Will You "Keep on the Watch"? - WHAT IS THE PARABLE'S MESSAGE?

We noted in the preceding article that over recent decades, the faithful slave has gradually come to explain the Scriptures with less emphasis on symbolic prophetic pictures and more on practical application.  In the past, our literature at times assigned specific symbolic meanings even to small details of Jesus' parable of the ten virgins, including the lamps, the oil, the flasks, and so forth. Is it possible, though, that we were allowing the spotlight to shift from the parable's  simple, urgent message? As we will see, the answer is of vital importance.

Let us take a look at Jesus' basic message in this parable.  First, consider the main characters.  Who is the bridegroom of the parable?  Clearly, Jesus was talking about himself.  Why, on a different occasion, he even referred to himself as the bridegroom.  (Luke 5:34, 35) What about the virgins? In the parable, Jesus say that the virgins have the responsibility to be ready with their lamps lit when the  bridegroom arrives. Note the similar  directions that Jesus gave to his "little flock" of anointed followers: "Be dressed and ready and have your lamps burning, and you should be like men waiting for their master to return from the marriage." (Luke 12:32, 35, 36)  Furthermore,  both the apostle Paul and the apostle John were inspired to liken Christ's anointed followers to chaste  virgins.  (2 Corinthians 11:2; Revelation 14:4) Clearly, Jesus intended the parable recorded at Matthew 25:1-13 as counsel and a warning to his anointed followers.

Next, consider the time frame. To what  time period did Jesus' counsel apply?  Jesus supplies us with a clear time indicator toward the end of the parable:  "The bridegroom came." (Matthew 25:10)  As was discussed in the July 15, 2013 issue, of this journal, Jesus' prophecy recorded in Matthew chapters 24 and 25 contains  eight references to his "coming", in each case, a form of the same Greek word is used.  In ever instance, Jesus was referring to the time during the great tribulation when he will come to carry out the judging work and then the destruction of this world system of things. Evidently, then, this parable applies during the last days, but its climax comes during the great tribulation. 

What is this parable's basic message?  Remember the context.  Jesus had just discussed his "faithful and discreet slave."  That slave would prove to be a small group of anointed men who would take the lead among Christ's followers during the last days.  Jesus warned those men that they must remain faithful. Next, he broadened his focus and gave this parable to admonish all his anointed followers in the last days to "keep on the watch" lest they miss out on their precious reward.  (Matthew 25:13) Let us now go through the parable and see how the anointed have applied its counsel.

Next time: Will You "Keep on the Watch"? - HOW HAVE THE ANOINTED APPLIED THE COUNSEL OF THE PARABLE?

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