The Kingdom of Heaven is like 10 virgins

In the next few articles we will explore the meaning of ALL three parables in Matthew 25. 

As we dive into this topic, the first thing I want to point out is how both the parable of the 10 virgins and the parable of the talents begin…

Matthew 25

1 Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto…

14 For the kingdom of heaven is as…

Where else in the gospel of Matthew can we find the phrase “the kingdom of heaven”?

It is first found in Matthew 3.

Matthew 3

1 In those days came John the Baptist…

2 …saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand

7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?

8 Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance:

9 And think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father:…

10…the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.

John the Baptist said that the “kingdom of heaven” was “at hand”

“At hand” eggizo means to draw near. The word “Fruits” karpos means work, act or deed.

Therefore John the Baptist was telling the Pharisees and Sadducees to bring forth deeds worthy of repentance in order to “flee from the wrath to come” because the kingdom of heaven was drawing near.

Note the sense of urgency, as though they had a limited amount of time in which to repent before being cut down and cast into the fire.

What did Jesus say when he began preaching?

Matthew 4

17 From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.

Jesus preached the same message as John, it must have been important.

In Matthew 5-7 Jesus gave the Sermon on the Mount in which he explained the conditions surrounding entry into the kingdom of heaven.

Matthew 5

20…except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.

So we see that the kingdom of heaven was/is a kingdom of righteousness that only righteous people can enter.

What did Jesus mean by exceeding the righteousness of the Pharisees?

Matt. 5

27 Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery:

28 But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.

Jesus cut right to the heart. 

Not only our actions but our heart motives must be righteous to enter and abide in his kingdom of righteousness. 

The scribes and pharisees adhered to old covenant rites and rituals thus they had a “form of godliness”, the outside of the cup was clean but not the inside. They were like white-washed tombs full of dead mens bones. 

Matthew 23

25 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess.

26 Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first that which is within the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean also.

27 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness.

28 Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.

The scribes and pharisees were full of iniquity. They murdered God’s servants whom he sent. They even crucified his son, hence their house was left “desolate”, their temple “thrown down” (Matthew 24:2) by Roman soldiers in 70AD. This was the “wrath to come” John the Baptist warned them about.

Matthew 23

37 O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee…

38 Behold, your house is left unto you desolate.

Matthew 24

2…There shall not be left here one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down.

The destruction of Jerusalem marked the end of a 40 year transition period between the old and new covenant. Hence John the Baptist not only warned of “wrath to come” but said “the kingdom of heaven is at hand”. The New Covenant kingdom of heaven or kingdom of God would be a kingdom of righteousness- both inward and outward righteousness.

The book of Hebrews, written to Hebrews, explains this transition from the old to new covenant. The very first chapter described the kingdom as such…

Hebrews 1

8…Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom.

The next few verses describe heaven and earth as a garment that had waxed old.

10 And, Thou, Lord, in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth; and the heavens…

11 They shall perish; but thou remainest; and they all shall wax old as doth a garment;

12 And as a vesture shalt thou fold them up…

Let’s skip ahead to chapter 8

Hebrews 8

6…he is the mediator of a better covenant…

7 For if that first covenant had been faultless, then should no place have been sought for the second.

10 For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts…

13 A new covenant, he hath made the first old. Now that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish away.

If we compare chapter 1 to chapter 8, we see that heaven and earth represent the Old Covenant that had waxed old thus was ready to be replaced with a new, superior covenant. One that dealt with issues of the heart and conscience.

Let’s continue to the next few chapters.

Hebrews 9

1…the first covenant had…a worldly sanctuary.

11 But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building;

12 Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place…

14 How much more shall the blood of Christ…purge your conscience…

Hebrews 10

9…he taketh away the first, that he may establish the second.

23 Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering…

37 For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry.

38 Now the just shall live by faith…

Hebrews 11

8 By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed…

10 For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.

Here we see that the first covenant was associated with the first tabernacle, the second covenant with the "tabernacle not made with hands”, the “city” “whose builder and maker is God”. 

Thus heaven and earth being folded up like an old garment represents not only the first covenant vanishing away but the first tabernacle.

2 Peter 3

12 Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?

13 Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.

Both Peter’s epistles and Revelation were written just a few years prior to the destruction of Jerusalem in 70AD.

Note the similarity between John and Peter’s words

Revelation 21

1 And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away…

2 And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem…

27 And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie…

When the Jewish temple representing the Old Covenant system melted with fervent heat the first heaven and earth passed away revealing the new heaven and earth, the New Covenant kingdom of God, the New Jerusalem “wherein dwells righteousness”.

Only the righteous could enter that kingdom, nothing that “defiles…works abomination or makes a lie”. 

Hence both John the Baptist and Jesus warned the religious people of their day to bring forth “fruit meet for repentance” in order to “flee from the wrath to come” because the “kingdom of heaven” was at hand. The New Covenant Kingdom of God was drawing near to them.

In Matthew 7, towards the end of the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus described good and corrupt trees baring good and evil fruit. 

Matthew 7

16 Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?

17 Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.

18 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.

19 Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.

(The same words John the Baptist used in Matthew 3)

20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.

21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.

22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?

23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

Notice how good and corrupt trees look almost identical thus can only be distinguished by their fruits. This is because they both represent religious people.

Religious people would say… 

22…lord lord…in your name (we did) many wonderful works 

Jesus would reply… 

23…I never knew you: depart from me ye that work iniquity

Those baring evil fruit would NOT be granted access to God’s kingdom of righteousness “in that day”.

Peter called “THAT day” “the day of God” (2 Peter 3:10) and the “great and notable day of the Lord” (Acts 2:20). 

Paul called it “the day of the Lord” (1 Thessalonians 5:2, 1Cor. 1:8, 5:5, 2 Cor. 1:4) and “the day of Christ” (Phil. 1:6&10 2:16 2 Thess. 2:2). 

Paul told the Philippians to be “sincere” and “without offence” till the “day of Christ” (Phil. 1:10). He told the Thessalonians “the day of Christ” was “at hand” (2 Thess. 2:2). 

“THAT day” was drawing near to them.

If we now go to the parable of the ten virgins we see the same language as in Matthew 7.

Matthew 25:1-13

1 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.

The five, foolish virgins who’d allowed their lamps to go out, cried “Lord Lord” yet were shut out of the bride chamber with the words “I know you not”.

Back in Matthew 5 Jesus said this….

Matthew 5

14 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.

16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

Here we see “light” associated with “good works” thus baring light is equivalent to baring good fruit.

Only those baring light or good fruit would be granted access to God’s kingdom of righteousness. 

Finally lets go to John 8

John 8

12 Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.

21 Then said Jesus again unto them, I go my way, and ye shall seek me, and shall die in your sins: whither I go, ye cannot come.

According to Jesus, the Pharisees had rejected the “light of the world” thus they did not bare the "light of life” hence they would not be granted access to God’s kingdom of righteousness “in THAT day”.

In conclusion-

Matthew 3-7 help us understand the parable of the ten virgins in Matthew 25.

The wise and foolish virgins, like the good and corrupt trees looked almost identical because both represent religious people.

When the old covenant system vanished away, only those bearing “good fruit” or the “light of life” were granted access to the New Covenant kingdom of God.

The parable of the 10 virgins begins with the phrase “the kingdom of heaven be likened unto…”.

What is the New Covenant kingdom of heaven or kingdom of God like? 

John the Baptist, Jesus, apostle John, Peter and Paul ALL told us it’s a kingdom of righteousness.

It’s STILL a kingdom of righteousness in which only those bearing “good fruit” and “the light of life” can abide. 

No matter how religious we are, no matter how many rites and rituals we adhere to, if we “work iniquity”, bring forth “evil fruit” or “walk in darkness” we cannot enter or abide in his kingdom of righteousness. 

In my next article I will address the parable of the talents.

Until then, let us each work out our own salvation with fear and trembling. God bless.

What the Thessalonians knew- Feast of Trumpets Fulfilled

Welcome to part two in my series on the parable of the ten virgins. 

In part one we looked at Matthew 25 in light of the proceeding chapters. We then compared Matthew 24&25 to the book of Revelation. We also compared Revelation to Ezekiel. 

Here in part two we will dip into the book of Joshua but before then, lets examine 1 Thessalonians 5, which is very similar to Matthew 24&25.

1 Thessalonians 5

1 But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you. 

2 For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. 

3 For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape. 

4 But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief. 

5 Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness. 

6 Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.

Notice verses 5 and 6? 

5 Ye are all the children of light…

6 Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.

Do they remind you of the parable of the ten virgins?

What I find astounding is verses 1 and 2.

1 But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you. 

2 For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. 

According to Paul, the Thessalonians to whom he wrote understood the times and seasons. What does that mean?

They had an agricultural lifestyle therefore they were very attuned to the seasons, they were attuned to the lunar cycle, they knew how it related to their harvest times and annual feasts.

Genesis 1

14 And God said, Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and years:

Leviticus 23

4 These are the feasts of the LORD, even holy convocations, which ye shall proclaim in their seasons.

In both these verses the word seasons is from the Hebrew word moed which means appointed time.

The seven feasts listed in Leviticus 23 were celebrated at appointed times, year after year.

The use of the word moed in the first chapter of the bible is an indication as to how important the seven feasts of the old covenant were. 

They had two purposes, which were to remind Israel of past events and to point them to future events.

The Thessalonians knew the first four feasts had been spiritually fulfilled Passover, the feast of unleavened bread, the feast of first fruits and the feast of weeks.

They were watching and waiting for the spiritual fulfilment of the final three feasts the feast of trumpets, feast of atonement and feast of tabernacles.

The feast of trumpets was next to be fulfilled.

Leviticus 23

24 Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, In the seventh month, in the first day of the month, shall ye have a sabbath, a memorial of blowing of trumpets, an holy convocation. Ye shall do no servile work therein: but ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD.

The feast of trumpets was the ONLY feast, of all seven feasts that began on the first day of the month. 

Israel’s calendar was such that each month began at the new moon. 

It was hard to know exactly when the new moon would appear. It was a dark disk with a thin sliver of light that could be obscured by the weather.

The Jews required at least two witnesses to site the new moon before commencement of the feast of trumpets. 

Due to the uncertainty around when it would actually commence, all the preparations had to be done before hand. The Jews had to be in a constant state of readiness.

Each of the seven feasts listed in Leviticus 23 were connected to an old testament event.

Every year, year after year the feasts were kept to remember those events and continue to remember them down the generations. 

Passover reminded them of their deliverance from bondage in Egypt and the feast of weeks reminded them of when Moses received the ten commandments on Mount Sinai. 

What event was the feast of trumpets connected to? What did it remind them of?

I propose that it was their victory at Jericho. How can I defend that claim?

According to Israel’s calendar, the feast of weeks was celebrated in the third month, Sivan and the feast of trumpets was celebrated in the seventh month, Tishri.

Between these feasts were four hot, dry months which represented the 40 years Israel spent wandering in the wilderness (Num. 14:22, 32:13).

At the end of those forty years Israel arrived at Canaan land. Thus the feast of trumpets is connected to the battle of Jericho.

Joshua 6

2 And the LORD said unto Joshua, See, I have given into thine hand Jericho, and the king thereof, and the mighty men of valour. 

3 And ye shall compass the city, all ye men of war, and go round about the city once. Thus shalt thou do six days. 

4 And seven priests shall bear before the ark seven trumpets of rams' horns: and the seventh day ye shall compass the city seven times, and the priests shall blow with the trumpets. 

5 And it shall come to pass, that when they make a long blast with the ram's horn, and when ye hear the sound of the trumpet, all the people shall shout with a great shout; and the wall of the city shall fall down flat, and the people shall ascend up every man straight before him.

The Caananites were very wicked people. Sexual immorality was rampant. They had temple prostitutes as part of their worship of Baal and Ashtoreth. They also sacrificed their children to Molech.

Like in the days of Noah, God was “long-suffering” towards them, “not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance” (1 Peter 3:20, 2 Peter 3:9). 

He gave them much time to repent. At the very least, they had 40 years while Israel wandered in the wilderness.

Finally, at the battle of Jericho, God used Israel as a tool to execute divine judgment upon them (Lev.18:24-25, 20:22-24 Deut. 9:5,12:29-31).

However he warned Israel that if they became like the Canaanites, God would turn that same judgment back on them.

Joshua 23

11 Take heed therefore unto yourselves that ye love the Lord your God.

12 Else if ye do in any wise go back and cleave unto the remnant of these nations…and shall make marriages with them…

13 Know for a certainty…ye perish from off this good land which the Lord your God hath given you.

15…so shall the Lord bring upon you all evil things, until he have destroyed you from off this good land which the Lord your God hath given you.

16 When ye hath transgressed the covenant of the Lord your God…ye shall perish quickly from off the good land which he hath given you.

When you think of Joshua 6, does it remind you of anything in the book of Revelation? 

Revelation 8

2 And I saw the seven angels which stood before God; and to them were given seven trumpets.

6 And the seven angels which had the seven trumpets prepared themselves to sound.

The seven trumpets in Revelation represent God’s divine judgement coming upon Jerusalem due to her extreme unfaithfulness. Hence the cry “Babylon is fallen is fallen” (Rev. 14:8 18:2).

Conclusion:

In Matthew 3 & 21-23 John the Baptist and Jesus warned the Pharisees, chief priests, Sadducees and scribes that their city was about to be “burned up” and their house left “desolate”.

In Matthew 24 Jesus was at Jerusalem when he said to his disciples “there shall not be left here one stone upon another that shall not be thrown down” (vs 1&2)

His disciples then asked him three questions- “WHEN shall these things be (temple thrown down), what shall be the sign of thy coming and of the end of the age?” (Vs 3)

Jesus went on to describe “great tribulation” when those in Judaea should “flee to the mountains”. He said, “immediately after the tribulation of THOSE days” he would come in the clouds to “gather…his elect from the four winds” (vs 16, 21, 29-31).

Then Jesus gave a broad answer to the disciples first question “WHEN shall these things be”… 

“THIS GENERATION shall not pass till ALL these things be fulfilled” (vs 34)

What did he mean? The destruction of the temple, the coming of Christ and end of the Jewish age would ALL happen within the next forty years, one biblical generation (Num. 32:13).

Revelation was written by Apostle John before 70AD.

It was written to seven literal churches existing at that time, to warn and inform them of events that would “shortly come to pass”, events that were “at hand”, events that would effect THEM (Rev. 1:1,3,4 Rev. 22:10).

The book of Ezekiel confirms that “Mystery Babylon, Mother of Harlots” was in fact Jerusalem that was destroyed by Roman soldiers in 70AD due to her extreme unfaithfulness to God (Rev. 17, Ez.16).

Like the wise virgins in Matthew 25, the saints in Thessalonica were “children of light” who knew the “times and seasons” but not the “day or hour” of Christ’s coming, therefore they had to WATCH and be sober (Matt. 25:10-13, 1 Thess. 5:1-6).

Being an agrarian society they understood the seasons moed- God’s appointed times. 

They were attuned to the lunar cycle, the harvests and the seven feasts listed in Leviticus 23.

They knew the first four feasts had been spiritually fulfilled and the feast of trumpets was next. 

The four hot, dry months between the feast of weeks and feast of trumpets represented the forty years Israel was tested and tried in the wilderness.

The forty years in which the Canaanites had a chance to repent of their sin. 

The forty years (one generation) in which the Pharisees, chief priests, Sadducees and scribes were to “bring forth…fruits meet for repentance” in order to “flee from the wrath to come”.

Like in the days of Noah, God was long-suffering “not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance” (1 Peter 3:20, 2 Peter 3:9).

The feast of Trumpets was the only feast to commence at the beginning of the month, right on the new moon. 

No one knew exactly when the new moon would be sighted and when the feast would commence therefore the Jews had to be prepared before hand.

The Feast of Trumpets, which reminded Israel of their victory in Jericho, now represented God’s divine judgement upon them. 

The seven trumpets that made Jericho crumble, now represented the destruction of Jerusalem.

The “sudden destruction” that caught many unawares (1 Thess. 1:3).

Do WE, like the ten virgins, need to WATCH for Christ’s coming? I don’t believe so. 

However we DO need to make our calling and election sure (2 Peter 1:10). 

We DO need to be so deeply rooted in Christ that when trials and temptations come we don’t fall away (Matthew 13:20,21,23). 

We DO need to be ready for our death day, our last day, which could be at any moment. 

We may not have warning. We may not have extra time to prepare.

Let us each work out our own salvation with fear and trembling. God bless.

Bibliography

aish.com  The Moon: 7 Jewish Facts

jewishencyclopedia.com  New Moon by Kaufmann Kohler