“And the Door Was Shut”

17. (a) When will the door to the marriage festivities be closed? (b) What is it necessary for the remnant of the virgins class and the “great crowd” of their companions to do now?

¹⁷ Exactly when the remnant of the virgins class will have entered into the festal marriage ceremonies, and the door then is shut, is not known. But it is unquestionably nearer than ever before, and time is running out!

19. Whom do the foolish virgins therefore picture, and why are they to be classified with Babylon the Great?

¹⁹ So the door to the feast is not to be opened to those foolish virgins. They well pictured those who during “the conclusion of the system of things” fail to make it into “the kingdom of the heavens.” (Matthew 24:3; 25:1) Because of holding on to their chosen form of religion, as indicated by their going to the market to buy other oil, they are classified with Babylon the Great.

20. (a) When the foolish virgins see the “ten horns” of the “wild beast” begin to turn against Babylon the Great, to whom will they appeal and on what claim? (b) Why will they nevertheless experience destruction?

²⁰ Consequently, when the symbolic “wild beast,” which the religious harlot rides, turns against her with its “ten horns,” they will have to share her fate. (Revelation 17:16) When such religionists, pictured by the five foolish virgins, see this beginning of the rejection of Babylonish religion by the powerful forces of the political element, they will turn to the Bridegroom King, claiming that they are of “the kingdom of the heavens” class and deserve to be let into the spiritual marriage festivities with the discreet virgins. Shockingly, the one whom they address as “Sir,” the Bridegroom Jesus Christ, will refuse to recognize them as deserving of admittance into the heavenly Kingdom. And they have not shared any hope of eternal life on earth along with the “great crowd.” So nothing remains for these foolish religionists but destruction with the world empire of false religion, Babylon the Great!

21. (a) In view of that frightful prospect, what course do the discreet virgins and their companions pursue? (b) What privileges of service do members of the “great crowd” hope to enjoy?

²¹ What a frightful prospect for them!