Are There Foolish Virgins in Every Age? If Yes, Which Tribulation Do They Pass Through in the 1st to 6th Ages?
1) Direct Answer
Yes. In every church age there were clean‑living professors without the Oil. But the prophetic company called “the foolish virgins” who knock after the door is shut belongs to the generation at the coming of the Bridegroom. Those alive in the last age who lack the Oil miss the Rapture and go into the Great Tribulation. In the 1st–6th ages, those in that condition died in their times; they did not enter the end‑time Great Tribulation, but will rise at the White Throne as the “sheep,” not the Bride and not in the Millennium.
2) Scriptural Explanation
- Matthew 25:1–13 shows two virgin classes and a single door‑shut event tied to the Bridegroom’s coming. Those ready go in; the others come after and are shut out.
- Luke 13:25 speaks of a once‑for‑all door being shut—this matches the end‑time separation when He comes.
- Revelation 3:14–22 describes the last age (Laodicea): professing, yet blind and naked—many without the Spirit’s Oil.
- Revelation 3:10 promises the true, kept ones will be kept from the hour of trial that comes on all the world—implying the unkept face that hour.
- Matthew 24:21 identifies that unparalleled “Great Tribulation” as an end‑time event.
- Revelation 20:4 shows the Bride reigning in the Millennium; Revelation 20:5 and 20:11–15 show the rest rising after the thousand years at the White Throne. Matthew 25:31–34 shows the “sheep” inheriting life there.
3) Simple Clarifying Logic
- The condition (virgin yet without Oil) has existed in every age; but the door‑shut crisis happens once—at His coming. Therefore only the last‑age foolish go into the Great Tribulation after missing the Rapture.
- In the 1st–6th ages, those lacking the Oil died under ordinary persecutions and pressures of their times (Acts 14:22), but not the end‑time Great Tribulation of Matthew 24:21. They do not reign in the Millennium (Revelation 20:4); they appear later at the White Throne as the “sheep” (Matthew 25:31–34; Revelation 20:11–15).
4) Reinforcing statement
Now notice, the Bride is kept from that final hour and goes in; the last‑age foolish face the Great Tribulation; the earlier‑age foolish died before it and await the White Throne—saved as “sheep,” but not the Bride and not in the Millennium.
Ask a Follow-up Question
What did the Laodicean Church Age (our age) Angel (- messenger) Say about this?
Ranked passages from the local William Branham sermon and Church Age Book database. Relevance is relative, not a statement of doctrinal certainty.
Church Ages, part 9: The ten virgins, and the 144,000
60-1211M §90
Now, in the very beginning Cain put a altar, made a sacrifice, worshipped, done everything that Abel done, without (oh, receive it!) ... without the revelation of God, when the whole church is built on that revelation. Jesus said so, "Upon this rock I'll build my church"---spiritual revealed truth of the supreme deity of Jesus Christ. "On this rock I'll build my church." Now, if God only respects your rituals, your rites (that's Methodists, Baptists, Pentecostals, and so forth), if He only expects that for you to d...
Seals 2: Breach between the Church Ages and the Seals
63-0317E §130
But you see, that sleeping virgin ain't receiving nothing anyhow. That's right. And remember, while they went to try to buy oil (remember the Scriptures doesn't say they got it), but while they were out trying to buy it, there come a sound. What happened? All those virgins that slept rose, and trimmed their lamps and went into the supper. (Is that right?) And the rest was left for the tribulation period. Right---weeping, wailing and gnashing of teeth. That's the church. Not the Bride; the church. The Bride went in....
Questions and Answers, Part 3
64-0830M §169
QUESTION: If the church is saved even though she does not go in the rapture, as I believe you taught, she must go through the tribulation for purifying. But what about these that are dead, how will they be purified? All right. Those that have that... The bride don't need no purification; She's already purified. And those that are dead back there, these that go through ... see. They never received the light that these church up here has received; they lived under their justification, sanctification, so forth like th...
Questions and Answers, Part 2
64-0823E §88
Now, just a minute. "Will the foolish virgin be saved." No! Whatever happens she---happens now. After that time she's in the state... Now, she will have to go through the tribulation period. And the reason of it is, is because she has rejected the atonement in its fullness. She is a believer, a professed believer, but she will have to go through the tribulation period. The Bible said, "And the rest of them, the dragon spurted water out of his mouth to go and make war..." And what an hour that is. There's never been...
Church Ages, part 9: The ten virgins, and the 144,000
60-1211M §53
And now you can look in the "Look" magazine, and "Life" and them, showing the pictures of them returning back. Didn't Jesus say, "When you see the fig tree putting forth its buds... ?" Jews has always been the fig tree. "This generation shall not pass until all these things be fulfilled." And now they're already back, already a nation, already got their own money, their own flag, and everything, and is recognized in the U.N. They are a nation. She's settled. She's ready. Now, ready for what? The sealing of the 144,...