Discussion 4: This week we conclude our discussion on the parable of the ten virgins. There is so much to cover in this material, yet we will continue to focus on what we see as most important to us. We attempt to understand the main points of God's word, as permitted by His grace, and one of the unmistakable truths of this story is that of the darkness of the hour. It is midnight, the women are tired and they need lamps to find their way and to see the Bridegroom. As they "trim" or adjust their lamps, some of them finally realize that their light will not last very much longer, and soon it will be too dark to see the Groom when He comes. Just what is this "darkness" anyway, and why do we need lamps and oil in order to meet the Lord? That is one of the main points and mysteries of this story, and the answer is only to be found by each individual himself. That is why Jesus presents this story in parable form, because He wants us to find the answer ourselves. Not to simply trust in someone else's interpretation, but to be able to realize this individually, with the help of the Holy Spirit, and to be ready when He returns to claim His bride. So it is of utmost importance that we "keep watch" in our daily lives waiting for His appointed time of arrival. Another consideration in this parable is who exactly are the virgins. Besides some being wise and some foolish, it should be noted that they are not brides themselves, but bridesmaids. As seen in Revelation, the church itself is the bride. So the use of bridesmaids, or virgins, seems to personalize the story a bit more, as our role as servants in the Kingdom of God becomes more apparent.