Quote:
Originally Posted by Raptor
_______________________Wise Virgin___Foolish Virgin______Unbeliever
[chart]
It is clear that all the 10 virgins are believers. The difference between wise and foolish is not in whether they are a virigin (believer) or not (unbeliever). The issue is whether they are foolish or not. The foolish fulfill all the points indicating they are believers except not taking extra oil, are not ready, and therefore are not recognized by the Lord. In addition, nowhwere in the Bible are unbelievers likened to virgins.
The foolish virgins cannot be false believers. The word does not say that. And anytime the word talks about a false believer it tells you he is false or describes clearly how he is false; it does not leave it up to you to decide or figure it out: for example, Judas, "and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed Him." (Mark 3.19); the "false prophet" in Revelation; what the Antichrist does, the great harlot.
That the Lord does "not know" the foolish virgins does not mean they are unbelievers. God knows all unbelievers: 1) He is omnisicient, so He knows them too. 2.) He created each and every one of them. 3.) the Father, "from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named." Eph. 3:15.
He does not recognize, approve, appreciate the foolish vrigins. They are like an estranged son that neglected his father, left home and shows up years later to try to claim a part of the inheritance. So the father tells him, "no, I donīt even know you anymore."
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Most of the time (except for one instance) in your post here you keep saying that I've said the virgins are believers and unbelievers. That's not what I've said. I said they are true believers and false believers. (false believer is different from an unbeliever) This would make them both "believers" in name, and even all of them could be present in the church. There are plenty of people who say they are Christian but think sin is no big deal, who were born into a Christian family and think that saves them, who walk around thinking they are ok with God because they don't know the gospel. They often in appearance seem to be a believer (tare who looks like wheat, mixed in with the wheat).
I agree that the Lords knows all unbelievers, indeed, all people. He's the one who created them. "Know" here doesn't mean simply "know you exist". He knows everyone who exist. It's that they are "
known", acknowledged by Him, like in Revelation where He says He will acknowledge them before His Father. Otherwise, what we have are true believers who truly have the Holy Spirit, yet who are not known by the Lord. I just don't see how that's possible.
The word "false" would not necessarily be explicitly stated in a parable. That's the point of a parable....things aren't explicitly stated until Jesus explains them after.
I mentioned that it seems to me like these parables are then explained by Jesus at the end of Matthew 25. Look at how he describes their end in verses 31-46 ("eternal fire" and "eternal punishment"). It's not the end of any true believer.
I've already said that I can actually see how a reasonable person can conclude your and Sons to Glory's viewpoint. There surely is evidence for it! I've heard both interpretations out there. Not everyone agrees on these parables. I'm totally fine to disagree on this interpretation, and hold differing views!
Trapped