Middletown transcript., 1921-02-19
ixRRovIp uN1oRn INTERNATIONAL
SUlYDGSQl00L
LESSON
Ry REV. p. B. FITZWATER, D. D..
Teacher Of English Bible in the Moody
Bible Institute of ChlcagO.)
\ 20. 1920. Western Newspaper Union.)
LESSON FOR FEBRUARY 20
THE WISE AND FOOLISH VIRGINS.

InlMARI IOF1C-Be1ng Heddy.
JUNIOR .TOPIC-Being Ready.
INTERMEDIATE AND SENIOR TOPIC
Prepared for Emergencies
YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT TOPIC
Christian Watchfulness
This lesson is a part Of the well
known Olivet discourse, giving pro-
phetic view of the course of time from
its utterance, just before the cruci-
f1xion to the second advent of Christ.
The order of events in that time are.
roughly speaking, as follows:
1. The moral condition of the wor!d
during Christ's absence GA :1-14). This
is the period covered by the parable
Of chapter 13
=. The appearance of the Antichrist
ga 1929.
3. TIE great advent GA :27-3D, in
which there will be mighty convulsions
OF nature, the mourning of the earth's
tribes. and the gathering of the elect.
4. Warnings to Gods people in view
OF the great advent GA :32-51).' the
time of advent unknown and unex-
pected
5. Instructions to saints in view of
the uneXrectedness of His coming Us:
1867.
G. The judgment of the nations (25:
31-46).
The present lesson is one of the
two parallels designed for the instruc-
ton of the saints in view of the COM
ing Of the Christ. 1t has continu-
Gus application in the present time Il
Thess. 4:16-1S; Titus 2:11-13).
I. The Foolish Virgins Took Lamps
But No Oil With Them. (v. 81.
1. Lamps signify Christian profess
sion (Matt. 5:16), and oil, the Holy
Spirit Czech. ~. Having the lamps
and no oil shows that they were pro-
fessors Of religion without possessing
its reality. AS soon as a man is re-
generated the Holy Spirit takes up His
abode with Him. The proof that one
is child of God is that he has the
Holy Spirit dwelling within him. IF
he is none of His" (Rom. soy. The
foolish virgins may have been of good
moral character, but they were un-
regenerated.
.. The wise virgins possessed both
lamps and oil (v. ~. They made
profession and backed it with a real
life of righteousness. These are the
true believers. Both the wise and the
foolish virgins slumbered and slept.
Their eyes had grown heavy and they
fell under the spell of sleep ". 81.
This shows that as the Christian age
heightened the real and protesting
church would cease looking for the
coming of the Lord. 1t is unspeakably
sad that so many even of Gods saints,
wise virgins, should give up the ex
pectancy Of the return of the Lord.
II. The Coming Bridegroom wv. e.
12).
1. The midnight cry ". g.. In the !.
midst of the night when all were asleep
the cry was made, "BehOld the bride
groom cometh, go We out to meet him."
How sad it Is that the church has
lost her hope, is not waking and
watching for the return of her Lord.
2. Activity of the virgins (v. y.
They all arose and trimmed their
lamps. There will be great activity
when the Lord comes, on the part of
both the real Christians and those
who only make profession. The pro-
Tossing Christians will then realize
that they lack that which is essential
tC entrance to the marriage feast.
3 The foolish request the wise to
share their oil wv. 8, 81. The revela-
ton of Christ will make manifest the
genuineness of our religion and ex
pose the folly of mere profession.
When the Lord comes it will be too
late to mend ones ways.
4. The wise enter to the marriage |
". 10Y. While the foolish were seek
ing to amend their ways trying to buy |
oil, the bridegroom came and those !
who were ready were admitted to the
.. The pitiful position of the foolish
". 1D. They begged the Lord to
open the door that they might enter
to the marriage feast. No one can
open that door but the Lord.
6. The awful judgment ". 12). The
Lord declares II know you not" Those
who put off the personal contact with
Jesus until that day shall be shut out
from the presence of Christ.
III. The Solemn Obligation ". 13).
"Watch, for We know not the day nor
the hour wherein the Son of man COM
eth" Let these two facts be impressed
upon the minds Of everyone:
1. Ones entering with Christ into
the. marriage depends not upon having
entered the Christian race, but c0ntin-
uing therein 1t is not enough that
we can refer to the lighting of our
lamps; if oil and light be wanting
when Christ comes there will be no
admittance to the heavenly banquet.
2. Borrowed religion will not avail
at that day. 1t is good to have god
ly companions and associates, but they
cannot supply us with grace. Associa-
ton with the most eminent Of Gods
saints will not secure for us accept.
ance that day. There must be a
personal contact with the Lord Jesus
Christ through faith in His blood.