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 2: The Patmos Vision
60-1204E §3
Now there's another question here that was given me last evening: "Brother Branham, are the five foolish virgins of Matthew 25 counted as the Gentile remnant? I understand that the five foolish virgins were saved, but have to go through the great tribulation period. Is this correct? If so, what will be their final destination? Could they be the sheep which are divided from the goats in Matthew 25:2 ? Pretty good theologian, according to what... I think it too, that they are the remnant. The sleeping virgin is the r...
Church Ages, part 9: The ten virgins, and the 144,000
60-1211M §99
All right, sir, "The great tribulation." Now, now if you... They'll have to go through... Now remember, He said... Now let me get the rest of that. "They were cast into outer darkness, and there would be weeping, wailing and gnashing of teeth." All right, that's the great tribulation, isn't it?---the great tribulation. Now, after this tribulation, those people... Now, let me catch it again here. It is the remnant. Now look. Here is a piece of goods. All right, the lady lays it out like this. Now she's going to make...
Church Ages, part 9: The ten virgins, and the 144,000
60-1211M §79
Now in the book of St. Matthew, I believe ... the 25th chapter, I believe. I said 21, didn't I? I had it marked down here 21, but that's wrong. It's 25. I had to hurry this morning. I got up tired, and late, and I was hurrying. I was jotting down some scriptures, and I put 21, when it's 25. Then shall the kingdom of heaven be like unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom. Now, and five of them were wise, and five were foolish. And they that were foolish took their lamps, and t...
Church Ages, part 9: The ten virgins, and the 144,000
60-1211M §86
Now, there was ... the virgins went out to meet Him. And the foolish virgins, now, did not have oil in their lamp, but they had everything else. They were clean. They believed in Christ. They preached the Word that they believed their denomination would let them preach. They preached that: the second coming, the sacrifice, the atonement. They believe... You ever tie up with a good Baptist scholar one time, you better know what you're talking about. You sure had.
Church Ages, part 9: The ten virgins, and the 144,000
60-1211M §80
All the way down through, all died---slumbered and slept, see---as they went down through. Now, they're not lost, but they just slumbered and slept. They're waiting, see. It didn't say they was dead, but they're slumbering and sleeping, see. And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him. And all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out. But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest the...