we follow the different stages of this important parable
I want to mention very briefly the two wrong interpretations, which
like all other errors in our day, became more and more widespread. The
first claims that the virgins do not represent Christians at all, but
that they represent the Jewish remnant during the end of the age. The
parable, according to this interpretation, will be fulfilled in the
future. I am not going to enter into the different arguments which are
advanced to support this view, but only wish to point out one fact,
which is sufficient to disprove this theory. The ten virgins fell
asleep, which, as we shall see later, means that they no longer
expected the coming of the Bridegroom. Is it possible to conceive that
the believing Jews during the great tribulation, when everything points
to the rapid consummation of the age, can go to sleep? This to my mind
is sufficient to overthrow this theory, not to speak of other reasons.

Another interpretation holds that the ten virgins represent indeed
Christians. However, the foolish virgins are looked upon as true
Christians, only they lacked a maturity of growth, depth of
consecration, were not baptized with the Holy Spirit, or had not the
so-called "second blessing." All this the wise virgins possessed.
This is the favoured view with a certain class of holiness people.
Others try to prove from it the theory of a first fruit rapture. The
wise virgins are the first fruits and they are taken first. The
foolish will have to pass through the tribulation and will be taken
later. Against such teaching we simply hold up the words of the Lord,
when He as Bridegroom tells the foolish virgins "I know you not." They
were never His, they never knew Him and therefore they do not represent
true Christians. Never will the Lord say this word to any one who has
truly trusted in Him, no matter how weak and ignorant, how imperfect
and erring that one may be.

And now let us look at the details of this parable, which gives us a
picture of the attitude and character of professing Christendom up to
the time when the Bridegroom comes.

Four historic stages can be easily traced in this parable. Three of
them are passed and the fourth is imminent. At any moment the fourth
may become actual history. They are the following:

1. A description of the Christian profession in its beginning and its
characteristics. 2. The falling asleep of the virgins. 3. The
Midnight