Mat 25:1-13 Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom. 2 And five of them were wise, and five were foolish. 3 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. 5 While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept. 6 And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him. 7 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. 10 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.
Many times we need to remind ourselves that the Bible was written centuries before modern times in a setting and culture vastly different from what we are exposed to in this day and age. It therefore stands to reason that there will be included in the narrative many terms, idioms and customs that are unfamiliar or unknown to us resulting in a misunderstanding and misinterpreting of the writer's meaning and intentions. While the message of salvation is plain and straightforward, there are many incidents, teachings, illustrations and stories drawn from everyday occurrences and contemporary history and life that may present difficulty in understanding the meaning of passages without and understanding of manners, customs, and history of Biblical times. For instance in Luke 13 the incidents with Pilate and the Galileans and the Tower of Siloam are not recorded in contemporary history but are mentioned here as being recent happenings. When Jesus teaches and speaks He also makes use of things, events, customs and practices peculiar to those days which the people of those days being familiar with will readily grasp.
One such custom and tradition is made use of in Jesus' parable of the ten virgins as well as His discourse to His disciples in John 14:
Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. John 14:1-3
Research done by others have thrown a lot of light on the LORD"S teaching
The Jewish betrothal ceremony was very much different from our modern engagement
The Jewish betrothal was much more than a mere modern engagement.
It was a covenant. It was the legal part of the marriage.
A traditional Jewish betrothal is taken very seriously by the parties involved because this is where their vows are made and the wedding contract drawn up.
A betrothal ceremony is a Jewish person's vows, and therefore binding until death do they part.
According to recorded history and research the following took place during a Jewish marriage:
THE BETROTHAL AND DEPARTURE OF THE GROOM
The selection of the bride
The first step in the marriage process - the arrangements preliminary to the legal betrothal. It was common in ancient Israel for the father of the groom to select a bride for his son. By the time Jesus came the bridegroom himself usually took the initiative and traveled to the home of the prospective bride to make the arrangements
The marriage contract
The groom draws up the marriage contract, covenant or contract promise, a document that is used for the purpose of assuring a bride will be provided for. it is usually referred to as the bridal payment. It changed the bride's status and set her free from her parent's household. Once agreed upon it became binding on both parties and they were regarded as husband and wife. The bride was declared sanctified and set apart for her bridegroom.
The ritual immersion
It was common for the bride and groom to separately take a ritual immersion (mikveh) as symbolic of renewal. The Jews considered the mikveh a representation of the womb of the world and the person emerged from the womb as a new person separated from the world.
The couple would then make public their intention to be betrothed and would seal it in the sharing a cup of wine. They were considered married but have not entered into any physical relationship.
The Separation
The groom then prepares to leave promising to return for the bride after a place has been prepared for the new couple at the father's home. The bride does not know the time or day but is expected to be prepared ready and separated until the return of the groom to claim her. The separation lasts for usually a year before the groom returns.
The Preparation
The groom returns to his father's home where he begins preparing for the eventual bringing home of his bride. This was overseen by the father who determines when it is finished so that the son can return to bring his bride home. In the meantime the bride is preparing for the eventual return of the groom and lives in anticipation of his soon return
THE RETURN OF THE GROOM AND THE MARRIAGE CELEBRATION
The Return of the Groom
The groom returns at the end of the betrothal period to clam his bride. The bride is aware of the general time but not the exact day or hour. This make the arrival time a surprise so the bride is always to be ready. This usually takes place at night and someone would go ahead to make the announcement of the groom's arrival usually shouting "Behold the bridegroom cometh!" This would be followed by the sounding of the trumpet with the wedding procession moving towards the bride's house.
The Marriage Celebrations
The groom returns with his bride to his home where they will be led into the chamber and the marriage consummated. The celebration would then begin and last for 7 days during which time the bride remains hidden in the bridal chamber.
JESUS AND THE CHURCH - A SPIRITUAL UNION!
1. JESUS LEFT THE FATHER'S HOME AND CAME TO EARTH, THE HOME OF THE CHURCH, HIS BRIDE John 6:32-35 Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Moses gave you not that bread from heaven; but my Father giveth you the true bread from heaven. 33 For the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world. 34 Then said they unto him, Lord, evermore give us this bread. 35 And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst. John 6:44 No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day. Joh 3:16-17 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
2. HE HAS DRAWN UP A CONTRACT IN WHICH HE HAS PAID THE PRICE OF HIS BLOOD John 3:16-17 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. 1Pe 1:18-20 Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; 19 But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: 20 Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you,
3. HE HAS ESTABLISHED BAPTISM AND COMMUNION AS CELEBRATION OF THE NEWNESS IN LIFE AND UNION IN HIM. Mat 28:18-20 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. 19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen. Luke 22:15-20 And he said unto them, With desire I have desired to eat this passover with you before I suffer: 16 For I say unto you, I will not any more eat thereof, until it be fulfilled in the kingdom of God. 17 And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and said, Take this, and divide it among yourselves: 18 For I say unto you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine, until the kingdom of God shall come. 19 And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me. 20 Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you.
4. HE HAS GONE BACK TO THE FATHER'S HOME TO PREPARE A PLACE. John 14:1-3 Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. 2 In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.
5. THE CHURCH IS TO LIVE A SEPARATED LIFE IN ANTICIPATION OF HIS RETURN AT THE END OF THE BETROTHAL PERIOD. Mat 25:13 Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh. 2Co 6:14-18 Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? 15 And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? 16 And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. 17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, 18 And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty. Col 3:1-7 If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. 2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. 3 For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory. 5 Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry: 6 For which things' sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience: 7 In the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them.
6. JESUS WILL RETURN FOR THE CHURCH WITH THE SHOUT AND THE TRUMPET. 1Th 4:16-18 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. 18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.
7. THE CHURCH WILL RETURN WITH CHRIST TO HIS FATHER'S HOUSE. John 14:1-3 Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. 2 In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.
8. THERE THE CHURCH WILL REMAIN HIDDEN FOR 7 YEARS WHILE THE EARTH EXPERIENCES TRIBULATION Isa 26:20-21 Come, my people, enter thou into thy chambers, and shut thy doors about thee: hide thyself as it were for a little moment, until the indignation be overpast. 21 For, behold, the LORD cometh out of his place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity: the earth also shall disclose her blood, and shall no more cover her slain
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We NEED to be ready for the return of our Saviour, Lord and King...for HE COMES...SOONER THAN YOU THINK!
