And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out.
At the midnight cry the foolish virgins find their lamps flickering and going out because they brought no reserve oil for the delay, and they plead with the wise to share what they have. Their lamps are outward profession and knowledge of the word of truth, while the oil is the Holy Spirit and the grace of Christ received through living connection with God. The ten virgins are professed Christians watching in the evening of earth's history just before Christ's coming, outwardly alike with lamps and expectation until the wait reveals who has the inward supply. The wise have only enough for themselves and cannot impart it, for grace, righteousness and character are not transferable and each soul must form his own through daily Christlike living. That supply must therefore be obtained now by watching, praying, working for souls and abiding in God, for to seek fitness when the cry sounds is too late once the door is shut.
Parable Setting and Story
The request is for an evening wedding where a waiting company holds lamps or torches to join the bridegroom's procession by torchlight. It belongs to a prophetic discourse about the second coming, teaching truths connected with that event. After the bridegroom delays, all the virgins sleep, then a midnight cry announces his coming, they awake and trim their lamps. That sleep represents being unprepared about the time and a loss of zeal and devotion, not disbelief that he will come.
The delay represents the passing of the expected time and the ensuing disappointment, during which believers remained convinced the coming was near but lost zeal and devotion. Arguments from prophecy and sanctuary types awakened those waiting and moved them to prepare through prayer, confession, and consecration, in what was proclaimed as the midnight cry. In that historical application the cry announced the coming and led proclaiming believers to leave the churches and seek a living experience. The warning applies generally to churches slumbering while the signs fulfill, until the call sounds to go out to meet him.
When the bridegroom arrives the foolish discover their lamps are going or gone out because they brought no reserve oil in flagons to replenish them for a long wait, and they ask the wise for oil. The long wait exposes their lack, for they had made no provision for delay or emergency and had not anticipated it. Their darkness and despair result from their own carelessness. Their failed lamps reveal they are not ready to meet the bridegroom, and readiness cannot be supplied to them at the last moment.
The wise have none to spare and tell the foolish to buy for themselves. While the foolish go, the bridegroom enters with the wise to the marriage supper, the bridal procession moves on, the house door is shut, and the foolish are left outside. Left standing without in the empty street in the blackness of the night, when they reach the banqueting hall they receive the unexpected denial of entrance. Like those who neglect preparation during probationary time and then seek entrance after the door is shut, they discover too late that they cannot obtain the needed fitness to join the procession, for probation has ended and the door is closed.
The parable presents events connected with the coming and the church's spiritual condition at that coming. It teaches the duty of being ready, waiting, watching, and acting, because the coming is in an unknown and unexpected hour. The contrast between foolish and wise calls each person to consider his condition before God as shown by conduct and conversation, with the wise ready with oil in vessels and lamps and entering the wedding. The call to trim the lamps requires heeding the call, bearing light, recognizing danger, and using the warning to become personally ready to enter the marriage supper.
Meaning of Lamp and Oil
The lamps are the word of God and a knowledge of the Scriptures and truth, and with the lamps vessels are provided to hold the oil, so that truth kept in the storehouse keeps the lamp shining. All who profess to wait for Christ have these lamps, have heard the message of His near approach, and confidently expect His appearing, with no difference seen for a time until the waiting tries faith. The lamps are also the Bibles in the hands of those who profess godliness, and the foolish are those who have them but do not have the oil of grace to use them to decide to obey the truth. In one figure the lamps represent God's remnant people themselves, needing a constant supply of oil which is truth and heavenly love.
The lamps also mean outward profession, the form of truth, a person's work, witness, soul, and inner life that must be kept trimmed and burning to give light. All ten have lamps as outward semblance of religion and outward preparation, making appearance of giving light as the wise do, yet five lack oil and in God's sight are a fraud, wise only in their own sight. The inner lamp must be trimmed so its light can shine to others, for a course of neglect leads away from seeing God, and readiness is joined to Christ's righteousness and to speech made sound by a holy root. Having the lamp as outward profession or theory of truth is not enough if there is no oil to feed it so that clear rays go forth and the light of life shines to those in darkness.
The oil is the Holy Spirit and the grace of Christ received through living connection with God, which feeds the lamp, sustains spiritual life, and makes the light shine to others in darkness. The lamp must be fed with holy oil, and that oil is effective as its light is shared with others in good works. Without the Spirit a knowledge of His word is of no avail, for theory of truth without the Holy Spirit cannot quicken the soul or sanctify the heart or transform the character, and without His enlightenment men cannot distinguish truth from error and fall under temptation. The wise are replenished through Christ's grace and the Holy Spirit with a daily, living experience of faith, love, and patience, while the foolish neglect to keep oil in their vessels, act from fear and impulse rather than patient preparation, and find their lamps burning dimly or going out.
The oil is also inward character, Christ's righteousness purifying from sin, truth enthroned in the heart, living faith, love, patience, and experienced knowledge of grace that must be continually supplied every day and hour. It is unseen principles, open communion with God, and oneness with Christ known in works, requiring personal faith that works by love, true preference, firm reliance, entire willing obedience and consecration, and a visible connection binding life with Christ. It is the righteousness of Jesus received by depending on God every hour as a branch grafted into the living Vine drawing sap and nourishment every day, without which there is no fruit to God's glory. Having oil in vessels with lamps is the great daily necessity for every soul and cannot safely be neglected, because the work to be done is weighty with eternal results, and readiness requires keeping the lamp filled and carefully trimmed so it shines with present truth.
As golden oil flowed from olive trees through golden pipes into the sanctuary lamps, so the Spirit is imparted from those who stand in God's presence to consecrated people prepared to receive it, and its light is effective as it is shared in good works. Abundant provision is made through the two anointed ones who stand by the Lord of the whole earth, and the oil is the holy golden oil emptied out of themselves through the two golden pipes into vessels prepared for it, received only into clean, pure, sanctified souls. It is the Holy Spirit in the heart working by love and purifying the soul, kindled by the Lord in the chambers of the soul to burn brightly and give light through good works, and if truth is not practiced the holy oil has not been received however much the Word is talked and preached. The mission of the two anointed ones is to communicate that heavenly grace which alone can make His word a lamp to the feet and a light to the path, for it is not by might nor by power but by His Spirit, as taught in Zechariah 4.
Having a lamp without oil is having theory of truth, outward religion, and appearance of light without conversion, inward piety, and power from above; such profession is worthless and leaves the light to flicker and die. Though interested in the gospel and knowing the standard of righteousness, the foolish live for self and own glory, treat life-giving truth as unessential, trust feelings, neglect Scripture, cherish hidden sins, and are left in darkness with blindness, weak faith, and fluctuating experience based on uncertain principles. People with great light and knowledge can thus be spiritually unprepared, cold and fading, with only feeble, waning piety, spiritually senseless when the final crisis comes, needing new life and power from above. No high profession, ordination to ministry, or appointment as Sabbath School superintendent or teacher gives the oil of grace, for to have just enough religion to deaden conscience, deceive the senses, and ruin the soul, just enough outward show to have the name to live while dead, is to be like the foolish whose lamps fail for lack of oil.
Who the Virgins Represent
The ten virgins represent the church of professed Christians watching in the evening of earth's history just before Christ's coming, seeking to be acknowledged as the Lamb's wife. They are divided into two classes, the wise who are ready and the foolish who are unready, the real Christians who have life in themselves and the spurious Christians who have not the oil of grace. The foolish profess but do not possess the character that gives entrance into the marriage supper, lacking oil in vessels with lamps, which is unseen principles, open communion with God, and oneness with Christ known in works. Their request for oil exposes that neither human birth nor descent from Abraham nor membership in any church will save any soul, for possession of the Word and the gospel feast is a personal privilege and personal invitation creating personal responsibility. That responsibility requires personal faith that works by love, true preference, firm reliance, entire willing obedience and consecration, and a visible connection with God binding life with Christ Jesus. The parable therefore calls for serious thought, earnest study of God's Word, and prayer for guidance into all truth, since professing to be ready is not enough.
All ten have lamps, meaning a knowledge of the Scriptures, and vessels for oil, and have heard the message of Christ's near approach and confidently expect His appearing, all claiming a name, a call, and to do God service. For a time no difference is seen between them, for the foolish hold the truth in unrighteousness yet outwardly appear like the wise. A time of waiting intervenes that tries faith, and when the cry Behold the Bridegroom cometh sounds many are unready because they have no oil in their vessels with their lamps, meaning they are destitute of the Holy Spirit. Without the Spirit a knowledge of His word is of no avail, for theory of truth cannot quicken the soul or sanctify the heart or transform the character, and without His enlightenment men cannot distinguish truth from error and fall under temptation. The foolish take for granted that the promises of God are theirs while they do not live as enjoined, crying peace, peace when there is no peace, which is the most perilous belief for the soul, and they are found surprised and dismayed, wanting and without oil, outside the wedding banquet with the door shut. Profession is therefore nothing, and no one is to take for granted that he is saved, but must deny self, take up the cross daily and follow Christ, with sanctification as the work of a lifetime and righteousness exceeding that of the scribes and Pharisees.
The foolish are not open sinners who make no profession, but ease-loving, world-loving professed Christians and church members who claim to be children of God and claim godliness without practicing the truth. They hide their light and mingle with the world, seek an enjoyable time with the world while claiming to be Christians, wear a mask, refuse to yield to any authority, suit men of the world who do not want the light of truth, and by worldly principles seduce many and do great harm. They have heard and accepted the truth without bringing it into daily life, have not sought the faith that works through love and purifies the soul, have no burden for souls, do not deny self or lift the cross, live for self instead of seeking to save souls ready to perish, and have not taken Christ as Counsellor, walked in the light of His Word, or come under His yoke. Their vessels are empty and therefore they cannot keep their lamps replenished, their light has become darkness because they walked in the light of sparks of their own kindling and not the sacred fire from God, and receiving the Holy Spirit remains a positive necessity that comes only from practicing life-giving truth. In contrast the wise are Christians in deed and in truth who live and work to restore the moral image of God in man, labor with Christ to show that a consecrated life is power for good, reveal progression heavenward, and help those who serve God to serve Him with whole mind, heart, soul, and strength.
That foolish condition includes ministers and workers who year after year receive ministerial privileges, years of training, great light, abundant opportunities and continuous privileges, yet do not take truth into heart and life and therefore cannot impart it to others. It describes many younger ministers lacking consecration to God and heart-felt piety and devotion, who though sent to be a light by good works as well as words and theories do not shine. It also embraces strong men precious in God's sight who are under a spell and do not know it, whose minds have been taken from the message for this time by scientific spiritualistic philosophy, who live merely to criticize, who have associated with those taught by the deceiver, whose hearts bear the sting of the serpent, and who are prepared for unbelief; they must awake, trim their lamps, hold no vestige of doubt, unmask the hypnotism, and turn toward Canaan and not toward Egypt. Those preaching in conferences and churches are warned not to remain destitute of the oil of grace, which is grace that makes the lamp burn and give light, and is faith and love, but to wake from lethargy and trim their lamps so their light shines clearly to prepare people to stand in the day of the Lord.
Five wise and five foolish mark the proportion of those ready and unready among professed believers. The wise are those whose hearts have been changed by transforming power and filled with grace from Christ, with increasing desire for peace and joy, who let their light burn in good works, remain at the feet of Jesus to learn of Him, know His ways, perfect Christian character, and wash their robes white in the blood of the Lamb. The foolish have nothing more than theoretical knowledge, thinking it is all that is required because they are not doers of the Word, and rest in baptism as saving them while giving no evidence of conformity to Christ, clinging to old habits, exerting influence on the side of the world, and weaving worldly ideas and customs into their fabric. They are people who professed to believe yet when they knew God did not worship Him as God, with self in all its perverted attributes hardening the heart, closing the door against Christ entering and abiding, blinding the mind by self-indulgence, leaving them unconverted and dying greater sinners than before profession. No one can now distinguish by sight between the classes and no human has authority to say who is wise and who is foolish, but when the door is shut angels who know character by fruits will make no mistake in gathering the wheat from among the tares. The same lack appears in church members without needed grace who may confess bad habits and sins but continue in them without forsaking them, remaining bound by doubts, fear, and temptation and wasting probationary time.
Prophetic Fulfillment in History
The waiting, the slumber, and the midnight cry, Behold the bridegroom cometh, were fulfilled in the Advent movement of 1844, when arguments from prophecy and sanctuary types awakened those waiting for the Lord and moved them to prepare through prayer, confession and consecration. That cry announced the coming of the Bridegroom and led the believers who proclaimed it to go out to meet Him and to leave the churches, seeking a living experience that no one could borrow from another. All ten were expected to proclaim the truth to every nation, kindred, tongue and people, yet five were wise and five were foolish, and only five made the provision essential to join the company walking in the light that had come to them. The failing lamps and the request for oil portray those unprepared for delay, whose empty flagons showed they had not prepared to replenish their lamps when the coming was announced at midnight.
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 of judgment and cleansing of the sanctuary in the most holy place, not His second appearing to earth. It represents a change in His position and work as High Priest in relation to the marriage of the Lamb, when He rose from His mediatorial throne and went into the holiest as Bridegroom to receive His kingdom. This understanding formed the basis for the shut-door teaching that many accepted, settling that a door had been closed in heaven while another ministration was opened. The foolish are those who had accepted a theory of truth but lacked the grace of God and the Spirit, acting from fear and impulse rather than patiently searching Scripture and following Christ by faith into His new work.
The delay represents the passing of the expected time and the ensuing disappointment, during which believers remained convinced His coming was near yet lost zeal and devotion, a condition represented by the slumber of all the virgins. Sleep here means being unprepared about the time, not disbelief that He will come, and the long wait exposes who has no reserve oil in flagons to supply the lamp in emergency. God takes time to test and prove who has real, genuine righteousness of Christ and who can bear with patience in waiting and watching and working, without reckoning by figures or symbols or types the exact period of the Lord's coming. Waiting must not be idle expectancy that stops planting and building, but more diligent work to uphold and gather the Lord's sheep, with signs studied because they show He is at the door.
Those who went forth to meet the Bridegroom under the first and second angels' messages yet refused the third angel's message are the foolish who asked for oil, for the third is the last testing message to be given to the world. Only those prepared could join the company walking in the light that had come, and because the others failed to make that provision the worldwide proclamation was delayed. Their lamps were going out because nominal faith without the oil of grace leaves people unready for Christ's coming, and that preparation cannot be supplied at the last moment. After the 2300 days believers concluded from the going out of the foolish lamps that probation for sinners had closed and access to salvation had ended. Later light on the heavenly sanctuary showed Christ had closed one ministration but opened another in the most holy place, where He continued pleading His blood for sinners, so the door of mercy had not closed.
Some who went forth to meet the Bridegroom in 1844 were afterward deceived by false shepherds until they did not know where they were or what they believed. Such ones are now coming out upon the truth together with those who never heard the Advent doctrine, and none should rest without the abiding witness that his ways please God. The sleeping virgins also describe the people of God now standing on the borders of the greatest event in the world's history, asleep to how near the time of trouble such as was not since there was a nation now is. To awake is to make sure the feet are in the narrow path and to ask the Lord Jesus to place His everlasting arms underneath and carry through the trial before us, with assurance that the God of all grace is a very present help in time of need.
Readiness Cannot Be Borrowed
The midnight awakening exposed the foolish because they had brought no reserve to replenish their lamps during the delay, and when they found their lights going out they asked the wise for oil and were refused. The wise had only enough for their own lamps and could give none away, so the foolish were told to go and buy for themselves, and while they were gone the procession moved on, the house door was shut, and they were left outside. That refusal means essential preparation cannot be borrowed from another person at the last moment. The oil they lacked is grace that enables a person to discern clear light and accept it, the grace each one must have through a real, growing experience with God which nominal religion cannot supply and which grows into knowledge sustained by earnest prayer and faith in Christ. It is an experienced knowledge of Christ's grace, and it is the Holy Spirit as golden oil emptied out of themselves by the two olive trees and two olive branches into clean, pure, sanctified souls prepared to receive it.
Character is not transferable, so no one can go in with the wise on the strength of another's supply. The division is between real Christians who have life in themselves and spurious Christians who have not the oil of grace, professing but not possessing the unseen principles, open communion with God, and oneness with Christ that are known to the Lord in works and give entrance to the marriage supper. Neither human birth nor descent from Abraham nor membership in any church will save any soul, for possession of the Word and the gospel feast is a personal privilege and personal invitation creating personal responsibility. That responsibility requires personal faith that works by love, true preference, firm reliance, entire willing obedience and consecration, and a visible connection binding the life with Christ. Each person must therefore form his own character, obtain his own experienced knowledge of Christ's grace, and prepare his own soul through humbleness of mind, by taking Christ's yoke and learning of Him and by daily Christlike living that keeps faith, love, and knowledge of God and the truth from being lost. Ease-loving, world-loving professors who hide their light and mingle with the world fail because they do not continue to supply themselves with the oil of grace, hushed to slumber and made careless by the peace and safety cry, and even active workers fall into false religion when they do not cultivate the grace needed to live out Christ's teachings.
Trying to obtain fitness when the cry sounds is too late. No one can become ready by waiting until Behold, the Bridegroom is heard and then gathering up empty lamps to have them replenished, for keeping Christ apart from life here leaves a person unfitted for His companionship in heaven. Those who have not prepared for a wait nor formed characters after the divine likeness, with God's grace in the heart to renew the lamp so light shines in good works, discover at the final emergency that probation has ended and the door is closed. Like people who consider themselves wise but ignore the light and warnings God has given, they fail to recognize their need until they awaken to their true condition too late to obtain what they need and be ready. The call to have lamps trimmed and burning is therefore a warning to be ready when the Lord comes and not to postpone readiness until that moment, lest seekers after entrance find themselves shut out like those who came after the door was shut.
The same unreadiness is discovered when sickness and death come. People who have not developed the inward character represented by oil then find they have no oil in their vessels and are unfit to bring their lives to a close. Those who lived merely for self-pleasing, for display and self-pleasing without inward Christian character, face the end of life's course unprepared, like foolish bridesmaids with no oil when the decisive hour approaches. The same exposure will appear in the last conflict, when the plagues fall, and at the judgment. Those who meet the final crisis unprepared will confess their sins in anguish yet cannot then obtain the preparation they delayed, professing believers will discover at the judgment that they are not ready to stand, and people unready when the plagues fall will realize their need only when the hour is too late.
Why the Lamps Fail
The foolish made no provision for delay or emergency, bringing no reserve oil in flagons to replenish their lamps, so when the midnight announcement came their lights were going or gone out and they asked the wise to share. All ten went forth with lamps trimmed and burning, but only the wise anticipated disappointment and delay and filled their flagons beforehand, from which their lamps were supplied and not left to go out. Having a lamp is not enough without a continuing supply, for the oil is the Holy Spirit and the grace of Christ, and the foolish are unprepared because they lack a daily living experience of faith, love, and patience nourished by that supply. That preparation cannot be put off until the coming, for a flickering faith left until the last moment cannot then be replenished, and the wise had only enough for their own lamps so the foolish were told to buy and were away when the bridegroom came. In the historical application the midnight cry announced Christ's coming and led proclaiming believers to leave the churches, while the failing lamps portrayed those unprepared for the delay.
Lamps fail through carelessness, indifference, neglect, slumber, and want of integrity, when vessels are not kept filled with the oil of grace, trimmed and burning brighter, but are allowed to burn dim and flicker out in darkness. Ease-loving, world-loving professors are hushed to slumber and made careless about their light by the peace and safety cry, failing to continue to supply themselves with grace until the final crisis reveals their light has gone out. Though made depositaries of the treasures of truth, such sleepers do not grow in spiritual understanding and power because they neglect self-denial and cross-bearing and feel no burden to keep their souls in the love of God by earnest, diligent, daily use to the utmost of ability of entrusted talents. During the long delay some give up and think the Master is not coming, having no supply of grace to stand the test of waiting, when God is proving who has genuine righteousness and who can bear with patience in waiting and watching and working without idle expectancy but with more diligent gathering of sheep. Becoming a foolish virgin is a present danger requiring every energy to be aroused against Satan's devices, by distrusting self, watching and praying every hour, and withstanding temptation instead of going in its way, for reliance on others or absorption in business instead of dependence on God leaves one unprepared for the feast.
Mingling with the world, hiding light, seeking enjoyment, refusing authority, and living for self instead of saving souls turn light to darkness and seduce others. The foolish are not open sinners without profession but claimants to be children of God and church members without practicing the truth, having no burden for souls, not denying self or lifting Christ's cross, seeking an enjoyable time with the world while claiming Christianity, wearing a mask, refusing to yield to authority, and by worldly principles doing great harm. Remaining in character the same as before, they have not taken Christ as Counsellor, walked in the light of His Word, or come under His yoke, but have worked their own way, walked in the light of sparks of their own kindling rather than the sacred fire from God, until their light has become darkness. They suit men of the world who do not want the light of truth, being one in spirit with those who never let light shine in words of truth and deeds of holiness, while they have heard and accepted truth without bringing it into daily life and without the faith that works through love and purifies the soul.
Self-love, hidden sins, trusting feelings, neglecting Scripture, and failing to bless others leave faith weak, fluctuating, and blind to accountability and reckoning. Though interested in the gospel and knowing the standard of righteousness, self-love leads the foolish to live for their own glory and treat life-giving truth as unessential, leaving blindness, darkness, and experience based on uncertain principles. Their lamps lack grace because they are careless and self-satisfied, knowing theory without living connection, trusting feelings, neglecting Scripture, and cherishing hidden sins, so diligent self-examination by God's standard, obedience, and seeking for purity are required. Their foolishness is failing to realize accountability and to keep in mind a day of trust and a day of reckoning, for everyone is entrusted with talents and a sacred responsibility to bless others by opening precious truth to those in error, which the foolish neglect. Like neglected faith whose light goes out, their condition illustrates the danger of failing to supply oil through cultivating faith.
Some exchange the old-fashioned lamp of the Bible for new costly lamps of human invention, whose light is uncertain and sickly because it trusts human power and devising rather than the living God, mingling the human with the sacred like common fire in place of the sacred. At the night of the midnight cry, Behold the bridegroom cometh, their lamps are revealed destitute of oil, and then honest men and women discern between pure golden oil from the olive branches and the spurious article they used, crying eagerly for the old lamp exchanged, the Bible alone, pure unadulterated truth standing forever, shining amid moral darkness and showing things to come.
Minds taken by scientific spiritualistic philosophy, criticism, skepticism, and association with deceivers leave even strong men precious in God's sight under a spell they do not recognize, taken away from the message for this time, living merely to criticize, bearing the serpent's sting, and prepared for unbelief and a campaign of doubt. Those asleep at post must now awake and trim lamps, holding no vestige of doubt about present truth, unmasking Satan's hypnotism, and turning toward Canaan the promised land and not toward Egypt. Having no oil means neglecting the ordinances of grace that keep the spark of faith alive, seeing no need for the means God uses to keep lamps burning and no need for Christ's mediatorial work that illuminates understanding and warms the heart, a condition coming from making science everything, trusting powers inherent in man and nature, and wandering into skepticism so God's power and glory are not exalted.
Absorption in business, temporal cares, appetite, dress, worldly practices, amusement, lust, selfishness, and stubborn self-will crowd out God, harden the heart against Jesus, and shut the door. Knowing and professing truth is not enough, for lamps without oil in the vessels mean lack of grace to live in harmony with truth, since genuine faith must be accompanied by corresponding works and a sanctified life, a warning applied to indulgence of appetite as a snare. Becoming too engaged in business can place a person among the foolish, the same as the man at the festal supper without the wedding garment, and failing to give time to prayer and God's service for temporal business leaves hearts unopened to Jesus until too late. Lightly regarding warnings leads some far into worldliness in dress and practices until the door is shut and they are left outside. Love of amusement, indulgence of lustful appetites, selfishness, and stubborn self-will divorce the soul from God, eclipse heaven's light, separate the soul from God and lead others astray, so that choosing one's own way fails to make one a channel of light for saving souls and builds for loss for time and eternity.
Continued self-indulgence darkens understanding and blurs spiritual vision so truth and warnings are no longer received, until too late the character is discovered diseased though the lamp was like that of the wise. Complaining and despondency likewise let the love of Christ grow cold, so the lamp must be trimmed and filled with the oil of grace to burn steadily and bring light and cheer to others.
Love of the world and cherished sin wean the heart from prayer and meditation on sacred things, leaving only a formal round of religious services without love for Jesus and without fervor and devotion corresponding to the greatness of believed truth. This is a fall from high spirituality through abounding iniquity, when love grows cold, spirituality dies, and the lamp of truth flickers and goes out in darkness because it is not replenished by grace, perpetuating torpor and mournful deterioration unless warned against.
Relying on own wisdom, feeling no need of heavenly grace, and trusting powers of man and nature leave lamps going out and bar entrance to the marriage supper of the Lamb. Such claimants to belief fail to provide oil because they think they have no need of it, wasting opportunities and trusting a wisdom that is foolishness with God while thinking themselves rich and increased in goods and in need of nothing. Oil is received only by being emptied of self, centering the whole being in Christ, and coming into full assurance of faith by partaking of the Son of God, with abiding deep conviction of the great truths of the Word and understanding of God's will.
Neglecting faithfulness in little things shapes character so it cannot stand a great emergency and endangers the name in the book of life. Thoughts must be restrained into captivity and obedience to Christ, words and actions regulated by God's law, and affections trained to act on principle in daily life, for little unnoticed things enter habit like little foxes spoiling vines. Undisciplined nature allowed its will in little things cannot be restrained in larger things, and without daily grace the soul has no delight in heart service, the life is scarred and warped, and without prior training one cannot act on principle when trial comes.
Neglecting the ordinances of grace and Christ's mediatorial work that illuminate understanding and warm the heart leaves faith unsustained. The oil represents those ordinances through which faith is kept alive, and dependence on powers attributed to man and nature while neglecting these means leaves lamps without what is needed to keep burning.
Call to Present Readiness
The oil must be secured now, before the need arrives, for grace is required every hour and only a living, complete connection with God today and every day keeps faith, love and patience nourished so the lamp does not flicker. A lamp alone is not enough without a continuing supply, and a flickering faith left until the last moment cannot then be replenished when the bridegroom comes. Those who neglect this personal work of the soul are left empty, while those who have it receive light shining from the throne of God that lights their faces as they reflect the image of Jesus. Readiness is kept by watching, praying and putting God-given talents to use for those around to bring souls to Christ, and not by being surfeited with the cares of this life lest that day come as a thief and find the soul unready.
Waiting demands that working, waiting, watching and praying be blended together, not idle expectancy nor mere bustle to the neglect of personal piety. The soul's lamp must be kept trimmed and supplied with the oil of grace through vigilant work rather than idle devotion or absorption in worldly affairs, for living as though the Lord delays brings the fate of hypocrites and unbelievers. To sleep as the foolish slept is to fold the hands and cease that work, and haphazard work results in spiritual declension that will leave the unready overtaken as by a thief when Christ comes unexpectedly in the night. The mind must be strengthened to look deep and discern the reasons of faith, and the soul-temple must be purified by truth, for only the pure in heart will stand against the wiles of Satan.
Lamps must be kept trimmed, filled and burning today so that light gleams out in moral darkness, honors God, guides wanderers and points the way to the bridegroom's home and the marriage supper of the Lamb. The lamp is present witness and must be fed with holy oil, and that oil is effective as its light is shared with others in transforming character and good works. Without a living connection with the source of spiritual growth, people will fail to receive added grace in their time of need and will not be ready when special spiritual help is required. Now is the time for all to be burning and shining lights, for time for doing the work is diminishing while the work accumulates, souls decide for evil or good, and the warfare constantly increases.
Keeping the oil requires time to pray, to search the Scriptures, and as far as possible to attend public worship, with prayerful study and obedience sustaining grace especially for workers exposed to worldly influences. The foolish are not watchful about words and careful about behavior, while the wise keep the oil through prayerful study of God's Word and are prepared to answer the midnight cry. To forget God is to forsake pure snow of Lebanon for turbid streams of the valley and to lose the oil, and those thrown into the society of worldlings especially need Jesus held up before them with personal labor and counteracting influences lest the worldly element steal the heart away. Each Christian must examine personally and without delay whether oil is in the vessel, because indifference and carelessness are especially dangerous.
Filling vessels means being cleansed from every selfish purpose, confessing sins before God, cleansing hands from sin and purifying double minds, and being converted to become laborers together with God. Being a wise virgin means partaking of the divine nature and becoming complete in Christ, perfect without spot and blameless, with hearts united to Christ and clothed in His righteousness. This requires making Christ a personal Saviour and becoming true and pure and holy, working out salvation with fear and trembling in cooperation with God, resisting wrong, subduing evil temper, selfishness and pride, attaining the righteousness of Christ, becoming one with Christ in God, and exercising self-control through Christ's all-sufficiency. Trimming lamps and seeking a fresh supply is to be done before stepping over the threshold into the house of worship, putting away the gloom of unbelief and gloomy depression and coming with joyfulness to meet with God and His people.
Oil is received only by being emptied of self, centering the whole being in Christ, and coming into full assurance of faith by eating the flesh and drinking the blood of the Son of God through practicing His words. It means living in hourly contact and conscious communion with the principles of truth, righteousness and mercy that reveal the attributes of God within the soul, binding up with God as the deep source of all moral and intellectual power and cooperating with Him. It is faith that works by love and purifies the soul, received by humbling the heart before God, overcoming defects, talking less and praying much more, seeking the Lord in earnest prayer in simple faith, and taking heed to self and doctrine. It requires sanctification through the truth, being doers of the Word and not hearers only, moving forward with the mind of Christ with self hid with Christ in God, for unbelief that magnifies every molehill into a mountain shuts out the oil.
Ministers must have their souls supplied with the oil of grace and constantly increase in spiritual power, keeping spiritual life ready and active like a lamp kept trimmed and burning through prayer, meditation on the Word and growth in spirituality. Many younger ministers lack consecration, heart-felt piety and devotion, and though sent to be a light by good works as well as words and theories they do not shine, showing the loss from failing to accept and obey given light. Teachers must maintain Christian character so their lives shine as lights to students, homes, neighborhoods and the world's moral darkness, and parents are not ready unless their own inner lamp of reformed character is trimmed and burning to do justice to themselves before they can do justice to their children. Only then will the burning lamp shine forth in faithful, earnest, consecrated work for children, and consecrated example and publications carry warning light that endures judgment.
Believers must awake and examine whether oil is in the vessel, guarding against spiritual decline and the first dimming lest the day of the Lord come unexpectedly like a thief. The foolish represent careless, self-satisfied believers who know theory but lack living connection because they trust feelings, neglect Scripture and cherish hidden sins, so diligent self-examination by God's standard, obedience to truth, and seeking God to become pure and holy are required. The sleeping virgins must wake, turn to the Bible, learn the truth in Jesus, share present truth with neighbors, abandon sophistry and skepticism through entire consecration, and seek the Lord Jesus' help to endure the approaching trial. They must distrust self, resist temptation, confess and hold fast to hope, preserve faith in the third angel's message when troubling experiences threaten it, and double diligence to make calling and election sure before light goes out in darkness.
The failing lamp links to the man coming to the gospel feast without the wedding garment of Christ's righteousness, who professes discipleship while cherishing traits that misrepresent Christ and will be found unsanctified and unprepared, dishonoring the inviter and unable to join the wedding feast. It pictures unreadiness for Christ's unexpected coming like a thief in the night, which cannot be remedied by relying on others. Keeping the lamp means joining quiet, prayerful hours apart from bustle to commune with God and learn His will with personal piety blended with earnest warnings and appeals, pointing to what is and what follows fast after, being not slothful in business but fervent in spirit, clearing the King's highway as Enoch walked with God in obedience and bore witness for truth. The Bible itself becomes like a lamp without oil to minds led into speculative beliefs that cause misunderstanding and confusion, while the holy golden oil emptied through the two golden pipes must burn brightly in the chambers of the soul and shine to the world through good works despite Satan's hellish power to quench it by casting his shadow across the pathway.
At the midnight cry the foolish virgins find their lamps flickering and going out because they brought no reserve oil for the delay, and they plead with the wise to share what they have. Their lamps are outward profession and knowledge of the word of truth, while the oil is the Holy Spirit and the grace of Christ received through living connection with God. The ten virgins are professed Christians watching in the evening of earth's history just before Christ's coming, outwardly alike with lamps and expectation until the wait reveals who has the inward supply. The wise have only enough for themselves and cannot impart it, for grace, righteousness and character are not transferable and each soul must form his own through daily Christlike living. That supply must therefore be obtained now by watching, praying, working for souls and abiding in God, for to seek fitness when the cry sounds is too late once the door is shut.
Parable Setting and Story
The request is for an evening wedding where a waiting company holds lamps or torches to join the bridegroom's procession by torchlight. It belongs to a prophetic discourse about the second coming, teaching truths connected with that event. After the bridegroom delays, all the virgins sleep, then a midnight cry announces his coming, they awake and trim their lamps. That sleep represents being unprepared about the time and a loss of zeal and devotion, not disbelief that he will come.
The delay represents the passing of the expected time and the ensuing disappointment, during which believers remained convinced the coming was near but lost zeal and devotion. Arguments from prophecy and sanctuary types awakened those waiting and moved them to prepare through prayer, confession, and consecration, in what was proclaimed as the midnight cry. In that historical application the cry announced the coming and led proclaiming believers to leave the churches and seek a living experience. The warning applies generally to churches slumbering while the signs fulfill, until the call sounds to go out to meet him.
When the bridegroom arrives the foolish discover their lamps are going or gone out because they brought no reserve oil in flagons to replenish them for a long wait, and they ask the wise for oil. The long wait exposes their lack, for they had made no provision for delay or emergency and had not anticipated it. Their darkness and despair result from their own carelessness. Their failed lamps reveal they are not ready to meet the bridegroom, and readiness cannot be supplied to them at the last moment.
The wise have none to spare and tell the foolish to buy for themselves. While the foolish go, the bridegroom enters with the wise to the marriage supper, the bridal procession moves on, the house door is shut, and the foolish are left outside. Left standing without in the empty street in the blackness of the night, when they reach the banqueting hall they receive the unexpected denial of entrance. Like those who neglect preparation during probationary time and then seek entrance after the door is shut, they discover too late that they cannot obtain the needed fitness to join the procession, for probation has ended and the door is closed.
The parable presents events connected with the coming and the church's spiritual condition at that coming. It teaches the duty of being ready, waiting, watching, and acting, because the coming is in an unknown and unexpected hour. The contrast between foolish and wise calls each person to consider his condition before God as shown by conduct and conversation, with the wise ready with oil in vessels and lamps and entering the wedding. The call to trim the lamps requires heeding the call, bearing light, recognizing danger, and using the warning to become personally ready to enter the marriage supper.
Meaning of Lamp and Oil
The lamps are the word of God and a knowledge of the Scriptures and truth, and with the lamps vessels are provided to hold the oil, so that truth kept in the storehouse keeps the lamp shining. All who profess to wait for Christ have these lamps, have heard the message of His near approach, and confidently expect His appearing, with no difference seen for a time until the waiting tries faith. The lamps are also the Bibles in the hands of those who profess godliness, and the foolish are those who have them but do not have the oil of grace to use them to decide to obey the truth. In one figure the lamps represent God's remnant people themselves, needing a constant supply of oil which is truth and heavenly love.
The lamps also mean outward profession, the form of truth, a person's work, witness, soul, and inner life that must be kept trimmed and burning to give light. All ten have lamps as outward semblance of religion and outward preparation, making appearance of giving light as the wise do, yet five lack oil and in God's sight are a fraud, wise only in their own sight. The inner lamp must be trimmed so its light can shine to others, for a course of neglect leads away from seeing God, and readiness is joined to Christ's righteousness and to speech made sound by a holy root. Having the lamp as outward profession or theory of truth is not enough if there is no oil to feed it so that clear rays go forth and the light of life shines to those in darkness.
The oil is the Holy Spirit and the grace of Christ received through living connection with God, which feeds the lamp, sustains spiritual life, and makes the light shine to others in darkness. The lamp must be fed with holy oil, and that oil is effective as its light is shared with others in good works. Without the Spirit a knowledge of His word is of no avail, for theory of truth without the Holy Spirit cannot quicken the soul or sanctify the heart or transform the character, and without His enlightenment men cannot distinguish truth from error and fall under temptation. The wise are replenished through Christ's grace and the Holy Spirit with a daily, living experience of faith, love, and patience, while the foolish neglect to keep oil in their vessels, act from fear and impulse rather than patient preparation, and find their lamps burning dimly or going out.
The oil is also inward character, Christ's righteousness purifying from sin, truth enthroned in the heart, living faith, love, patience, and experienced knowledge of grace that must be continually supplied every day and hour. It is unseen principles, open communion with God, and oneness with Christ known in works, requiring personal faith that works by love, true preference, firm reliance, entire willing obedience and consecration, and a visible connection binding life with Christ. It is the righteousness of Jesus received by depending on God every hour as a branch grafted into the living Vine drawing sap and nourishment every day, without which there is no fruit to God's glory. Having oil in vessels with lamps is the great daily necessity for every soul and cannot safely be neglected, because the work to be done is weighty with eternal results, and readiness requires keeping the lamp filled and carefully trimmed so it shines with present truth.
As golden oil flowed from olive trees through golden pipes into the sanctuary lamps, so the Spirit is imparted from those who stand in God's presence to consecrated people prepared to receive it, and its light is effective as it is shared in good works. Abundant provision is made through the two anointed ones who stand by the Lord of the whole earth, and the oil is the holy golden oil emptied out of themselves through the two golden pipes into vessels prepared for it, received only into clean, pure, sanctified souls. It is the Holy Spirit in the heart working by love and purifying the soul, kindled by the Lord in the chambers of the soul to burn brightly and give light through good works, and if truth is not practiced the holy oil has not been received however much the Word is talked and preached. The mission of the two anointed ones is to communicate that heavenly grace which alone can make His word a lamp to the feet and a light to the path, for it is not by might nor by power but by His Spirit, as taught in Zechariah 4.
Having a lamp without oil is having theory of truth, outward religion, and appearance of light without conversion, inward piety, and power from above; such profession is worthless and leaves the light to flicker and die. Though interested in the gospel and knowing the standard of righteousness, the foolish live for self and own glory, treat life-giving truth as unessential, trust feelings, neglect Scripture, cherish hidden sins, and are left in darkness with blindness, weak faith, and fluctuating experience based on uncertain principles. People with great light and knowledge can thus be spiritually unprepared, cold and fading, with only feeble, waning piety, spiritually senseless when the final crisis comes, needing new life and power from above. No high profession, ordination to ministry, or appointment as Sabbath School superintendent or teacher gives the oil of grace, for to have just enough religion to deaden conscience, deceive the senses, and ruin the soul, just enough outward show to have the name to live while dead, is to be like the foolish whose lamps fail for lack of oil.
Who the Virgins Represent
The ten virgins represent the church of professed Christians watching in the evening of earth's history just before Christ's coming, seeking to be acknowledged as the Lamb's wife. They are divided into two classes, the wise who are ready and the foolish who are unready, the real Christians who have life in themselves and the spurious Christians who have not the oil of grace. The foolish profess but do not possess the character that gives entrance into the marriage supper, lacking oil in vessels with lamps, which is unseen principles, open communion with God, and oneness with Christ known in works. Their request for oil exposes that neither human birth nor descent from Abraham nor membership in any church will save any soul, for possession of the Word and the gospel feast is a personal privilege and personal invitation creating personal responsibility. That responsibility requires personal faith that works by love, true preference, firm reliance, entire willing obedience and consecration, and a visible connection with God binding life with Christ Jesus. The parable therefore calls for serious thought, earnest study of God's Word, and prayer for guidance into all truth, since professing to be ready is not enough.
All ten have lamps, meaning a knowledge of the Scriptures, and vessels for oil, and have heard the message of Christ's near approach and confidently expect His appearing, all claiming a name, a call, and to do God service. For a time no difference is seen between them, for the foolish hold the truth in unrighteousness yet outwardly appear like the wise. A time of waiting intervenes that tries faith, and when the cry Behold the Bridegroom cometh sounds many are unready because they have no oil in their vessels with their lamps, meaning they are destitute of the Holy Spirit. Without the Spirit a knowledge of His word is of no avail, for theory of truth cannot quicken the soul or sanctify the heart or transform the character, and without His enlightenment men cannot distinguish truth from error and fall under temptation. The foolish take for granted that the promises of God are theirs while they do not live as enjoined, crying peace, peace when there is no peace, which is the most perilous belief for the soul, and they are found surprised and dismayed, wanting and without oil, outside the wedding banquet with the door shut. Profession is therefore nothing, and no one is to take for granted that he is saved, but must deny self, take up the cross daily and follow Christ, with sanctification as the work of a lifetime and righteousness exceeding that of the scribes and Pharisees.
The foolish are not open sinners who make no profession, but ease-loving, world-loving professed Christians and church members who claim to be children of God and claim godliness without practicing the truth. They hide their light and mingle with the world, seek an enjoyable time with the world while claiming to be Christians, wear a mask, refuse to yield to any authority, suit men of the world who do not want the light of truth, and by worldly principles seduce many and do great harm. They have heard and accepted the truth without bringing it into daily life, have not sought the faith that works through love and purifies the soul, have no burden for souls, do not deny self or lift the cross, live for self instead of seeking to save souls ready to perish, and have not taken Christ as Counsellor, walked in the light of His Word, or come under His yoke. Their vessels are empty and therefore they cannot keep their lamps replenished, their light has become darkness because they walked in the light of sparks of their own kindling and not the sacred fire from God, and receiving the Holy Spirit remains a positive necessity that comes only from practicing life-giving truth. In contrast the wise are Christians in deed and in truth who live and work to restore the moral image of God in man, labor with Christ to show that a consecrated life is power for good, reveal progression heavenward, and help those who serve God to serve Him with whole mind, heart, soul, and strength.
That foolish condition includes ministers and workers who year after year receive ministerial privileges, years of training, great light, abundant opportunities and continuous privileges, yet do not take truth into heart and life and therefore cannot impart it to others. It describes many younger ministers lacking consecration to God and heart-felt piety and devotion, who though sent to be a light by good works as well as words and theories do not shine. It also embraces strong men precious in God's sight who are under a spell and do not know it, whose minds have been taken from the message for this time by scientific spiritualistic philosophy, who live merely to criticize, who have associated with those taught by the deceiver, whose hearts bear the sting of the serpent, and who are prepared for unbelief; they must awake, trim their lamps, hold no vestige of doubt, unmask the hypnotism, and turn toward Canaan and not toward Egypt. Those preaching in conferences and churches are warned not to remain destitute of the oil of grace, which is grace that makes the lamp burn and give light, and is faith and love, but to wake from lethargy and trim their lamps so their light shines clearly to prepare people to stand in the day of the Lord.
Five wise and five foolish mark the proportion of those ready and unready among professed believers. The wise are those whose hearts have been changed by transforming power and filled with grace from Christ, with increasing desire for peace and joy, who let their light burn in good works, remain at the feet of Jesus to learn of Him, know His ways, perfect Christian character, and wash their robes white in the blood of the Lamb. The foolish have nothing more than theoretical knowledge, thinking it is all that is required because they are not doers of the Word, and rest in baptism as saving them while giving no evidence of conformity to Christ, clinging to old habits, exerting influence on the side of the world, and weaving worldly ideas and customs into their fabric. They are people who professed to believe yet when they knew God did not worship Him as God, with self in all its perverted attributes hardening the heart, closing the door against Christ entering and abiding, blinding the mind by self-indulgence, leaving them unconverted and dying greater sinners than before profession. No one can now distinguish by sight between the classes and no human has authority to say who is wise and who is foolish, but when the door is shut angels who know character by fruits will make no mistake in gathering the wheat from among the tares. The same lack appears in church members without needed grace who may confess bad habits and sins but continue in them without forsaking them, remaining bound by doubts, fear, and temptation and wasting probationary time.
Prophetic Fulfillment in History
The waiting, the slumber, and the midnight cry, Behold the bridegroom cometh, were fulfilled in the Advent movement of 1844, when arguments from prophecy and sanctuary types awakened those waiting for the Lord and moved them to prepare through prayer, confession and consecration. That cry announced the coming of the Bridegroom and led the believers who proclaimed it to go out to meet Him and to leave the churches, seeking a living experience that no one could borrow from another. All ten were expected to proclaim the truth to every nation, kindred, tongue and people, yet five were wise and five were foolish, and only five made the provision essential to join the company walking in the light that had come to them. The failing lamps and the request for oil portray those unprepared for delay, whose empty flagons showed they had not prepared to replenish their lamps when the coming was announced at midnight.
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 of judgment and cleansing of the sanctuary in the most holy place, not His second appearing to earth. It represents a change in His position and work as High Priest in relation to the marriage of the Lamb, when He rose from His mediatorial throne and went into the holiest as Bridegroom to receive His kingdom. This understanding formed the basis for the shut-door teaching that many accepted, settling that a door had been closed in heaven while another ministration was opened. The foolish are those who had accepted a theory of truth but lacked the grace of God and the Spirit, acting from fear and impulse rather than patiently searching Scripture and following Christ by faith into His new work.
The delay represents the passing of the expected time and the ensuing disappointment, during which believers remained convinced His coming was near yet lost zeal and devotion, a condition represented by the slumber of all the virgins. Sleep here means being unprepared about the time, not disbelief that He will come, and the long wait exposes who has no reserve oil in flagons to supply the lamp in emergency. God takes time to test and prove who has real, genuine righteousness of Christ and who can bear with patience in waiting and watching and working, without reckoning by figures or symbols or types the exact period of the Lord's coming. Waiting must not be idle expectancy that stops planting and building, but more diligent work to uphold and gather the Lord's sheep, with signs studied because they show He is at the door.
Those who went forth to meet the Bridegroom under the first and second angels' messages yet refused the third angel's message are the foolish who asked for oil, for the third is the last testing message to be given to the world. Only those prepared could join the company walking in the light that had come, and because the others failed to make that provision the worldwide proclamation was delayed. Their lamps were going out because nominal faith without the oil of grace leaves people unready for Christ's coming, and that preparation cannot be supplied at the last moment. After the 2300 days believers concluded from the going out of the foolish lamps that probation for sinners had closed and access to salvation had ended. Later light on the heavenly sanctuary showed Christ had closed one ministration but opened another in the most holy place, where He continued pleading His blood for sinners, so the door of mercy had not closed.
Some who went forth to meet the Bridegroom in 1844 were afterward deceived by false shepherds until they did not know where they were or what they believed. Such ones are now coming out upon the truth together with those who never heard the Advent doctrine, and none should rest without the abiding witness that his ways please God. The sleeping virgins also describe the people of God now standing on the borders of the greatest event in the world's history, asleep to how near the time of trouble such as was not since there was a nation now is. To awake is to make sure the feet are in the narrow path and to ask the Lord Jesus to place His everlasting arms underneath and carry through the trial before us, with assurance that the God of all grace is a very present help in time of need.
Readiness Cannot Be Borrowed
The midnight awakening exposed the foolish because they had brought no reserve to replenish their lamps during the delay, and when they found their lights going out they asked the wise for oil and were refused. The wise had only enough for their own lamps and could give none away, so the foolish were told to go and buy for themselves, and while they were gone the procession moved on, the house door was shut, and they were left outside. That refusal means essential preparation cannot be borrowed from another person at the last moment. The oil they lacked is grace that enables a person to discern clear light and accept it, the grace each one must have through a real, growing experience with God which nominal religion cannot supply and which grows into knowledge sustained by earnest prayer and faith in Christ. It is an experienced knowledge of Christ's grace, and it is the Holy Spirit as golden oil emptied out of themselves by the two olive trees and two olive branches into clean, pure, sanctified souls prepared to receive it.
Character is not transferable, so no one can go in with the wise on the strength of another's supply. The division is between real Christians who have life in themselves and spurious Christians who have not the oil of grace, professing but not possessing the unseen principles, open communion with God, and oneness with Christ that are known to the Lord in works and give entrance to the marriage supper. Neither human birth nor descent from Abraham nor membership in any church will save any soul, for possession of the Word and the gospel feast is a personal privilege and personal invitation creating personal responsibility. That responsibility requires personal faith that works by love, true preference, firm reliance, entire willing obedience and consecration, and a visible connection binding the life with Christ. Each person must therefore form his own character, obtain his own experienced knowledge of Christ's grace, and prepare his own soul through humbleness of mind, by taking Christ's yoke and learning of Him and by daily Christlike living that keeps faith, love, and knowledge of God and the truth from being lost. Ease-loving, world-loving professors who hide their light and mingle with the world fail because they do not continue to supply themselves with the oil of grace, hushed to slumber and made careless by the peace and safety cry, and even active workers fall into false religion when they do not cultivate the grace needed to live out Christ's teachings.
Trying to obtain fitness when the cry sounds is too late. No one can become ready by waiting until Behold, the Bridegroom is heard and then gathering up empty lamps to have them replenished, for keeping Christ apart from life here leaves a person unfitted for His companionship in heaven. Those who have not prepared for a wait nor formed characters after the divine likeness, with God's grace in the heart to renew the lamp so light shines in good works, discover at the final emergency that probation has ended and the door is closed. Like people who consider themselves wise but ignore the light and warnings God has given, they fail to recognize their need until they awaken to their true condition too late to obtain what they need and be ready. The call to have lamps trimmed and burning is therefore a warning to be ready when the Lord comes and not to postpone readiness until that moment, lest seekers after entrance find themselves shut out like those who came after the door was shut.
The same unreadiness is discovered when sickness and death come. People who have not developed the inward character represented by oil then find they have no oil in their vessels and are unfit to bring their lives to a close. Those who lived merely for self-pleasing, for display and self-pleasing without inward Christian character, face the end of life's course unprepared, like foolish bridesmaids with no oil when the decisive hour approaches. The same exposure will appear in the last conflict, when the plagues fall, and at the judgment. Those who meet the final crisis unprepared will confess their sins in anguish yet cannot then obtain the preparation they delayed, professing believers will discover at the judgment that they are not ready to stand, and people unready when the plagues fall will realize their need only when the hour is too late.
Why the Lamps Fail
The foolish made no provision for delay or emergency, bringing no reserve oil in flagons to replenish their lamps, so when the midnight announcement came their lights were going or gone out and they asked the wise to share. All ten went forth with lamps trimmed and burning, but only the wise anticipated disappointment and delay and filled their flagons beforehand, from which their lamps were supplied and not left to go out. Having a lamp is not enough without a continuing supply, for the oil is the Holy Spirit and the grace of Christ, and the foolish are unprepared because they lack a daily living experience of faith, love, and patience nourished by that supply. That preparation cannot be put off until the coming, for a flickering faith left until the last moment cannot then be replenished, and the wise had only enough for their own lamps so the foolish were told to buy and were away when the bridegroom came. In the historical application the midnight cry announced Christ's coming and led proclaiming believers to leave the churches, while the failing lamps portrayed those unprepared for the delay.
Lamps fail through carelessness, indifference, neglect, slumber, and want of integrity, when vessels are not kept filled with the oil of grace, trimmed and burning brighter, but are allowed to burn dim and flicker out in darkness. Ease-loving, world-loving professors are hushed to slumber and made careless about their light by the peace and safety cry, failing to continue to supply themselves with grace until the final crisis reveals their light has gone out. Though made depositaries of the treasures of truth, such sleepers do not grow in spiritual understanding and power because they neglect self-denial and cross-bearing and feel no burden to keep their souls in the love of God by earnest, diligent, daily use to the utmost of ability of entrusted talents. During the long delay some give up and think the Master is not coming, having no supply of grace to stand the test of waiting, when God is proving who has genuine righteousness and who can bear with patience in waiting and watching and working without idle expectancy but with more diligent gathering of sheep. Becoming a foolish virgin is a present danger requiring every energy to be aroused against Satan's devices, by distrusting self, watching and praying every hour, and withstanding temptation instead of going in its way, for reliance on others or absorption in business instead of dependence on God leaves one unprepared for the feast.
Mingling with the world, hiding light, seeking enjoyment, refusing authority, and living for self instead of saving souls turn light to darkness and seduce others. The foolish are not open sinners without profession but claimants to be children of God and church members without practicing the truth, having no burden for souls, not denying self or lifting Christ's cross, seeking an enjoyable time with the world while claiming Christianity, wearing a mask, refusing to yield to authority, and by worldly principles doing great harm. Remaining in character the same as before, they have not taken Christ as Counsellor, walked in the light of His Word, or come under His yoke, but have worked their own way, walked in the light of sparks of their own kindling rather than the sacred fire from God, until their light has become darkness. They suit men of the world who do not want the light of truth, being one in spirit with those who never let light shine in words of truth and deeds of holiness, while they have heard and accepted truth without bringing it into daily life and without the faith that works through love and purifies the soul.
Self-love, hidden sins, trusting feelings, neglecting Scripture, and failing to bless others leave faith weak, fluctuating, and blind to accountability and reckoning. Though interested in the gospel and knowing the standard of righteousness, self-love leads the foolish to live for their own glory and treat life-giving truth as unessential, leaving blindness, darkness, and experience based on uncertain principles. Their lamps lack grace because they are careless and self-satisfied, knowing theory without living connection, trusting feelings, neglecting Scripture, and cherishing hidden sins, so diligent self-examination by God's standard, obedience, and seeking for purity are required. Their foolishness is failing to realize accountability and to keep in mind a day of trust and a day of reckoning, for everyone is entrusted with talents and a sacred responsibility to bless others by opening precious truth to those in error, which the foolish neglect. Like neglected faith whose light goes out, their condition illustrates the danger of failing to supply oil through cultivating faith.
Some exchange the old-fashioned lamp of the Bible for new costly lamps of human invention, whose light is uncertain and sickly because it trusts human power and devising rather than the living God, mingling the human with the sacred like common fire in place of the sacred. At the night of the midnight cry, Behold the bridegroom cometh, their lamps are revealed destitute of oil, and then honest men and women discern between pure golden oil from the olive branches and the spurious article they used, crying eagerly for the old lamp exchanged, the Bible alone, pure unadulterated truth standing forever, shining amid moral darkness and showing things to come.
Minds taken by scientific spiritualistic philosophy, criticism, skepticism, and association with deceivers leave even strong men precious in God's sight under a spell they do not recognize, taken away from the message for this time, living merely to criticize, bearing the serpent's sting, and prepared for unbelief and a campaign of doubt. Those asleep at post must now awake and trim lamps, holding no vestige of doubt about present truth, unmasking Satan's hypnotism, and turning toward Canaan the promised land and not toward Egypt. Having no oil means neglecting the ordinances of grace that keep the spark of faith alive, seeing no need for the means God uses to keep lamps burning and no need for Christ's mediatorial work that illuminates understanding and warms the heart, a condition coming from making science everything, trusting powers inherent in man and nature, and wandering into skepticism so God's power and glory are not exalted.
Absorption in business, temporal cares, appetite, dress, worldly practices, amusement, lust, selfishness, and stubborn self-will crowd out God, harden the heart against Jesus, and shut the door. Knowing and professing truth is not enough, for lamps without oil in the vessels mean lack of grace to live in harmony with truth, since genuine faith must be accompanied by corresponding works and a sanctified life, a warning applied to indulgence of appetite as a snare. Becoming too engaged in business can place a person among the foolish, the same as the man at the festal supper without the wedding garment, and failing to give time to prayer and God's service for temporal business leaves hearts unopened to Jesus until too late. Lightly regarding warnings leads some far into worldliness in dress and practices until the door is shut and they are left outside. Love of amusement, indulgence of lustful appetites, selfishness, and stubborn self-will divorce the soul from God, eclipse heaven's light, separate the soul from God and lead others astray, so that choosing one's own way fails to make one a channel of light for saving souls and builds for loss for time and eternity.
Continued self-indulgence darkens understanding and blurs spiritual vision so truth and warnings are no longer received, until too late the character is discovered diseased though the lamp was like that of the wise. Complaining and despondency likewise let the love of Christ grow cold, so the lamp must be trimmed and filled with the oil of grace to burn steadily and bring light and cheer to others.
Love of the world and cherished sin wean the heart from prayer and meditation on sacred things, leaving only a formal round of religious services without love for Jesus and without fervor and devotion corresponding to the greatness of believed truth. This is a fall from high spirituality through abounding iniquity, when love grows cold, spirituality dies, and the lamp of truth flickers and goes out in darkness because it is not replenished by grace, perpetuating torpor and mournful deterioration unless warned against.
Relying on own wisdom, feeling no need of heavenly grace, and trusting powers of man and nature leave lamps going out and bar entrance to the marriage supper of the Lamb. Such claimants to belief fail to provide oil because they think they have no need of it, wasting opportunities and trusting a wisdom that is foolishness with God while thinking themselves rich and increased in goods and in need of nothing. Oil is received only by being emptied of self, centering the whole being in Christ, and coming into full assurance of faith by partaking of the Son of God, with abiding deep conviction of the great truths of the Word and understanding of God's will.
Neglecting faithfulness in little things shapes character so it cannot stand a great emergency and endangers the name in the book of life. Thoughts must be restrained into captivity and obedience to Christ, words and actions regulated by God's law, and affections trained to act on principle in daily life, for little unnoticed things enter habit like little foxes spoiling vines. Undisciplined nature allowed its will in little things cannot be restrained in larger things, and without daily grace the soul has no delight in heart service, the life is scarred and warped, and without prior training one cannot act on principle when trial comes.
Neglecting the ordinances of grace and Christ's mediatorial work that illuminate understanding and warm the heart leaves faith unsustained. The oil represents those ordinances through which faith is kept alive, and dependence on powers attributed to man and nature while neglecting these means leaves lamps without what is needed to keep burning.
Call to Present Readiness
The oil must be secured now, before the need arrives, for grace is required every hour and only a living, complete connection with God today and every day keeps faith, love and patience nourished so the lamp does not flicker. A lamp alone is not enough without a continuing supply, and a flickering faith left until the last moment cannot then be replenished when the bridegroom comes. Those who neglect this personal work of the soul are left empty, while those who have it receive light shining from the throne of God that lights their faces as they reflect the image of Jesus. Readiness is kept by watching, praying and putting God-given talents to use for those around to bring souls to Christ, and not by being surfeited with the cares of this life lest that day come as a thief and find the soul unready.
Waiting demands that working, waiting, watching and praying be blended together, not idle expectancy nor mere bustle to the neglect of personal piety. The soul's lamp must be kept trimmed and supplied with the oil of grace through vigilant work rather than idle devotion or absorption in worldly affairs, for living as though the Lord delays brings the fate of hypocrites and unbelievers. To sleep as the foolish slept is to fold the hands and cease that work, and haphazard work results in spiritual declension that will leave the unready overtaken as by a thief when Christ comes unexpectedly in the night. The mind must be strengthened to look deep and discern the reasons of faith, and the soul-temple must be purified by truth, for only the pure in heart will stand against the wiles of Satan.
Lamps must be kept trimmed, filled and burning today so that light gleams out in moral darkness, honors God, guides wanderers and points the way to the bridegroom's home and the marriage supper of the Lamb. The lamp is present witness and must be fed with holy oil, and that oil is effective as its light is shared with others in transforming character and good works. Without a living connection with the source of spiritual growth, people will fail to receive added grace in their time of need and will not be ready when special spiritual help is required. Now is the time for all to be burning and shining lights, for time for doing the work is diminishing while the work accumulates, souls decide for evil or good, and the warfare constantly increases.
Keeping the oil requires time to pray, to search the Scriptures, and as far as possible to attend public worship, with prayerful study and obedience sustaining grace especially for workers exposed to worldly influences. The foolish are not watchful about words and careful about behavior, while the wise keep the oil through prayerful study of God's Word and are prepared to answer the midnight cry. To forget God is to forsake pure snow of Lebanon for turbid streams of the valley and to lose the oil, and those thrown into the society of worldlings especially need Jesus held up before them with personal labor and counteracting influences lest the worldly element steal the heart away. Each Christian must examine personally and without delay whether oil is in the vessel, because indifference and carelessness are especially dangerous.
Filling vessels means being cleansed from every selfish purpose, confessing sins before God, cleansing hands from sin and purifying double minds, and being converted to become laborers together with God. Being a wise virgin means partaking of the divine nature and becoming complete in Christ, perfect without spot and blameless, with hearts united to Christ and clothed in His righteousness. This requires making Christ a personal Saviour and becoming true and pure and holy, working out salvation with fear and trembling in cooperation with God, resisting wrong, subduing evil temper, selfishness and pride, attaining the righteousness of Christ, becoming one with Christ in God, and exercising self-control through Christ's all-sufficiency. Trimming lamps and seeking a fresh supply is to be done before stepping over the threshold into the house of worship, putting away the gloom of unbelief and gloomy depression and coming with joyfulness to meet with God and His people.
Oil is received only by being emptied of self, centering the whole being in Christ, and coming into full assurance of faith by eating the flesh and drinking the blood of the Son of God through practicing His words. It means living in hourly contact and conscious communion with the principles of truth, righteousness and mercy that reveal the attributes of God within the soul, binding up with God as the deep source of all moral and intellectual power and cooperating with Him. It is faith that works by love and purifies the soul, received by humbling the heart before God, overcoming defects, talking less and praying much more, seeking the Lord in earnest prayer in simple faith, and taking heed to self and doctrine. It requires sanctification through the truth, being doers of the Word and not hearers only, moving forward with the mind of Christ with self hid with Christ in God, for unbelief that magnifies every molehill into a mountain shuts out the oil.
Ministers must have their souls supplied with the oil of grace and constantly increase in spiritual power, keeping spiritual life ready and active like a lamp kept trimmed and burning through prayer, meditation on the Word and growth in spirituality. Many younger ministers lack consecration, heart-felt piety and devotion, and though sent to be a light by good works as well as words and theories they do not shine, showing the loss from failing to accept and obey given light. Teachers must maintain Christian character so their lives shine as lights to students, homes, neighborhoods and the world's moral darkness, and parents are not ready unless their own inner lamp of reformed character is trimmed and burning to do justice to themselves before they can do justice to their children. Only then will the burning lamp shine forth in faithful, earnest, consecrated work for children, and consecrated example and publications carry warning light that endures judgment.
Believers must awake and examine whether oil is in the vessel, guarding against spiritual decline and the first dimming lest the day of the Lord come unexpectedly like a thief. The foolish represent careless, self-satisfied believers who know theory but lack living connection because they trust feelings, neglect Scripture and cherish hidden sins, so diligent self-examination by God's standard, obedience to truth, and seeking God to become pure and holy are required. The sleeping virgins must wake, turn to the Bible, learn the truth in Jesus, share present truth with neighbors, abandon sophistry and skepticism through entire consecration, and seek the Lord Jesus' help to endure the approaching trial. They must distrust self, resist temptation, confess and hold fast to hope, preserve faith in the third angel's message when troubling experiences threaten it, and double diligence to make calling and election sure before light goes out in darkness.
The failing lamp links to the man coming to the gospel feast without the wedding garment of Christ's righteousness, who professes discipleship while cherishing traits that misrepresent Christ and will be found unsanctified and unprepared, dishonoring the inviter and unable to join the wedding feast. It pictures unreadiness for Christ's unexpected coming like a thief in the night, which cannot be remedied by relying on others. Keeping the lamp means joining quiet, prayerful hours apart from bustle to commune with God and learn His will with personal piety blended with earnest warnings and appeals, pointing to what is and what follows fast after, being not slothful in business but fervent in spirit, clearing the King's highway as Enoch walked with God in obedience and bore witness for truth. The Bible itself becomes like a lamp without oil to minds led into speculative beliefs that cause misunderstanding and confusion, while the holy golden oil emptied through the two golden pipes must burn brightly in the chambers of the soul and shine to the world through good works despite Satan's hellish power to quench it by casting his shadow across the pathway.