Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh. (Matthew 24:44, KJV)

ABSTRACT

In the Parable of the Ten Virgins, Jesus unveils a solemn message for His church, urging believers to prepare for His return through a deep, transformative relationship with the Holy Spirit. This article explores the parable’s symbols—the virgins, lamps, and oil—connecting them to Zechariah’s vision of divine provision. It emphasizes that true readiness stems not from mere profession but from a character transformed by God’s grace, actively expressed through love and service to others, ensuring believers are vessels filled with the Spirit’s oil, ready to meet the Bridegroom.

A NIGHT OF WAITING!

The air is thick with anticipation, heavy with the scent of jasmine and olive oil. It is night in the ancient East, a time when the world shrinks to the circle of light cast by a torch or a lamp. Near the bride’s house, a group of ten young women, robed in white, cluster together, their faces illuminated by the flickering flames of their clay lamps (Christ’s Object Lessons, p. 405, 1900). They are the designated attendants, the honor guard for a sacred and joyous procession. Their task is simple but crucial: wait for the bridegroom, and when his party is sighted, join the jubilant parade to his home for the wedding feast. Hour after hour passes. The music and glad voices they expect are met only with silence. The watchers, once alert and expectant, grow weary. Their heads begin to nod, and one by one, they succumb to sleep (Christ’s Object Lessons, p. 406, 1900). Then, at the darkest hour, a cry shatters the stillness: “Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him” (Matthew 25:6, KJV). This vivid scene sets the stage for Christ’s parable, revealing the spiritual state of the church awaiting His return. The ten virgins, all professing faith, mirror the church’s shared expectation, yet a hidden division lurks within, exposed only by crisis (The Great Controversy, p. 393, 1911). The lamps they carry symbolize the Word of God, as declared: “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path” (Psalm 119:105, KJV). Yet, the parable warns that mere knowledge is insufficient without the oil of the Holy Spirit. Sr. White affirms, “This parable has been and will be fulfilled to the very letter, for it has a special application to this time, and, like the third angel’s message, has been fulfilled and will continue to be present truth till the close of time” (Review and Herald, August 19, 1890, par. 3). To reinforce this, consider: “The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple” (Psalm 119:130, KJV), and “Thy testimonies are wonderful: therefore doth my soul keep them” (Psalm 119:129, KJV). Sr. White further states, “The parable of the ten virgins of Matthew 25 also illustrates the experience of the Adventist people” (The Great Controversy, p. 393, 1911), and “The two classes of watchers represent the two classes who profess to be waiting for their Lord” (Christ’s Object Lessons, p. 408, 1900). Thus, the parable calls believers to a readiness rooted in possession, not mere profession, as only a transformed heart will shine when the Bridegroom arrives. How can we discern the true nature of this readiness?

THE VIRGINS’ TRUE TEST

The initial and most unsettling fact of the parable is the identity of its subjects. All ten are called “virgins,” a symbol of their shared identity as professed believers. They are not a mix of church members and outsiders; they all belong to the waiting company. As Sr. White clarifies, “they are called virgins because they profess a pure faith” (Christ’s Object Lessons, p. 406, 1900). Furthermore, all ten possess lamps. This is a critical detail, for the lamp represents the Word of God. The Psalmist declares, “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path” (Psalm 119:105, KJV). This means every one of the ten had access to the Holy Scriptures. They all knew the doctrines, they all heard the message of Christ’s soon return, and they all went forth with the same expectation (Christ’s Object Lessons, p. 411, 1900). For a time, there was no discernible difference between them. The claim of faith unites the virgins, but their spiritual state divides them. The five foolish virgins, though professing faith, lack the Holy Spirit’s transformative work. Sr. White notes, “They have a regard for the truth, they have advocated the truth, they are attracted to those who believe the truth; but they have not yielded themselves to the Holy Spirit’s working” (Christ’s Object Lessons, p. 411, 1900). This superficial faith is mirrored in Scripture: “This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me” (Matthew 15:8, KJV), and “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” (Matthew 7:21, KJV). Sr. White elaborates, “The class represented by the foolish virgins are not hypocrites. They have a regard for the truth, but they have not yielded themselves to the Holy Spirit’s working” (Christ’s Object Lessons, p. 411, 1900), and “Many receive the truth readily, but they fail to assimilate its principles” (The Desire of Ages, p. 407, 1898). Their faith, lacking depth, becomes a mere form, leaving them unprepared when the Bridegroom’s call sounds. What is the vital element they lack?

THE OIL THAT LIGHTS THE WAY!
When the midnight cry awakens the sleeping virgins, the fatal difference between the two groups becomes terrifyingly apparent. The foolish, trimming their wicks, discover their lamps are sputtering and dying. In a panic, they turn to their companions with a desperate plea: “Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out” (Matthew 25:8, KJV). This moment reveals the central mystery of the parable: the nature of the oil. What is this substance that is so vital yet so conspicuously absent in the lives of half the waiting church?
The oil, Sr. White explains, is “a symbol of the Holy Spirit” (Christ’s Object Lessons, p. 407, 1900), manifesting as “the righteousness of Christ” and a transformed character (Testimonies to Ministers, p. 234, 1923). This character cannot be transferred, as “no man can secure it for another” (Testimonies to Ministers, p. 234, 1923). The wise virgins’ refusal to share their oil is not selfishness but a spiritual reality, as Scripture confirms: “Every man shall bear his own burden” (Galatians 6:5, KJV), and “The soul that sinneth, it shall die” (Ezekiel 18:20, KJV). Sr. White further states, “Character is not transferable. No man can believe for another” (Testimonies to Ministers, p. 234, 1923), and “The Spirit works upon man’s heart, according to his desire and consent implanting in him a new nature” (Christ’s Object Lessons, p. 411, 1900). The foolish virgins’ lamps fail because they neglected the Spirit’s work, rendering their profession useless. How does heaven ensure this oil is always available?

HEAVEN’S ENDLESS SUPPLY

The plight of the foolish virgins, frantically seeking to buy oil at midnight, seems hopeless. Their story, on its own, is one of destitution and final, irreversible loss. But the Bible does not leave us with this picture of scarcity. In the prophetic book of Zechariah, God pulls back the curtain of heaven to reveal the divine mechanism for supplying the very oil that was so tragically missing. This vision provides the glorious solution to the virgins’ dilemma, showing that spiritual readiness is not a finite resource to be hoarded or purchased, but an infinite gift flowing continuously from the very throne of God.
Zechariah’s vision of the golden lampstand and olive trees reveals a divine supply chain: “Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, saith the Lord of hosts” (Zechariah 4:6, KJV). The oil flows freely, as Sr. White explains, “From the two olive trees the golden oil was emptied through the golden pipes into the bowl of the candlestick, and thence into the golden lamps that gave light to the sanctuary” (Christ’s Object Lessons, p. 408, 1900). Scripture supports this: “The Lord is good to all: and his tender mercies are over all his works” (Psalm 145:9, KJV), and “He maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust” (Matthew 5:45, KJV). Sr. White adds, “The golden oil represents the grace with which God supplies His servants” (The Review and Herald, March 2, 1897), and “The Holy Spirit, received by faith, enables the soul to shine with the light of heaven” (The Desire of Ages, p. 672, 1898). The foolish virgins’ failure was not a lack of oil but a failure to connect to this divine source. What is our role in receiving this gift?

OUR SACRED DUTY!

The vision of Zechariah’s golden pipeline establishes that the oil of grace is a divine gift, flowing freely from God. This truth, however, does not absolve humanity of its role. It raises a critical question: If the oil is a gift, what is our responsibility in receiving it? The answer lies in the concept of spiritual stewardship. While we cannot produce the oil, we are solemnly responsible for preparing and maintaining the vessel into which it is poured.
The Apostle Paul instructs, “If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master’s use, and prepared unto every good work” (2 Timothy 2:20-21, KJV). This purging is our duty, as Sr. White notes, “When we empty the soul of every defilement, we are ready for use” (Ye Shall Receive Power, p. 111, 1995). Scripture reinforces this: “Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow” (Psalm 51:7, KJV), and “Let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God” (2 Corinthians 7:1, KJV). Sr. White further states, “The Lord requires us to empty ourselves of self that His Spirit may work in us” (Testimonies for the Church, Vol. 5, p. 260, 1889), and “We must be emptied of self in order to be filled with the grace of God” (The Ministry of Healing, p. 183, 1905). The wise virgins actively prepared their vessels, ensuring readiness through daily surrender, while the foolish remained passive, missing the divine supply. How does God’s love inspire this preparation?

THE LOVE THAT CALLS US!

The Parable of the Ten Virgins, with its solemn imagery of a shut door and the final, heartbreaking words, “I know you not” (Matthew 25:12, KJV), can feel severe. But to interpret it as a threat is to misunderstand the nature of the Bridegroom. The parable’s urgent plea for readiness is born of infinite love, the call of a Savior who longs for His people to join Him at the wedding supper.
God’s love is the foundation of this call, as Sr. White writes, “Nature and revelation alike testify of God’s love” (Steps to Christ, p. 9, 1892). This love is revealed in Scripture: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son” (John 3:16, KJV), and “Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us” (1 John 4:10, KJV). Sr. White elaborates, “The glory of God, which Christ came to reveal, is the glory of self-sacrificing love” (The Desire of Ages, p. 20, 1898), and “No earthly parent could be as patient with the faults of his children, as is God with those He seeks to save” (Steps to Christ, p. 27, 1892). The foolish are shut out not by divine rejection but by their own unfitness, as Sr. White notes, “You are shut out from heaven by your own unfitness for its companionship” (Christ’s Object Lessons, p. 413, 1900). True readiness springs from a love relationship with Christ, transforming obedience into joy. What does this readiness look like in action?

LIVING AS WISE VIRGINS!

True spiritual readiness is not a static condition but a dynamic, missional state that transforms the believer into a channel of God’s grace. The wise virgins’ preparation was not merely personal but outward-focused, shining light into a dark world. Sr. White states, “We can impart only as we receive, and we can receive only as we impart” (The Desire of Ages, p. 339, 1898). This principle is echoed in Scripture: “Freely ye have received, freely give” (Matthew 10:8, KJV), and “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven” (Matthew 5:16, KJV). Sr. White further explains, “The capacity for receiving the holy oil is increased as the receiver empties that holy oil out of himself in word and action” (Testimonies for the Church, Vol. 6, p. 117, 1901), and “Our work is to shed light into the darkness of the world” (Christ’s Object Lessons, p. 414, 1900). The wise virgins’ abundant oil resulted from their active service, while the foolish, stagnant in faith, found their vessels empty. How can we ensure our lamps burn brightly?

THE FINAL CHARGE!

The journey with the ten virgins begins on a dark road of anticipation and ends with a door either opened to eternal joy or shut to eternal loss. The lamp of profession is worthless without the oil of the Holy Spirit, a gift freely flowing from God’s throne, as revealed in Zechariah’s vision. This reception requires active stewardship, purging self to become a vessel for God’s grace. Sr. White writes, “The Christian life is a life of thought and action, of silent prayer and earnest work” (The Ministry of Healing, p. 512, 1905). Scripture affirms, “Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things” (Luke 21:36, KJV), and “Be ye therefore ready also: for the Son of man cometh at an hour when ye think not” (Luke 12:40, KJV). Sr. White adds, “We must be ready, waiting, and watching for the Lord’s return” (Testimonies for the Church, Vol. 8, p. 37, 1904), and “The work of preparation is an individual work” (The Great Controversy, p. 425, 1911). Readiness is a missional life, pouring out God’s love to others, ensuring our lamps shine until the Bridegroom comes.

“Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh” (Matthew 25:13, KJV).

If you have a prayer request, please leave it in the comments below. Prayer meetings are held on Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday. To join, enter your email address in the comments section.Watch, therefore, and be ready.

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