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The 144,000
They are Virgins
Key Eight
That He might present it to Himself a glorious
church,
not having spot or wrinkle, or any such thing;
but that it should be holy and without blemish.
Ephesians 5:27
The thought of a virgin elicits mental pictures of youthful innocence, wholesome beauty, and purity. This is exactly how the Lord God looks upon His faithful. He sees them as clean, pure and righteous. For this reason, God inspired the Apostle John to describe the 144,000 as virgins. He writes:
These are they that are not defiled by women, for they are virgins (Revelation 14:4).
The 144,000 are individuals who have kept themselves from
being tainted by the world. Instead of being defiled by false religious beliefs
or practices, they have kept themselves morally and ethically pure. Each one has
worked diligently to remain unblemished—ready to marry Jesus Christ upon His
return.
Who is Qualified to Marry the High Priest
John’s statement that the 144,000 are virgins is reflected in
God’s law concerning the marriage of the high priest. In the old covenant, the
high priest was a type, picturing Jesus Christ. Consequently, he was required to
maintain extremely high ethical and moral standards.
When it came to marriage, the high priest was not permitted
to marry anyone he might desire. Even in such a personal area of life, he was
held to the highest of standards. He had written stipulations to follow, which
state:
And he shall take a wife in her virginity. A widow, or a divorced woman, or profane, or a harlot these shall he not take: but he shall take a virgin of his own people to wife (Leviticus 21:13-15).
The temple and its priesthood were patterned after the
heavenly. The high priest pictured Jesus Christ, whose character is pure and
holy (Hebrews 8:5; 9:11). Jesus, like the high priest, must marry a woman that
is holy. He cannot marry a harlot, or one who has been married to another. The
Church He marries, the 144,000, must be clean and pure—they must be virgins.
The Friend of the Bridegroom
Because the high priest pictured Jesus Christ, and His virgin
portrayed the Church, the Apostle Paul writes:
For I am jealous over you with a godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ (II Corinthians 11:2).
In
this letter to the Corinthians, the Apostle Paul is making an allusion to the
ancient Jewish wedding ceremony in which there was an official position called
the Shoshabin. This post was given to the best friend of the bridegroom, and in
some cases there was a Shoshabin for both bride and groom.
In Jewish tradition, this was literally an office appointed
by God Himself. The belief is that the Eternal God presided over the first
wedding of Adam and Eve, while the archangels Michael and Gabriel served as the
Shoshabins.
The Shoshabin was responsible for the success of the wedding.
It was his responsibility to deliver the invitations, arrange the wedding
details and then preside over the wedding functions. Finally, it was he who
would present the bride to the groom at the time of the wedding.
This “friend of the bridegroom” acted as a liaison between
the bride and the bridegroom, and it was his responsibility to guard the bridal
chamber. He was to let no false lover have access to the bride under any
circumstance, and he would open the bridal chamber door only when he heard the
bridegroom’s voice.
The Apostle Paul portrayed himself as the friend of the
bridegroom. As the Shoshabin, he saw it as his responsibility to prepare the
bride for the marriage supper. He would strive to keep the Church pure and
clean, and then present her as a chaste virgin to Christ at His coming.
The symbolism is clear regarding the 144,000. They are the
Church that will marry Jesus Christ at His return. For this reason, they will be
presented to Jesus Christ as holy, pure, and clean—virgins.
The Marriage Ceremony
To further understand the symbolism Christ used when
describing the 144,000, it is important to consider the marriage ceremony as it
existed during the lifetime of Jesus.
While sometimes planned for many months, the average marriage
service today takes between fifteen and twenty minutes to perform. Matrimonial
ceremonies in the time of Christ were much larger affairs, however, often
lasting an entire week or even longer. The arrangements included two phases.
Guests were first “bidden” to the wedding. Later they were “called” to actually
attend.
A person was “bidden” when they were notified that a wedding
would be taking place. This notice constituted the person’s invitation. The
individual was told that he or she were on the guest list and given a general
time frame to expect the wedding. The host sponsoring the ceremony would return
home, and make all the necessary preparations. Once everything was ready, the
guests were then called to the wedding.
Christ provides considerable insight into these extensive
preparations when He gives the parable of the wedding. Matthew records Him to
say:
The Kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain king which made a marriage for his son, and sent forth his servants to call them that were bidden to the wedding . . . saying, tell them which are bidden, Behold, I have prepared my dinner: my oxen and my fatlings are killed, and all things are ready: come unto the marriage (Matthew 22:2-4).
Once called to the marriage, the
guests would arrive and partake of a ceremony that included two parts, a feast
followed by the actual marriage ceremony.
The feast would include a great supper with an abundance of
both delicious food and refreshing drink. After this elaborate banquet, there
would be a formal ceremony in the evening. At this time, the Shoshabin for the
bride and groom would bring the pair together, and present them to the
officiating Rabbi for the marriage ceremony.
Following this, the couple was escorted to their new home in
a torch light procession. There was a canopy held over their heads as they went
along the way. All this helped draw attention to the procession, as they took
the longest route possible, so that many along the way could wish them well. The
couple’s personal friends accompanied them, carrying torches to light the way.
Anyone without a torch was not considered part of the wedding party.
The newlyweds did not go out of town on a honeymoon as we do
today. Instead, they were taken to their new home where they were officially
pronounced married. The couple stayed in their abode for an entire week, holding
open house. During the week-long celebration, there was a spirit of joy and
mirth in the whole town. The entire community celebrated the couple’s happiness.
People put aside their business and traveled to the newly married couple’s
dwelling to enjoy the jubilant celebration before returning home.
The couple entertained guests who would visit, and during
this time the bride and groom often wore crowns. They were treated as a king and
queen, and their word was considered law at this week long wedding celebration.
Spiritual Insight from the Ceremony
Jesus Christ made use of the imagery contained in the Jewish
wedding ceremony as an educational tool to help His future bride understand the
magnificent spiritual wedding supper to come. The wedding ceremony of Christ’s
day provides rich insight, because it is a representation of what the spiritual
virgins of the Church will experience in the future.
Christ has bidden many to His wedding. Many have been called
during the first six thousand years of man’s existence, but not everyone who is
bidden will attend the wedding (Matthew 22:14). Some who are bidden will not
value their invitation enough to respond, and therefore will not prepare
themselves.
Some will be distracted by the cares of this world, while
others will become defiled (Matthew 13:22). As a consequence, none of these will
have a part in the wedding supper!
Those who do respond to having been bidden will prepare
themselves and be ready. They will be active participants in one of the most
wonderful blessings ever bestowed on man. They will marry their Creator! John
writes:
And he saith unto me, Write, blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, these are the true sayings of God (Revelation 19:9).
What a blessing this event will be!
The supper will likely consist of fantastic feasting, with incredible food and
drink. Perhaps it will all be laid out as a massive banquet on the resplendent
sparkling sea of glass. The resurrected saints will eat and drink at Christ’s
table as promised (Luke 22:30).
There they will enjoy the hospitality of the Almighty God and
all the heavenly hosts. They will fellowship with other saints who have fought
the good fight, and meet heroes of faith from all ages. They will celebrate this
long-awaited event with Enoch, Moses, Abraham, David and thousands of others.
After this glorious feast, the marriage ceremony will follow.
It will likely be officiated by God the Father, Himself. The virgins will become
the wife of Christ, and will be given crowns, and made kings and priests
(Revelation 5:10). Instead of going off somewhere to be alone, they will be
visited by the whole host of angels, who will come to honor them.
The bride will then meet the angelic host mentioned in the
Bible. They will see the magnificent archangels Gabriel and Michael. The
resurrected saints will likely be introduced to their personal guardian angels,
who may then recount the times they miraculously protected them.
This event, and all it portends for those who are called, is
so important and so wonderful, that Jesus warns His people not to miss it. By
this, He is warning all of us—don’t ever let down! Be prepared!
The Parable of the Virgins
Toward the end of His ministry, Jesus was with His disciples
on the Mount of Olives. His followers asked Him what would be the sign of His
coming and the end of the world. In Matthew, chapter twenty-four, Jesus explains
the chronological events that will occur, and then relates several parables
exhorting His followers to be prepared.
These parables first begin with Christ reminding His
followers that His return will be unexpected (Matthew 24:42-44). Secondly, He
explains that more than passive watching is required, and that Christians must
be actively overcoming until His return (Matthew 24:45-51). Thirdly, there is
the need for vigilant preparedness in the face of a seeming delay (Matthew
25:13-33).
Finally, Christ gives the parable of the ten virgins for
those in His Church in the last days. The virgins are His people who have been
“bidden.” It is to them that Jesus gives this warning so that they will be
ready, and therefore “chosen” to be a part of the wedding ceremony. Jesus
explains:
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 (Matthew 25:1-12).
In this parable, the virgins are
representative of true Christians at the end of the age. The tarrying is the
delay in Christ’s anticipated return (Luke 12:45). It is this delay that
actually determines who is wise and who is foolish. The overall theme is a
reminder that we must stay prepared while we wait for Christ to return.
They Took their Lamps
Christ states that all the virgins took their lamps with
them. The word “lamp” is “lampes” in the Greek, and it can mean either a “lamp”
or a “torch.” In this parable the story is about a marriage procession, and
torches, rather than lamps, were used in these events.
The torches that were generally used in these processions
were simply lengths of wood, tightly wrapped with linen cloth around one end.
The linen wrapped end was soaked in oil. The linen absorbed the oil and held it
so that it would not evaporate quickly.
The oil soaked linen caused the torch to burn for some time.
Eventually, the oil burned up, however, and the torch began to sputter, fizzle,
and finally go out. More oil was needed to cause the torch to burn vigorously
once again. Some of the virgins wisely brought an extra supply of oil with them.
Expecting the groom to come immediately, the other virgins foolishly brought no
extra oil.
While the groom delayed, all of the virgins dozed off and
slumbered. Suddenly, the cry went out, “The bridegroom is coming!” By this time
the torches the virgins carried had begun to sputter and go out.
Those virgins who were wise were prepared for the unexpected.
They had brought extra oil in a vessel so they could pour additional oil onto
the linen cloth and refuel their torches. In this way, they insured that they
were allowed to continue in the wedding procession, and take part in the
ceremony inside the bridegroom’s home. The others were required to go and buy
oil, but this took too much time. They found themselves locked out of the
ceremony.
The Parable is for our Time
The meaning of the parable is clear. Oil has always been used
as a reference to the endowment of the Holy Spirit when anointing kings or
priests (I Samuel 16:13). The torch portrays God’s Word, which is able to light
our way in the darkness of this world (Psalm 119:105). The virgins are those who
have been bidden to the wedding. They are to prepare themselves for the marriage
ceremony, but now there has been an unexpected delay.
Because Christ did not come when many expected Him, some
Christians are now spiritually asleep. Many have given up running the race
altogether. Others have let down, are drifting along, and no longer actively
striving to overcome. Make no mistake, however—regardless of their spiritual
state, the cry will go out. The virgins will be called to the wedding ceremony.
This parable is a warning to all the virgins—to the whole
Church. Christ’s admonition to the Church at the end time is to be prepared, to
stay alert and be in a state of readiness at all times. So, even if events have
turned out differently than expected, don’t let down in prayer, Bible study, and
obedience to God. If circumstances are not exactly what you anticipated, realize
they are still exactly what God planned.
It is imperative that each of us continue to develop
spiritually as time goes on. We must continue to live in a state of preparation
so that we are not caught off guard.
The call to the wedding will come soon. Five of the virgins
were prepared for Christ. The other five were not. Follow the advice that God
gives to His virgins. Remain actively involved in overcoming human nature and
developing godly character right up to the end. Strive to keep yourselves pure,
and undefiled by the doctrines of the false system. Use God’s Holy Spirit and
His Word to remain prepared during the delay we now face. Work at having a full
supply of the oil of God’s Spirit so that your light still be shining when He
returns.