counsellor or coming under His yoke. They are half with Christ and half with the world, lukewarm, lightly regarding warnings, and self hardens their hearts and shuts Christ out, so that knowing God without worshiping Him as God makes them greater sinners than before belief, until worldliness in dress and practice leaves them surprised, dismayed, outside the banquet hall, denied with I know you not and shut out by their own unfitness for heavenly companionship.
The foolish have lamps but no oil because self-love weakens spiritual life and they treat life-giving truth as unessential, knowing theory without living connection with God. They neglect Scripture, cherish hidden sin, and need to obey truth and seek cleansing and holiness, for outward readiness and knowledge of the standard of righteousness cannot sustain them and leave them vulnerable to false light and unstable experience. Though they have received great light and knowledge they are spiritually cold, senseless, lifeless and weak or waning in piety, with hearts untransformed, the law not written within, and truth assented to only by the understanding. In that state they are overcome by masterful temptation and brought into vilest bondage while borrowing heaven's livery, including leaders who weave false theories and praise workers who trample the Sabbath and exalt Sunday.
At the last call, Behold the Bridegroom cometh, the rising and trimming exposes that while mingling with the world their light has gone out for want of a continued supply of grace, hushed to slumber by the peace and safety cry and left ease-loving, world-loving and careless about shining. So many are foolish because though knowing truth they are not sanctified through it, failing to realize accountability, the day of trust and day of reckoning, and the use of talents to bless others and open precious truth to those in error. Ministers among them may have great spiritual privileges yet year after year fail to absorb truth into life so they cannot give it to others and lack likeness to Christ, showing they need grace, faith and love rather than mere outward profession. Those who received much light but fail to live by it will see light go out, while those who lived up to light they had may accept truth even at the eleventh hour, for character is not transferable.
The wise keep lamps supplied with holy grace from heaven through vital connection with Christ, so that at the announcement their discernment remains, they receive Christ's grace and the Spirit, and their lamps burn brightly and steadily through moral darkness into the festal hall. They let light burn in good works by remaining with Jesus, revealing progression heavenward and helping others serve wholly, doing Christ's work of seeking and saving the lost with hearts filled with God's love. Readiness requires more than theory, baptism, profession while clinging to old habits and worldly customs, ordination or high position, for oil must feed the lamp so living faith shines; the wise are transformed, perfecting character, washing robes white in the Lamb's blood, following Jesus with faith, love and patience nourished daily by the Spirit, with increasing desire for peace and joy. Receiving the life-giving truth practiced makes wise unto salvation, and receiving the Holy Spirit is a positive necessity.
Five wise and five foolish give the average proportion of ready and unready among professed believers facing great events soon to open. Only a small number of those with great light, privilege and continuous opportunities have more than theoretical knowledge, while many think theory and even assent to the third angel's message is enough yet are not doers of the Word, deprived by pride and weakness of faith and left with lamp but no oil in the vessel. The arising is the sounding of Come, for all things are now ready, with heaven's light shining and the trumpet giving a certain sound upon justification by faith and the imputed righteousness of Christ, which excuse-makers neglect to their loss. The wise are those worked by the Spirit who bear living testimony, walk in received light, search Scripture, communicate precious truth, receive more as they impart what they have, and cooperate with heavenly agencies to guide those in darkness by the light of life.
All must secure oil beforehand, for waking then to replenish empty lamps cannot make one ready when signs are fulfilling and slumbering churches are roused to act. The trimming exposes the foolish with no oil, and their going to buy leaves them absent when the wise enter the marriage supper and the door is shut, so they come to the banqueting hall only to be denied with I know you not and left standing without in the empty street in blackness of night. Those neglecting preparation and failing to form character after the divine likeness will find it too late to join the procession, for probation has ended and the door is closed, and lamps that are going out warn of the urgency of receiving grace before the end. The end comes unexpectedly as a thief, and late confession in crisis and plagues brings only despair, gloom and hopeless midnight darkness for the belated.
Before the Master comes there is long delay because God uses time to test and prove who has real, genuine righteousness of Christ. In that trial the foolish grow weary in waiting, begin to think He is not coming, and adopt the world's counsel of delay, having no supply of grace to stand the test. Readiness means bearing with patience, watching and working with more diligence to gather souls, planting, building meetinghouses and caring for the lost, not waiting in idle expectancy that stops work while souls perish. Worldly schemes and engrossments crowd God from the thoughts and drain strength for service, calling for awakening from spiritual sleep and neglect.
Readiness in Life and Service
Readiness to meet Christ requires preparation beforehand, like the wise who keep oil in vessels with lamps ready and do not delay in expectation of His coming. Keeping the lamp trimmed and burning means maintaining a complete living connection with God every day and hour as the source of growth, so that added grace is received in special need and spiritual decline does not leave the day to overtake unexpectedly. More than theory is required, for the oil of grace and the Spirit must feed the lamp so living faith shines and shows the way to those in darkness, while outward preparation alone leaves the foolish with lamps but no oil. Thoughts must be restrained to obedience and words, actions and little duties guarded, since crisis cannot be met on unpracticed principles and indulged trifles leave names in danger.
Trimming the lamp means tending it so it can give light, rekindling dim love for truth and concern for others, and keeping the light burning by constantly receiving heavenly oil which is the grace of the Spirit. That oil is truth enthroned in the heart, awakening thought, arousing conscience to decided action, adorning character and renewing nature, and the consecrated Christlike life receives grace in order to impart it, each vessel filled to be emptied into others so that as light is shed new light is imparted. Faith kindled from the divine altar must be cultivated and cherished and walked in, for uncultivated faith weakens, fades from mind and heart, and leaves the lamp to go out for want of supply. Without holiness and virtuous character, one who has received light cannot see the value of self-control and obedience and is worse than a sinner without that light.
Arising and making ready is vigilant watching and sanctified waiting with no relaxation of effort, blending working, waiting, praying and watching, forbidding both idle expectancy and bustle that neglects piety. It joins quiet prayerful hours apart from excitement to commune with God and learn His will, as Enoch walked with God in obedient holy life and stands as example of those caught up to meet Christ, with bearing a positive warning to clear the King's highway and prepare a people. Sleeping like the foolish means folding the hands and ceasing earnest effort to save souls, and haphazard unprepared work brings spiritual declension and causes the day to overtake as a thief. Those fallen asleep at post must wake, prepare, hold firmly to present truth, reject doubt and deception, strengthen mind to discern reasons of faith, purify the soul temple by truth, and turn toward the promised land rather than Egypt.
Keeping lamps trimmed describes ministers staying spiritually ready by ministry of the Word, prayer, growth in knowledge of God and Christ, purification and replenishing with the Spirit rather than own judgment, cultivating piety that shines in good works. Having a lamp is not enough without oil, and ministers need faith working by love to purify the soul and keep the light burning to give light in moral darkness. Teachers must maintain Christian character as clear lights to students, homes, neighborhoods and the world, and all need time to pray, search Scripture and attend public worship, especially workers among worldlings who need Jesus held up and personal labor lest godless talk steal the heart. Canvasser-evangelists and God's people must faithfully shine amid unbelief and circulate warning publications, for worship and prayer give strength for daily duty.
Everyone in the home must keep his lamp constantly replenished with the oil of grace, which is the full love of God making human affection stronger, purer, more elevated, refined and holy, so the light burns brightly and does not go out. This requires refusing to let temporal interests and conversation supplant eternal interests and the Word, giving religion its proper place through uplifting family association, family worship, a whole heart made a reservoir of divine love, habitual communion shown in words and actions, thoughts captive to Christ, and hope, sympathy and brotherly love flowing forth. Each person's inner lamp must shine in faithful earnest work for children in humility overcoming defects, with faith working by love purifying the soul, and each must trim his own lamp by taking heed to self first then doctrine, giving self without reserve, freed from self with holy root and sound fruit. Such inner trimming creates sanctified influence in the home carried into the church, keeps a sweet disposition in daily toil, and bringing Jesus near leads others to glorify the Father.
The church's duty to arise and prepare lamps for clearer light means becoming purified and spiritually alert, renewing consecration, defending law and Sabbath, studying the Bible and sharing present truth with neighbors, with each taking personal responsibility rather than leaving work to ministers. Diligent use of abilities is called for now, since membership alone does not secure heaven and many expect the marriage supper unprepared and unaware of danger. Luther filling his lamp with gospel truth in imprisonment to shine brighter illustrates such preparation. Accusation, dissension, fault-finding, jealousy and murmuring must be put away, past neglect repented, and truth as it is in Jesus understood.
Having lamps trimmed and burning means being ready for the heavenly refreshing of the latter rain and closing work, requiring daily seeking of the Spirit's enlightenment upon soul and character. To arise and trim means keeping vessels filled with oil and lamps burning brighter by growing in understanding and power, keeping the soul in God's love, practicing self-denial and cross-bearing, and using talents earnestly daily to the utmost. Keeping the lamp requires consecration, humiliation and works corresponding to light, which perfects character in Christ's likeness and flashes light on others to receive more, while cherishing precious light and revelations with personal piety while probation lasts, working, watching, praying, waiting patiently without hurried movement. When light and deep movings are not cherished the enemy allures from allegiance, doubt and unbelief arise and rays are eclipsed, and pride and weak faith leave only theory, so hearts must be humbled and emptied of self to receive holy oil; those letting lamps flicker in darkness cannot expect blessing.
Trimming requires going beyond profession to truth in the heart through self-sacrifice and converting power, so work is accepted and the light of truth warns the perishing of the near end. It means tending inner life to shine to others, valuing Christ's righteousness above outward dress, keeping the lamp ready by a heart sanctified by truth with wisdom in speech and action, and attending to inward readiness, purity and sanctification rather than talent or eloquence. All professing connection must trim and keep burning by following the Word, helping the Lord without wasting time for a world to save, refusing frivolous lightness that drains strength, humbling the soul, and keeping faith brightly active to guide others. The inner life must be continually kept by habitual obedience and useful work, first wholly consecrated with soul temple cleansed, self hid in God, moving forward with Christ's mind as doers adorning doctrine.
The faithful worker whose lamp is trimmed shows readiness in unselfish labor, vigilance and self-denial, remaining spiritually ready and advancing the Lord's interests. Receiving heavenly oil requires being emptied of self and ready to serve, so consecrated witness brings light to sinners and grace shared shines to those in darkness. God's workers must keep lamps constantly trimmed by preaching in simplicity to Jews and Gentiles without barriers, instructing the heathen as children, establishing schools, publishing truth worldwide without letting business absorb all, working while it is day to gather harvest as faithful stewards. Failure shows lack of appreciation for life purchased at infinite cost and brings condemnation as slothful, for life is not for selfish use.
The verse calls sleeping virgins to wake, trim lamps and check oil because lights are going out, confess sins, seek pardon, lay hold on hope, be cleansed from selfish purpose, be converted, and become laborers ready to unite with the redeemed when He comes without tarrying. While He goes to receive the kingdom garments must be kept spotless to await His return, with oil feeding the lamp and final mercy accepted in obedience and faith to enter the marriage supper. Heeding God's voice in revival means bearing light with action, seeking God through Christ to partake of divine nature, giving self wholly, and holding affirmative truth by study, prayer and consecration so faith stays bright and good works lead men to glorify the Father, rather than remaining in skepticism or dwelling on negatives.
Keeping lamps trimmed and burning means loving the Lord supremely with whole-hearted careful service, not half-hearted negligent deceit, receiving nourishment to grow up into Christ, advance in piety, improve talents, walk and disperse light and honor religion with strength for warfare. Christ's presence makes the lamp shine continually, while selfishness, unrighteous acts, harsh angry words and concealment dim it, and vigilance guards against careless words and actions and helps discern God's voice through Scripture and humble prayer. Those without it make no advancement though named Christians, lose germinating power, love amusements, become dead branches and stumbling blocks having a name to live while dead, disperse no light, dishonor Christ, and have no armor against darkness because they never put on God's armor nor crucified the flesh.
The call is urgent now because perils of the last days are present, with Satan working on minds thought secure and spiritualistic sophistries drawing minds by scientific philosophy, leaving strong men under a spell living to criticize. In the final contest when evil angels unite with evil men for Armageddon none must sleep but all must be wide awake as wise with oil of grace and power of the Holy Ghost to sustain faith and courage, while the Captain of the Lord's host directs the battle. God's people now like sleeping virgins before trouble such as never was must awake, turn from unimportant things, give selves fully to God, realize the nearness of the end, keep feet in the narrow path, gain assuring experience of present help, and ask Jesus to carry them through trial lest Satan keep them sleeping. All must now arise and shine, build for eternity giving hearts wholly to Christ, refuse amusement, self-will, lustful appetite and cares that eclipse light, follow on to know the Lord, when Babylon is fallen is cried.
Trimming is applied to servants arousing to prepare gospel light and seek the lost with zeal, kindling the taper from the divine altar to diffuse overflowing influence with burden, love and sympathy, hunting up lost sheep. Those not trimming live cold and dead with no influence, grumbling at work for the lost, feeling no burden and expecting nursing, however great their advantages and solemn truths. It means stopping complaint and gloom, pouring in grace, rejoicing in the Saviour's love so the lamp burns in steady rays cheering the weak, seeking fresh supply before worship with joyfulness, and carrying oil so truth shines in bright rays distinct from the world through earnest prayer in simple faith, with words and actions convicting unbelievers. It means purifying soul by obeying truth including physical law, not engaging in unjust business or passion, bringing religion to the Bible standard separate from the world, refusing to side with those judging God's reproofs, contending for the faith and striving for perfection in constant warfare.
The verse warns churches that briefly mourn then return to careless self-service leaving eternity out, bound by confessed but unforsaken doubts, fears, temptations and sins, letting lamps burn dim and flicker out so blessing cannot come. Arising means keeping vessels filled, growing in understanding and power, keeping souls in God's love, practicing self-denial, using talents daily, and maintaining worship and fellowship to reflect God's light and glory. Absenting from meetings lays off spiritual garments and leaves light feeble, and formal Sabbath-keeping as mere cessation and form without power leaves religion dead with low spiritual temperature. The wise must obtain oil now so as not to be counted foolish, as part of fitting a people to stand in the day of the Lord.
Lack of oil pictures being unprepared for life's end, where those living merely to please themselves have no inward preparation and are unfitted when sickness and death come. The oil of grace in the heart also prevents friction and keeps believers united in harmony.
Being ready means having the oil of grace and the robe of Christ's righteousness and wedding garment, without which no one can be ready, and discerning danger of being unprepared. It requires humbling the soul low at the cross, cleansing the temple, sanctifying tongue and being with a live coal from the altar, and learning thanksgiving and adoration. It requires conversion and new birth, knowing God and Christ, representing new life in character on the foundation of Christ by seeking first the kingdom, with honest self-searching, whole-hearted love, evidence of entering Christ's fold, digging deep on the Rock, faith working by love purifying from defilement, bearing the Bible test in word, practice and disposition, showing fragrant regenerated influence where selfishness has died.
God wants His people to shine with a distinct special message awakening the dead in trespasses, supplying holy oil when the vessel is prepared, through plain truth on true conversion repeated often and understanding man's relation to law which gives power. This is urgent because the world converts churches and false shepherds delude without It is written. In Battle Creek the church must arouse before sleeping the sleep of death, seeing in the unwise its future if asleep, with holy kindling first and divine wisdom, inquiring what the Lord would have done and doing it wholeheartedly, dedicating time to missionary work where souls hunger so light increases in brightness in saving the perishing.