Eric Casagrande / 
Genelyn Novabos
The Ten Virgins Parable: A Biblical Revelation
I would like to speak with you today, about a parable taught by our Lord Jesus Christ, for which I can almost guarantee that every single believer in the Body of Christ would be familiar. It’s known as “The Ten Virgins“ parable, and found in Matthew 25: 1-12.
Now before I go into detail on what it’s talking about, I would like to make it perfectly clear, in no uncertain terms, what this parable isn’t talking about.
It’s not talking about the Rapture.
This might come as a bit of a shock to all of my legalistic friends out there, who strongly insist that our salvation isn’t based solely on faith in the finished work of Jesus Christ at the cross … but rather, in what happened at Golgotha, plus our efforts to prove ourselves worthy of being saved!
Knowing this, it really shouldn’t come as much of a surprise then, to learn about this group’s pet theory: Namely, that millions of born-again believers will be denied participation in the Rapture - and in fact will be “left behind” to suffer the horrible consequences of the seven year Tribulation period.
Horror of horrors! How could such a thing come to pass? Would a loving God – who personally died in order to save mankind – suddenly wax cold in His love, and abandon His children?
Well according to the legalist, it’s their own fault. These people completely deserved abandonment, because they never proved themselves worthy of what Christ did at the cross!
As incredible as this may sound, the idea has become quite popular with the masses. In fact, it was so popular, that a very highly successful book and movie series developed from it! This was made possible for a couple of reasons: First, because people seem to have a big-time interest in the prophetic (even when obviously false); Then secondly, because so many of these people claiming to have experienced the New Birth, are blinded to the very heart of the Gospel message!
They fail to see the Gospel for what it really is – a story of Grace.
Now please don’t get me wrong. I read the book series, and I watched the movies. Admittedly, it does have some entertainment value. But the basic premise – that many born-again believers will be rejected by Christ at the rapture, for never having proven themselves worthy of what He did at the cross – is completely fallacious.
The very notion is a devilish attempt to discredit the Gospel message!
Imagine, at mankind’s worst possible moment – completely depraved, and dead in its trespasses – God extended undeserved love and mercy toward us all, through the person of Jesus Christ (Romans 5: 7-9).
Yet the legalist expects us to believe that, even though we have now been completely reconciled to God, and have right-standing with Him – we are somehow worse off than before! We are no longer recipients of His tender mercy and grace – but to the contrary, His unforgiving judgment!
Talk about spiritual schizophrenia!
My friends, on the one hand we have God’s word assuring us that we have been fully rescued through Christ (2 Corinthians 5: 17-19); and that God made Him who knew no sin to become sin for us, in order that we may be made into the very righteousness of God (2 Corinthians 5: 21).
Yet on the other hand, we have the legalists teaching that – even after the finished work of Christ at the cross – we can still be held accountable to a standard by which not one single person in all of human history, was ever made righteous (Romans 3).
My friends, the “left behind” doctrine is Christ-denying, foolish nonsense!
God did not build the Church on Grace – and then divide it by the Law!
The Ten Virgins Parable
It’s very unfortunate, but many within the Church today have been given a faulty interpretation of this parable. According to the story, there were ten virgins. Of these, five are described as wise, but the other five are said to be foolish (Matthew 25: 2).
All ten virgins carried lamps with them, but while the wise virgins had oil for their lamps, the foolish virgins did not have any oil (Matthew 25: 3-4).
We are further told that both groups of virgins were awaiting the return of the Bridegroom. To this end, we discover that a rather lengthy time-frame passes, without the Bridegroom’s arrival (Matthew 25: 5).
Then one day, perhaps long after they had given up hope of ever seeing the Bridegroom again, a word of news came, announcing that he was on his way back! His arrival was imminent (Matthew 25: 6).
Both groups of virgins were very excited, and began making preparations for the Bridegroom’s appearance. While they were doing so, those foolish virgins noticed their lamps were starting to grow dim. Somewhat troubled, they tried to negotiate a deal with the wise, in order to obtain a portion of their oil – but were flatly refused (Matthew 25: 7-9).
While the foolish virgins went off to find some means by which to acquire the needed oil, the Bridegroom finally arrived. The wise virgins were given entrance to his banquet, and the hall door was shut (Matthew 25: 10).
Then afterwards, the foolish virgins arrived. Since the bible does not bear witness as to their having obtained the required oil – we know in fact they did not! Yet they still attempted to gain access into the banquet hall. But in response to their cries, the Bridegroom denied having any knowledge of who they were, and turned them away (Matthew 25: 11-13).
My friends, many legalists, as well as those who simply have no revelation knowledge of the grace of God, would have us believe this parable speaks of the rapture. In this scenario, the wise virgins are representing believers who have proven themselves worthy of what Christ did at the cross. Thus it follows that, the foolish virgins are representing born-again Christians who haven’t proven themselves worthy of Christ, and what He did at the cross.
In the end, the wise virgins (worthy Christians), are granted permission to participate in the rapture … while the foolish virgins (unworthy Christians), are ”left behind” to suffer through the horrors of the Tribulation period.
This is nothing but Christ-denying, Gospel-denying, nonsense – taught by legalistic, and spirtually immature people!
God did not build the Church on Grace – and then divide it by the Law!
My friends, please allow me to explain the ”Ten Virgins” parable.
The ten virgins are people – be they Jew or Gentile – seeking to become right with God. The foolish virgins are the ones who believe they can be made righteous by either the works of the Law, or their own self-effort.
The wise virgins are the ones who believe they can only be saved and made righteous by the grace of God alone, through faith in Jesus Christ, and His finished work at the cross.
The lamp oil represents the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, via the New Birth experience. The wise virgins (saved by grace), have the Holy Spirit living inside them (born-again); whereas those foolish virgins (saved by the law; or self-effort), do not have the Holy Spirit inside them (spiritually dead).
When the foolish virgins tried to bargain with the wise for some of their oil, it represents trying to be saved by mixing the Law (or our own self-effort), together with Grace. In other words … thinking that what Jesus did at the cross was good, but we need to do our part as well.
You cannot pour new wine (Grace), into old wineskins (Law; Self-Effort).
Grace and the Law/Self-Effort, do not mix (Mark 2: 18-22). For grace is based on faith, while the Mosaic Laws or your self-efforts, are based on works. The scriptures teach us that whatever is of faith (Grace), pleases God (Hebrews 11: 6); and whatever is not of faith (Law; Self-Effort), is sin (Romans 14: 23).
At the end of the parable, we see the wise virgins (saved by grace alone), being given entrance into the banquet hall (i.e. Kingdom of God). But the foolish virgins – who trusted in the Mosaic Law, or their own self-efforts to save them – are not allowed to enter, but cast out.
My friends, that’s what this parable is all about!
It’s a story about the Law (Moses) … versus Grace (Jesus)!
