Do you remember the story of the ten virgins who were waiting at the door for the bride-groom to open? Five of them had oil in their lamps all prepared for the coming. The other five did not have oil in their lamps and they asked the other five to give them some. The other five said "Not So. If we give you some of our oil, we will not have enough for ourselves. Go back to the market and buy some." But when they were gone the bridegroom came and the door was closed when they returned. This is from the Bible. It gives one food for thought when others come knocking at your door in the dark of a cold nigh wanting what you have prepared.

-- Gay Boling (Wilber@montanasky.net), November 15, 1999

Answers

Wow, ten virgins! Where?

-- (cherry@picking.time), November 15, 1999.

Funny you should mention the Parable of the Ten Virgins, I taught from it last night in a series of messages I am doing from the Olivet Discourse. I was thinking this week how it applies to attitude of people concerning preperation.

Read the text below Matthew 25:1-14

1. 10 Virgin, 5 wise and 5 foolish 2. All had oil in their lamps and their lamps burning 3. Things didn't go the way the foolish had expected...bridgegroom didn't come as soon as they thought he would. 4. They all slept while waiting for His arrival 5. When the cry go up He coming they awake and trim their lamps 6. The foolish virgins lamps were going out and they had made no preparation of spare oil. 7. The wise virgins lamps were low too but they had prepared not knowing for sure the exact hour of the bridegroom's arrival. 8. The foolish virgins wanted them to share their oil to which the wise respond, their isn't enough for both of us. In other words if we share everybodies lamp will go out and we will not be prepared for the bridegrooms arrival. 9. The foolish never saw the bridegroom and they missed the feast because they had to go and buy the need oil. 10. By the time they got back it was too late, the oil wasn't need then, because the bridegroom had gone in with them that were prepared.

PS. Remember the main interpretation of the Parable is being prepared for the second coming of Jesus Christ. It would be a shame to see the application and miss the interpretation. Don't be a foolish virgin, trust Jesus Christ as Saviour and live in the expectation of His return.

Grace and Peace.

Matthew 25:1 Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom. 2 And five of them were wise, and five were foolish. 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. 5 While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept. 6 And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him. 7 Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps. 8 And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out. 9 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. 10 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. 11 Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. 12 But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not. 13 Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh. (KJV)

-- Watching Goodman (ITgoodmanHK@juno.co), November 15, 1999.

god - save me from your followers...

-- D E F (eattherich@mailcity.com), November 15, 1999.

god save me from your virgins!

AK

-- Al K. Lloyd (all@ready.now), November 15, 1999.

KUBLA KHAN

In Xanadu did Kubla Khan

A stately pleasure-dome decree:

Where Alph, the sacred river, ran

Through caverns measureless to man

Down to a sunless sea.

So twice five miles of fertile ground

With walls and towers were girdled round:

And there were gardens bright with sinuous rills,

Where blossomed many an incense-bearing tree;

And here were forests ancient as the hills,

Enfolding sunny spots of greenery.

But oh! that deep romantic chasm which slanted

Down the green hill athwart a cedarn cover!

A savage place! as holy and enchanted

As e'er beneath a waning moon was haunted

By woman wailing for her demon-lover!

And from this chasm, with ceaseless turmoil seething,

As if this earth in fast thick pants were breathing,

A mighty fountain momently was forced:

Amid whose swift half-intermitted burst

Huge fragments vaulted like rebounding hail,

Or chaffy grain beneath the thresher's flail:

And 'mid these dancing rocks at once and ever

It flung up momently the sacred river.

Five miles meandering with a mazy motion

Through wood and dale the sacred river ran,

Then reached the caverns measureless to man,

And sank in tumult to a lifeless ocean:

And 'mid this tumult Kubla heard from far

Ancestral voices prophesying war!

The shadow of the dome of pleasure

Floated midway on the waves;

Where was heard the mingled measure

From the fountain and the caves.

It was a miracle of rare device,

A sunny pleasure-dome with caves of ice!

A damsel with a dulcimer

In a vision once I saw:

It was an Abyssinian maid,

And on her dulcimer she played,

Singing of Mount Abora.

Could I revive within me

Her symphony and song,

To such a deep delight 'twould win me,

That with music loud and long,

I would build that dome in air,

That sunny dome! those caves of ice!

And all who heard should see them there,

And all should cry, Beware! Beware!

His flashing eyes, his floating hair!

Weave a circle round him thrice,

And close your eyes with holy dread,

For he on honey-dew hath fed,

And drunk the milk of Paradise.

Samuel Taylor Coleridge

-- Commit Random (Acts@of.Poetry), November 15, 1999.

King of Spain?

C'MON Man, you should be jumping ALL OVER this one!

-- cavscout (where's the King @when we. need him?), November 15, 1999.

And the message is:

The bridegroom got lost. If he hadn't been too proud to ask directions he would have arrived on time and had all 10 virgins.

The full-lamped ladies had to share 1 guy among the 5 of them, while the empty-lamped ladies got to roam about the marketplace hunting for a better deal. [they sayeth thus.. "Oh woe is me, my lamp is empty and my wick burnith not. Whosoever shall light my wick shall have a virgin for his bed."] And a good time was had by all.

This has WHAT to do with Y2K? If we stash plenty of oil we can expect plenty of virgins at our door?

Where IS the King of Spain?!

-- Linda (lwmb@psln.com), November 16, 1999.

remember the rule of the seven p,s proper preparation prevents piss poor performance.

-- ed (edrider007@aol.com), November 16, 1999.

Hey Poetry Guy, I see from this and other posts of yours that you found your old Anthology of World Poetry/Literature from college.

It's a classic, isn't it?

(I was an English major.)

-- preparing (preparing@home.com), November 16, 1999.

correction : proper prior preperation prevents piss poor performance. there. the seven p's

-- ed (edrider007@aol.com), November 16, 1999.

correction : proper prior preperation prevents piss poor performance. there. the rule of the seven p's.

-- ed (edrider007@aol.com), November 16, 1999.

sorry about the double post.

-- ed (edrider007@aol.com), November 16, 1999.

The oil in the lamps is symbolic of Salvation. The message of the parable is that no one else can loan you their relationship with God...you must get your own.

The parable of the Virgins has nothing....whatsoever..... to do with y2k...

A better Bible story might be the boy with a small lunch who gave all he had, and Christ feed the multitudes with it....

Read it and take heed before you become hopelessly entrenched in selfishness and hoarding (for some of you it is already too late....I pray for you....)

-- Bible Thumper (Jesus@is.God), November 16, 1999.

Well, I've got plenty of oil, but if ten young ladies show up at my door come 1/1/00 they'd better have more than a single-use commodity (like virginity) to barter. Non-hybrid seeds or tools perhaps... or be off to find a bridegroom somewhere else.

I'm partial to the story of Joseph and his coat of many colors myself.

-- Linda (lwmb@psln.com), November 16, 1999.

The oil in the lamps is symbolic of Salvation. The message of the parable is that no one else can loan you their relationship with God...you must get your own.

Sorry... The oil is God's truth, easily dicernable, with proper study. Sounds like you need to get some more. Get your nose in the book!

-- Read it again (Wisdom@Bible.God), November 16, 1999.

Me, too, Linda. I've always held a special affinity for Joseph, but more for his planning and foresight than his fashion statement.

Think about it...somebody ELSE has a dream....you think you know what it means....then you're in charge with implementing your recommendation. Talk about putting your money (grain) where your mouth is!

It's as if Bill Clinton had a dream that, oh say, 7 Blue Whales were eaten by 7 Catfish. You said, "That means, the US would go into a dark depression for 7 years, after this 7 year expansion."

You told him that and he said, Okay, I'm putting you in charge of making sure our people in America come through as unscathed as possible. Whatever you need to do, do it. Now go!"

Heavy responsibility. If you're wrong, you'll be laughed at and stripped of any power or your reputation will be shot. And during the 7 year expansion, you'll get a hell of a lot of criticism while you're making preps and storing grain.

If you're right....your story will be told for generations.

It's takes guts, that's for sure.

-- Lara (nprbuff@hotmail.clm), November 16, 1999.

Lara - yes, I like the story (of Joseph) for the parallels to today - having the courage to interpret esoteric knowledge that came through others in order to make predictions and preparations for the future. [but the musical was GREAT wasn't it! And WHAT a fashion statement!]

It also may have lessons to teach those of us who have family who have ridiculed us and have failed to prepare. Link

When famine struck, Joseph's brothers came to Egypt for food. Joseph disguised his identity, held one of his brothers hostage in prison, and demanded that the rest of them bring their youngest brother Benjamin to Egypt. Joseph also put his brothers' money back in their sacks of grain. When they returned Joseph revealed his identity and brought his father Jacob to live in Egypt. After Jacob died, Joseph's brothers wondered if he would hold a grudge against them, but Joseph replied, "You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good, to preserve many lives" (Gen 50:20).

Pax vobiscum.

-- Linda (lwmb@psln.com), November 16, 1999.

Here's that link again: Story of Joseph

-- Linda (lwmb@psln.com), November 16, 1999.

Thanks for the link. I've read the story of Joseph many times. Gave a "week of prayer" speech on it once titled, "One life to live" .

He was very human ... but he listened to the call of God and turned his life around.

Good story to read again and again.

(And the Dolly Parton song "Coat of many colors" still makes me weep. )

-- Lara (nprbuff@hotmail.com), November 16, 1999.

Sorry, "read it again" your wrong. Through out Scripture, the Holy Spirit is symbolized as oil. The Old Testament uses "annointing with oil" as a foreshadowing of the coming Holy Spirit. We see Christ being "annointed" by the Spirit, and the Apostles being "filled with the spirit". The oil in the lamps is analogous to Salvation...but remember, not all parts of a parable should be taken literally. For example, it isn't possible to be "partly saved" in the same way that a lamp is only "partly filled" with oil.

Parables are used to illustrate a truth and make it clearer for some while hiding the truth from others, so that their hearts will be hardened. Ref. Jesus of Nazareth speaking to the disciples when asked "why are you always speaking to the Pharasees in parables, but explaining them to us?"

-- Pastor Bible Thumper...(: (Jesus@is.God), November 17, 1999.

-- Pastor Bible Thumper...(: (Jesus@is.God), November 17, 1999.

Question: Do you have the "Key of David?"

-- Keep talking (Wisdom@Bible.God), November 17, 1999.