Why keep watch, why be ready?

If you had to come up with one Bible verse or story that sticks out the most to you, one that you cannot forget or that unsettles you, what would it be? Maybe it convicts you, or maybe it confuses you because you wish you understood it better. I’ve had one for several years now, and it just keeps coming back to me. In Matthew 25:11-12, Jesus shares a parable about 10 virgins. Five are called wise, five are called foolish. The parable seems to be talking about the rapture of the church. The five foolish virgins have been left behind. These virgins are upset and they are calling out to Jesus, saying “Lord, Lord, open the door and let us in. His response to them is chilling. At least it is to me. “But he answered and said, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, I do not know you.”

What?! He doesn’t know them? Then why are they called virgins? Why do they know He’s coming? Why are they finally awake and aware, just like the 5 wise virgins? It is a puzzling parable to say the least. I’m no scholar, but I don’t think it takes a scholar to realize that there are people who think they are Christians, who go to church, but who will be left behind when the rapture finally happens. Can I explain what is really going on here? No. I’m not sure anyone totally understands, although I’ve heard a couple of pastors who have tried. Most don’t even bother. When was the last time you heard a sermon on this parable? I bet never! But even if I don’t fully understand, that doesn’t mean I cannot take this parable as a warning. And what would that warning be? Make sure that He knows me. Let me repeat that. Does Jesus know me? 

I cannot tell you how many times I have heard the phrase from some Christian leader, “Do you know Jesus?” Every time I hear it, I cringe. Maybe the better question would be, “Does Jesus know YOU?” Realistically, even the devil knows Jesus.

With that phrase in mind, allow me to share some of the thoughts that I’ve had, as I have pondered this strange parable. Let’s address the elephant in the room first. It’s obviously a prophetic parable, dealing with what can only, in my opinion, be about the rapture of the church. After all, why would some be “left behind”?

I am saddened by the number of people I know who do not want to talk about Bible prophecy. Did you know that almost 30% of the Bible is about prophecy. Much of that prophecy is about Jesus’ first coming 2000 years ago. However, the majority of it is about His second coming, the tribulation, the rapture and the millennium. So why do so few want to hear about it or even talk about it? 

I would venture to guess that it might be because of fear. They are not really sure about their relationship with Jesus and the thought of eternity, dying, or being raptured, is frightening. The majority of churches do not touch the topic, so there is much ignorance in the church. The message of course is that if my pastor doesn’t talk about it, it must not be important. After all, doesn’t the pastor have my best interests at heart? 

I would guess that there is also a lot of false teaching about end time prophecy and therefore there is a lot of confusion in the church. Who does one believe? One pastor says this, another one, says that! And with that confusion is also the idea that prophecy doesn’t really matter. Let’s talk about important things, like the Gospel. We are told from the pulpit, if the topic even comes up, that prophecy is confusing and hard to understand and therefore, not important. But is that really true?

So what does the Bible say about this? 

I became a Christian in the 70’s. I was taught the idea that Jesus was coming back soon. But then I fell asleep like most Christians, and I lived my life. I got married, raised kids, went to church, read my Bible when I had time and didn’t think much about it. Why would I? Life was fairly easy. In the 90’s The Left Behind series of books came out and were very popular. But I think most of us read them like they were fiction, or entertainment, certainly not a warning. If you read them, did you consider them a warning? I bet not.

So what changed? The world! I think many of us woke up after our lockdowns and fear of dying of covid. Too many pastors and friends, family and neighbors died. Everyone knew at least one person who died unexpectedly. Suddenly, we didn’t trust things anymore. Suspicions grew about what we were being told by the media. Some of us woke up. The world began to wake up for sure. There are more unbelievers than you can count, who know something is wrong with the world. They know something big is happening and they don’t understand it. But it frightens them. The church, not so much. We love our naps, don’t we. Coming home from Sunday service and falling asleep in front of the TV is greatly loved. Some of us are too scared to look at what is happening in the world. Some of us just believe that it doesn’t matter, it will happen the way it’s supposed to. Whatever. Don’t talk to me about scary stuff. I’m a Christian and that’s all that matters. 

But if it doesn’t really matter, then why does Jesus tell us repeatedly in the gospels, to “keep watch”? What are we supposed to watch for? And why are 5 foolish virgins left behind? Yes, that verse again. Why are they called foolish? Why does He not know them? Let me share a scripture with you that gives some insight, I think:

“But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only. But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. For as in the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and did not know until the flood came and took them all away, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. Then two men will be in the field: one will be taken and the other left. Two women will be grinding at the mill: one will be taken and the other left. Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming. But know this, that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched and not allowed his house to be broken into. Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.” Matthew 24:36-44

I want to point out some things that Jesus tells us in this passage.  Life will be normal, business as usual when he comes to rapture His church. Eating, drinking, marrying and giving in marriage are normal activities. Two people will be together. One will be taken, one will be left. There’s that 50% again. (5 wise, 5 foolish virgins)

We must keep watch, so we can be ready. He is coming at an hour we do not expect and if we are not ready, if we are not keeping watch, we will be left behind. 

Let me leave you with a final thought to ponder on. If you were engaged to be married, and your bride or bridegroom didn’t care, would you want to marry that person? If they never talked about the upcoming wedding, never helped make any wedding plans, scoffed at the idea of setting a wedding date, and spent as little time with you as possible, would you still marry that person? Why not? Because it would become  more and more obvious, if you are wise, that this person doesn’t love you. They don’t care about spending their life with you. Actually, you would realize you hardly know them. They might have looked good at first, but in the end, they were shallow and uncaring. They wanted to be married because of what it could do for them, but they didn’t love you. 

Now, are we not called the bride of Christ? How do you feel about the wedding day? Are you looking forward to it, searching the scriptures to understand it more, talking to Him about it? Are you, as Paul says in 2 Tim 4:8, loving his appearing? If not, then you might want to examine your heart and see if you really love Jesus. Because if you don’t, then He probably doesn’t know you. And that would be a shocking and terrible thing to find out after it’s too late. Wake up my friends. Be a wise virgin! He’s coming soon. Be ready.