Will You "Keep on the Watch"? - REWARD FOR THE DISCREET AND PUNISHMENT FOR THE FOOLISH

Perhaps the most puzzling part of the parable comes near the end, in the verbal exchange between the foolish and the discreet virgins. (Read Matthew 25:8, 9)  That exchange raises this question:  "When in the history of God's people would faithful ones refuse help to some who asked for it?" The solution to the puzzle presents itself when we again consider the time frame. Recall our clarified understanding that Jesus, the Bridegroom, comes to render near the end of the great tribulation. Is it not likely, then, that this part of the parable focuses on what happens just prior to that climatic judgment?  It would seem so, for by that time the anointed will have received their full sealing.

So, then, before the great tribulation starts, all the faithful anointed on earth will have received their final sealing.  (Revelation 7:1-4)  From then on, their calling is sure. But think about the year's before the tribulation begins. What would happen to anointed ones who failed to remain watchful, who lost their integrity?  They would lose their heavenly reward.  Obviously, they would receive no final sealing prior to the start of the tribulation. By that time, other faithful ones would be anointed. When the tribulation starts, the foolish ones might be shocked to see the destruction of Babylon the Great. It may be only at that point that they realize they are not ready for the arrival of the Bridegroom.  At that late hour, if they in desperation ask for help, what would happen?  Jesus' parable gives us the grim answer.  The discreet virgins refused to give up any of their oil for the sake of the foolish, telling them to go instead the sellers of oil. Remember, though, it was "in the middle of the night." Would they be able to find sellers of oil at that hour? No.  It would simply bee too late.

Likewise, during the great tribulation, faithful anointed ones cannot help any who had turned unfaithful.  There will be no help available. It will simply be too late. What end, then, will such ones face? Jesus explains  when the virgins went off on their futile errand:  "The bridegroom came.  The virgins who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was shut."  When Christ comes in his glory near the end of the tribulation, he will gather his faithful anointed ones to heaven.  (Matthew 24:31; 25:10; John 14:1-3; 1 Thessalonians 4:17) The door will be shut to the unfaithful ones, who proved to be like the foolish virgins.  they may, in effect, cry out: "Sir, sir, open to us!" But they will receive an answer like the one that so many goatlike ones recieve in the hour of judgment:  "I tell you the truth, I do not know you." "How sad! - MATTHEW 7:21-23; 25:11, 12.

In view of the foregoing, what may we conclude?  Was Jesus saying that many of his anointed servants would prove  unfaithful and need to be replaced? No. Remember, he had just warned his "faithful and discreet slave" never to turn into an evil slave.  That did not mean that he expected such an outcome. Similarly, this parable  conveys a powerful warning.  Just as the five virgins were foolish and the five were discreet, each anointed one has full capacity to choose either a course of preparedness and vigilance or a course of folly and unfaithfulness.  The apostle Paul was inspired to make a similar point when address his anointed fellow Christians.  (Read Hebrews 6:4-9; compare Deuteronomy 30:19.)  Note that Paul's warning was very firm, but he followed it up with a loving expression of his confidence that "better things" lay ahead of his Christian brothers and sisters.  Likewise, the warning in Jesus' parable is given with loving confidence. Christ knows that each of his anointed servants can remain faithful and receive the thrilling reward!

Next time: Will You "Keep on the Watch"? - HOW CAN CHRIST'S "OTHER SHEEP" BENEFIT?

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