Sermon:  Moment of Judgment  (are we in the time of the 10 virgins?)    
by Chris Cumming                                                                                                            

At the Feast of Tabernacles, Mr. Armstrong gave a sermon, in which he asked, “Are we involved in the Work Jesus gave to the disciples?”

He spent the balance of the sermon showing how God goes about bringing disciples to the Work and how He prunes and winnows the flock to ensure that the Work is done.

One of the scriptures he quoted was in 1 Peter

1 Peter 4:16-18

16 Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf.

17 For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?

18 And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?

Interesting question…just what does this scripture mean?

…the righteous scarcely saved.

Is there a possibility of some of the righteous not being saved?  If so, how could this happen?  How many could be lost?

Is there a prophecy of Jesus Christ that speaks about members of the Body of Christ being lost?  What happens to those who are lost?  Are they denied the Kingdom of God forever? 

When will a member know if he or she is saved or lost?  Is there a way to ensure that we are saved?

Today, we are going to answer these questions and show just how the saved are saved and the lost are lost.  In doing so I am going to encourage each of us to…

SPS:  Be ready---be saved--- at the moment of judgment.

Some 2000 years ago, just before the Passover the disciples were with Jesus near the Temple in Jerusalem and He was telling them about the end time.  The disciples asked Him a question.  Let’s read about this in Matthew 24

Matthew 24:1-3

1 And Jesus went out, and departed from the temple: and his disciples came to him for to shew him the buildings of the temple.

2 And Jesus said unto them, See ye not all these things? verily I say unto you, There shall not be left here one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down.

3 And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?

Now, as we know, Jesus goes about giving them the Olivet prophecy.

Verses 4-5 He speaks of false prophets.

Verse 6---wars and rumors of war

Verse 7---famines, pestilence and earthquakes

In verses 10 & 12 Jesus speaks of members becoming offended and the love of many waxing cold.

Verse 14 states that the gospel will be preached in all nations.

Verses 15 through 28 describes the tribulation--- the abomination of desolation and warnings about false Christs.

Beginning with verse 29 we read about heavenly signs and the first sighting of Christ appearing in the clouds of heaven coming in power and great glory.

All of these scriptures are prophecy.  All of these words are straight talk to the disciples.

Then, while still upon the mount of Olives, Jesus gave them prophecy about the members of the Body of Christ.  He did it in a parable.  Let’s read that parable.

As we do, remember, Jesus is still answering the question, “What shall be the sign of thy coming?”

Turn to Matthew 25 and beginning in verse 1

Matthew 25:1-13---I am just going to read through without comment this first time 
1 Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom.
2 And five of them were wise, and five were foolish.
3 They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them:
4 But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.
5 While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept.
6 And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him.
7 Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps.
8 And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out.
9 But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves.
10 And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut.
11 Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us.
12 But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not.
13 Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.

Seems like a simple parable, doesn’t it.  5 wise virgins, 5 foolish virgins, 5 ready; 5 not ready.  However, as we are going to discover, this is much more than a parable.  It is a prophecy that affects your very eternity in this universe.

There is so much Spiritual meaning to this prophecy that we are going to have to approach it and delve into it by many different means.

First, we are going to look into just how this parable is structured and how that structure impacts its meaning and message

Second, we are going to define several terms that make up these 13 important scriptures.

Next, we will use Spiritual Logic and come to some initial conclusions regarding these scriptures.

Fourth, we will immerse ourselves into the whole Word of God and find the deep meaning of this prophecy and ascertain why it may be the most important Salvation prophecy in the whole Bible.

Now, since the central characters in this parable are the wise and foolish virgins, we will take a close look at just what it takes to be a wise virgin and how one can become a foolish virgin.

Finally, we will look at some encouraging steps we can all take to ensure that we are among those wise virgins who will meet with the bridegroom.

I. STRUCTURE OF THE PARABLE

Jesus is still answering the one single question as to what would be the sign of His coming.  He had already given them a list of world events.  He is now addressing the Body of Christ and what would happen to them at His coming.

He sets the stage in the very first verse.  He says that the Kingdom of heaven is “likened”.  He is about to tell us just who is going to be in the Kingdom at His coming.

He states that there are 10 individuals who represent the firstfruits, who have God’s Holy Spirit, represented by lamps and oil.  He further describes the Body of Christ as showing them to be the one’s awaiting the return of Christ.

He then gives us some inside information that the 10 virgins do not have.  In verses 2-4, He tells us that 5 are foolish and 5 are wise.  The 10, themselves do not know, specifically who is who.  That knowledge comes later.

Interesting thing is that we don’t know either.  They are doing all the same things together.

Verse 1: 10 go forth to meet the bridegroom.

Verse 1: They all took lamps.

Verse 5: They all slept.

Verse 6: All 10 hear the cry.

Verse 7: They all get up.

Verse 7: They all trim their lamps.

The distinction comes at verse 8 when half of them see the problem.  It is then that they are thrown into absolute desperate panic.  Problem is, this distinction comes at the last possible moment when nothing can be done.  Their fates are cast.  The rest of the parable is Epilogue.

What happens to the 5 foolish virgins comes in one distinct moment.  THE DOOR TO THE KINGDOM IS SHUT.

If this is not enough, the bridegroom, Himself, states that He does not know these individuals.  This is judgment.  It comes in a single moment.  It is severe shock to the minds and hearts of those foolish virgins as they realize; in one moment, they have LOST the Kingdom.

The sobering and even shocking fact for us, gathered here in this room, is that Jesus Christ is telling us that a full ONE HALF of the Body of Christ (not ½ of a church), as it exists today, WILL NOT BE IN THE KINGDOM OF GOD. 

We will prove this more fully as we go along.

II.  DEFINING OF TERMS AND ELEMENTS

1) THEN (the first word of the parable)

It means “at the time that”…as at the time of this future event I am talking about.  It can also be phrased, “now going along with these events is this”.

So we see with this single word “THEN” that Jesus is telling the disciples, and by extension us, that in the end time and during the time of the Tribulation we will be in the time of the 10 virgins.  That is to say, that during the end time and the great tribulation, ½ of the Body of Christ will be in the process of falling away. 

The ironic element is that they will not know that they have fallen away until the moment of Christ’s return, when the door to the Kingdom is shut.

2) TEN, the number 10

The numbers used in the Bible have different definitions based on the context and message of the individual scripture. In this parable, the number 10 is used to denote “an indefinite number.  At the same time, it is used to mean “personal testing”.  It would seem clear that anyone God calls to be a firstfruit is going to be tested.

The number 10 is also used to denote Testimony, Responsibility and Law.  We would have to say that God calls us to Salvation and that we have a responsibility to enter into the Salvation Process and to become like Christ.
 

So, based on these definitions of the number 10, we have that group of indefinite number, known as the firstfruits who are being judged and tested and who have a responsibility to work out their Salvation up till the return of Christ.

3) FIVE  (as in five wise or five foolish virgins)

Five has two distinct meanings here.  First, 5 is half of 10.  Jesus is not saying that 10% or 20% will fall away.  He is clearly indicating 50% or half of those in the Body of Christ at the time of late end time and the tribulation.

Five is also used to denote divine grace, wisdom and good stewardship.

Remember that Jesus is actually focusing on the 5 wise virgins in this parable because He is telling us just WHO will make it into the Kingdom.  The 5 wise virgins are definitely those who practice wisdom and good stewardship. 

4) FOOLISH  (as in the 5 foolish virgins)

This is Strong’s  word 3474 “moros” as in moron.  It means “dull or stupid”; heedless” and it means “BLOCKHEAD”.  It also is defined in Strong’s as “absurd”.

Now wouldn’t it be absurd to give up one’s calling and to give up eternity in the Kingdom of God.  Wouldn’t we call this person a Blockhead.  Surely, this is what Jesus is calling them in this parable.

5) WISE  (as in the 5 wise virgins)

This is Strong’s word 5429 and means “thoughtful”, “sagacious” or “discreet” (implying a cautious character).

Sagacious:

a) of quick sense perceptions; keen-scented; skilled in following a trail (as in the pathway God has set before us).

b) Hence, of quick intellectual perception; discerning and judicious; knowing; far-sighted.

Discreet:

Possessed of discernment, especially in avoiding error or evil, and in the adaptation of means to ends, prudent, sagacious, not rash or heedless; cautious.

Now, don’t these two words capture what a Wise servant is?  They are actively and energetically involved in the Salvation process.  They avoid error and evil.  They know how to work their way clear through the Salvation process and they never take their eye off the Kingdom of God.

They are ready at all times and keep themselves full of Spirit.

6) TARRIED  (as in the bridegroom tarried)

This does not mean “delayed”. It means “to take time” as in the bridegroom was on his own timetable.

Remember, in the day of the disciples, it was the father who told the son when the marriage would take place.  Therefore, how could the bridegroom be delaying his coming.  God is on a timetable and He is sending His Son according to His plan and not those of the Body of Christ.

7) MIDNIGHT (as in at midnight the call was made)

This word means “middle” or “in the midst” or “along the way”.  So Jesus is saying through the parable that in the midst of all these events, the cry will come out that He is coming; that He is returning to this earth.

8) CRY (as in a cry was made—verse 6)

Going back to the marriage ceremonies of Jesus’ day, when the father of the bridegroom determined that the time was right, the priest would blow on the trumpet to announce to the wedding party that the marriage was about to take place.

This cry is an indication of the Day of Trumpets which pictures the return of Jesus Christ to this earth.

9) TRIMMED (as in they trimmed their lamps)

From my Webster’s Dictionary the word means, “To make trim; to put in due order for any purpose; to make right, neat, or pleasing.

In looking at the context of the parable we see that the trumpet has sounded and all 10 of the virgins are checking to make sure they are ready.  We are talking about self- examination here.  In nautical terms, “trim” means to check the cargo to see that it is balanced and in order.  These bridesmaids are checking to see if they are ready to proceed to the marriage.

For us, presently in the body, we are talking about boldly knowing that we are ready to meet Christ in the clouds.

For some, according to the parable and prophecy, some will know that they are not ready.

10) GONE OUT  (as in “our lamps are gone out”—verse 8)

Most margins will indicate that this should be rendered “going out”.  The Strong’s word is 4570 and means to quench.  The foolish virgins were pointing out that their lamps were going out.  The firstfruits will indicate that they now see that the Spirit of God is quenched in them…going out. 

III. SPIRIT DRIVEN LOGIC AND CONCLUSION

Based on these definitions and what we have discussed so far we can conclude the following.

In the end time there will be an indefinite number of humans in the Body of Christ.  Half will be very actively engaged in the Process of Salvation.

The other half will be, for a period, engaged in the process of backsliding and falling away from the Process of Salvation. Ironically, they will still be actively attending a church. They will, in all probability, not even know they are falling away.

At the end of the Tribulation, there will be a trumpet blast and we will know that Christ is now appearing in the sky.  We will look up into sky and in a moment, all the wise firstfruits will rise up as Spirit beings to be with Christ.

The others will realize, in that moment of judgment. that they will not be in the Kingdom.  Their lamps will have gone completely out.

We now want to fully immerse ourselves into the Word of God and to confirm the verses we see in this Prophecy Parable.

IV. IMMERSING OURSELVES INTO THE WORD OF GOD. 

As we are about to see, the primary elements of this parable of Matthew 25 are confirmed throughout the Bible.  You will actually see how God uses His Word to confirm His Word.

We will take it one verse at a time.

2 Timothy 4:8  [see Lesson]

Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.

Titus 2:13 [see Lesson]

Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;

Regarding the bridegroom and where they are going:

Matthew 9:15

And Jesus said unto them, Can the children of the bridechamber mourn, as long as the bridegroom is with them? but the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken from them, and then shall they fast.

Proverbs 20:4

The sluggard will not plow by reason of the cold; therefore shall he beg in harvest, and have nothing.

Proverbs 21:20

There is treasure to be desired and oil in the dwelling of the wise; but a foolish man spendeth it up.

Psalm 45:7

Thou lovest righteousness, and hatest wickedness: therefore God, thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.

John 3:34

For he whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God: for God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto him.

Note:  Clearly this is a verse which speaks of Jesus Christ and how God, the Father gave Him the Spirit without measure but as we become more like Christ, the same measure of Spirit will be offered to us. Verse 36 says, “He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life.  Notice a few who were FULL of the Holy Spirit.

Acts 13:9

Then Saul, (who also is called Paul,) filled with the Holy Ghost, set his eyes on him,

Acts 13:52

And the disciples were filled with joy, and with the Holy Ghost.

Habakkuk 2:3

For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry (procrastinate).

Hebrews 10:36

For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.

Matthew 24:31—cry made

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.

1 Thessalonians 4:16—cry made

For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:

Revelation 19:7-8—go out to meet Him

7 Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready.

8 And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.

Luke 12:32-35

32 Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.

33 Sell that ye have, and give alms; provide yourselves bags which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that faileth not, where no thief approacheth, neither moth corrupteth.

34 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

35 Let your loins be girded about, and your lights burning;

Job 18:5

Yea, the light of the wicked shall be put out, and the spark of his fire shall not shine.

Job 21:17

How oft is the candle of the wicked put out! and how oft cometh their destruction upon them! God distributeth sorrows in his anger.

Proverbs 4:18-19

18 But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day.

19 The way of the wicked is as darkness: they know not at what they stumble.

Proverbs 13:9

The light of the righteous rejoiceth: but the lamp of the wicked shall be put out.

Psalm 49:6-7---lest there be not enough for us

6 They that trust in their wealth, and boast themselves in the multitude of their riches;

7 None of them can by any means redeem his brother, nor give to God a ransom for him:

Ezekiel 14:13-14—Prophecy to Israel because of their idol worship

13 Son of man, when the land sinneth against me by trespassing grievously, then will I stretch out mine hand upon it, and will break the staff of the bread thereof, and will send famine upon it, and will cut off man and beast from it:

14 Though these three men, Noah, Daniel, and Job, were in it (Israel), they should deliver but their own souls by their righteousness, saith the Lord GOD.

Isaiah 55:1-3—go to those who sell

55:1 Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.

2 Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread? and your labour for that which satisfieth not? hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness.

3 Incline your ear, and come unto me: hear, and your soul shall live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David.

Isaiah 55:6-7

6 Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near:

7 Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.

Revelation 22:12—the bridegroom came

 And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.

Revelation 22:20

He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.

1 Peter 1:13—those that were ready went to him

Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;

Colossians 1:12

Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:

Psalm 95:10-11—door shut

10 Forty years long was I grieved with this generation, and said, It is a people that do err in their heart, and they have not known my ways:

11 Unto whom I sware in my wrath that they should not enter into my rest.

Hebrews 3:18-19

18 And to whom sware he that they should not enter into his rest, but to them that believed not?

19 So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief.

Hebrews 12:16-17---saying Lord

16 Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright.

17 For ye know how that afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected: for he found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears.

Matthew 7:21-23---I know you not vs I NEVER knew you.

21 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 which is in heaven.

22 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?

23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

Psalm 1:6

For the LORD knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish.

Psalm 5:5

The foolish shall not stand in thy sight: thou hatest all workers of iniquity.

John 9:31

Now we know that God heareth not sinners: but if any man be a worshipper of God, and doeth his will, him he heareth.

1 Corinthians 8:3

But if any man love God, the same is known of him.

Galatians 4:9-11

9 But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage?

10 Ye observe days, and months, and times, and years.

11 I am afraid of you, lest I have bestowed upon you labour in vain.

2 Timothy 2:19 [see Lesson]

Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.

These verses confirm what we read here in Matthew 25

I now want to take a brief look at both the wise and foolish virgins to make sure we all know what it takes to be a wise and foolish virgin.

V. THE WISE AND FOOLISH VIRGINS

In a nutshell, a wise servant of God is one who entered into the Salvation Process with their baptism and repentance and with the receiving of the Holy Spirit.  They have remained actively engaged in this process and though they have had moments of backsliding, they have never fallen out of the process.  Indeed, they are making forward process all the time.

The foolish servants of God were once in the Salvation Process but fell into their backsliding without repentance until they finally fell completely from the process.

They have not yet left the church itself.

Let us take a look at two diagrams that will make this all clear.

(Show the Diagram)--see it here
 

Maybe Hebrews 4:1 gives us the warning the foolish servants should hear.

Hebrews 4:1

Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it.

Think back now, to Jesus giving this prophecy in the form of the parable of the 10 virgins.  I want to confirm this prophecy to you with one other thing He said that day, for you see, before He gave them the prophecy in the parable, He told them in straight, non parable words.

Turn to Matthew 24 and beginning in verse 36:

Matthew 24:36-51

36 But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.

37 But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.

38 For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark,

39 And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.

40 Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left.

41 Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left.

42 Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.

43 But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up.

44 Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.

45 Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season?

46 Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing.

47 Verily I say unto you, That he shall make him ruler over all his goods.

48 But and if that evil servant shall say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming;

49 And shall begin to smite his fellowservants, and to eat and drink with the drunken;

50 The lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looketh not for him, and in an hour that he is not aware of,

51 And shall cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

So, what can we do to ensure that we remain a wise virgin?

VI. INSURANCE AGAINST BECOMING A FOOLISH SERVANT

Examine yourself daily and stay in the Salvation Process

Remember the 13^th verse of the prophecy—Matthew 25:13

Now 3 quick verses:

1 Corinthians 16:13

Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong.

1 Peter 4:7

But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer.

1 Thessalonians 5:6-8

6 Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.

7 For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night.

8 But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation.

Let’s all be ready when the cry goes out.

Further Study:
Rare exception to concept of falling away vs. backsliding.
Menu-driven, Open-forum Bible Studies:  Menu Items 10 - 16 - 17
Minister's Notebook piece, "There is No Second Chance"
Bible Study: "Backsliding vs. Falling Away"

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