Page 88 - The Remnant Bride

out to acquire what they lack, but it will be too late. The door will have been shut. The

number of guests for the wedding feast will be complete. There will be weeping and
gnashing of teeth.

Matthew 25:1-13

"Then the kingdom of heaven will be comparable to ten virgins, who took their
lamps, and went out to meet the bridegroom. And five of them were foolish, and five

were prudent. For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them, but
the prudent took oil in flasks along with their lamps. Now while the bridegroom was

delaying, they all got drowsy and began to sleep. But at midnight there was a shout,
'Behold, the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.' Then all those virgins rose, and

trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said to the prudent, 'Give us some of your oil,
for our lamps are going out.' But the prudent answered, saying, 'No, there will not

be enough for us and you too; go instead to the dealers and buy some for yourselves.'
And while they were going away to make the purchase, the bridegroom came, and

those who were ready went in with him to the wedding feast; and the door was shut.

And later the other virgins also came, saying, 'Lord, lord, open up for us.' But he
answered and said, 'Truly I say to you, I do not know you.' Be on the alert then, for
you do not know the day nor the hour.”

Who are the virgins that wait for the Bridegroom? Certainly they do not represent the
lost world. The world is not waiting for the Bridegroom. All of the virgins had lamps to give
forth light. This is true of saints, only. However, not all of them had oil with which to light

their lamps. It will be too late to remedy this when the Bridegroom appears. Over and over

throughout scripture, Christians are urged to be on the alert, be awake, be ready.
Again, this does not imply loss of their initial salvation. What is pictured here is the

loss of the fuller salvation of the soul, and the great reward of the Overcomer, including
being counted among the Bride of Christ. Not every believer’s reward will be the same. To

be included in the Bride is tremendous reward, as is being invited to attend the wedding
feast. Not all will attain to this honor. Many are called, but few are chosen.

According to scripture, there will be three divisions of Christians. The Bride is those
who have kept their garments clean. They have allowed the Holy Spirit to perform His work