the Ten Virgins Exposition (b)
part 2 of 4
Vocabulary
(a) Prophecy: 1. A foretelling; prediction; a declaration of something to come.
(a) Parable: A fable or *allegorical relation or representation of something real in life or nature,
from which a moral is drawn for instruction.
These are two separate words with separate meanings. Often times people get confused by an allegorical relation or a re-Presentation of something real in life with what is real in life. God help us not to crisscross them.
Now what does allegory mean?
*Allegory
AL'LEGORY, noun [Gr. other, to speak, a forum, an oration.]
A figurative sentence or discourse, in which the principal subject is described by ANOTHER subject resembling it in its properties and circumstances. The principal subject is thus kept out of view, and we are left to collect the intentions of the writer or speaker, by the resemblance of the secondary to the primary subject. Allegory is in words that hieroglyphics are in painting. We have a fine example of an allegory in the eightieth Psalm, in which God's chosen people are represented by a vineyard. The distinction in scripture between a parable and an allegory is said to be that a parable is a supposed history, and an allegory a figurative description of real facts. An allegory is called a continued metaphor. The following line in Virgil is an example of an allegory
Claudite jam rivos, pueri, sat prata biberunt.
Stop the currents, young men, the meadows have drank sufficiently; that is let your music cease, our ears have been sufficiently delighted.
• Webster’s Dictionary 1828—American Dictionary of the English Language
Wikipedia concisely summed up for us what an Allegory is:
As a literary device, an allegory is a metaphor whose vehicle may be a character, place or event, representing real-world issues and occurrences.
What is a metaphor?
Metaphor
MET'APHOR, noun [Gr. to transfer, over, to carry.]
A short similitude; a similitude reduced to a single word; or a word expressing similitude without the signs of comparison. Thus 'that man is a fox, ' is a metaphor; but 'that man is like a fox, ' is a similitude or comparison. So when I say, 'the soldiers fought like lions, ' I use a similitude. In metaphor the similitude is contained in the name; a man is a fox, means, a man is as crafty as a fox. So we say, a man bridles his anger, that is, restrains it as a bridle restrains a horse. Beauty awakens love or tender passions; opposition fires courage.
• Webster’s Dictionary 1828—American Dictionary of the English Language
It’s important to revisit the meaning of these words so to escape the pit of assumption (Metaphor). So that when we start to engage the subject we should not confuse one thing for another which Inspiration did not intend.
Now that we know what a prophecy is, what’s a parable and the allegorical nature contained within let us read with understanding.
One more thing before we begin. Let’s list all the elements contained within the parable of the “ten virgins” in the order they are revealed and not necessarily in the order of importance or literal chronology. [Side Bar: Pay attention you JTT after Ezek. 9 proponents. Valuable lesson up ahead to be put into your pocket for later use.]
1. “The Kingdom of heaven”
2. “Ten virgins”
3. Lamps
4. Bridegroom
5. “Five…Wise” (decision)
6. “Five…Foolish” (decision)
7. Oil
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14. “Watch” (an admonition)
The Parable of the “Ten Virgins”
Preamble:
To arrive at the proper, prophetic contextual understanding of the parable of the “Ten Virgins” is to believe the interpretation of Victor T. Houteff (TM:475.3). The Context of the inspired explanation of the parable of the “Ten Virgins” is tied inexorably to the Twenty-Fourth Chapter Of Matthew, And The Signs Of Christ's Coming (2SR:174). Do not separate in your understanding what God has joined together to be understood. Similarly, one is the outworking or the mechanism (prophecy) while the other is a metaphor that is only to illustrate (parable). We will be referencing a timeline graphical representation of both the prophecy and the parable and how they relate to each other. What the prophet observes we observe and what he does not we must not.
What is contained in Matthew 24 is a prophecy. “Observe that the 25th chapter is a continuation of the 24th. Mark the word, “THEN,” meaning THE TIME they fulfilled the prophetic words contained in Matt. 24:48-51.”
Take a moment now to look at the graphical representation of the parable of the “Ten Virgins” as inspiration ties to the prophecy of Matt. 24:48-51 for us. Acquaint yourself with what it contains for a few minutes. Then come back to this study.
We see a pink line color visually outlining for us, demarcating what the focus of our subject will be upon and the timeline given to us by inspiration. The starting pointing will be a known date only because hindsight is 20/20 (2 Chron. 20:20) and an unknown date not revealed by inspiration but just the event, Ezekiel 9. Which happens to be the twin sister of Revelation 7 or if you prefer the “other side” of the same (sealing) coin (TM:445.2).
This will entail the fulfillment of Dan. 8:14—the cleansing of the sanctuary now about to take place among the living. This alone is what we will countenance. Armed with the vocabulary and the elements of the parable let us proceed. If you do not feel comfortable yet go back, and familiarize yourself with the underpinning terms, the elements, and the graph once again. This is not a race. Ecc. 9:11—“¶ I returned, and saw under the sun, that the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, neither yet bread to the wise, nor yet riches to men of understanding, nor yet favour to men of skill; but time and chance happeneth to them all.”
Now that you are satisfied that you have a handle on what’s involved let us proceed in the fear of Jehovah our great King through the power of His Holy Spirit who promised if we ask for bread He would not give us a stone. Let us put our trust in Him the captain of our salvation.
“It Is Written”:
Please Read Matt. 25:1-13. We will now be referencing the explanation contained within the pages of 2SR:181-185 which we touched upon a little in the preamble. We skipped page 180 to save time and space because it contains what you just read.
We know already that the prophecy contained in Matt. 24:48-51 and the parable of Matt. 25:1-13 are one. When you want to discuss what is happening in real life we look to the prophecy. When you want to understand the moral behind real-life decisions, choices, or consequences we look to the illustrative lessons found in the parable.
Elements:
Breaking down of element No. 1 – “The Kingdom of heaven”
“The virgins are a figure of the church.” (2SR:181.1.) Also elsewhere “…that which pertains to “the kingdom of God,” His work for the salvation of men, and this work is accomplished through the church. (See: 1TG 37:10.1 which is quoting COL:70.2; “They are called virgins because they profess a pure faith.”—COL:406.3)
Breaking down of element No. 2 – “Ten virgins” into two parts the Rod tells us:
“Number ‘ten,’ has the symbolic meaning of universal (the church as a body). Note that they are all ‘virgins.’ The 144,000 are designated by the same word. (See Rev. 14:4.) The word ‘virgins,’ signify that the class represented by them (ten), are not those who are called out from Babylon (fallen churches) at THE TIME the ‘cry’ is made.” (See 2SR:181.1)
From the Summary:
“The number, ‘ten’, being a symbol of universal, it represents the church as a body prior to the COMMENCEMENT of the judgment of the living [fig. 4]—in the sealing PERIOD of the 144,000 [fig. 3 to fig. 4], and BEFORE the ‘Loud Cry’ [during the fainter ‘cry’ period: 1Ans:83.1-3] of the Third Angel's Message; being the period of the first fruits of the harvest.” (2SR:185.1)
1) You have the sealing period (by an announcement: [fig. 3]) preparing candidates to be elected to be 144,000.
2) Then you have the actual event (Ezek. 9) which commences the judgment of the living in the period of the event of the first fruits harvest—called the 'Loud Cry' of the Third Angel's Message which produces 144,000.
Breaking down of element No. 10 – the “Midnight cry”
“Thus, the message of the "Midnight Cry" must find them in the house of God—virgins.” (See: 2SR:181.1)
“The ‘Midnight Cry’ was first proclaimed prior to 1844 [fig. 1], and the coming of the ‘Bridegroom’ was Christ’s coming to the Most Holy place in the heavenly sanctuary for the investigative judgment of the saints [fig. 2]. The investigation being in two sections; first, the judgment for the dead [fig. 2], and the second for the living [fig. 4], the ‘cry’ [the coming of the "Bridegroom"] must be repeated, otherwise we would have no present truth for the time of the judgment of the living. The ‘cry’ for the living being of a greater importance TO THE WORLD than the one for the dead, and as the ‘virgins’ are a figure of the living church, the parable must have a direct application to the church at this present time,—the coming of the bridegroom for the judgment of the living. But indirectly it points back to the COMMENCEMENT of the ‘Midnight Cry’ (the first angel's message—the judgment for the dead). The messages being of the same EVENT, BOTH (for the living and for the dead) ARE called the ‘midnight cry.’ The same is proven by the parable itself.”—(2SR:181.2)
Key (No. 1) to understanding the controversy concerning whether all ten virgins are awake or asleep.
The “Midnight Cry” had its PROCLAMATION prior to 1844 and its COMMENCEMENT followed shortly thereafter. Notice, that these two separate events did not take place immediately after they are first announced. Likewise, this same pattern will follow suit in the future. When the “Midnight Cry” was first proclaimed [fig. 1], was that not or was it the time when the judgment for the dead commenced? No, it wasn’t. To verify this crucial point and solidify this block or stake (make your choice based upon which metaphor you feel most comfortable with) check the graph which faithfully demarcates what was described in 2SR:181-185. We’ll pause here for a moment and wait for you. Go on, go see for yourself if this is true. I’ll be right here waiting till you return.
Now that you are back It IS true that the “Midnight Cry’s” proclamation (colored purple: fig. 1) and the commencement of the actual event predicted [fig. 2] occurred on two separate dates or occasions. William Miller began his public proclamation the first Sunday in August 1831 [fig. 1] in the town of Dresden [Miller 1845, p. 18] forecasting an event to take place in 1844 [fig. 2].
“The messages being OF THE same event, judgment, both (for the living and for the dead) ARE called the ‘midnight cry.’” (2SR:181.2.) So keep this in mind. One is the MESSAGE of the event, not the fulfillment. And the other is the actual EVENT the message described or predicted would be fulfilled.
Brethren, this is crucial. Do not make the fundamental mistake of confusing one for the other; the message of the event and the actual event of the message. Keep them separate and distinct. Just as was Noah’s message and the actual event it predicted. If you get this wrong you will begin to get derailed right here. The COLOR purple on the graph indicates when the proclamation took place. The Pink line is the actual event predicted. Go over it again if you need to and solidify this second block or stake.
From the Summary:
“It will be noticed that the close of probation for the church and the one for the world are two different events. The former is a miniature representation of the latter.” (2SR:186.1)
Breaking down of element No. 8 – “The bridegroom Tarried”
(See: 2SR:181.3) “While the bridegroom tarried,”…“note that they [all] ‘slumbered and slept' before the cry was made.…midway between the time when it was first thought that the 2300 days would end (on March 21), and the second date (October 22 of the SAME year), this period they [the Millerites] applied as being the ‘tarrying time.’…which is CONTRARY to a PROPER application of the parable [by Elijah the prophet]; for according to the parable they [the “ten virgins”] TARRIED before the cry was made. Therefore, the tarrying TIME MUST be the judgment for the dead [TIME PERIOD which began in 1844 and goes until an unknown date which satisfies the justification for the Lord to call for us to watch—Mat. 25:13], BEFORE the bridegroom came to the investigation of the living, in which TIME the "ten virgins" developed. So, that is the TIME in which they all slumbered and slept.”
Key No. 2 “…Therefore, the tarrying TIME MUST be the judgment for the dead…”
The Prophet here equates the “tarrying TIME” to the judgment for the dead [ TIME PERIOD ]. The proclamation is a separate and distinct event and not the event itself. This means categorically that the midnight cry’s proper application is when the judgment for the dead began, in 1844. Go back and recheck that stake or block and re-establish it once again what the prophet told us, what the ‘midnight cry’ represents. It’s in pink and not in purple. In the future the “midnight cry” again is to be represented by another TIME period—the investigative judgment of the living period not the announcement in 1929 in blue [fig. 3]. (See: 2SR:181.2.)
“If the foregoing application is correct, then at the end of the tarrying PERIOD, or just PRIOR to the COMMENCEMENT (fig. No. 4) of the judgment of the living, there must be a message—‘cry’ (fig. No. 3); and if the ‘virgins’ are a figure of the church as a body IN THE TIME of the ‘cry,’ then, the message [the announcement: figure No. 3] must be for the church only. This is also proven in ‘The Great Controversy,’ page 425. In as much as there is just such a ‘cry’ [the prediction of fig. 4] presented in ‘The Shepherd's Rod,’ Vol. 1 [fig. 3], it not only shows that the application of the parable is correct, but it also proves that church to be the ‘House of God.‘” (2SR:182.1)
If you have been skipping GC:424.4-425 like I did at first do so no longer. There are two phrases steeped, pregnant with “present truth” ramifications. 1. “…new duties would be revealed. Another message of warning and instruction was to be given to the church.” 2. “Besides the coming of the Lord to His temple, Malachi also foretells His second advent,…This coming, and the coming of the Lord to His temple, are distinct and separate eventS.”
Breaking down of element No. 9 – “They all slumbered and slept”
Therefore, the tarrying TIME MUST be the judgment for the dead [ TIME PERIOD ], BEFORE the bridegroom came to the investigation of the living, in which TIME the "ten virgins" developed. So, that is the TIME in which they ALL slumbered and slept.
When did “they [“ten virgins”] ALL slumbered and slept? 1. After Bridegroom came and moved from the Holy to the Most Holy (fig.2). 2. And before the execution of the investigation of the living (Fig. 4). During the tarrying time—the judgment for the dead [ TIME PERIOD ]. Is there another period? No. We cannot use the inappropriate example of the misapplication of the parable that was made the same year of the event in 1844. So likewise, as we move forward, we cannot do the same for 1929. (See: 2SR:181.3)
“‘They all slumbered and slept.’ This statement by the Master proves that the church AS A Body has been asleep—being in perfect harmony with the previous explanation of the 24th chapter of Matthew [the prophecy]. (See: 2SR:174-180)
Breaking down of element No. 5 – “Five…Wise”
“‘But the wise TOOK oil [additional truth: fig. 3] in their vessels WITH their lamps [with previous oil: fig. 1].’” (2SR:182.3)
“Thus again it proves that the 144,000 [candidates since fig. 3] are the five wise virgins [after Ezek. 9: fig. 4];…”
From the Summary:
“The five wise virgins were they who trusted in God and His word only; having no confidence in man, and were hungry for truth, searching for light, and gladly accepting it WHEN it came (fig. 3). Thus they received the seal of God's approval [fig. 4], their sins were blotted out (after the fulfillment of Ezek. 9 [3Tr:20.2; 43.3]), and their lives made sure…144,000 in number.” (2SR:185.1)
Breaking down of element No. 6 – “Five…Foolish”
“…and the foolish ones are they who shall fall under the destroying weapons in the hand of the ‘five men.’” (2SR:182.2)
“They could not move forward because they were foolish [fig. 4]; that is, they did not accept the light [fig. 3]—the judgment for the living [event, not the message that prepared the wise to meet the actual fulfillment in safety: fig. 4]. Was the "oil" beyond their reach [fig. 3]? The words in the parable PROVE that they all heard the cry, ‘arose, and trimmed their lamps [fig. 4].’ Five of them failed to get the supply of oil because they were ‘foolish,’—they did not study for themselves. Allowed others to think for them; they chose the easy, popular side, and accepted the decisions of the leaders, copies the mistakes of others and were thus left without a supply of oil,—robbed of the truth [additional truth at its appointed time, “meat in due season”], cheated of glory, and left in darkness!” (2SR:182.3)
From the Summary:
“The five foolish virgins are they who had confidence in men; they were willing that others should think and study for them. Their love for this world and the things of it, exceeded their love for Christ and the world to come. They had no true sense of the awful result of sin. Their zeal for self, drowned their zeal for the house of God and His honor. They were satisfied with their lamps trimmed and but little oil in them. They saw no necessity for more light—prophets, truth OR message [fig. 3]. They said in their hearts, we are rich and increased with goods and have need of nothing. They were prejudiced against light [fig. 3] upon the word of God, and accepted not the truth because the channel through which it came was not of their choice.” (2SR:185.2)
Breaking down of element No. 7 – Oil
“…The ‘oil’ is a symbol of
the Spirit of God in the form of a message (truth) [fig. 1;
fig. 3]; for, it is the substance that gives the light (the prophetic Word
of God).” (2SR:182.3)
From the Summary:
“The knowledge of present truth, which the five
foolish virgins possessed since 1844 [during the event] is the
judgment of the dead, and was the only oil [fig.
2] in their lamps. WHEN the judgment of the living [[event]]
commenced, and the ‘cry was made,’ [fig. 4] they were found without this
extra oil [fig. 3] in their vessels;…” (2SR:185.3). This could not have
taken place in 1929. No one had the extra oil before 1929.
Breaking down of element No. 3 – Lamps
“…The lamp must be a symbol
of the heart into which the Word (oil) [truth in the form of a
message] is being retained [fig. 2].”
“The trimming of their lamps, is the ‘trimming’
of their hearts; that is, their conscience being aroused they
began to show interest” to fill their vessels [fig. 3].
“…only five of them had an extra supply of
oil in their vessels. As they
started out to meet the bridegroom [fig. 4], the lamps of the foolish
ones went out; and as they found themselves in darkness, it made their
progress impossible.”
“Now, the question arises: What made
their lamps go out [fig. 4], and why could they go backward,
but not forward? As the message of the judgment for the
dead was the present truth since 1844, at the beginning of the judgment for the
living [event] (when the cry was made)
[fig. 4], it became present truth no longer. Consequently their lamps
went out [fig. 4].” (2SR:182.3)
There is no ‘cry’ apart from the “midnight cry”
and being that the midnight cry represents a period of time—the Judgment,
therefore the announcement (the messages of judgment in TWO sections)
that precedes both events is identified as the “cry.”
From the Summary:
“It will be noticed that the close of probation
for the church and the one for the world are two different events. The
former is a miniature representation of the latter.” (2SR:186.1)
Breaking down of element No. 11 – “went to buy”
“…‘but go ye rather to them that
sell, and buy for yourselves.’ The oil is sold and there must be
something given in exchange to obtain the supply [When? At fig. 4, not at fig.
3]. The price they had to pay was to ‘sigh and cry for the abominations
done in the midst thereof,’ give up sinning and obey the truth [between
fig. 3 and fig. 4]. Their receipt for the value of exchange would
have been the seal of the living God in
their foreheads [at fig. 4].” (2SR:183.1)
“…the seal of the living God in their foreheads
[at fig. 4].” Which is the same as a symbol of the mind, a symbol of the heart,
a symbol of the lamp and the truth it [the heart] contains at the active
appropriate time.
Breaking down of element No. 12 – “The marriage”
"And while they [the five foolish] went to
buy [fig. 4], the bridegroom came, and they that were ready [since fig. 3] went
in with him to the marriage.…” (2SR:183.2)
They (the five wise) were ready with additional
understanding of the signs of the times after probation closed for the church.
They were able to stand without an intercessor when the Lord came suddenly to
his temple [fig. 4]. (Mal. 3:1-4)
Breaking down of element No. 13 – “the door”
“…and the door was shut [fig. 4]. Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open unto us. But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not [fig. 4]."
“As the foolish virgins at last came to the door [fig. 4], it is evident that they obtained the oil (learned of the message) [when the EVENT is just about to be fulfilled: fig. 4] but there had been a delay [fig. 2 to fig. 4]—the door was shut, and they were left out [fig. 4].” (2SR:183.2)
“…While Noah preached the coming of the flood, the world paid little attention to this message; but those who believed, went into the ark at a given time and the door was closed. But not long afterwards, signs of Noah's PREDICTION appeared;…”
The interpretation of Elijah making use of the example of Noah’s ministry is consistent and is also directing our attention as to how to handle these elements contained in the parable of the ten virgins correctly. This is in keeping with the proclamation of the “midnight cry” before it is fulfilled and the actual event predicted when it is fulfilled. They are two separate and distinct events. One is the warning and the other is what you were warned.
“The door that ‘was shut,’ is a symbol showing that probation for the church had closed just shortly after the foolish virgins became alarmed [fig. 4]. At last they were willing to pay the price and buy the oil; but it was not a change of heart, only the fear of losing out. Their course of action had left them without the seal—‘the man with the writer's inkhorn’ had passed them by. What a terrible mistake! What a disappointment! Almost saved, but entirely lost.” (2SR:183.2) The foolish needed a time period [fig. 3 to fig 4] to prove how unworthy they are during probationary time.
From the Summary:
“It will be noticed that the close of probation for the church and the one for the world are two different events. The former is a miniature representation of the latter.” (2SR:186.1)
Breaking down of element No. 14 – “Watch”
From the Summary:
“…they had neglected their Lord's command: ‘Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour [if you say JOL happened in 1929 then you believe what the Bible does not teach] wherein the Son of man cometh.’ Thus WHEN the wise ones started out to meet the bridegroom the lamps of the foolish went out, for, the judgment of the dead had passed [the time alotted for judging the dead in heaven]. Therefore, it was present truth no more [[ the second time ]], and thus they were left in darkness [While the "extra oil" (inactive light) was made available during probationary time to fill our vessels no one who appropriated it could be left in darkness]. At the beginning of the judgments of God they saw their mistake and rushed for the ark of safety, but it was beyond their reach for they knew nothing of the MESSAGE [Which message? [fig. 3] The one that was made available in 1929], and by the TIME they acquired it [fig. 4] (filled their lamps with oil), there had been a delay, the angel had passed ‘through the city, through Jerusalem,’ the church—the sealing was finished [before fig. 4], and probation for the church had closed—the door was shut. Thus they were left out. Then they came with these words: ‘Lord, Lord, open unto us, But He answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not.’ [You can only know the Lord through obedience to His unadulterated, dung free, Truth] ‘Appoint his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ What a disappointment that will be!” (2SR:185.3)
“It will be noticed that the close of probation for the church and the one for the world are two different events. The former is a miniature representation of the latter.” (2SR:186.1)
“…Those who teach contrary to this plain statement of the Master, are they of whom He says: "Many false prophets shall arise and shall deceive many."—2SR:174.2
Graph for the Ten Virgins Exposition
To continue with the subject, the Ten Virgins Exhaustive (c)
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