Hi benhur, this quote is a picture of a Jewish wedding taking place. It seems as though the whole town with many friends and family would participate in this traditional wedding. Not everyone at the wedding procession was saved.
Quote:
The historical setting can also be known with a fair amount of certainty. In describing a first-century Jewish wedding, D.A. Carson in the Expositor’s Bible Commentary describes the setting this way: “Normally the bridegroom with some close friends left his home to go to the bride’s home, where there were various ceremonies, followed by a procession through the streets – after nightfall – to his home. The ten virgins may be bridesmaids who have been assisting the bride; and they expect to meet the groom as he comes from the bride’s house…Everyone in the procession was expected to carry his or her own torch. Those without a torch would be assumed to be party crashers or even brigands. The festivities, which might last several days, would formally get under way at the groom’s house.” The torch was either a lamp with a small oil tank and wick or a stick with a rag soaked in oil on the end of it which would require occasional re-soaking to maintain the flame.
Ok, several facts about the virgins:
1) they were all waiting for the bridesgroom to come. Carson even suggests they may be bridesmaids who were assisting the bride, who you expect had the right credentials to show up and be recognized at the wedding feast. This means they were not party crashers or brigands.
2) they were all waiting in the same place, and even slept in the same vacinity. Again, these virgins were not party crashers or brigands.
3) they all had lamps. But 5 had lamps with oil + they had extra oil in their vessels. 5 had oil in their lamps, but not extra oil for extended circumsances.
So with these facts in mind could all the virgins be saved. The answer is yes, since they were obviously invited to the wedding feast, could have assisted the bride, and had lamps to enjoy the march if at night.
If they were saved, 5 messed up with their oil and missed the procession, and then after the door was shut, were turned away when they showd up.
What is the parable all about. To me it is 5 unwise virgins that lost out on their wedding feast. It is a parable about losing out if you do not do things God tells you to do. Even though you think you may be saved, if you do not do what God tells you to do, you lose. He will prompt you by the Holy Spirit and try to keep you straight, but alas, the choice is yours, and the decisions you make are yours and youc an lose your salvation if you do not keep watch and remain stedfast.