Matthew
25:1 —
1 “At
that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their
lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom.
Matthew
25:2 —
2 Five of them
were foolish and five were wise.
Matthew
25:3 —
3 The foolish ones
took their lamps but did not take any oil with them.
Matthew
25:4 —
4 The wise,
however, took oil in jars along with their lamps.
Matthew
25:5 —
5 The bridegroom
was a long time in coming, and they all became drowsy and fell asleep.
Matthew
25:6 —
6 “At midnight
the cry rang out: ‘Here’s the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!’
Matthew
25:7 —
7 “Then all the
virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps.
Matthew
25:8
—
8 The foolish ones
said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going
out.’
Matthew
25:9 —
9 “ ‘No,’
they replied, ‘there may not be enough for both us and you. Instead, go
to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.’
Matthew
25:10 —
10 “But while
they were on their way to buy the oil, the bridegroom arrived. The
virgins who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet. And the
door was shut.
Matthew
25:11 —
11 “Later the
others also came. ‘Sir! Sir!’ they said. ‘Open the door for us!’
Matthew
25:12 —
12 “But he
replied, ‘I tell you the truth, I don’t know you.’”
I saw that many were
neglecting the preparation so needful, and were looking to the time of
"refreshing" and the "latter rain" to fit them to
stand in the day of the Lord, and to live in His sight. Oh, how many I
saw in the time of trouble without a shelter! They had neglected the
needful preparation, therefore they could not receive the refreshing that
all must have to fit them to live in the sight of a holy God. (Christian
Experience and Teachings – 112)
Matthew
24:42 —
42 “Therefore
keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come.
Matthew
24:43 —
43 But understand
this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief
was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be
broken into.
Matthew
24:44 —
44 So you also
must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do
not expect him.
  
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