Wednesday, September 7 2005

People Of The Light

The lesson of the parable is that Christians should be diligently preparing for The Return Of Jesus Christ, regardless of when that happens from their own perspective (see When Will You Be Judged?), and not wait until "the last minute" (i.e. later in life, or if Christ's return actually seems imminent) to become serious about their obedience to God. The "oil" is the study of God's Truth (see The Holy Bible and 52-Week Bible Reading Plan) and the good behavior that makes the "lamps" of the five wise virgins "shine," while the five foolish virgins had lamps (i.e. they claimed to be Christian) but very little oil (i.e. they didn't diligently study or live according to Christ's teachings).

The Parable Of The Ten Virgins

"Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom. And five of them were wise, and five were foolish. They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them: But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept."

"And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him."

"Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out."

"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."

"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."

"Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us."

"But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not."

"Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh." (Matthew 25:1-13 KJV)

Fact Finder: Who are, or what is, the Biblical "daughter of Zion"?
See Daughter of Zion

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This Day In History, September 7

1087: Norman King William I, known as "William the Conqueror," died. He was also instigator of the Domesday book, the first exhaustive survey of England.

1533: Queen Elizabeth I of England was born. The daughter of King Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn, her reign began with the defeat of the Spanish Armada. During her time, Britain rose to international power and prominence, beginning colonization which led to its worldwide empire over the next 400 years. A golden age for Britain, Elizabeth's contemporaries were the likes of Francis Bacon, William Shakespeare, Walter Raleigh, Francis Drake, John Hawkins, Martin Frobisher and many others.

1543: Mary, Queen of Scots was coronated.

1630: The town of Trimontaine, Massachusetts, was renamed Boston.

1714: The Treaty of Badan was signed. It was one of the Treaties included in the Peace of Utrecht which ended the War of The Spanish Succession.

1776: The United States of America was born when the Continental Congress changed the name of the new nation from the earlier choice of the United Colonies.

1812: Russian forces retreated from the army of Napoleon after the Battle of Borodino, near Moscow. Like Adolf Hitler 130 years later however, the invaders were eventually "stopped cold" by the Russian winter.

1813: The term "Uncle Sam" was reportedly first used as a symbolic reference to the United States in an editorial in the Troy Post of New York.

1822: Brazil declared independence from Portugal.

1860 "Red Shirt" forces under Giuseppe Garibaldi took Naples. The victory permitted Victor Emmanuel to become king of Italy.

1867: Adolphus abdicated as duke of Nassau and was granted 8.5 million thalers (origin of "dollars") and a few castles as compensation.

1940: The Nazi "Blitz" of London began. The city was heavily bombed for 57 consecutive nights.

1942: In one of their rare attacks on the U.S. mainland during the Second World War, a Japanese plane dropped a few fire bombs on Oregon.

1986: Bishop Desmond Tutu was enthroned as Archbishop of Cape Town, South Africa. He was the first black head of South Africa's Anglicans.