The early Protestant reformers had three significant subjects that pushed them away from the faith they had originally embraced:

1.  Adherence to Scripture (which mandated giving the people the Word in their own language so they could discern truth rather than depend on someone to guide them).
2.  Abolish the abuses of the Vatican (e.g., Martin Luther’s 95 Thesis).
3.  Study and reveal the Prophecies of the Scriptures (Prophecies that accurately reveal the future and the nefarious workings of the Jewish and Catholic leadership who both tried to hide those revelations).

I’ve been working End Times prophecy and it can be extremely difficult.  Yahweh wanted His prophets to understand their prophetic visions (Daniel 8:16), but their pre-technology perspective of hyper-technological, present-day worlds would have caused them great anxiety.  Daniel fainted after one of his visions and was sick for days (Daniel 8:27).

These visions were not just for the person who they were given to, but they are for every person who loves Yahweh and His Word throughout all generations.

      That the generation to come might know them, even the children which should be born; who should arise and declare them to their children: (Psalm 78:6)

This shall be written for the generation to come: and the people which shall be created shall praise the Lord. (Psalm 102:18)

The Jewish leaders cursed anyone who tried to compute the timeline of Daniel 9 (Talmudic Law Section 2, Line 28).  Daniel 9 gives the timeline for when Messiah would arrive (see my blog, the Curse of Daniel 9).  If the prophecy is correct, they should claim someone from that time period as the promised one, but they don’t – the Jews are still waiting, 1999 years after the prophecy culminated.

Yeshua fits that timeline exactly and they murdered him, so rather that try to convince people that Daniel, and therefore Yahweh, was wrong, the Jewish leaders cursed anyone reading the prophecy.

The Catholic Church banned the Bible in the languages of the common people.  The Vatican did not want people to understand they could pray to and confess their sins directly to Christ, rather than to a priest.  Daniel 2 would have warned people of the abuses of the Church’s doctrines and the identity of the End Times Beast (see my blog on Daniel 2 – Iron & Clay (Daniel 2) – the Mingling of the Final Empire).

I am convinced (as have countless others throughout many centuries) that we are quickly approaching the End of Days.  Whether it is true or not, it is a great focus to maintain because the culture of this age makes us slaves to traditions and immorality.  Are we preparing ourselves for Judgment Day or are we satisfied with “eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage” (Matthew 24:38; Luke 17:27), oblivious to the consequences of ignoring and/or trivializing our obligations to the Messiah.

     ¹⁴ Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light. ¹⁵ See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, ¹⁶ Redeeming the time, because the days are evil. ¹⁷ Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is. ¹⁸ And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; (Ephesians 5:14-18)

As I work this material (my notes are lengthy and convoluted, but I am workingon that), I thought it would be a good idea to share portions of the work so that the final product is not so over-whelming (hopefully you will not ultimately find it under-whelming).  The subject is of vital importance and open to much interpretation (it is all our responsibility to study and rightly divide the Word – 2Timothy 2:15) – metaphors and imagery are rampant in the text, but they can be understood by letting the Word interpret itself (tip 3 of understanding the Bible – see my blog, Make the Word Your Own).

I want to address the use of women as a metaphor to lay some foundation of the prophecies (I bet you were wondering if the title of this blog was ever going to apply to the text).

The church of the believers is always depicted as a woman.  Yahweh marries the Israelites at Mount Sinai when they agree (think, I do) to the Covenant (Exodus 19:8; see also, Isaiah 54:5; Jeremiah 31:31-32; Ezekiel 16:8).  Yahweh repeatedly equates idolatry with adultery against Him (Jeremiah 3:6-9, 14) and He gave Israel a “bill of divorce” (Jeremiah 3:8).  The church of the believers in the New  Testament is routinely described as the “Bride of Christ” (2Corinthians 11:2; Ephesians 5:25-27; Revelation 19:7-9).

     Churches that preach lawlessness (“Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law” – 1John 3:4) and practice ungodly rituals are also referred to as women, specifically harlots and whores (Numbers25:1; Proverbs 7; Jeremiah 3:9; Nahum 3:4; Revelation 17:5, 18).

So there are two mindsets and two ways of living that are depicted metaphorically as two very different types of women.  As Christ is instructing his disciples on the End Times (Matthew 24), he uses a parable to further illustrate his message:

     ¹ Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom. ² And five of them were wise, and five were foolish. (Matthew 25:1-2)

Lamps are metaphorically used to represent the Word: “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.” (Psalm 119:105)

     ³ They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them: ⁴ But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. (Matthew 25:3-4)

All the virgins had lamps, but only five brought extra oil for their lamps.  The five wise virgins had the faith of the Word and a demeanor to exercise that faith with action.  The unwise virgins confessed faith, but it was not a practiced virtue that would sustain them when darkness would test their faith.   A faith without works is a lamp without oil (James 2).

     ⁵ While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept. (Matthew 25:5)

If we knew the day and the hour of his second coming (Verse 13), many would be prepared, but since we continue to wait (almost 2000 years now), many become lazy in their faith – accepting the doctrines of men instead of scouring the scriptures for themselves (2Timothy 2:15).  We all must wait, but what we do while we anticipate his return speaks to our commitment.

     ⁶ And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him. ⁷ Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps. (Matthew 25:6-7)

Midnight signifies an unexpected time – the bridegroom came later than anyone expected.  Readiness cannot be reserved for the moments when it feels relevant, our faith must be our lifestyle.

     ⁸ And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out. ⁹ 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. (Matthew 25:8-9)

The foolish wanted what the wise had.  The Catholic church taught for centuries that one could buy from the unused grace of the Apostles and the saints (they have grace to spare) to supplement one’s deficiencies, or to help get a deceased loved one out of purgatory – these purchases were called indulgences (Many Protestant churches are guilty of similar indulgence schemes – they are generally called prosperity gospel churches).

The wise are telling the foolish there is no shortcut and to return to the people who sold them their feeble faith if they want to continue in their poor substitute for true faith.

     ¹⁰ 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. (Matthew 25:10)

The Day of Judgment is not the day one can change or improve their situation – that is one of the reasons Yahweh commands believers to celebrate Yom Kippur each year (see my blog on Yom Kippur – Atone for Yourself).  We are to assess our situation on a regular basis and make changes in our lives to bring ourselves in alignment with the Father’s Word and His Will, before it is too late.

Imagine going to divorce court after years of infidelity and swearing you will be a better person if the judge rules favorably – the judge nor your soon-to-be ex-spouse would be impressed.

     ¹¹ Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. ¹² But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not. (Matthew 25:11-12)

     ²¹ Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. ²² Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? ²³ And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. (Matthew 7:21-23)

Confession of faith is not enough.  Did you confess Yeshua as “Lord” (Romans 10:9-10)?  Do you live your life as your Lord commands (see my blogs on    and “Lord, Lord”) or do you live as you want and demand that Christ acknowledge it as righteous?

     And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say? (Luke 6:46)

Have your ever accepted a job and then demanded to work the hours you want and do your tasks the way you want, rather than how the employer requires?  How long do you think you will remain employed?

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

We must develop and actively live a Christian lifestyle, now!

Be the prayerful, righteous bride – not the worldly, idolatrous (adulterous) wannabe.