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Hello The Light, Good exchange… When Christ’s prophecy (Matthew 24:27-31) is fulfilled, several Old Testament prophecies will be fulfilled as well. Thus, Christ handed us several witnesses speaking with one voice on the subject of the “elect”: the sons of Israel. This is the harvest, at His second coming to Israel. Christ Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light…. And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other. (Matt. 24:29, 31) Ezekiel Thus says the Lord God: “Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe upon these slain [the dead] so that they live.” … He said to me, “Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel.” (Ezek. 37:9, 11) Joel The sun and moon darken, and the stars withdraw their radiance. The Lord roars from Zion, and sounds His voice from Jerusalem, and heaven and earth quake. But the Lord is a refuge for His people, and a stronghold for the children of Israel. (Joel 3:15, 16) Isaiah [Y]ou shall be gathered one by one, O sons of Israel. And in that day the great trumpet shall be blown, and those who were ready to perish in the land of Assyria and the outcasts in the land of Egypt shall worship the Lord in the holy mount at Jerusalem. (Isa. 27:12, 13) “Israel mine elect” (Isa. 45:4). “Israel shall be saved by the Lord with an everlasting salvation” (Isa. 45:17). Daniel Seventy weeks have been determined for your people (Daniel’s people/the house of Jacob) and upon your holy city… and to make atonement for iniquity…” (Dan. 9:24) Just as the Lord God delivered and gathered the Hebrews through Moses (following the exile in Egypt), so shall the Lord God deliver and gather the sons of Israel through Christ (following the exile to the “four winds” of the Earth). As Moses delivered the Hebrews from Pharaoh, so shall Christ deliver the sons of Israel from the Antichrist (Matt. 24:15, 27-31). Paul: The Mystery for Israel For I, brethren, would not have you be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits: that blindness in part has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles be come in. And so all Israel shall be saved, as it is written: “There shall come out of Zion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob. For this is My covenant unto them when I shall take away their sins.” (Rom. 11:25-27) The Lord God: Christ, Priest And as the Father declared: “You are a priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek” (Heb. 7:17). With His second coming to Israel, Christ—as High Priest—will make atonement for the house of Jacob on the only day designated by the Hebrew calendar: the day of Atonement.** Paul & John: Mystery for the Church **The Rapture of the Church has no relevance to the day of Atonement or “the great trumpet,” but rather, the Feast of Trumpets when the Lord God Himself sounds “the last trumpet” (1 Thess. 4:13-18; 1 Cor. 15:51-55)—which heralds the commencement of the day of the Lord: The Sixth Seal (Rev. 6:12-17), with Christ’s appearance in the sky (Rev. 6:16) to rapture us to His throne (Rev. 7:9-17), (saving us from wrath (1 Thess. 1:10; 5:9)), to bring us, the “chaste virgin,” espoused to Him, to The Lamb’s Supper (Rev. 19:6-9). Thus, our Lord will fulfill His Last Supper prophecy (John 14:1-3). The Light: I welcome your thoughts. Blessings ever. Peace. revvel

Conclusion The Parable of the 10 Virgins: The Kingdom of Heaven “Then the kingdom of heaven shall be like ten virgins, who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom.” (Matt. 25:1) 1. Entering the kingdom of Heaven is likened to entering a wedding banquet. 2. Christ foreshadowed the symbolism in this parable throughout the Gospel of Matthew. 3. The Lord God established the irrefutable truth of the symbolism found in Matthew (via Jeremiah): It’s 100% Israel. Now... Let the Lord God, Christ, the Prophets & Apostles speak, for they all speak with one voice. Matthew 7: The Sermon on the Mount: The Kingdom of Heaven “Not every one that saith unto Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter into the Kingdom of Heaven, but he that doeth the will of My Father who is in Heaven [Wise Virgins]. Many will say to Me in that Day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Thy name, and in Thy name have cast out devils, and in Thy name done many wonderful works?’ And then will I profess unto them, ‘I never knew you: depart from Me, ye that work iniquity’ [Foolish Virgins]. (Matt. 7:21-23) Matthew 13: Israel Blind Symbolically—Why Christ speaks in Parables Therefore I speak to them in parables: ‘Because they look, but do not see. And they listen, but they do not hear, neither do they understand.’ In them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah which says: ‘By hearing, you will hear and shall not understand, and seeing, you will see and shall not perceive; for this people’s [Israel’s] heart has grown dull. Their ears have become hard of hearing, and they have closed their eyes, lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears and understand with their hearts, and turn, and I should heal them.’ (Matt. 13:13-15) Matthew 24:27-31: Second Coming to Israel, the Sons of Israel Christ drew upon several prophets, including Joel & Isaiah: The sun and moon darken, and the stars withdraw their radiance. The Lord roars from Zion, and sounds His voice from Jerusalem, and heaven and earth quake. But the Lord is a refuge for His people, and a stronghold for the children of Israel. (Joel 3:15, 16) [Y]ou shall be gathered one by one, O sons of Israel. And in that day the great trumpet shall be blown, and those who were ready to perish in the land of Assyria and the outcasts in the land of Egypt shall worship the Lord in the holy mount at Jerusalem. (Isa. 27:12, 13) “Israel mine elect” (Isa. 45:4). “Israel shall be saved by the Lord with an everlasting salvation.” (Isa. 45:17) Matthew 24: Watch “Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord will come [Wise Virgins Watched]. But know this, that if the owner of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched and not have let his house be broken into [Foolish Virgins Failed to Watch]. (Matt. 24:42, 43) Matthew 24 & 25: The Fig Tree & 10 Virgins, Symbols for Israel The Witness of The Father: The “Fig Tree” is a symbol for Israel, (Hos. 9:10)—with “good figs” & “rotten figs” (Jer. 24:1-8). And “O Virgin of Israel”: symbol for Israel (Jer. 31:1-14). The Witness of the Son reflecting the Father: The “Fig Tree” (Matt. 24:32-34), and the “10 Virgins” (Matt. 25). We have the Irrefutable Witness of the Father and the Son. The Son followed the pattern of Symbols given by His Father: the Fig Tree/Figs & 10 Virgins/O Virgin—and these Symbols are, of course, Symbols for Israel. Matthew 25: Midnight The historical significance of “Midnight” at the time of Moses (Exod. 12:29), and the symbolic significance of “Midnight” in the parable given by Christ, tell the same “ancestral story:” Deliverance. In the Parable of the 10 Virgins, “Midnight” (a Watch Hour) symbolizes the “time” of Divine Visitation and Israel’s Deliverance—for the wise virgins who “watched.” Matthew 25 & Luke 21 & Romans 11: The Mystery for Israel Revealed For I, brethren, would not have you be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits: that blindness in part has happened to [has come over*] Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles be come in. And so all Israel shall be saved, as it is written: “There shall come out of Zion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob. For this is My covenant unto them when I shall take away their sins.” (Rom. 11:25-27) “While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept [blind symbolically to the true Messiah, Christ]” (Matt. 25:5). *“Happened” in Hebrew means “to come over”; in Greek: “to come into existence.” Luke 21: The Mystery for Israel Revealed In the Gospel of Luke, Christ established irrefutable, divine truth: The Fig Tree parable speaks of the coming redemption for Israel, when the mystery for Israel is fulfilled (when the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled). (Luke 21:20-32; Rom. 11:25-27… parallel). As Christ’s truth is universal, this truth applies regardless of which Gospel this Fig Tree parable is found. The Fig Tree lesson/parable in Matthew 24 is in the context of the 10 Virgins. And this is the figurative context: the mystery for Israel/symbols for Israel. Matthew 25: The Parable of the 10 Virgins, Conclusion The parable heralds the end of the exile for Israel, atonement for the house of Jacob, and the fulfillment of the mystery for Israel. The Parable of the 10 Virgins flows from the context: the second coming to Israel, to gather the “sons of Israel,” and the (figurative) “virgins” originate from the (figurative) “Fig Tree”: Israel. Wise & Foolish Virgins: Good & Rotten Figs The foolish virgins are the “rotten figs,” forsaken because Christ never “knew” them—and (in reality) they practiced “iniquity” and failed to “watch,” thus, they suffered the consequence: extinguished torches.* In the parable, they went to “buy” what they did not have: “Buy the truth and do not sell it—wisdom, instruction and insight as well” (Prov. 23:23). The wise virgins are the “good figs” whose torches* burned because they “watched,” doing the will of the “Father”—“the commandment is a lamp, and the Law is light” (Prov. 6:23). *The Greek word—Lampas—means “torch” (i.e. lamppost)—not lamp. Christ’s fictitious story draws upon a Galilean reality: The members of a wedding procession would carry their (oil fired) torches (in the night) through the streets to the wedding banquet. Matthew 6: God or Money, The 10 Virgins “Whoever loves God is known by God” (1 Cor. 8:3). Christ knew the 5 wise virgins and didn’t know the 5 foolish virgins; the foolish didn’t love Him—and if you don’t love God, what’s left? “Money” (Matt. 6:24). The foolish “sold out” … in exchange for money. What did the Pharisees love? “Money” (Luke 16:14) … Foolish. Matthew 23 – 25/Revelation 19 & 20: Christ: King, Lord & Priest With Christ’s second coming to Israel, the virgins (finally) “wake up.” The wise virgins enter the kingdom of Heaven on Earth, the Millennial Kingdom (Rev. 20:4-10), which Christ likened to entering a wedding banquet—to “make merry” & “rejoice in dance” as the Father promised for “O Virgin of Israel” (Jer. 31:1-14). Then—and only then—will the remnant of Israel, the wise virgins cry, “Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord” (Matt. 23:39), when Christ makes His triumphant return to Jerusalem as “King of Kings and Lord of Lords” (Rev. 19:16). And as the Father declared: “You are a priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek” (Heb. 7:17). Christ will make atonement for the house of Jacob on the day designated by the Hebrew calendar: the day of Atonement.** The Gospel of Matthew: Jesus, King of the Jews Jesus stood before the governor. And the governor asked Him, “Are You the King of the Jews?” Jesus said to him, “You have said so.” (Matt. 27:11) Luke 1: Fulfilled “He will reign over the [redeemed] house of Jacob forever. And of His kingdom there will be no end.” (Luke 1:33) 2 Peter 1:20, 21 The belief that the Parable of the 10 Virgins represents “Church goers” and the oil represents the “Holy Spirit” is precisely what Peter warned against: the human mind projecting its imagination onto the Scriptures—creating a twisted interpretation that has no relevance to the divine truth presented in the passage. Now you know the truth about the Parable of the 10 Virgins. What will you do with it? Hold it in unrighteousness? Speak it? What will you say to Him when you pray to Him? You have nowhere to turn—in the Bible—to refute the unified voice of the Father and the Son… on the symbols for Israel. **The Rapture of the Church has nothing to do with the day of Atonement or “the great trumpet,” but rather, the Feast of Trumpets when the Lord God Himself sounds “the last trumpet” (1 Thess. 4:13-18; 1 Cor. 15:51-55)—which heralds the commencement of the day of the Lord: the Sixth Seal (Rev. 6:12-17), with Christ’s appearance in the sky (Rev. 6:16) to rapture us to His throne (Rev. 7:9-17), (saving us from wrath (1 Thess. 1:10; 5:9)), to bring us, the “chaste virgin,” espoused to Him, to The Lamb’s Supper (Rev. 19:6-9). Thus, our Lord will fulfill His Last Supper prophecy (John 14:1-3). It’s the mystery for the Church. WAKE UP Church, Thou Chaste Virgin! Want Scripture? Read the other thread, “The Torah to Revelation: The Mystery.” Peace. revvel

The Parable of the 10 Virgins: The Witness of Christ & Moses, Midnight Look at the “time” … “But at midnight there was a cry, ‘Look, the bridegroom is coming! Come out to meet him!’’’ (Matt. 25:6) What does “Midnight” symbolize in the parable? What preceded Christ’s parable? Christ’s command: “Watch.” “Watch therefore….” (Matt. 24:42-44). What is significant about “Midnight” in the Bible? It’s a Watch Hour. What is the historical significance of “Midnight” at the time of Moses? It is forever etched as the Hour of Divine Visitation & Deliverance. Exodus 12 At midnight the Lord smote all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh that sat on his throne to the firstborn of the captive who was in the dungeon and all the firstborn of livestock. Pharaoh rose up in the night, he and all his servants and all the Egyptians, and there was a great cry in Egypt, for there was not a house where there was not someone dead. The Exodus Then he called for Moses and Aaron at night and said, “Rise up, and get out from among my people, both you and the children of Israel, and go, serve the Lord, as you have said. Also take your flocks and your herds, as you have said, and be gone, and bless me also.” (Exod. 12:29-32) “Midnight” marked Deliverance. The Hebrews “Watched” by following God’s Word given by Moses—placing lamb’s blood on the doorposts, and thus, the angel of death passed over them. And to this very day and time… What do Hebrews ask at Passover? “Why is this night different from all the rest”? Hebrew deliverance at the Midnight Watch Hour is remembered… 3500 years later. Significant? Yes. It’s still branded in the hearts and minds of the followers of Moses who await their Messiah… This solemn act—lamb’s blood on the doorposts—at the time of the Deliverer, Moses, foreshadowed the blood of God’s Lamb, the coming Deliverer, Christ. The parallel between Israel’s history and future is unmistakable: Just as the Lord God delivered and gathered the Hebrews through Moses (following the exile in Egypt), so shall the Lord God deliver and gather the sons of Israel through Christ (following the exile to the “four winds” of the Earth). As Moses delivered the Hebrews from Pharaoh, so shall Christ deliver the sons of Israel from the Antichrist (Matt. 24:15, 27-31)… The historical significance of “Midnight” at the time of Moses, and the symbolic significance of “Midnight” in the parable given by Christ, tell the same “ancestral story:” Deliverance. In the Parable of the 10 Virgins, “Midnight” symbolically represents the “time” of Divine Visitation and Israel’s Deliverance—for the wise virgins who “watched.” Next: Conclusion, The Parable of the 10 Virgins Peace. revvel

The Parables of the Fig Tree & 10 Virgins: The Witness of the Lord God, Christ, Matthew, Luke, Paul & Joel Luke 21: Christ They will fall by the edge of the sword and will be led away captive to all nations. And Jerusalem will be trampled on by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled. (Luke 21:24) Who are “they”? Israel. What will be trampled on by the Gentiles? Jerusalem. What is the subject of Christ’s prophecy? Israel & Jerusalem. Compare the terminology used by Christ in Luke 21 to the terminology/mystery He revealed to Paul in Romans 11. Romans 11: Paul For I, brethren, would not have you be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits: that blindness in part has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles be come in. And so all Israel shall be saved, as it is written: “There shall come out of Zion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob. For this is My covenant unto them when I shall take away their sins.” (Rom. 11:25-27) What will come to pass when the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled? “There shall come out of Zion the Deliverer” … exactly as Joel prophesied. Joel 3 The sun and moon darken, and the stars withdraw their radiance. The Lord roars from Zion, and sounds His voice from Jerusalem, and heaven and earth quake. But the Lord is a refuge for His people, and a stronghold for the children of Israel. (Joel 3:15, 16) Thus, the mystery for Israel shall be fulfilled: The Deliverer, Christ, the high priest will save Israel and remove ungodliness from the house of Jacob. When? “When these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, for your redemption is drawing near” (Luke 21:28). “Your redemption” refers to whom? The context & the mystery: Israel/the house of Jacob. 3 Witnesses—Christ, Paul & Joel—testify that Luke 21:20-28 prophesies of Israel/the house of Jacob. 0 Witnesses—in the Bible—testify to the contrary. Luke 21: The Fig Tree “He told them this parable: “Look at the fig tree, and all the trees…” (Luke 21:29-32). As the Lord God revealed to us: The Fig Tree is a symbol for Israel, (Hos. 9:10)—with “good figs” & “rotten figs” (Jer. 24:1-8). And the Fig Tree parable is 100% consistent with the context of Christ’s prophecy & the mystery for Israel: (Luke 21:20-28; Rom. 11:25-27). Matthew 24 & 25: The Fig Tree & 10 Virgins In the Gospel of Luke, Christ established irrefutable, divine truth: The Fig Tree parable symbolically speaks of Israel—and also speaks of the coming redemption for Israel, when the mystery for Israel is fulfilled. As Christ’s truth is universal, this truth applies regardless of which Gospel the parable is found. The Fig Tree lesson/parable in Matthew (Matt. 24:32-34) is in the context of the 10 Virgins. And this is the figurative context: the mystery for Israel/symbols for Israel. Next, Last Witness: The Witness of Moses: The First Deliverer of Israel Peace. revvel

The Parable of the 10 Virgins: The Fig Tree & Virgin Symbols The Parable of the 10 Virgins is in the context of the Fig Tree. Our witnesses are: 1. Our Lord God (via Hosea & Jeremiah) 2. Christ Perhaps… with this post... The unified voice of the Father and the Son will herald a testimony so unmistakably clear that you will put a new set of eyes on the Parable of the 10 Virgins. Matthew 24: Christ “Now learn this lesson from the fig tree:…” (Matt. 24:32-34) Hosea 9: Our Lord God “Like grapes in the wilderness, I found Israel. Like the first fruit on the fig tree in its first season, I saw your fathers.” (Hos. 9:10) Jeremiah 24: Our Lord God The Lord showed me two baskets of figs that were set before the temple of the Lord after Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon had carried away captive Jeconiah the son of Jehoiakim, king of Judah, and the officials of Judah with the carpenters and smiths from Jerusalem and brought them to Babylon. One basket had very good figs, even like the figs that are first ripe, and the other basket had very rotten figs, which were so rotten they could not be eaten. Then the Lord said to me, “What do you see, Jeremiah?” And I said, “Figs, the good figs, very good. And the rotten, very rotten, that are so rotten they cannot be eaten.” Again the word of the Lord came to me, saying: “Thus says the Lord the God of Israel: Like these good figs, so I will acknowledge those who are carried away captive of Judah, whom I have sent out of this place into the land of the Chaldeans for their good. For I will set My eyes upon them for good, and I will bring them again to this land. And I will build them up and not pull them down. And I will plant them and not pluck them up. I will give them a heart to know Me, that I am the Lord; and they will be My people, and I will be their God, for they will return to Me with their whole heart. But as the rotten figs, which cannot be eaten, they are so rotten, says the Lord, so I will forsake Zedekiah the king of Judah and his officials, and the rest of Jerusalem who remain in this land, and those who dwell in the land of Egypt.” (Jer. 24:1-8) Then, in Jeremiah 31, the Lord God “sees” Israel again with another symbol—a Virgin—with a promise of hope & celebration. Jeremiah 31: Our Lord God The Lord has appeared to him from afar, saying: “Indeed, I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore with lovingkindness I have drawn you. Again I will build you and you will be built, O virgin of Israel. You will again be adorned with your tambourines and shall go forth in the dances of those who make merry.” (Jer. 31:3, 4) For thus says the Lord: Sing with gladness for Jacob, and shout among the chief of the nations; publish, praise, and say, “O Lord, save Your people, the remnant of Israel.” (Jer. 31:7) Therefore they will come and sing in the height of Zion, and will be joyful over the goodness of the Lord, for wheat and for wine and for oil and for the young of the flock and of the herd; and their souls will be as a watered garden. And they will not sorrow any more at all. Then the virgin shall rejoice in the dance, both young men and old together; for I will turn their mourning into joy, and will comfort them, and make them rejoice from their sorrow. (Jer. 31:12, 13) We have the Irrefutable Witness of the Father and the Son. The Son followed the pattern of Symbols given by His Father: the Fig Tree/Figs & 10 Virgins/O Virgin—and these Symbols are, of course, Symbols for Israel. Is it possible/probable… The Wise and Foolish Virgins in the parable represent Israel (the Good Figs & Rotten Figs)—all of whom are currently in a state of Spiritual Sleep, Eyes Closed, Blind (Rom. 11:25) to the True Messiah, Christ—and upon His arrival back to Israel (to gather the “sons of Israel” (Isa. 27:12)), the virgins “wake up,” and the Wise Virgins enter the Kingdom of Heaven on Earth, the Millennial Kingdom, which Christ likened to entering a Wedding Banquet (to “make merry”/“rejoice in dance” as the Father said), and the foolish virgins are forsaken because Christ never “knew” them—and (in reality) they practiced “iniquity” (Matt. 7:23)? Proverbs 28:7 “Whoever keeps the Law is a wise son.” Let’s get more witnesses on the subject. Next: The Witness of Christ, Luke & Paul... And finally, Moses, the first Deliverer of Israel. Peace. revvel

Please know I am reading your posts with interest. I want to know what you bring to the Lord’s table on this parable. And we are doing so in a respectful manner. missmuffet: Thank you for putting this on the table: The virgins also represent the nation of Israel. There is a debate among the Church and some think that the virgins represent the second coming of Jesus Christ. AdHoc: Yes! It’s the literal judgment that follows the parables, contrasted with the Bema: Then, in 25:31 our Lord sits, not on the Bema, but on the "Throne of His glory" and He judges "ALL NATIONS". They are CONTRASTED with Christ's brethren. They are the Nations. Dennis1209: Well stated; we’ll come back to this: Amazingly, the Rapture of the church mirrors the traditional Jewish wedding of the 2nd Temple period: the betrothal, earnest down payment, patient waiting and expectation of the bridegroom, the bridegroom building an addition to his father’s house for him and his bride; when finished, the father telling his son to go snatch his bride and bring her back; then the sudden appearance of the bridegroom to fetch his bride. The wedding and the wedding feast. We think of John 14:1-3 & Rev. 19:5-9. Good insight: The topic and when is stated in 25:1, the kingdom of heaven (or millennial reign of Christ). John the Baptist came exclusively preaching the kingdom of heaven to the Jew’s, not the Gentiles as I regard it. The children of the kingdom were to be the Jews. Later by the grace of God, the Gentiles were grafted in. And… In your conclusion, please tell us who the wise and foolish virgins represent. After we hear from our witnesses, I will do so. Later today, I’ll post on this: The immediate context of the 10 Virgins is the Fig Tree. Our witnesses are: 1. Our Lord God (via Hosea & Jeremiah) 2. Christ Peace. revvel

Thank you missmuffet, Vine Abider & Dennis1209 for your input. Stick around… Let’s view the parable from within, and from the Gospel of Matthew, the Gospel of Luke, from Paul, from John, from the Old Testament prophets, and Christ’s revelation of the Mystery… Let’s get multiple witnesses on this subject. First: What do “sleeping” virgins symbolize? “While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept” (Matt. 25:5). 100% of the virgins—wise and foolish—slept. 10 Virgins: “Sleeping” Metaphor, Isaiah, Christ & The Mystery Per Isaiah & Christ & Paul: “Sleeping” means “Eyes Closed,” Symbolically/Spiritually. Isaiah 29 “Be delayed and wait, blind yourselves and be blind. They are drunk, but not with wine. They stagger, but not with strong drink. For the Lord has poured out on you the spirit of deep sleep and has closed your eyes.” (Isa. 29:9, 10) Isaiah 6 He said, “Go, and tell this people: ‘Keep on hearing, but do not understand; keep on seeing, but do not perceive.’ Make the heart of this people dull, and their ears heavy, and shut their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and turn and be healed.” (Isa. 6:9, 10) Matthew 13: Christ Quoted Isaiah 6 “Therefore I speak to them in parables: ‘Because they look, but do not see. And they listen, but they do not hear, neither do they understand.’ In them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah which says: ‘By hearing, you will hear and shall not understand, and seeing, you will see and shall not perceive; for this people’s heart has grown dull. Their ears have become hard of hearing, and they have closed their eyes, lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears and understand with their hearts, and turn, and I should heal them.’” (Matt. 13:13-15) Romans 11: Paul, The Mystery for Israel & the House of Jacob Christ returned to the “eyes” metaphor, when He revealed to Paul the mystery for Israel & the house of Jacob. For I, brethren, would not have you be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits: that blindness in part has happened to [has come over*] Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles be come in. And so all Israel shall be saved, as it is written: “There shall come out of Zion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob. For this is My covenant unto them when I shall take away their sins.” (Rom. 11:25-27) *“Happened” in Hebrew means “to come over”; in Greek: “to come into existence.” Next: The Parable of the 10 Virgins: Witnesses Peace. revvel

Tomorrow I’ll post the words of Isaiah, Christ, and Paul on the symbol of sleeping/eyes closed. But until then, consider this: If I was to say to you on this thread, WAKE UP! … how would you take it? 1. I’m telling you to get out of bed (literal usage) 2. I’m telling you to get a different perspective/a new set of eyes on the subject/newfound awareness/a realization (symbolic usage) If you can grasp WAKE UP as a symbol, then you can grasp the symbol of slumbering into sleep/eyes closed. When do the 10 virgins WAKE UP? Only when Messiah personally arrives. Think about it. Until then….................. sleeping. Who does that sound like? When I post tomorrow, you will have the words of Isaiah, Christ, and Paul to back you up on the symbol of sleeping/eyes closed. Peace. revvel

10 Virgins: “Sleeping” Metaphor, Isaiah, Christ & The Mystery “While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept.” (Matt. 25:5) The key word is “all”: 100% of the virgins—wise and foolish—“slumbered and slept” … while the bridegroom tarried. So we are all on the same page: The 10 virgins are symbols; they aren’t literally going to “sleep” at night in the parable, waking up to have their breakfast. The Parable of the 10 Virgins is just that… a parable, a fictitious story, an illustration with symbols. What is the divine truth that Christ’s parable reveals about slumbering into sleep? Don’t we have an honest responsibility before Christ to at least ask? What does “sleeping” represent in the parable? Does Christ have an answer? Yes, He does. Does anyone know how He revealed it to us? The answer is in Matthew & Romans. Peace. revvel

The 10 Virgins: Christ & OT Prophets, Matthew 24:27-31 I think we all can agree, the context of Matthew 25 is Matthew 24. When Christ’s prophecy (24:27-31) is fulfilled, several Old Testament prophecies will be fulfilled as well. Thus, we have several witnesses speaking with one voice on the subject of the “elect.” Who are the “elect” (the context of the 10 Virgins)? Let Christ and the prophets speak. Christ: Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light…. And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other. (Matt. 24:29, 31) Ezekiel: Thus says the Lord God: “Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe upon these slain [the dead] so that they live.” … He said to me, “Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel.” (Ezek. 37:9, 11) Joel: The sun and moon darken, and the stars withdraw their radiance. The Lord roars from Zion, and sounds His voice from Jerusalem, and heaven and earth quake. But the Lord is a refuge for His people, and a stronghold for the children of Israel. (Joel 3:15, 16) Isaiah: [Y]ou shall be gathered one by one, O sons of Israel. And in that day the great trumpet shall be blown, and those who were ready to perish in the land of Assyria and the outcasts in the land of Egypt shall worship the Lord in the holy mount at Jerusalem. (Isa. 27:12, 13) “Israel mine elect” (Isa. 45:4). “Israel shall be saved by the Lord with an everlasting salvation” (Isa. 45:17). Daniel: Seventy weeks have been determined for your people and upon your holy city… and to make atonement for iniquity…” (Dan. 9:24) Christ shall deliver Israel from the Antichrist, redeem Israel, and make atonement for the house of Jacob (Daniel’s people)—as Christ revealed in the revelation of the mystery. The “Parable of the 10 Virgins” is in the context of the following: the elect, dark moon, great trumpet, Christ’s second coming to Israel—and the Fig Tree. I’ll come back to this divine truth. Next: 10 Virgins: “Sleeping” Metaphor, Isaiah, Christ & The Mystery Peace. revvel

AdHoc: Thank you for your comprehensive response. I read it with interest. Based on your post, you are born again, as am I. We are all looking back 2000 years, seeking to understand a fictious story, and how it relates to the literal prophecies: the second coming to the Holy Land (Matt. 24:27-31) & Messiah’s judgment (Matt. 25:31-46)… and of course, the kingdom of Heaven—which is the subject of the parable of the 10 virgins. This is what I am focusing on… what you raised: “They ALL fell asleep due to the Groom's DELAY.” I put this question out to everyone here regarding this illustration to jump start a discussion and honestly address this question of “sleeping.” This is the question: Being “asleep” is representative of what? Even if you believe the 10 virgins refer to “Church goers,” and you believe you are a “wise virgin,” according to the parable… you are sleeping. But what if the parable has been completely misinterpreted, and Christ Himself handed us the key—the mystery—to understand what the “10 virgins represent” and what “their sleep represents”? What if—by the authority of Christ—we can finally declare who exactly is sleeping and why, and understand how Luke 21, the OT prophets (Daniel, Isaiah, Ezekiel & Joel), the apostle Paul, and Christ (Matt. 23, 24, 25) speak with one voice on this? Let’s dive into this. I’ll be back tomorrow. Peace. revvel

Seeking the lost, Thank you for posting. Obviously, you’ve given thought to this parable, and I’m thankful for that. You care about the flock of Christ, and I respect that. You see foolish virgins as giving heed to seducing spirits. And I assume by your post, you consider yourself one of the wise virgins. Fair enough. Going back to my opening post… Let me ask: What is Christ revealing to you as a wise virgin: “While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept.” (Matt. 25:5) The key word is “all.” 100% of the virgins—wise and foolish—“slumbered and slept” … while the bridegroom tarried. What is the divine truth that Christ’s parable/illustration reveals to you… a wise virgin… about slumbering into sleep? Peace. revvel

The Light, Thank you for stopping by and posting your perspective. Firstly, I thank God you recognize the mystery in the holy days and the irrefutable correlation and fulfillment of it in the Book of Revelation. Additionally, I’m thankful we are on the same page for the first 3 holy days. I will take a look at your perspective… Let me say this: The lunar signal that marks the onset of the day of the Lord was given to us by Joel (2:28-32a), Peter (Acts 2:17-21) & John (Rev. 6:12-17). Consider following the new thread I started, The Parable of the 10 Virgins. Peace. revvel

Thank you as well, Azzure, for your thoughtful input. Please stick around. You put forth an interesting thought: the “sleeping” virgins refer to “death,” because “sleep” is used a euphemism for death (and as you mentioned, it could be in the sense of being “stale”). You are looking for a direct correlation with Scripture—which is what we should be doing. Let me just say this: The Greek word for “sleep” which is used to mean “death”—John 11:11, 12; 1 Cor. 15:51; 1 Thess. 4:14—is completely different, compared to “slept” with the sleeping virgins. In the fictitious story, all 10 virgins are alive, and all 10 virgins are sleeping—which has lasted nearly 2000 years. What is Christ telling us? Very interesting what you said: “but yet still the oil I don't think is the holy spirit as one cannot be a believer without it and only five in the end had enough…” Exactly! And please know I very much appreciated your honest heart on the matter: “this parable is a mystery for sure it is not for certain the exact meaning of it. It may be as simple as what we have been taught or it could be deeper and have more meaning than it appears I cannot say at the moment but I do think the chances are it is not what we have been taught.” YES! Azzure! “I do think the chances are it is not what we have been taught.” Exactly! Interpretations of the 10 Virgins scatter the prophetic map… We have an abundance of speculation on the matter… Let us all agree on this: Christ issued 2 literal prophecies, and between the 2 prophecies, He issued 3 parables: Matt. 24:27-31: Messiah’s return to the Holy Land Matt. 24:32-34: Fig Tree Matt. 25:1-13: 10 Virgins Matt. 25:14-30: Talents Matt. 25:31-46: Messiah’s Judgment, sheep & goats Christ handed us 3 illustrations/fictitious stories that reveal divine truths, expounding upon His 2 literal prophecies. All of these speak of the same subject. Would anyone else like to provide their input on the parable of the 10 Virgins before addressing the subject? Peace. revvel

Thank you enoob57 for your thoughtful input. Please stick around. Love this: the correlation between the Sermon on the Mount (Matt. 7) and this Olivet discussion (Matt. 24 & 25). And agreed: the mystery, the church; we are espoused to Christ; we are the “chaste virgin” (2 Cor. 11:2). We were created on the day of Pentecost via the Holy Spirit. As Paul said: “In Him you also, after hearing the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and after believing in Him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.” (Eph. 1:13, 14) And this, very astute: “As the doctrine of eternal security is well established not by works but by essence the problem is multiplied here by not having and thus not permitted to continue past the door!” ... “We know the virgins are not the Church=Bride of... so identifying them would be perhaps the historical aspect of Jewish culture at that time?” There is another element of the mystery: Israel, and its redemption and atonement (Rom. 11:25-27). We’ll return to this in a subsequent post. Peace. revvel