Sermon Tone Analysis

(Kids missing the school Bus story)

Tonight we are going to take a closer look at the Parable of the Ten Virgins (), we must acknowledge up front that there has always been debate as to the meaning of this parable.

Now, at least one aspect of this parable can be known with absolute certainty.

The bridegroom is Jesus Christ, and this parable describes His return.

At least one aspect of this parable can be known with absolute certainty.

The bridegroom is Jesus Christ, and this parable describes His return.

In the Old Testament (; ; ), God pictures Himself as the “husband” of Israel, and in the New Testament (; ; ), Christ is pictured as the bridegroom of the Church.

The Church is described in Scripture as the bride of Christ ().

In the Old Testament (; ; ), God pictures Himself as the “husband” of Israel, and in the New Testament (; ; ), Christ is pictured as the bridegroom of the Church.

The Church is described in Scripture as the bride of Christ ().

The historical setting can also be known with a fair amount of certainty.

The historical setting can also be known with a fair amount of certainty.

In describing a first-century Jewish wedding, D.A. Carson in the

Expositor’s Bible Commentary describes the setting this way: “Normally the bridegroom with some close friends left his home to go to the bride’s home, where there were various ceremonies, followed by a procession through the streets – after nightfall – to his home.

The ten virgins may be bridesmaids who have been assisting the bride; and they expect to meet the groom as he comes from the bride’s house…Everyone in the procession was expected to carry his or her own torch.

Those without a torch would be assumed to be party crashers or even brigands.

The festivities, which might last several days, would formally get under way at the groom’s house.”

The torch was either a lamp with a small oil tank and wick or a stick with a rag soaked in oil on the end of it which would require occasional re-soaking to maintain the flame.

“Normally the bridegroom with some close friends left his home to go to the bride’s home, where there were various ceremonies, followed by a procession through the streets – after nightfall – to his home.

The ten virgins may be bridesmaids who have been assisting the bride; and they expect to meet the groom as he comes from the bride’s house…Everyone in the procession was expected to carry his or her own torch.

Those without a torch would be assumed to be party crashers or even bandits.

The festivities, which might last several days, would formally get under way at the groom’s house.”

Although various sources describing the practice of Jewish marriage at the time of Christ differ in the details, there is general agreement concerning its major elements.

Unlike Western marriage practices, the Jewish marriage has a greater degree of formalism involving numerous steps:

numerous steps:

Of interpretive significance is which return of Christ is this?

Is it His return for the rapture of the Church, or is it His return to set up the Millennial Kingdom at the end of the Tribulation?

Dispensational scholars divide over this issue, and no attempt will be made to answer that question here.

Regardless of which return it is, the lessons to be learned are relevant to both.

Jewish marriage included a number of steps:

first, betrothal (which involved the prospective groom’s traveling from his father’s house to the home of the prospective bride, paying the purchase price, and thus establishing the marriage covenant);

second, the groom’s returning to his father’s house (which meant remaining separate from his bride for 12 months, during which time he prepared the living accommodations for his wife in his father’s house);

third, the groom’s coming for his bride at a time not known exactly to her;

fourth, his return with her to the groom’s father’s house to consummate the marriage and to celebrate the wedding feast for the next seven days (during which the bride remained closeted in her bridal chamber

First, the father of the groom made the arrangements for the marriage and paid the bride price.

The timing of the arrangement varied.

Sometimes it occurred when both children were small, and at other times it was a year before the marriage itself.

Often the bride and groom did not even meet until their wedding day.

The second step, which occurred a year or more after the first step, was the fetching of the bride.

The bridegroom would go to the home of the bride in order to bring her to his home.

In connection with this step, two other things should be noted.

First, it was the father of the groom who determined the timing.

Second, prior to the groom’s leaving to fetch the bride, he must already have a place prepared for her as their abode.

This was followed by the third step, the wedding ceremony, to which a few would be invited.

Prior to the wedding ceremony, the bride underwent a ritual immersion for ritual cleansing.

The fourth step, the marriage feast, would follow and could last for as many as seven days.

Many more people would be invited to the feast than were to the marriage ceremony.

In the Marriage of the Lamb all four of these steps of the Jewish wedding ceremony are evident.

Of interpretive significance is which return of Christ is this?

Is it His return for the rapture of the Church, or is it His return to set up the Millennial Kingdom at the end of the Tribulation?

Of interpretive significance is which return of Christ is this?

Is it His return for the rapture of the Church, or is it His return to set up the Millennial Kingdom at the end of the Tribulation?

We need to understand that the first step in the wedding has already taken place.

The marriage covenant was established at the First Coming of Christ.

Whenever a person places their faith in Jesus Christ, they enter into this covenant (the New Covenant) and become part of His bride.

Since the ascension of Jesus following His resurrection, He has been at His Father’s house preparing the bridal chamber:

The overall and easily seen thrust of the parable is that Christ will return at an unknown hour and that His people must be ready.

Being ready means preparing for whatever contingency arises in our lives and keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus at all times while we eagerly await His coming.

As seen in the fact that all the virgins were sleeping when the call came indicates that it doesn’t matter what we are doing when Christ returns.

We may be working, eating, sleeping, or pursuing leisure activities.

Whatever it is, we must be doing it in such a way that we don’t have to “make things right” (get more oil) when He comes.

This would apply to either the coming of Christ for His Church or for the Tribulation saints as they await His second coming.

Concerning the Rapture, passages such as John are of a completely different character from what is described in Revelation + concerning the Second Coming.

In John , Jesus indicates a heavenly destination for believers.

He returns from His Father’s house to fetch them and to bring them to heaven.

In John , Jesus indicates a heavenly destination for believers.

He returns from His Father’s house to fetch them and to bring them to heaven.

There is an emphasis on intimacy: “that where I am, there you may be also” (John ).

How different this is from the scene before us in this chapter (below)!

Jesus will ride forth in warfare and vengeance with the armies of heaven.

There will be immense bloodshed at His coming and His return is followed by the reign of the saints on earth (Rev.

+).

It is irreconcilable differences such as these in various “coming passages” which tell us that His coming for the Church at the Rapture is a different coming than His Second Coming.

In its description of the Second Coming, Revelation + does not mention either a translation (rapture) of living believers (1Cor.

), or a resurrection of dead believers.

(1 Th. 4:16)

The overall truth of the parable about the 10 virgins is that Christ will return at an unknown hour and that His people must be ready.

Being ready means preparing for whatever contingency arises in our lives and keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus at all times while we eagerly await His coming.

As seen in the fact that all the virgins were sleeping when the call came indicates that it doesn’t matter what we are doing when Christ returns.

We may be working, eating, sleeping, or involved in leisure activities.

Whatever it is, we must be doing it in such a way that we don’t have to “make things right” (get more oil) when He comes.

Being ready for Christ’s return ultimately involves one major thing which manifests itself in several areas of our lives.

If we would be ready for Christ’s return, we must be born again through saving faith in Jesus Christ…His death, burial and literal resurrection from the dead (; ; and 10; ; ).

Saving faith in Jesus Christ will manifest itself in every aspect of our lives.

The fruit of the Spirit () will begin to show.

A desire for greater holiness and less sin will be apparent.

And a consistent looking for His coming will mark our lives.

One of the best passages articulating what saving grace and faith look like in a believer’s life is , “For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men.

It teaches us to say ‘No’ to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope — the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good."

Being ready for Christ’s return ultimately involves one major thing which manifests itself in several areas of our lives.

If we would be ready for Christ’s return, we must be born again through saving faith in Jesus Christ…His death, burial and literal resurrection from the dead (; ; and 10; ; ).

Or that is to say, “been bought with a price” (1 Cor.

6:19-20)

Saving faith in Jesus Christ will manifest itself in every aspect of our lives.

The fruit of the Spirit () will begin to show.

A desire for greater holiness and less sin will be apparent.

And a consistent looking for His coming will mark our lives.

One of the best passages articulating what saving grace and faith look like in a believer’s life is , “For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men.

It teaches us to say ‘No’ to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope — the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good."

The five virgins who have the extra oil represent the truly born again who are looking with eagerness to the coming of Christ.

They have saving faith and have determined that, whatever occurs, be it lengthy time or adverse circumstances, when Jesus returns, they will be looking with eagerness.

The five virgins without the oil represent false believers who enjoy the benefits of the Christian community without true love for Christ.