Matthew 25:1 ESV
“ Then the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom.
The ten virgins may be seen as representing Israel. They are not the bride but are invited to the wedding. They are bridesmaids, just as John the Baptist was not the groom but a groomsman.
Many will be invited to the marriage supper though every will not attend. The message applies to the body of Christ which is still on the earth when He returns. We must endure to the end.
He walks among the lamp stands in the letters to the church in Revelation. Those who have been cleansed by the blood of Christ and remain true to His calling will be joined with Him on that wedding day.
The word translated as "lamps" in the ESV includes the nuances of torches, light, and illumination. It is a metaphor for the Holy Spirit.
The virgins are vessels of light which work only when they contain the oil of the Spirit. It takes the fire of the sacrifice of Jesus and the flame of His word to ignite with the oil of His Spirit to manifest that light. There must be oil in the lamp.
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