08_04 The Ten Virgin Parable

Document #08_04, The Ten Virgin Parable, puts our own church in prophecy! We make up the 10 Virgins – all of them. Are we the 5 wise, or are we the 5 foolish virgins? What makes them wise, and more importantly, what makes them (or us) foolish?

The Ten Virgin Parable – Fleshed out in parallel passages.
Great Controversy pp. 426-432.

Parallel Passages: Daniel 8:14 The Coming of Christ as the High Priest to the Most Holy Place for the cleansing of the Sanctuary.
Malachi 3:1 He shall come suddenly to His Holy Temple.
Daniel 7:13 Coming of the Son of Man to the Ancient of Days.
and also:
Matthew 25 The Coming of the Bridegroom to the Marriage. The Ten Virgin Parable.
Matthew 22 The Parable of the Wedding Reception.

In 1844 – the two classes of virgins (wise and foolish) developed:
the wise – diligently preparing to meet Jesus;
the foolish – influenced by fear, satisfied with theories of truth. – not diligently preparing to meet Jesus.
What preparation? The “loud cry” prepares the Way of the Lord.
The righteous will turn to keeping the Commandments of God.
They will refuse to worship the “beast” by keeping his commandments – will keep the Sabbath Commandment.
– refuse to worship the “image” of the “beast” – MARY.
– keep the 2nd Commandment.
– refuse to receive the “mark” of the “beast.”
– keep the 4th Commandment.
The wicked and the lost (including those who can be forced to disobey God’s Commandments) will not refuse to do the above.

They that were ready – end of the parable, end of probation – went in with Him to the marriage [feast] – and the door was shut. Great Controversy, p. 426.

The next sentence is not referring to the statement “They that were ready went in with Him to the marriage.” “The coming of the Bridegroom, here brought to view…” refers back to “the coming of the Lord to His Holy Temple,” in Malachi, (previous paragraph) not to the coming of the Bridegroom to the marriage feast, when “they that were ready went in with Him to the marriage; and the door was shut.” Mt.25:10. The end of the sentence makes that clear. This coming [to His holy Temple] “here brought to view, takes place before the marriage.” Thus, 1844.

The form of the eastern wedding is revealed by Mrs. White’s statement that the virgins “hear the voice of the Bridegroom and the voice of the bride,” along with her introductory statements: (p.405 Christ Object Lessons) “By torchlight the bridal party proceed from her father’s house [the wedding is done there] to His own, where a feast is provided for the invited guests.”

The Coming of the Bridegroom to the marriage itself takes place at the end of the work of Jesus in the Most Holy Place, when Jesus comes before the Ancient of Days to receive His kingdom.
“The marriage represents the reception by Christ of His kingdom.”  Great Controversy, p. 426 btm.
“…following Christ by faith as he enters in before God to perform the last work of mediation, and at its close to receive His kingdom.” p. 428 top.

“They were not to be personally present at the marriage; for it takes place in heaven, while they are upon the earth. The followers of Christ [the true church] are to wait for their Lord, when He will return from the wedding. Luke 12:36. [refers to the 10 Virgin parable]. But they are to understand His work, and to follow Him by faith as He goes in before God. It is in this sense that they are said to go in to the marriage.” (G.C. 427 middle).

Two explanations of this last sentence are given. The whole paragraph at the bottom of page 427, ends at the top of p. 428, with the statement, “…all these are represented as going in to the marriage” (feast).” See Mt.25:10 NIV.

The next paragraph cites Matthew 22. (read)

[The 144,000 are “virgins,” (Rev. 14:4 ) and, having become Philadelphian – brotherly love – like the carriers of the messages  of 1844 were, will have written on them the name of “My God and the name of the city of My God, the New Jerusalem.” (Rev.3:12)]

They are the Lamb’s bride. “…the bride represents the Holy City and the virgins that go out to meet the Bridegroom are a symbol of the church. In the Revelation the people of God are said to be the guests at the marriage supper (Rev.19:9). If guests, they cannot be represented also as the bride.” (top p. 427, G.C.)

Now: let’s use our sanctified imagination, with this information in correct order. Jesus comes to His holy Temple – the beginning of the work in the Most Holy Place, in 1844. This represents the coming of Jesus to the Investigative Judgment by the Father, preparatory to the marriage feast. (The parable of Mt.22 and also “the Judgment was set, and the books were opened.” Daniel 7:10b).

Jesus is then still working for the living saints, as well as pleading for the dead saints to be accepted by the Father through His blood. (G.C. 429, end of top paragraph.)

The parable of Matthew 22 is the illustration of this work.  The king – the Prince’s (Jesus’) Father, comes in to see if all of the guests are attired in the wedding garment – “the spotless robe of character washed and made white in the blood of the Lamb.” (Mt.22:11, Rev.7:14). “The investigative Judgment is clearly represented as taking place before the marriage.” (Underline that in paragraph 1, page 428.)

Those who, from 1844, even till the marriage, follow Jesus in His Most Holy Place work, and prepare themselves to meet Jesus by 1. -allowing Holy Spirit to cleanse their soul Temple of all sin, (see G.C. p.425, middle of the page, “While the investigative…”) so that they will be prepared to meet Jesus without sin. (Heb.9:28)
“This work is more clearly presented in the messages of Rev. 14.” (p. 425 cited).

2. When we know our Message, in all its detail, in order to proclaim it in the “loud cry,” its messages will sanctify us (John 17:17!) and allow Jesus to, through Holy Spirit, cleanse our soul Temple of all sin! “When this work shall have been accomplished, the followers of Christ will be ready for His appearing!” (p. 425.2) Those who succeed to this perfection of their character are sealed! RE-READ THIS PARAGRAPH!

This is the teaching of the call, “Behold, the Bridegroom cometh!” The 5 wise virgins will have allowed Holy Spirit to work with them to teach them the details of their Message, which will give them “oil in their vessels with their lamps.” They shall joyously join the procession, helping to light the way to the marriage feast!

Of those of that order, some will live through the time of [Jacob’s] trouble. They will refuse to worship the “beast” or his “image” or receive his “mark” and will live to see Jesus come. These will be the bride, the Lamb’s wife. They will receive upon their forehead
the name of the city of God, New Jerusalem! (Rev. 3:12) They are the 144,000!

They will become the Bridegroom’s wife at the marriage in heaven, at the close of Jesus’ last work of mediation. (G.C. p.428 top). They will have become one with Jesus by what they suffer in “the time of Jacob’s trouble” – baptized with the baptism of fire, as Jesus Himself was, IN GETHSEMANE – fully obedient to the will of Holy Spirit, in their mind.

The rest of the saved will be the guests at the wedding feast (p.427 top). Christ receives both groups as His kingdom – His loyal subjects all!

All who have truly followed Jesus into the Most Holy Place, seek to prepare to meet Him, without sin. They allow Jesus to cleanse their soul Temple by His atoning work in us. We put Him on the throne in our mind, and refer all decisions to His perfect will, doing only those things that please Him, and refusing to sin against Him. Our submission to His will (rather than our works by our will) makes Christ our righteousness and we become clothed in His perfect robe of righteousness.

Each new believer, in following Jesus into the Most Holy Place, finds the true 10 Commandments there, and finds that there is also a work for them to do during this time of His Judgment. Finding out how the Commandments were changed, and by whom, they discover Revelation 14’s 3 angels – their messages for the Hour of His Judgment. Attached to these messages, for our time, we find the 4th angel of Revelation 18:1-5, and, by Holy Spirit’s work in us, we also find many warnings of what is coming on the earth, to keep us from being deceived into false worship. All of this is the extra oil we need for our lamps!

In the plan of Jesus, true sanctification is developed by Jesus living through you. Jesus wants to save other souls through using you. You will only really develop His character fully when you proclaim His Messages, which will swell into the “loud cry!” We need to be zealous for His kingdom, (read Rev.3:14-19) and by our testimony, to bring many into His kingdom. This is His perfect will, that we would be fully like Him! Therefore He counsels us to buy of Him, no matter what the price (persecution) three essentials:
Gold tried in the fire (your experiences giving Bible studies of our messages), white raiment (the righteousness of saints) and the eye- salve of the Holy Spirit to help us to see the many messages for us!

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