The parable of the ten virgins is a warning to us concerning the Day of Christ and of the division between those who merely are correct in their doctrine and those who are full of the Presence of the living Jesus.

Each of the ten was a "virgin," that is, a Christian. Each had her lamp, her testimony concerning the truth of Christ.

But only five had sufficient "oil," that is, the eternal Life of Jesus dwelling in them. Only these five went in with the Bridegroom to the marriage.

To be "sleeping in Jesus" is to have not only the lamp of truth but also the oil of the Spirit that keeps the lamp shining. We must worship Christ not only in truth but also in the Spirit of God. Apart from the oil of the Spirit, the lamp of the Word will not shine. The letter without the Spirit kills.

By "having the Spirit of God" we do not mean that the believer speaks in tongues. The writer speaks in tongues. Being filled with the Spirit is evidenced by the fruit of the Spirit, not by speaking in tongues as valuable as tongues are to the believer. Many believers speak in tongues who are not filled with the Spirit of God. Their lives reveal clearly they are not abiding in the Lord Jesus.

It is our point of view that those who are sleeping in Jesus consist not only of the saints of the new covenant but also the saints of the old covenant. All will come forth in the Day of Christ.

But how could the saints of the old covenant be saved in Christ? It is possible because the Gospel was preached to them in the spirit world.

For for this cause [in order that all might be judged on the same basis] was the gospel preached also to them that are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit. (I Peter 4:6)

That the old-covenant saints will appear with the new-covenant saints was demonstrated on the Mount of Transfiguration. The Mount of Transfiguration was a preview of the Day of Christ.

Verily I say unto you, There be some standing here, which shall not taste of death, till they see the Son of man coming in his kingdom. (Matthew 16:28)

Six days after stating this, Jesus took Peter, James, and John up into a high mountain. The preview of the coming of the Kingdom of God, which will occur in the Day of Christ, included Jesus, Moses, Elijah, Peter, James, and John. This is one reason why we believe that those who sleep in Jesus include the saints of both covenants.

Another interesting episode concerning the old-covenant saints took place at the time of Christ's resurrection when "many bodies of the saints which slept arose" and appeared to people in Jerusalem (Matthew 27:52,53).

It is the saints, the holy ones, both of the old covenant and the new covenant, who will be raised in the Day of Christ. This does not include the lukewarm, casual professors of Christ who are so abundant today. They may subscribe to correct doctrine but they will not be raised in the Day of Christ because there is not enough eternal life dwelling in them.

To be continued.