Does Not Compute

Jesus told his disciples this parable: “The Kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish and five were wise. The foolish ones, when taking their lamps, brought no oil with them, but the wise brought flasks of oil with their lamps. 

Since the bridegroom was long delayed, they all became drowsy and fell asleep. At midnight, there was a cry, ‘Behold, the bridegroom!  Come out to meet him!’ Then all those virgins got up and trimmed their lamps. The foolish ones said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ But the wise ones replied, ‘No, for there may not be enough for us and you. Go instead to the merchants and buy some for yourselves.’ 

While they went off to buy it, the bridegroom came and those who were ready went into the wedding feast with him. Then the door was locked. Afterwards the other virgins came and said, ‘Lord, Lord, open the door for us!’ But he said in reply, ‘Amen, I say to you, I do not know you.’ Therefore, stay awake, for you know neither the day nor the hour.” (Matthew 25:1-13)

Many early Christians believed the Second Coming of Jesus and that the establishment of the Kingdom of God [or Heaven] was imminent, but it did not occur.  In this parable, the bridegroom has been "delayed."  Therefore, for those patiently waiting for the Second Coming (those with oil), they must keep watch and not give up hope.

Of course, that Coming was not imminent, and it has yet to occur in some incomprehensible fashion. We need not worry or buy and carry oil for our lamps because we all will have died before it happens assuming it will occur in the way it has been suggested by early biblical writers and philosophers.

Our Nicene Creed gives us a clue.   It reads: “He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead and his kingdom will have no end.”  Paul in his second letter to the Thessalonians (1:7-9) elaborates: 

“…This is evidence of the just judgment of God, so that you may be considered worthy of the kingdom of God for which you are suffering. For it is surely just on God’s part to repay with afflictions those who are afflicting you, and to grant rest along with us to you who are undergoing afflictions, at the revelation of the Lord Jesus from heaven with his mighty angels, in blazing fire, inflicting punishment on those who do not acknowledge God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. These will pay the penalty of eternal ruin, separated from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his power, when he comes to be glorified among his holy ones and to be marveled at on that day among all who have believed, for our testimony to you was believed.”

According to Paul, the Second Coming involves “Jesus and his mighty angels applying blazing fire and eternal punishment for those who do not acknowledge God and don’t obey the Gospel.”  Really?!   In a way, Paul is implying that those who were suffering would be rewarded by having those who caused the suffering and afflictions pay the penalty of eternal ruin. That’s God’s “just judgement” in Paul’s view and suggested in our Creed.   

With all that said, I much prefer Jesus’ First Coming.  We can relate to his birth, life, and teaching.  Eternal punishment does not compute, to coin the famous phase of the robot from the television series Lost in Space.  Therefore, I’ll admit this part of our Creed seems inconsistent with our God of love – not punishment.   

Nevertheless, Jesus' good advice is to be prepared and not necessarily for his Second Coming but to be ready to abide by his commandments especially to love God with all our hearts and our neighbor no matter how hard that may be.  We must always be prepared to follow his way and to carry that oil to light our way through the darkness we will always have to endure.

Deacon David Pierce