Author: Candace Homes

For many Christians their ‘will’, (what they want) trumps God’s Word whether it comes to sin, fasting or end-times study.  In short, they believe God’s plan would never include something that would make them uncomfortable.  For that reason, it’s important to find out what His Word actually says about the timing of the rapture and whether we as Christians will have to endure the Tribulation.

At this point, some will say, “But, I have studied God’s Word and I believe He will come before the Tribulation to rapture His church!”

You’re not alone!  A lot of people believe this.  I believed it for decades.  My challenge is this: find a scripture passage in context that states that the rapture occurs before the Tribulation.  Don’t add anything in and don’t take anything out.

Your response to that request might be ‘that’s too much to ask, it doesn’t say it outright, but it’s still true’. 

In this study we’ll examine the passages that are straight-forward, that do say outright when He’s coming back, that do say when the first resurrection of believers occurs.  These are verses that don’t have to have anything added to them, or have certain words ignored to be true.

Pulling scriptures from all over the Bible to make a pieced-together collage doesn’t change what the Bible really says.  Any doctrine can be established if taken out of context. 

Many will say, “Well, I believe in the Second Coming at the end of the tribulation, but I also believe in a secret, silent rapture before the tribulation.”

Can you find a secret, silent rapture in scripture?  The Second Coming is referred to throughout the Bible, accompanied by a rapture.  But the secret, silent coming that snatches the church out of the earth before the tribulation is not in scripture anywhere!  You might say that’s because its a secret.  If it is a secret, how do you know about it?  If it is too secret to be in the Bible, why do you believe it?

I’m simply asking you to find a passage that states that Jesus is coming back before the Tribulation, not that infers or implies it, not something you have to explain, adding in words that aren’t there, or taking out words so that it fits. 

Any manipulation of scripture is strictly forbidden by Jesus Himself on the very last page of your Bible.

Revelation 22:18-19

¹⁸ For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book:

¹⁹ And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.

It’s important to study this subject, not to prove something, but so we don’t violate the above warning. 

Here are some passages to start your study:  Matthew 24:29-31, Luke 21:25-27, Mark 13:23-27; the entire resurrection chapter of I Corinthians 15; Revelation 20:2-6 – references the first resurrection; I Thessalonians 4-14 through I Thessalonians 5:11 (also references the first resurrection); Matthew 13:24-30 Jesus telling the parable of the wheat and the tares & Matthew 13:36-42 Jesus explaining the parable of the wheat and the tares; II Thessalonians 1:4-10, II Thessalonians 2:1-10, Matthew 25: 31-46, Matthew 25:1-13, Acts 1:9-11, Acts 3:21

Then read and study passages on the Day of the Lord in both the Old and New Testament.

Have the attitude that the Bereans had in Acts 17:10-12.  They searched the scriptures to see if what Paul was telling them was true.  Do you know that what you were taught is true and lines up with scripture?

Notice it’s the change in our bodies from mortality to immortality that takes place in the twinkling of the eye.  We can’t go to meet Him in our physical bodies, we must be changed into the kind of body He has. 

The rapture is not mentioned in this chapter because the topic of the chapter is the resurrection of the dead.  However, it is clear from Paul’s letters to the Thessalonians that the rapture occurs after the dead are resurrected.  These verses in I Corinthians 15 are simply clarifying what happens to our bodies before the rapture. 

So often we hear this verse used as a proof text for the Pre-Tribulation Rapture.  But there is nothing in this verse that places this event before the Tribulation.  In fact, it says that it happens “at the last trumpet”. 

This is one of those passages that is commonly used to add in a secret, silent rapture that takes place seven years before the coming of Jesus. The part about the last trumpet is conveniently left out in order for it to fit with the Pre-Tribulation Rapture teaching.

It’s important to stay within the bounds of Revelation 22:18-19 when reading and interpreting God’s Word and this passage is a classic example.

Revelation 22:18-19

¹⁸ For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book:

¹⁹ And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.

In fact, this is what the disciples did when Paul arrived in Rome.  One group came out to meet him at the Appii forum, and a place known as The Three Taverns.

Acts 28:15

¹⁵ And from thence, when the brethren heard of us, they came to meet us as far asAppii forum, and The Three Taverns: whom when Paul saw, he thanked God, and took courage.

This is the same Greek word ‘meet’ that is used in I Thessalonians that refers to the rapture when we go up to ‘meet’ the Lord in the air on the Day of the Lord.

I Thessalonians 4:17

¹⁷ Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

Here is what Vine’s Expository Dictionary has to say about the definition of this word.

Meet (Verb), Meet With, Met:

“a meeting” (akin to A, No. 1), occurs in Mat 25:6 (in some mss. in ver. 1, and in Mat 27:32, in some mss.); Act 28:15; 1Th 4:17. It is used in the papyri of a newly arriving magistrate. “It seems that the special idea of the word was the official welcome of a newly arrived dignitary” (Moulton, Greek Test. Gram. Vol. I, p. 14).

Sometimes we get caught up in the idea that heaven is way up there and we are w-a-y down here.  Sometimes we long to be up there, but we’re stuck down here.

For us there is a great divide and has been since mankind’s fall in the garden, but for Jesus it’s not a trip at all!  It’s more like going downstairs.  This verse from Amos puts it in perspective.  I like how it is worded in the New Living Translation.

Amos 9:6  New Living Translation

⁶ The Lord’s home reaches up to the heavens,
    while its foundation is on the earth…

If you live in a two-story house, you don’t consider your bedroom at the top of the stairs to be a different address, do you?

The change in our bodies from mortality to immortality takes place in the twinkling of the eye just prior to this meeting in the sky. 

The rapture is not to keep us from the devil’s fury. And, it is not to protect us from the wrath that Jesus is about to pour out on the earth. It is to give us the unique honor of sharing in the glory of Jesus as He makes His powerful (and fear producing) entrance into the earth to pronounce judgment and wrath upon the wicked! (Romans 8:17)

The Day of the Lord is an eternal day and continues into the Millennial where the lion lays down with the lamb.  (In this post we will concentrate on the resurrection and the rapture.)

The Day of the Lord is kicked off by a disturbance in the sky.  The sun, moon and stars are darkened and Jesus appears as the light.  The earth stops making its trek around the sun and Jesus serves as the light.  (Revelation 22:5-6)

This celestial disturbance is not a blood moon or an eclipse that appears and then everything returns to normal the next day.  Those are ‘signs in the heavens’ (Luke 21:11) but they are not the event that occurs right before Jesus makes His appearance on the Day of the Lord.

(See Matthew 24:29-31, Luke 21:25-27, Mark 13:23-27, Revelation 22:5-6, John 6:39, 40, 44, 54, John 11:24, 12:48, Joel 2:30-31, Is. 13:9-11)

When the Day of the Lord arrives, our method of measuring time is gone!  There is no more night, only light!  (Revelation 22:5-6)  We won’t know what day it is, or even what time of day it is.

This is the last day, the one spoken of in scripture in reference to the resurrection.

Martha, when mourning the death of Lazarus said she knew he would rise on the last day but was still disappointed Jesus had not come and healed him.  (John 11:23-25)

In John chapter 6 Jesus speaks of the resurrection of the dead in Christ occurring on the last day –

John 6:39-44

³⁹ And this is the Father’s will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day.

⁴⁰ And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.

⁴¹ The Jews then murmured at him, because he said, I am the bread which came down from heaven.

⁴² And they said, Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? how is it then that he saith, I came down from heaven?

⁴³ Jesus therefore answered and said unto them, Murmur not among yourselves.

⁴⁴ No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.

Clearly He is talking about believers here.  Look at verse 44, He is talking about people who have been drawn by the Father and have come to Him.  This is a mass resurrection! 

It is the one that is spoken of by Paul in his letter to the Thessalonians:

I Thessalonians 4:16-17

¹⁶ For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:

¹⁷ Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

It is also the same resurrection Paul spoke of throughout the 15^th Chapter of I Corinthians:

I Corinthians 15:

⁵¹ Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,

⁵² In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.

⁵³ For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.

⁵⁴ So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.

As you can see the resurrection of the dead and the catching away of the living is always linked together in scripture as one event.  But in this chapter (I Corinthians 15) Paul’s focus was the resurrection.  He doesn’t mention the catching away, only that we will be changed to immortality like those who have already died in the Christ.  He notes it happens at the last trump.

John clarifies when this first mass resurrection occurs even further in Revelation 20:

Revelation 20:2-6

² And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years,

³ And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season.

⁴ And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.

⁵ But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection.

⁶ Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.

This is a very short version of a much longer, more detailed study on the Day of the Lord/Last Day, the celestial disturbance (that Joel says has to happen before the Day of the Lord) and the resurrection of the dead in Christ/Rapture event.  My hope is that this little thumbnail sketch will get you started looking at the bigger picture found in scripture.

I Thessalonians 4:14-18 (NASB)

¹⁴ For if we believe that Jesus died and rose from the dead, so also God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep through Jesus. ¹⁵ For we say this to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will not precede those who have fallen asleep. ¹⁶ For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. ¹⁷ Then we who are alive, who remain, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. ¹⁸ Therefore, comfort one another with these words.

The Thessalonians were afraid that their loved ones that had died would miss out on the great reunion with Christ, but Paul reassured them that their bodies would be resurrected just before living believers were caught up in the clouds.

This resurrection is to be the first mass resurrection of believers. 

In Revelation 20 this resurrection is referred to as the first resurrection:

Revelation 20:4-6 (NASB)

¹And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand.

² And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years,

³ And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season.

⁴ Then I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was given to them. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of ^[b]their testimony of Jesus and because of the word of God, and those who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received the mark on their foreheads and on their hands; and they came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. ⁵ The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were completed. This is the first resurrection. ⁶ Blessed and holy is the one who has a part in the first resurrection; over these the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ, and will reign with Him for a thousand years.

Notice when the first resurrection occurs.  It happens AFTER Satan is bound!

Paul confirms this timing in the resurrection chapter,

I Corinthians 15:20-26 (NASB)

²⁰ But the fact is, Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who are asleep. ²¹ For since by a man death came, by a Man also came the resurrection of the dead. ²² For as in Adam all die, so also in ^[i]Christ all will be made alive. ²³ But each in his own order: Christ the first fruits, after that those who are Christ’s at His coming, ²⁴ then comes the end, when He hands over the kingdom to our God and Father, when He has abolished all rule and all authority and power. ²⁵ For He must reign until He has put all His enemies under His feet. ²⁶ The last enemy that will be abolished is death. 

Later in the same chapter is the famous verse that is often quoted by Pre-Tribulationists.

I Corinthians 15:51-57 (NASB)

⁵¹ Behold, I am telling you a ^[w]mystery; we will not all sleep, but we will all be changed, ⁵² in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised ^[x]imperishable, and we will be changed. ⁵³ For this ^[y]perishable must put on ^[z]the imperishable, and this mortal must put on immortality. ⁵⁴ But when this ^[aa]perishable puts on ^[ab]the imperishable, and this mortal puts on immortality, then will come about the saying that is written: “Death has been swallowed up in victory. ⁵⁵ Where, O Death, is your victory? Where, O Death, is your sting?” ⁵⁶ The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the Law; ⁵⁷ but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Clearly death is not abolished before the Tribulation, and the kingdom is not handed over to God the Father until Satan has been bound. 

This all happens at the last trumpet according to Paul (who also wrote I & II Thessalonians).  If this is the last trumpet there can’t be a trumpet after it.  Likewise, if this is the first resurrection, there can’t be one before it! (Revelation 20:5)

Something to study and think about.

Most Christians want to know the truth about this subject. And when I say truth, I mean, they want to know what God’s Word says! If you ask most Bible-believing Christians what truth is, they will tell you that God’s Word is true, even if every person on earth disagrees with it!

Romans 3:4
May it never be! Rather, let God be found true, though every man be found a liar, as it is written, That You may be justified in Your words, And prevail when You are judged.”

Recognizing that God’s Word is the final authority is not usually a problem.  If you don’t rely on God’s Word to be true, you have nothing to base your faith on and don’t really have a Christian end-time theology at all.  If a person doesn’t believe God’s Word is the standard of truth, don’t waste your time on a discussion.

What most Christians will tell you is that they interpret the scriptures differently than you do.  Therefore, it is a matter of explaining what they believe and you explaining what you believe.

It’s at this point that you must agree to abide by the second rule:  No one’s opinion counts!  Adding an opinion is not allowed according to Jesus in Revelation 22:18-19. How you interpret scripture and how I interpret scripture, doesn’t matter! What the scripture actually says, that’s what matters!

Here is that passage. I’m going to back up and give a little context by adding the verses ahead of it and some after it, so you can see that it is Jesus Himself that is saying this.

Revelation 22:16-20a

¹⁶ “I, Jesus, have sent My angel to testify to you these things for the churches. I am the root and the descendant of David, the bright morning star.”

¹⁷ The Spirit and the bride say, “Come.” And let the one who hears say, “Come.” And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who wishes take the water of life without cost.

¹⁸ I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues which are written in this book; ¹⁹ and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his part from the tree of life and [i]from the holy city, which are written in this book.

²⁰ He who testifies to these things says, “Yes, I am coming quickly.”

Anyone who believes this passage should refuse to add to or take away from God’s Word.  God’s ways are higher than our ways. He isn’t going to align His Word with our opinions and speculations. Nevertheless, you will be surprised how many people add in their opinion in the name of “interpretation”.  (In many cases, it’s not even that person’s opinion, it’s something they read in a prophesy book or was taught by someone else.)

While some rules may need to be enforced with regularity, enforcement must be done in humility and kindness. 

Don’t get emotional, just simply ask, “What did you have to add to that scripture to get it to confirm your belief?”  Then be silent and let them read it again to themselves.  They will be shocked to find that the verses they thought proved a Pre-Tribulation Rapture, don’t actually mention the timing of the rapture at all or specifically mention the timing as being “after the tribulation” on the “Day of the Lord”.

Sometimes they will argue for a Pre-Tribulation Rapture while ignoring an entire portion of the verse or passage they are quoting.  At that point, simply say, “What did you have to leave out of that verse (or passage) to make your point?”  (I Cor. 15:52 …at the last trumpet; II Thess. 2:3 … until the man of sin is revealed; Rev. 20:5-6 …first resurrection; These are just a few words frequently left out by Pre-Tribulationists.)

It’s not necessary to get into opinion, just stick to scripture.  There is nothing in the Post Tribulation position that requires human opinion or another book to explain it. It’s all within the pages of the Bible, both Old and New Testament.  Let the Bible interpret the Bible.

Most importantly, represent Christ at all times, even while correcting, instructing and reproving.  Maintaining calm and peace is important, but sticking to the Word of God as the final authority is non-negotiable. 

II Timothy 4:1-3

I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by His appearing and His kingdom: ² preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction. ³ For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires,

 Paul also said, to keep it amiable and “If it be possible, as far as lies within you, live peaceably with all men.” Romans 12:18 KJV

Peace, however, is not the same as compromise. Paul was beaten and eventually beheaded because he stuck with the truth, as did the other apostles.  Stay true to scripture, even if persecution comes.  Time will prove God’s Word to be true. 

Romans 12:18 NASB

If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men.

This type of mentality is a very recent societal development that has crept stealthily into the church.  Christians refuse to acknowledge correction and anyone that presents truth that is contrary to their way of thinking is rejected at best and seen as evil at worst.

The ability to pull out God’s Word and study, presenting relevant scriptures is a skill that few have.  Instead that pull out a book written by someone that agrees with them and assign it the authority of God’s Word.   It’s easier and it affirms them, rather than reproves them.

To see this mentality at play in a different setting, confront a friend about a recent event that hurt you and try to clear the air.  Rather than re-examine what was said and who reacted in what way, they will become angry, scream out their truth, based on what they were feeling and believed to be true at the time.  Then they will insist that you acknowledge their version of what happened and align your beliefs with theirs.

They have no desire to examine actual truth and even if proof is presented, they deem it unimportant in the light of their feelings.

So, is it wrong to confront deception?  What if it is going to harm the person being deceived?  If a person is basing their beliefs and therefore their decisions on bad information and the end result is going to harm them, possibly for all eternity, shouldn’t we speak truth, so they can at least can examine it?

If a person chooses to exalt God’s Word to the position of final authority in their lives and reject anything that doesn’t align with it, he or she has then arrived at the truth. 

If they act in obedience to it, doing what it says, even when it’s hard, they have crossed the line and are now a ‘follower’ of Jesus.  Jesus said, “Take up your cross and follow Me.”  It’s at that point that we become His disciple.

The Word of God is to be a mirror so we can take a good long look at ourselves and see what areas of our lives need to be corrected, repented of and adjusted.  Living life as if we are the final authority of what we do and say, make us ‘Lord’ and not Jesus.

A humble believer asks God to show them truth whether it is what they want to see or not.

James 1:19-25 NASB

¹⁹ You know this, my beloved brothers and sisters. Now everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger; ²⁰ for a man’s anger does not bring about the righteousness of God. ²¹ Therefore, ridding yourselves of all filthiness and all that remains of wickedness, in humility receive the word implanted, which is able to save your souls. ²² But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not just hearers who deceive themselves. ²³ For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks at his natural face in a mirror; ²⁴ for once he has looked at himself and gone away, he has immediately forgotten what kind of person he was. ²⁵ But one who has looked intently at the perfect law, the law of freedom, and has continued in it, not having become a forgetful hearer but an active doer, this person will be blessed in what he does.

Here’s the same verse in the King James Version:

Revelation 1:3 King James Version
3 Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.

When I first read this promise, I was confused.. How do you “keep” the Book of Revelation? It’s mostly just prophesies about what is going to happen someday, how do you obey it, keep it or take it to heart? Other books are far more instructional. However, not wanting to miss the blessing, I went through the letters to the seven churches and compiled a list of admonitions and put them in my own words in a personal attempt to keep them.

Here’s how my summary read:

Come back to Me, your first love. Work for Me like you did at the beginning. Don’t be afraid of what you are about to suffer. Be faithful even when facing death.

Be victorious, don’t soil your clothing. Hold fast what you have received and keep it from dying. Repent and strengthen your relationship with me. Stay awake.

Buy from me gold refined in the fire. Buy clean, white clothes. Buy salve for your eyes. Be earnest and repent. Open the door to Me so we can eat and commune together.

Later in the last chapter of Revelation, He said:

Revelation 22:7
Behold, I come quickly: blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book.

None of these admonitions are about developing your ministry to others or spreading the gospel. They are about focusing on our own relationship with Jesus with the spotlight on the condition of the heart. We’re urged to wake up from our spiritual stupor and take our place at the feet of Jesus, pursuing His holiness.

Peter addressed this as well in I Peter chapter 2. He admonished us to rid ourselves of all malice, deceit, hypocrisy, envy and slander.
Paul urged us to get rid of everything displeasing to God in Ephesians chapter 4, including emotions that lead to sin.

Ephesians 4:25-32
25 Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbor, for we are all members of one body. 26 “In your anger do not sin”[d]: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, 27 and do not give the devil a foothold. 28 Anyone who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with their own hands, that they may have something to share with those in need.

29 Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. 32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

Something to think about.

Matthew 24:1-13

“Then the kingdom of heaven will be comparable to ten virgins, who took their lamps and went out to meet the groom. ² Five of them were foolish, and five were prudent. ³ For when the foolish took their lamps, they did not take extra oil with them; ⁴ but the prudent ones took oil in flasks with their lamps. ⁵ Now while the groom was delaying, they all became drowsy and began to sleep. ⁶ But at midnight there finally was a shout: ‘Behold, the groom! Come out to meet him.’ ⁷ Then all those virgins got up and trimmed their lamps. ⁸ But the foolish virgins said to the prudent ones, ‘Give us some of your oil, because our lamps are going out.’ ⁹ However, the prudent ones answered, ‘No, there most certainly would not be enough for us and you too; go instead to the merchants and buy some for yourselves.’ ¹⁰ But while they were on their way to buy the oil, the groom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding feast; and the door was shut. ¹¹ Yet later, the other virgins also came, saying, ‘Lord, lord, open up for us.’ ¹² But he answered, ‘Truly I say to you, I do not know you.’ ¹³ Be on the alert then, because you do not know the day nor the hour.

There are a few things I want you to notice about this passage.

1. The foolish virgins weren’t locked out of the wedding because they weren’t virgins.
2. They weren’t locked out because they fell asleep, even the wise virgins were asleep.
3. The foolish virgins weren’t locked out of the wedding because the bridegroom came earlier than they expected.  Scripture indicates He was ‘delayed’ and came later than expected.
4. The foolish virgins were not locked out because the wise virgins were heartless and didn’t give them what they felt so entitled to.
5. These virgins knew He was coming.  They didn’t know exactly when, but they were still unprepared.  They brought enough oil in their estimation, but they never considered He might not come as early as they expected Him to come.  It apparently never occurred to them to be ready for a late arrival.

I’ve heard all kinds of teaching on this passage.  I’ve heard that the oil represents the Holy Spirit and they ran out of the Holy Spirit before Jesus got here.  Therefore, we need to keep oil in our lamps.  Interestingly, the wise virgins, the ones with plenty of Holy Spirit, not just in their lamps, but also in extra flasks, refused to give the Holy Spirit to those that asked and told them to go BUY their own oil!  These heartless individuals didn’t share the gospel with them, didn’t share the light of their lamps or offer to wait on them while they got oil.

As a teenager, I puzzled over this story, told in the context of the oil representing the Holy Spirit.  It made no sense to me in light of the rest of scripture. 

As an adult, I dug into the meaning of this word ‘oil’.  In the original text it was “e’-lī-on” and means … olive oil. 

1. olive oil   (e’-lī-on)
   1. for fuel for lamps
   1. for healing the sick
   1. for anointing the head and body at feasts
   1. mentioned among articles of commerce

Clearly, olive oil had many spiritual purposes.  It was used to anoint the kings of the Old Testament.  It was used to anoint the sick and has continued to hold an important place in the church.  But this same word, e’-lī-on, is used many times as just … olive oil.

Here are a couple of them:

Revelation 6:6 KJV

⁶And I heard a voice in the midst of the four beasts say, A measure of wheat for a penny, and three measures of barley for a penny; and see thou hurt not the oil and the wine.

Here’s another one, and I am including several verses to show it in context:

Revelation 18:11-13 KJV

 ¹¹ And the merchants of the earth shall weep and mourn over her; for no man buyeth their merchandise any more:

¹² The merchandise of gold, and silver, and precious stones, and of pearls, and fine linen, and purple, and silk, and scarlet, and all thyine wood, and all manner vessels of ivory, and all manner vessels of most precious wood, and of brass, and iron, and marble,

¹³ And cinnamon, and odours, and ointments, and frankincense, and wine, and oil, and fine flour, and wheat, and beasts, and sheep, and horses, and chariots, and slaves, and souls of men.

In this case, it is talking about the things that Mystery Babylon bought from the merchants of the earth.  It is clear from this context that sometimes “e’-lī-on” just means olive oil.  So not every time the word oil is mentioned in scripture does it mean anointing oil or the oil of the Holy Spirit. 

Since the five wise virgins refused to share, I think it is clear they are talking about fuel for their lamps.  They sent the foolish ones away to buy more oil from dealers.  True Christians do not send others away when they are seeking God, especially to go find Him in some market! 

If oil literally means olive oil, a substance that is used to sustain life in the Middle East, what was Jesus saying in this parable? 

It is clear that even though the five wise virgins were weary and even sleeping, they had prepared and made sure they had what was necessary to get through until the Bridegroom came.   They may not have been the most generous with it, but they had enough to make it into the wedding feast!

So why weren’t the foolish virgins admitted to the wedding after they arrived late with their oil?  The verse below makes it clear that they took the mark of the beast before purchasing the oil, disqualifying them from entrance into the wedding.

Revelation 13:17 NASB

¹⁶ And he causes all, the small and the great, the rich and the poor, and the free and the slaves, to be given a mark on their right hands or on their foreheads, ¹⁷ and he decrees that no one will be able to buy or to sell, except the one who has the mark, either the name of the beast or the number of his name. 

Taking the mark won’t seem like a problem to a lot of Christians!  In fact, they won’t believe it is really the Mark of the Beast or that the Anti-Christ is even the beast, because they haven’t gone up in a Pre-Tribulation Rapture yet.  Jesus warned us again and again not to be deceived!  This means it IS possible for us to be deceived!

There are severe consequences for taking the mark!

Revelation 14:8-10 NASB

⁹ Then another angel, a third one, followed them, saying with a loud voice, “If anyone worships the beast and his image, and receives a mark on his forehead or on his hand, ¹⁰ he also will drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is mixed in full strength in the cup of His anger; and he will be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb.

This is why you need to sort out what you believe about the timing of the rapture now.  If you’re not paying attention because you don’t think you have to, the great tribulation can slip up on you without you being aware it is so close.

If you believe the Pre-Tribulation Rapture doctrine, there is nothing you need to do but be saved to be snatched out of the earth – Jesus takes care of everything! 

And, if that is what you believe is going to happen next, you won’t be looking for and preparing for the events that Jesus told us were coming upon the earth prior to His Second Coming.  You will simply be waiting.

Unfortunately, there isn’t a single scripture that actually says Jesus is coming seven years before the Second Coming in a secret, silent coming.  Not one.  Take on the challenge of trying to find it in your Bible.