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PREPARING ENOUGH FOR THE COMING OF JESUS

By Ptr. Ann Bartolome • November 2025

“Then the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them, but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps. As the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and slept. But at midnight there was a cry, ‘Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.’ Then all those virgins rose and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ But the wise answered, saying, ‘Since there will not be enough for us and for you, go rather to the dealers and buy for yourselves.’ And while they were going to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was shut. Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, ‘Lord, lord, open to us.’ But he answered, ‘Truly, I say to you, I do not know you.’ Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.” Matt. 25:1-13

The Parable of the Ten Virgins emphasizes the importance of being ready for Jesus’ return. God’s Word is like a treasure—the more you dig, the more revelation comes to set us free from spiritual blindness or slumber.

Israel’s wedding tradition starts with the betrothal of the bride and groom. The groom prepares a house, and only when it is ready can the wedding take place. On the wedding day, the groom fetches the bride, and a feast follows for days.

The ten virgins in the parable waited to join the procession. The five foolish virgins ran out of oil, unlike the wise ones. When the announcement came, only the prepared virgins entered the wedding banquet.

How Do We Prepare?

  1. Be prepared spiritually:
    • Oil of communication: prayer and devotion to God’s Word (2 Thess. 5:17-18, Matt. 24:35)
    • Oil of communion: intimacy with the Holy Spirit (2 Cor. 13:14)
    • Oil of commitment: obedience to God and His Word (James 1:22, 1 Sam. 15:22)
  2. Be prepared enough: The foolish virgins did prepare, but not sufficiently. God warns us to watch because we don’t know the hour. Reflect: Are you praying enough? Listening to God enough? Reading and meditating on His Word enough? Spending quality time with the Holy Spirit enough? Obeying His commands enough?

The story of mankind began with the wedding of Adam and Eve and will end with the wedding of Jesus and His church (Rev. 21:1-4). If we want to be part of this final wedding, we must prepare—and prepare enough—for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.