In Matthew 25, Jesus likens the kingdom of heaven to ten virgins: five wise, and five foolish. There are some important things from this segment of Scripture that is relevant to the last day’s church which demand further examination, explanation, and application.

They are all virgins:

This signifies the “right” church. The church is always referred to in the feminine: virgin, bride, whore, etc. There is a true church and a false one; however, it appears from Jesus’ words that even in the true church there are those that are foolish.

Satisfied with just a lamp:

Matthew 25:3-4 (KJV) 
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.

The title for this blog comes from the preceding verses specifically. It is beyond me how anyone would carry an empty lamp. What good does that do anyone?

I liken this unto religion. It’s empty. It’s vain. It offers a false sense of security. One “attends” a “church” without having to commit to being the church. I say “STOP COMING TO CHURCH!” It’s time to BECOME the Church!

Are you satisfied with just a lamp? Do you have a form of godliness and deny the real power within? If so, change the way you think and act! Don’t delay! Get some oil in your lamp; NOW!

Notice that the wise not only had oil in their lamps, but also had a vessel to hold a reserve of oil too. In the day and age we live in, we MUST have the anointing! Oil in Scripture represents anointing and can also represent the Holy Ghost. The Bible declares that we must be FULL of the Spirit!

They all slumbered and slept:

Matthew 25:5 (KJV) 
While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept.

Even the five wise slept: God help the church to wake up! We’ve been hitting the snooze button long enough, it’s time to wake up and get up!

I know life is emotionally draining. I realize that time is of the essence and that “things” compete for our time. However, I also know that the church needs to WAKE UP!

And at midnight:

Matthew 25:6 (KJV) 
And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him.

We are living in the last days. The cry is being heralded, “Behold, the Bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him!”

God is coming soon!

Get ready!

Wars and rumors of war… kingdom against kingdom…

China and Russia creating a new relationship…

Iran helping Syria and hating Israel…

These and other events are leading up to the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ! GET READY; the Bridegroom is coming!

Trim your lamps:

Matthew 25:7-9 (KJV) 
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.

Notice the difference between the wise and the foolish. The foolish trim their lamps, but realize they don’t have any oil. They first ask the wise to give them some. This can never happen, though. I cannot be given your anointing, and you cannot be given mine. You have to “dig it out” for yourself.

A young man approached the altar and the evangelist and asked him to “Pray an anointing on me.” The evangelist wisely said, “I cannot do that; you have to get it for yourself.”

The next thing the foolish do is try to go and buy oil from those that sell it. This intrigued me. Consider the hype about “revivals” that proclaim to have anointing. People fly in from all over the world to be touched, healed, delivered, etc. However, when you log on to the conference speaker’s website the first thing that you are asked to do is become a sponsor. They are selling the anointing.

Jesus warned about those in the last days that would say, “Lo, here is Christ, or there.” Jesus went on to say, “Don’t believe it!” The point is this – the anointing is not for sale in this way. You have to pray it out…dig it out…study it out… You cannot buy it like you do your groceries.

The Bridegroom came:

Matthew 25:10-13 (KJV) 
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.

Only those that are ready will go in with him to the marriage and then the door gets shut. When God shuts doors no one can open them – it’s final. The five foolish virgins came back and wanted to get in, even to the point of speaking religious jargon. However, just because one knows the right words to say, it’s not like a password to grant you entry.

We do not know the day or the hour when the Lord is coming back. We must remain faithful, consistent, and we must be FULL of the Holy Ghost. We must have OIL in our lamps. Don’t be satisfied with just a lamp.