Some Teach That The foolish virgins Must Have Had Some Oil for Their Lamps to Light Up at All and What the Actually Lacked Was Extra Oil. Is This True
No. That is not true. The parable draws a sharp line: some had oil; some did not.
Scriptural explanation:
- “They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them” (Matthew 25:3). The wise “took oil in their vessels with their lamps” (Matthew 25:4). That’s the Spirit-supplied life within.
- When the cry came, the foolish said, “Our lamps are going out,” and they tried to borrow and then went to buy (Matthew 25:8-10). If they had the Oil, they wouldn’t need to borrow or buy at midnight.
Simple clarifying logic:
- The lamp is the outward profession; the oil is the Holy Spirit. You can trim a wick and get a momentary flare, but without oil there is no lasting light. That’s why their lamps went out at the crisis.
- The text never says “some” oil or “only lacked extra.” It says they took no oil with them, while the wise had a supply in their vessels. Either you have the indwelling Oil or you don’t—you cannot borrow it, and you cannot rush out to purchase it when the Door is opening.
Short reinforcement:
Now notice, the shut door proves it: those without Oil were not ready. It’s not a matter of “not enough extra,” but of not having the Spirit’s supply when the Bridegroom came.
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.
Seals 9: Questions and Answers on the Seals
63-0324M §2
I was just coming in when I heard that message go forth. So, it is true that we need to keep our lamps filled. Keep our... You know, as you burn... You can't go on what you have done now, see, because fire burning out of oil makes a carbon. So that's the reason the trimming of the... Have your lamps trimmed, because the carbon on top of the wick... Many of you people about my age... When we used to use the coal oil lamp, it'd get a carbon on top where it would burn, and therefore, it would interfere with the light....
The Seal of God and the Mark of the Beast, part 1
61-0216 §55
And remember, the very time that the sleeping virgin went to buy the oil, that's when the bridegroom came. That's right. Don't you see it? If the Presbyterians, and the Episcopalians, and those others are come seeking for the Holy Ghost, you better get your lamp trimmed! Trimmed. Trimmed. Yes, it needs trimming. Pentecost better be trimming some lamps. Amen. Get a lot of this world cut away from you. It done got corroded over. The wick's got in bad shape. You know, that wick is a great thing. I used to watch... Wha...
Church Ages, part 9: The ten virgins, and the 144,000
60-1211M §91
...ers around in the land, dwelling in tents, poor, humble." But said, "Don't you try to curse them, 'cause I'm with them." Now watch. These people believed in the same ritual that they believed in, and worshipped the same God, see. But they didn't have signs and wonders following them. Israel had a brass serpent, a smitten rock, the joy of the king, divine healing, prophets, everything right down here. And they did not. They had the ritual without the blessing, the oil.
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 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...