I have been considering the parable of the ten virgins lately and have been much impressed with the four principle events: 1) The going forth to meet the bridegroom; 2) The slumber of the virgins; 3) The midnight cry; 4) The coming of the bridegroom. (See Matt. 25:1-101Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom. 2And five of them were wise, and five were foolish. 3They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them: 4But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. 5While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept. 6And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him. 7Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps. 8And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out. 9But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves. 10And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut. (Matthew 25:1‑10).)
It is clear that the first three of these have taken place. The early saints, in the energy of first love, started out to meet Christ who had promised to return. Time wore on, the bridegroom tarried, the watchers grew weary of watching, they relinquished the hope of His coming, and then slumbered and slept.
It is an indisputable fact that for centuries the Church slept on oblivious of the fact that He, whose word can never pass away, had promised to return for His people. Suddenly the cry sounded, "Behold the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him," and the virgins arose and trimmed their lamps, and once more set out to meet the coming One.
But it may be asked, How do you know the cry has been made? Well, suppose we consider for a moment the state of the Church at the commencement of the past century. Do we find that the saints were watching and waiting for the return of the Bridegroom? Was any voice heard announcing the speedy coming of the long absent One? No, the truth was still buried in the forgetfulness of past centuries; the virgins were still sleeping as they had slept for ages.
I come back to the present moment, and I find as the contrast to this, that in many countries where the gospel is preached, the servants of the Lord are proclaiming the second coming of the Lord; while from the press there pours forth a continuous stream of books, pamphlets and tracts which announce the same blessed fact.
Are we wrong then in saying that the midnight cry has sounded? No, beloved, the fact is undeniable that the Spirit of God has recovered to the Church the long forgotten truth that Christ is coming again, and thousands of the redeemed have arisen and trimmed their lamps and gone forth to meet Him.
Where are we then? In the interval between the third and fourth events, that is, between the midnight cry and the coming of the bridegroom. There is therefore positively nothing else to take place before He comes. Now the Lord's words in verses 5 and 6 showed that the probability of the interval between the second and third events was a prolonged one, and we know as a fact that it did extend over many centuries. Not so, however, the period between the third and fourth events; it is manifestly a very brief one, very little is required to fill it up, and that little is shown to be done hastily and quickly, things hasten toward their fulfillment; and it seems to me the Lord intended to convey this thought. Notice, "And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him. Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out. But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves. And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut."
Immediately the cry is made, the virgins arise and trim their lamps; those who lack the oil go to procure it; but before they can return, the bridegroom comes, and the possessors go in with him to the marriage, and the door is shut. Surely this is expressive of the brevity of the interval between the cry and the coming. It follows then that we are on the very eve of His advent. Blessed thought to our weary hearts; the waiting time is nearly ended, the day of glory is about to dawn.
But if the bride has slumbered and forgotten the promise of her Lord, the bridegroom has not done so. Never once during the period of nineteen centuries of His vigil has He forgotten that the bride whom He won at the cross is still in the wilderness, and must be fetched by Himself ere she can be His companion in glory.
And what must it be to Him to know that the moment is so near, when He shall present her to Himself all glorious, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing; when He shall gaze on her beauty, the reflection of His own, and find an eternal recompense for the sorrows endured in the days of His flesh.
And what is this thought to you, dear saint of God? Are you listening for His shout? Are you longing for His coming because He is the treasure of your heart? Is your finger on the latch ready to open to Him immediately when He knocks? In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, He will come, and the weariness of the wilderness will be exchanged for the rest and glory of His presence.
"Even so, come, Lord Jesus."