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Tuesday, December 4, 2012

"The Midnight Call"

www.mybethanybible.org
Matthew 25:6-10: And at midnight a cry was heard: Behold, the bridegroom is coming; go out to meet him!" Then all those virgins arose and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said to the wise, Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out. But the wise answered, saying, No, lest there should not be enough for us and you, but go rather to those who sell, and buy for yourselves. And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding; and the door was shut.
The ten virgins represent people on earth at the time of Christ's return. They are waiting for that return, but are not all necessarily saved. Five maidens are wise and five foolish. The wise have the oil of grace to replenish their lamps; the foolish have lamps but no oil. All are out there to meet the Bridegroom, and while He tarries they all slumber and sleep. Some would see a picture of church history here with the dark ages, where so many departed from the Word of God and just followed traditions that did not include the hope of the Lord's return.
Ever since the Reformation this midnight cry has been sounding. The Great Awakenings and revivals over the centuries have caused the wise unto salvation to trim their lamps, and make their testimony brighter. But those who were just pretending to be followers of Christ (those in liberal "mainline" denominations today plus all the cults) were there but without oil to replenish their lamps. The wise could not give them oil when it was announced the Bridegroom was coming, but rather they were directed to go to the source of supply. The Bridegroom came, those who were ready went in to the marriage, and the rest were left outside.
Those words "the door was shut" are reminiscent of the days of Noah, when God shut the door of the great Ark. The waters came, and many must have begged for entrance, but it was too late. The admonition for us today as we read this parable is to be ready for Christ's return. We should be ready by placing our trust in Christ.

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