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Tim O'Connor
 Jul 24, 07 - 5:15 AM |
The 5 prudent virgins & Universalism
The Church is the five prudent virgins of Mt 25:1-13. The prudent virgins buy oil ready before they go out to wait to meet their Master (this represents the time shortly before a Christian dies or goes to meet Christ as He returns to earth). Those selling the oil are not of the ten virgins they are not waiting for Christ they do not belong to heaven's kingdom. However these salesmen have good qualities to sell - their oil is for sale not for free. They want something in return for their good oil. The imprudent in the kingdom are too late to realise that they need to buy up the good oil from those outside the kingdom to please and be known by the Lord. Paul talks of Christian wisdom as buying up or buying back the era (Eph 5:15-17, Col 4:5-6). This is like making friends for ourselves from the sons of this eon by using our unjust mammom or wealth. |
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Mike Burke
Jul 25th, 2007 - 12:01 AM |
Re: The 5 prudent virgins & Universalism
Actually, the prudent virgins are not said to buy anything. They bring lamps filled with oil, and keep them lighted. Those who go to buy oil get back too late to enter the marriage feast. I believe this relates to the last three and a half years of the aion (commonly called "The Great Tribulation"): `Remember, then, how thou hast received, and heard, and be keeping, and reform: if, then, thou mayest not watch, I will come upon thee as a thief, and thou mayest not know what hour I will come upon thee. (Rev. 3:3.) I believe the oil represents The Holy Spirit, and it cannot be bought or sold by men (and I think you're pressing the details of the parable too far): [Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown: Critical and Explanatory Commentary on the Whole Bible] 3. They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them: 4. But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps--What are these "lamps" and this "oil"? Many answers have been given. But since the foolish as well as the wise took their lamps and went forth with them to meet the Bridegroom, these lighted lamps and this advance a certain way in company with the wise, must denote that Christian profession which is common to all who bear the Christian name; while the insufficiency of this without something else, of which they never possessed themselves, shows that "the foolish" mean those who, with all that is common to them with real Christians, lack the essential preparation for meeting Christ. Then, since the wisdom of "the wise" consisted in their taking with their lamps a supply of oil in their vessels, keeping their lamps burning till the Bridegroom came, and so fitting them to go in with Him to the marriage, this supply of oil must mean that inward reality of grace which alone will stand when He appears whose eyes are as a flame of fire. But this is too general; for it cannot be for nothing that this inward grace is here set forth by the familiar symbol of oil, by which the Spirit of all grace is so constantly represented in Scripture. Beyond all doubt, this was what was symbolized by that precious anointing oil with which Aaron and his sons were consecrated to the priestly office (Ex 30:23-25, 30); by "the oil of gladness above His fellows" with which Messiah was to be anointed (Ps 45:7; Heb 1:9), even as it is expressly said, that "God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto Him" (Joh 3:34); and by the bowl full of golden oil, in Zechariah's vision, which, receiving its supplies from the two olive trees on either side of it, poured it through seven golden pipes into the golden lamp-stand to keep it continually burning bright (Zec 4:1-14) --for the prophet is expressly told that it was to proclaim the great truth, "Not by might, nor by power, but by MY SPIRIT, saith the Lord of hosts [ shall this temple be built ]. Who art thou, O great mountain [ of opposition to this issue ]? Before Zerubbabel thou shalt become a plain [ or, be swept out of the way ], and he shall bring forth the head stone [ of the temple ], with shoutings [ crying ], GRACE, GRACE unto it." This supply of oil, then, representing that inward grace which distinguishes the wise, must denote, more particularly, that "supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ," which, as it is the source of the new spiritual life at the first, is the secret of its enduring character. Everything short of this may be possessed by "the foolish"; while it is the possession of this that makes "the wise" to be "ready" when the Bridegroom appears, and fit to "go in with Him to the marriage." |
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Tim O'Connor
Feb 25th, 2008 - 7:39 AM |
Re: The 5 prudent virgins & Universalism
Mark - good to point out that the parable doesn't explicitly mention the 5 prudent virgins buying oil - yet if they recommend to the imprudent to buy oil from those selling it seems a fair assumption that they got their oil supply by buying as well from the said sellers of oil - certainly we must assume that to do so is a GOOD suggestion as the virgins are called PRUDENT... I refer again to my point that Paul wrote that Christians need to buy back the era and also point out that Jesus called humanity the salt of the earth and the light of the world so the concept of humanity being created with good oil for burning inside them is acceptable and implied... |
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Mike Burke
Feb 25th, 2008 - 5:24 PM |
Re: The 5 prudent virgins & Universalism
[Quote] so the concept of humanity being created with good oil for burning inside them is acceptable [unquote] If humanity is created with good oil burning inside it, why did Jesus say we must be born again??? |
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