Page 79 - Heavenly Signs II by Mel Gable

77

“And I heard something like a voice in the center of the four living creatures saying, “A quart of wheat for a denarius, and three
116
quarts of barley for a denarius; and do not damage the oil and the wine.”
A “denarius” was a full day’s wage in the time that the Apostle John had written this passage. If the sun is
darkened, how could plants including vegetables grow without sunlight? Would it result in famine on a
worldwide scale? Would this affect the feed for cattle on the earth? This would inherently result in a shortage of
food both in meat and vegetable products. Would this change the value of money? Would this cause hyper-
inflation of currency throughout the world? This would be independent of a one world currency. Darkness over
the earth is due to the continuation of solar eclipses of the moon or planets in the heavens. This monthly
occurrence is a very unusual. His Living Elect at this time should be prudent observing the coming darkness and
be prepared for the famine. The world will be like the days of Noah and the Great Flood and not be prepared for
this time of Tribulation. Is there a greater significance in the Parable of the Ten Virgins in Matthew 25 which is
after Christ’s description of His Coming for His Bride? “The oil in flasks along with their lamps” in the parable must
be a warning of the darkness prior to the famine in the land and the Rapture by the bridegroom, who is Christ.

Parable of Ten Virgins

Matthew 25:1-9 “Then the kingdom of heaven will be comparable to ten virgins, who took their
lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom.”
2 “Five of them were foolish, and five were prudent.”
3 “For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them,
4 but the prudent took oil in flasks along with their lamps.”
5 “Now while the bridegroom was delaying, they all got drowsy and began to sleep.”
6 “But at midnight there was a shout, Behold, the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.”
7 “Then all those virgins rose and trimmed their lamps.”
8 “The foolish said to the prudent, Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.”
9 “But the prudent answered, No, there will not be enough for us and you too; go instead to the
dealers and buy some for yourselves.”
117

The five prudent virgins had just enough lamp oil for their lamps to not go out. They were unable to share their
oil; but, told the less prudent virgins to go and buy some from the dealers. Nevertheless, the prudent virgins were
ready for the bridegroom, who represents Christ our Savior and Lord. The believers in Christ are considered His
Bride. Is this a sign of being prepared for the return of Christ by storing-up supplies necessary for the prolonged
famine caused by darkness over the earth prior to the Rapture of the believer? Is this why this parable follows
logically after Christ’s warning in Matthew 24 of His Return for His Bride? In a commentary, that is written by R.
Jamieson, A commentary, critical and explanatory, it says the following:

And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out—rather, “are going out”;
for oil will not light an extinguished lamp, though it will keep a burning one from going out. Ah! Now at length they have discovered
not only their own folly, but the wisdom of the other class, and they do homage to it. They did not perhaps despise them before, but
118
they thought them righteous overmuch; now they are forced, with bitter mortification, to wish they were like them.
But the wise answered, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you—The words “Not so,” it will be seen,
are not in the original, where the reply is very elliptical—“In case there be not enough for us and you.” A truly wise answer this.
“And what, then, if we shall share it with you? Why, both will be undone.”
119

116 New American Standard Bible : 1995 update. 1995 LaHabra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.

117 New American Standard Bible : 1995 update. 1995 (Mt 25:1–9). LaHabra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.

118 Jamieson, R., Fausset, A. R., Fausset, A. R., Brown, D., & Brown, D. (1997). A commentary, critical and explanatory, on the Old and
New Testaments (Mt 25:8–9). Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.

119 Jamieson, R., Fausset, A. R., Fausset, A. R., Brown, D., & Brown, D. (1997). A commentary, critical and explanatory, on the Old and
New Testaments (Mt 25:8–9). Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.