This was written in response to a friend that insisted that "the foolish virgins" must be unbelievers based upon the statement by the Bridegroom that says, "I don't know you". I hope this short article may shed some light on the foolish virgins.

Traditional teaching in the church usually relates most parables such as this, to the second coming of Christ and misses out very often on the deeper meaning conveyed by the Holy Spirit. We need to understand that the Lord comes in many ways, He always has, He is doing so now, and he will continue to do so. His name; "YHWH" according to many Hebrew scholars means "THE COMING ONE". We know by the scriptures that Jesus is "The One who was, and IS, and is to come". Since the Garden of Eden He has been coming to His creation man with a continual unveiling of His very nature. He did so then, He is doing so now, and He will continue to do so. The continual "Revelation of Jesus Christ".

In light of this we need to understand that the Bridegroom coming to meet with the virgins, the thief coming in the night, the Lord coming at the last trump...etc. are more than likely speaking of different events of the Lords coming. A thief coming in the secretness and stealth of the night is much different from the fanfare and revelry of an event signaled by the blowing of trumpets. It would be a mighty foolish thief that blows a trumpet to announce his coming.

I'm gonna try to keep this brief, but the point is that we need to seek the Lord for wisdom and understanding whereby we can receive by His Spirit the proper lens that we may view and understand the scriptures as the Spirit guides us. If you look again at the parable of the virgins and see that this is more than likely not a parable about salvation, yet about the difference between those that are called, and those that are chosen. The invitation to the virgins is to "come out to meet Him". The call was given to all ten, but because the foolish ones were not prepared, they were not chosen. Many times in scripture a call to "come out "or "come up" to meet with the Lord is an invitation to greater revelation.

At this time in Israel, because of the pomp of the weddings, the ceremonies and feasts were usually done at night and usually by young unmarried women. The young unmarried women would wait for the Bridegroom and then escort him with lighted torches or lamps to the house where the ceremony would be performed. Hmmm. This almost sounds like the ministry of John the Baptist, who was called to light the way, or in other words "prepare the way of the Lord". John declared that he was not the bride but referred to himself as "the friend of the Bridegroom". Is it perhaps that these virgins are being called to receive more light or understanding of the ways of the Bridegroom, and they will be the chosen light-bearers, "the friends of the Bridegroom" to shine the way before Him as He comes for His beloved Bride?

In Revelation 2:5; The Lord gives a stern warning to the church of Ephesus that unless they repent, and remember from where they have fallen, and return to their first love and do the first works, their lampstand will be removed. Their light, through swift and effective judgement of God will be allowed to go out. This is not speaking of the loss of their salvation but that they will no longer be the light-bearing children for the Lord. Isn't this essentially the same judgement that comes to the foolish and unprepared virgins of Matthew 25?

As the foolish virgins went off to find oil for their lamps, the Bridegroom came and they that were ready went with Him to the marriage. The door to the marriage feast is then shut. The foolish ones had missed the time of their visitation. The "kairos" moment has now passed and the door of opportunity has been closed. Servants that are called to be light-bearers yet can no longer shine because of their own foolishness and unrepentant hearts will not be used in the wedding party of this Bridegroom. They had missed the call to "meet him" therefore upon their late arrival to the marriage feast, they knock on the door of the house and they are met with the response, "I don't know you" and were thus refused entry to the celebration. The foolish virgins were not faithful in their assigned task to have their lamps and vessels filled with oil. They were not ready for the work they were called to do therefore they were not chosen, and even rejected completely from entering the intimate gathering of the wedding feast. The Spirit of God will not always strive with unrepentant and foolish men, even those that take the name of "Christian".

Watch therefore and be ready for a visitation of the Lord that may come when you least expect it, and in a way that may be quite different than you expect as well.

I pray that every person that reads this article will take what he or she has read before the Lord in prayer and that the Lord will make truths of this word life within them. If we are going to be prepared and ready for the difficult times ahead we must know the inner witness of the Spirit. We can no longer rely on what we are told by men, but rely and trust in HIM, the Spirit of truth to lead us and guide us in all truth. We must be prepared when the call to "meet Him" comes, so that we can go forth to meet with Him. Then we may come to know Him more intimately, to receive revelation and understanding of His ways rather than an "I don't know you" because we went to church but never personally communed with the Lord in the Spirit. You will never come to know Him because your pastor, friend, teacher or mother is a godly man or woman who communes with God and can share insightful revelation and teaching. We must come to know Him individually, personally and intimately, then we can know Him as He truly IS and not as we've been told He is.

Brothers and sisters, please keep your hearts humble and teachable. Keep your vessels clean from sin. Keep your wicks trimmed with the Word of God and spend plenty of quiet time in the secret place of prayer and fasting alone with the Lord. Pray in the Spirit, worship the Father in Spirit and in truth. This is the only way to receive an extra measure of the Holy Ghost anointing, the holy oil of the Spirit that you may burn brightly for the Glory of God in a world and time of great darkness. The midnight hour is at hand and those that have ears to hear are hearing the Spirit's cry of "the bridegroom cometh". Go out to meet Him. The Lord is preparing the last days spirit filled vessels of righteousness to burn brighter than anything this world has seen, since the Lord Himself walked the earth 2000 years ago. These will light the procession path of truth and holiness and righteousness in preparation for the coming of our Lord.

For "the Bridegroom cometh". He is stepping forth from His holy chamber and is preparing to rent the heavens and come down, to make His way to His beloved Bride, for which He has so long waited.

Are you ready?

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all,

David Weber

e-mail address: Dwebr1@aol.com