The Parable of the Kingdom of Heaven, Treatise · Verse – Verse 2
Then shall the Kingdom of Heaven, &c.
By the Kingdom of Heaven in some places of the holy Scripture we are to understand the Kingdom of Glory, Matth. 5.3. Blessed are the poor in Spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven. In other places of Scripture by the Kingdom of Heaven, we are to understand the spiritual Kingdom of Grace in the hearts of sanctified Believers, Matth. 13.31. The Kingdom of Heaven is like unto a grain of Mustard-seed. By the Kingdom of Heaven in some other places of Scripture we are to understand the mystical Kingdom of the Church of Christ under the Gospel, Matth. 16.18, 19. Ʋpon this Rock (that Rock is Christ, 1 Cor. 10.4.) I will build my Church —. And I will give thee the Keys of the Kingdom of Heaven.
By the Kingdom of Heaven in this verse we may not understand the Celestial Kingdom of Glory, for there are no foolish Virgins in that Heaven, nor the spiritual Kingdom of Grace which is the Kingdom of God within us, Luk. 17.21. But the Mystical Kingdom of the Church of God under the Gospel, wherein there are both wise and foolish Virgins.
1. Meditation. Every true visible Constituted Church of Christ under the Gospel did in the Apostles dayes and shall in the latter dayes bear some resemblance unto the Kingdom of Heaven. For Confirmation of this Doctrine Read Isa. 60.1, 2, 3, 7, 13, 14, 15, 19, 22. The glory of the Lord shall arise upon thee and his glory shall be seen upon thee, ver. 2. I will glorifie the house of my glory, ver. 7. And I will make the place of my feet glorious, ver. 13. I will make thee an eternal Excellency, ver. 15. The Lord shall be unto thee an everlasting Light, and thy God thy Glory, ver. 19. I the Lord will hasten it in his time, ver. 22. that is, in Christs Day.
In the Explication of this point two things are to be enquired into: 1. What is a true visible constituted Church of Christ under the Gospel: 2. Wherein the Church of God on Earth bears proportion with and resemblance unto the Kingdom of Heaven.
Touching the first particular, A true visible Constituted Church of Christ under the Gospel is a Congregation of Saints, 1 Cor. 1.2. Called out of the World, Rom. 1.7. Separated from Idolaters and Idol Temples, 2 Cor. 6.16, 17. from the unbelieving Jews and their Synagogues and all legal observations of holy dayes, Sabbath dayes, and Mosaical Rites, Ceremonies and shadows, Act. 19.9. Col. 2.16, 17. and assembled together in one place, 1 Cor. 14.23. On the Lords Day the first day of the Week, Acts 20.7. to worship God visibly by the spirit and in the truth, Joh. 4.23, 24. in the holy Ordinances of God, 1 Cor. 11.2. according to the saith and order of the Gospel, Col. 2.5.
Touching the second particular to be enquired into, it consists of two parts. 1. The Church is called a Kingdom. 2. The Church is called the Kingdom of Heaven. The Church is compared to a Kingdom: Because 1. Christ the head of the Church, is the King of Saints, Rev. 15.3. and the King of Zion, Psal. 2.6. and 149.1, 2. Let the Children of Zion (the Congregation of Saints, ver. 1.) be joyful in their King.
2. The Church of God is Christs Throne, Jer. 17.12. A glorious high Throne from the beginning (of his Mystical Kingdom) is the place of our Sanctuary, Rev. 4.4. A throne was set in Heaven, The Church, and ONE sate on the throne, namely Christ; And round about the Throne were twenty four Seats or Thrones; And upon the Seats I saw twenty four Elders (the spiritual Priests of God) sitting cloathed in white Raiment, and they had on their heads Crowns of Gold.
3. Christ the King of his Church; is their Law-giver, Isa. 33.22. The Lord is our Statute-maker, and the Bible is his Statute-Book wherein are published all the Laws of Gods house, Ezek. 43.10, 11. according to which Laws the Church of Saints are to be governed by their Elders whom Christ hath set over them to Rule and Govern them, Heb. 13.7, 17. according to the Laws of his house.
The Church is compared to the Kingdom of Heaven, 1. with respect unto the gracious and glorious presence of God the Father, Son and holy Spirit in the Church: God dwelleth in Zion, Psal. 9.11. Joel 3.21. for it is his Rest, Psal. 132.14. Matth. 18.20. For where two or three are gathered together in my Name, there am I in the midst of them. Rev. 2.1. Christ walketh in the midst of the Golden Candlesticks. Gods presence makes Heaven to be Heaven, and that makes a Heaven on Earth, a Heaven in the heart, and a Heaven in the Congregations of Saints.
2. With respect unto the spiritual glory of the Church of God in the later dayes, Isa. 60.7, 13. The Beauties of Holiness, Psal. 110.3. makes Zion the perfection of Beauty, Psal. 50.2. The Temple was filled with the Glory of God, Ezek. 43.5. & 44.4. And the Glory of the Lord filled the House of the Lord. The house of the Lord is the Church of the living God, 1 Tim. 3.15. And the Temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God, Rev. 15.8.
3. With respect unto the great Company and number of Saints in the Assemblies and Churches of Christ (called the Churches of Saints, 1 Cor. 14.33.) among whom and in whose Assemblies are the holy Angels because of whose presence the Women were to be vailed, 1 Cor. 11.10. This will be more Evident in the last dayes, when the holy City the New Jerusalem shall come down from God out of Heaven, prepared as a Bride adorned for her Husband, Rev. 21.1, 2, 3. And when we are come to Mount Zion, unto the City of the Living God, the Heavenly Jerusalem, to the general Assembly and Church of the first born, and to Jesus the Mediatour of the new Covenant, Heb. 12.22, 23, 24. then will the Church of God on Earth bear some greater proportion with and resemblance unto the Kingdom of Heaven.
Then shall the Kingdom of Heaven be likened unto ten Virgins, &c. Ten is a Mystical number as Dan. 7.7, 20, 24. ten horns, Jude 14. ten thousand of Saints, Rev. 2.10. ten dayes, and so ten Virgins; that is a definite number for an indefinite. By Virgins we are to understand Gospel Professors and Church-members, (2 Cor. 11.2. I have espoused you to one Husband that I may present you as a chast Virgin to Christ) who have escaped the pollutions of the World through the knowledge of Christ, 2 Tim. 3.5. Some are foolish Virgins, formal professors denying the power of Godliness, only seeming to be Religious, James 1.26. who after they have escaped the Pollutions of the World through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, are again entangled therein and overcome, whose later end is worse than their beginning, 2 Pet. 2.20.
Others who are wise Virgins having not only the form but the power of Godliness also, and being partakers of the Divine Nature have escaped the Corruption that is in the World through Lust, 2 Pet. 1.4. These being not defiled with spiritual Whoredoms do follow Christ wheresoever he goes, Rom. 14.4. These are they which are not defiled with Women (neither the great Whore of Rome, Mystery Babylon, the Mother of Harlots, Rev. 17.1, 5. nor the Daughters of that Whore, false Churches, whose Mother Mystical Babylon is, though some of those Daughters be (as Nineveh was called, Nahum 3.4.) well-favoured Harlots, because of the multitude of their spiritual Whoredoms.
2. Meditation. The Churches of Saints in the last dayes shall be reformed and restored unto a Virgin state of primitive purity and spiritual Glory, as in the Apostles dayes.
For the Confirmation of this Doctrine Read and Consider these Scriptures, viz. Isa. 2.2, 3, 4, 5. And it shall come to pass in the last dayes that the Mountain of the Lords house shall be established in the top of the Mountains, &c. Isa. 60.2, 3, 4, 5.6. He that is left in Sion and he that remaineth in Jerusalem shall be called holy, &c. Isa. 60.17, 13, 21. I will glorifie the house of my Glory, and I will make the place of my feet glorious, &c. Isa. 65.17, 18, 19, 25. For behold I create new Heavens and a new earth, &c. Rev. 20.1, 2, 3, 4, 5. Behold I make all things new, 2 Pet. 3.13, 14. Rev. 14.1, 2, 3, 4, 5. These are they that follow the Lamb — for they are Virgins.
In the Explication of this point we are to consider two particulars.
1. What Reformation will be in the Churches of Saints in the last dayes.
2. What things shall be restored then which are or have been wanting in the Churches of Saints since the Apostles dayes.
Touching the first particular, 1. Professors of the Gospel and Members of Churches will be much reformed from many Corruptions in their Judgements and Conversations. The Apostles tell us and foretold the Churches that in the later dayes some Professors would be corrupted in their Judgements; compare 1 Tim. 4.1, 2, 3. with 2 Pet. 2.1, 2, 3. And many shall follow their pernicious wayes, by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of. And in the last dayes other Professors would be corrupted in their Conversations 2 Tim. 3.1, 2, 3, 4, 5. Covetous, proud, promise and Covenant Breakers, Lovers of pleasures more than Lovers of God, having a form of Godliness but denying the power thereof: and are not too too many members of Churches (who seem to be religious, Jam. 1.26.) very much corrupted in their Judgements, and some also in their Conversations? But the days are coming when there shall be a great Reformation in both these Respects.
For God will return to the people a pure Language, Zeph. 3.9, 13. The Remnant of Israel shall not do iniquity nor speak lyes, neither shall a deceitful tongue be found in their mouth. And those Virgin professors that follow the Lamb, Rev. 14.4, 5. shall be redeemed from the Earth, vers. 3. and from men, vers. 4. And in their mouth was found no guile, for they are without fault before the throne of God, vers. 5.
2. The Discipline and Government of the Churches will be very much reformed in the last days, for then Christ the LORD will Reign in Mount Sion, and in Jerusalem and before his Ancients gloriously, Mich. 4.6, 7. from henceforth even for ever. The Churches of Saints shall be ruled and Governed by the holy, Righteous and good Laws of the Lord Jesus Christ, Isa. 33.22. who is the Son over the house of God, Heb. 3.1, 6. Ezek. 43.10, 11. Shew them all the Laws of the house and let them measure the Pattern, &c. Isa. 9.6, 7. The Government shall lye upon his shoulders. Christ is the Legislator, the Law-giver, the Bible is his and his Churches Statute Book, and all the Churches, Ministers and Saints of God are to be governed by his Royal Law of Liberty, in obeying and keeping whereof there is a Blessing promised, James 1.25.
Touching the second particular, 1. The Ministry of the Gospel will be restored in the later dayes, Jer. 13, 14, 15. I will bring you to Sion and I will give you Pastors according to my heart, they shall feed you with knowledge and with understanding.
2. The gifts of the holy spirit shall be restored in the last dayes, Joel 2.21, 23, 28, 29, 30 31. The LORD will do great things— Be glad then ye Children of Zion— I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh, &c. Acts 2.17, 18. And it shall come to pass in the last dayes (saith God) I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh, &c. This is that which God hath promised and will again perform.
3. The Ordinances of God will be restored to his Churches in the later dayes. Antichrist hath made void the Commandments of God by the Traditions of men (as the Scribes and Pharisees did Mark 7.6, 7 9.) And he hath changed the Ordinances of Christ, and brought in the Ordinances of men, Col. 2.20, 22, 23. Why are ye subject to Ordinances (or Traditions) after the Commandments and Doctrines of men, which is (foreign) will-worsh…p, vers. 23. and vain worship, Matth. 15 8, 9. (foreign) But in vain do they worship me, &c. The Ordinances of God (which have been corrupted by mens Inventions, and superstitions,) shall be restored to their primitive purity and first Institutions. Read Jer. 32.38. & 30.40. and compare it with Zeph. 3.5. Then will I turn to the people a pure Language (or a clean Lip) that they may call upon the Name of the Lord and serve him with one shoulder (or consent.) In that Day the LORD shall be ONE, and his Name ONE; that is, in the later Days Christ and his Saints shall be ONE Kingdom: and his way and worship but ONE in all the Earth.
Which took their Lamps. The Virgin Professors of the Gospel and Worshippers of God in the Churches of Christ have Lamps, that is, the presence of God in his Worship and Ornances; Matth. 18.20. For where two or three are gathered together in my name, saith Christ, there am I in the midst of them. So God manifested his presence with Abraham when he was offering a Sacrifice to the Lord, Gen. 15.17, 18. Behold a smoaking furnace and a burning Lamp, passed between those pieces; And God made a Covenant with Abraham. Read Exod. 19.18, 27. & 20.11. & Isa. 4.5. Rev. 15.9. God appointed seven Lamps to be lighted and supplyed with sweet Oyle of Olives, both in his Wilderness Tabernacle, Exod. 25.37. and in his Canaan Temple, 2 Chron. 4.20, 21. that they might burn continually before the Lord, which typed forth the seven Spirits of God, Rev. 3.1.4, 5. And there were seven Lamps of Fire burning before the throne which are the seven spirits of God, that is, the variety and abundance of the Gifts and Fruits of the Holy Eternal Spirit. There are diversity of Gifts, but the same Spirit, 1 Cor. 12.4. and so there are divers and many fruits of the Spirit, Gal. 5.22, 23.
foreign, These ten Virgins having received their Lamps, to wit, a commandment from the Lord (for the Commandment is a Lamp, Prov. 6.23.) to worship him by the Spirit in Truth, and Spiritual Gifts and Grace to perform the Gospel Instituted Ordinances of Christ according to the holy Will of God revealed in his written word; for his Word is a Lamp, unto the feet of his Saints, and a Light unto their Paths, Psal. 119.105.
3. Meditation. The Virgin Professors of the Gospel and Worshippers of God in the Churches of Saints shall have Gospel Light and Spiritual Gifts in the later dayes to Worship God in the Order and Ordinances of the Gospel according to the written Word of God.
First, Virgin Professors shall have Gospel Light in the later dayes to worship God aright. The written Word of God (through the teachings of the holy Spirit) to wit, the commands of Christ and the Examples of his Apostles, Churches, and Saints approved by Christ (recorded in the holy Scripture of Truth) will be a Lamp and a Light unto them, Psal. 119.105. Prov. 6.23. & 1 Cor. 11.1, 2.14.37. Phil. 3.16, 17. & Isa. 60.1, 2, 3. Arise, shine, thy Light is come— And the Gentiles (or Heathen Nations) shall come to thy Light, &c.
Secondly, Virgin Professors in the Churches of Christ in the later Dayes shall have spiritual Gifts qualifying and inabling them to worship God by the Spirit and in the Truth in the Order and Ordinances of the Gospel, Acts 2.17. And it shall come to pass (saith God) in the last Dayes, I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh, &c. 1 Cor. 12.4. There are Diversities of Gifts, but the same spirit. As in the Dayes of the Apostles so shall it be in the last Dayes, Joel 2.21, 28, 29. much more poured forth.
And went forth to meet the Bridegroom. This Bridegroom is the Lord Jesus Christ, Joh. 3.29 He that hath the Bride is the Bridegroom, that is, Jesus Christ, to whom his Churches and Saints are espoused, 2 Cor. 11.2. whom Christ hath betrothed to himself in loving kindness and faithfulness for ever, Hosea 2.19, 20. They are his Sister and his Spouse, Cant. 4.10. The Lambs Wife, Rev. 19.7, 8. And He is the Bridegroom, Isa. 62.5. With the Joy of the Bridegroom over the Bride shall the LORD rejoice over thee.
To meet the Bridegroom, doth imply two things. First, That the Virgins did know and believe that Christ was coming, Psal. 96.9 11, 13. O worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness. Let the Heavens rejoice, and let the Earth be glad and rejoice before the Lord, for he cometh, for he cometh, &c. Had not the foolish Virgins known and Believed that Christ would come, yea and that he was coming, they would not have gone out to meet him, but would rather have scoffed at his coming, when the wise Virgins had spoken of it, as …ose Scoffers will do, 2 Pet. 3.3, 4. …re shall come in the last Dayes Scoffers— saying where is the promise of his Coming?
Secondly, That all the Virgins did know and believe, That the coming of the spiritual Bridegroom Christ Jesus was near, and that he would come quickly or shortly: The Bridegrooms coming was even at the Door, therefore they went out to meet him, Heb. 10.37. Yet a little while and HE that shall come will come, and will not tarry. Now the Just shall live by Faith. The Virgins believed this and went out to meet the Bridegroom, and they had Scripture ground to believe it, because Christ had revealed it in his written word, Rev. 22.12. Behold I come quickly, vers. 20. HE which testifieth these things saith surely I come quickly, Amen.
They went out to meet the Bridegroom, that is, The Virgin Professors in the Churches of Saints in the later dayes knowing and Believing the Coming of Christ the Bridegroom, will go out from their nearest and dearest Relations, their great Possessions. They will forsake Father and Mother, Wife and Children that will not go out with them to meet the Bridegroom, and will follow him wheresoever he goes, as his Disciples did, Matth. 19.27. So will the Virgins do, Rev. 14.1, 4. And it is the Duty of all Christs Disciples so to do, Luke 14.26, 27. Mat. 20.37, 38, 39. And they that forsake all their Relations, Estates, Lands, Houses, Goods and all for Christ, shall not lose by so doing, Luk. 18.28, 29, 30. & Mark 10.28, 29, 30. Rev. 22.12. Behold I come quickly and my Reward is with me.
4. Meditation. That such Gospel Light will be revealed to Virgin Professors in the later dayes, and such anointing of the Spirit will be poured out upon them, as will cause them and make them willing to sell all, lose all and forsake all, and go out to meet the Bridegroom.
1. Gospel Light touching the Kingdom and Coming of the spiritual Bridegroom our Lord Jesus Christ will be revealed in the later dayes, Matth. 24.14. And this Gospel of the Kingdom shall be Preached in all the world— And then shall the END come, Zech. 14.6, 7, 7. It shall come to pass, That at Evening Time it shall be light. — And the Lord shall be King over all the Earth. In that DAY shall there be ONE Lord and his Name ONE. And Rev. 22.5. The Lord God giveth them Light— And they shall see his face, and his Name shall be in their foreheads, And they shall Reign for ever and ever— Which must shortly be done, Behold I come quickly, &c.
2. The Anointings of the Spirit, the Gifts and powerful operations of the Spirit will be upon Virgin Professors in the later Dayes, Joel 2.28, 29. Isa. 43.3, 5, 6. & Chap. 32.15, 16, 17. 1 John 2.13, 14, 20, 27. The Fathers, the young Men, and the little Children shall have the Ʋnction of the Holy ONE, &c. Then it will be with Virgin Professors as it was in the Apostles Dayes, 1 Cor. 12.4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, &c. There are Diversities of Gifts but the same spirit; and there are diversities of operations but the same God; All these worketh one and the self same Spirit.
3. This Gospel Light, Anointing and operation of the Holy Spirit upon Virgin Professors in the last Dayes will ingage them and make them willing to go out to meet the Bridegroom, Psal. 110.2, 3. The Lord will send the Rod of thy strength out of Sion: Rule thou in the midst of thine Enemies. Thy People shall be willing in the DAY of thy power, in the Beauties of Holiness, &c. God will put his Spirit within them and cause them to walk in his wayes, Ezek. 36.27. HE will pour his Spirit upon them, Ezek. 39.29. and they shall obey his voice, Matth. 25.6. Behold the Bridegroom cometh, go yet out to meet him. And they went out to meet the Bridegroom.
Vers. 2. And five of them were wise and five were foolish.
In this Parable Virgin Professors in the Churches of Saints are variously distinguished by Christ; viz. Five of them are wise and five are foolish. 2. The Foolish took no Oyle with them, but what was in their Lamps, vers. 3. The Wise took Oyle in their Vessels with their Lamps, vers. 4. 3. The Lamps of the Wise Virgins (being trimmed and supplyed with oyle in their Vessels) continued burning, The Lamps of the foolish Virgins (being trimmed but not supplyed with oyle) went out, vers. 7, 8. 4. The Wise Virgins, being ready, went in with the Bridegroom to the Marriage: but the foolish Virgins, not being prepared, were shut out, vers. 10, 11, 12.
This verse contains the first Distinction of Virgin Professors; Five were wise, and five were foolish. Five is a definite number put for an indefinite, and thereby a small number is here put for a great number, and a few for very many, the five foolish Virgins, for all sorts of Gospel Professors, who having a form of Godliness want the power thereof, 2 Tim 3.5. And the five wise Virgins, for all sorts of Worshippers of God that make not only a Profession of Christ, but have also Possession of Christ dwelling in their hearts, Ephes. 3.17. both which particulars will plainly appear in the Exposition and handling of the 3 and 4 verses.
Meditation. There are some wise, and many foolish Virgins.
The Holy Spirit hath given many distinguishing Characters in the Scripture of Truth between these wise and foolish Virgins, whereof some in this Parable, which I have already mentioned in General, and shall afterwards shew particularly. And the Scripture Distinctions between sanctified Believers and Hypocrites; between them, that only seem to be Religious, and them that are sincerely so in deed and Truth; between those that are in Christ, having an Everlasting and unseparable Union with him, and those that are without Christ, who make a profession of Christ, but have not possession of Christ in their hearts; I say all those scripture distinctions are applicable, and may be accommodated unto wise and foolish Professors, but especially that Scripture Distinction, 2 Tim. 3.1-5. which the holy Spirit makes between them that have the form, and them that have the power of Godliness, which Christ in this Parable doth metaphorically express by the foolish Virgins, vers. 3. who took their Lamps, but took no Oyle with them, and the Wise Virgins, that took Oyle in their Vessels with their Lamps, vers. 4.