Where Then Do the Foolish Virgins Come From, If They Are Not in Mystery Babylon?
Direct Answer
They are a separate, clean-living, professing class who did not receive the Oil of the Holy Spirit. They are “virgins” because they are not part of the harlot system; yet they are “foolish” because, when the midnight cry sounded, they had no Oil and missed the door. They do not remain in Mystery Babylon; they pass into the tribulation, and later appear as the “sheep” at the White Throne—saved, but not the Bride nor in the Millennium.
Scriptural Explanation
- Matthew 25:1–13 shows two virgin groups. Both are virgins (clean), but the foolish lack Oil. When the cry came, the wise entered; the foolish arrived after, and the door was shut.
- “Virgin” stands opposite to “harlot” (Revelation 17–18). Babylon is a harlot; virgins are not her. “Come out of her, my people” (Revelation 18:4) draws the Bride fully out; the foolish respond too late, without Oil.
- The Bride is the called‑out, Spirit‑filled company with the Lamb (Revelation 7:9–17) and reigns with Christ (Revelation 20:4). The foolish virgins are not shown reigning.
- Those who miss the door face trial and witness under pressure (compare Revelation 12:17). They do not sit on thrones, but later stand at the White Throne as the “sheep” who inherit life (Matthew 25:31–34; Revelation 20:11–15). They are granted life, yet not Bride position.
Simple Clarifying Logic
- “Virgin” means not joined to the harlot; “harlot” is Babylon. So foolish virgins are not Babylon’s daughters; they are clean professors who lacked the Holy Spirit.
- When the cry came, the wise had Oil and went in; the foolish went to obtain it and found the door shut. Missing the Rapture, they are proven in the tribulation and come up at the White Throne as the sheep—saved, but not reigning.
Reinforcing statement
Now notice, the Bride hears and goes in; Babylon’s children share her plagues; the foolish virgins are neither—clean, late, and not sealed in time. The Bride reigns; the foolish are saved at the end, but outside the Bride.
Existing Follow-Up Answers
- 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 virgi
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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.
Five definite identifications of the true Church
60-0911E §35
...ee with it. I've got what's called, "Facts Of Our Faith," only belongs to a priest. A catholic was converted to my ... which her boy was a priest, and she gave me the book. Then he talked her back in church, she come for it, and I wouldn't let her have it. I kept it for evidence, wanted to know what I was talking about. When I say anything, I must know it; God's going to hold me responsible for it.
Why are we not a denomination?
58-0927 §82
Now watch here. She was "MYSTERY, BABYLON ... THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS." Now do you see how the church today, friends, can you see how these churches today just live any way they want to live? "Perfectly all right, go right ahead," hog eat hog, pay no attention. "Why, there's no harm in doing that. Why, you just try to be old-fashioned." Now watch their doctrine. Now watch. That's their habit. Do you see that a few years ago that the Catholic church was the only one who was permitted to go to a picture show? The Metho...
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 §79
...re 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 took no oil with them: But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. While the bridegroom tarried [that's thr...
Seals 3: The First Seal
63-0318 §146
Now, but He said "they wanted it, so He would give them a strong delusion." Remember, this prostitute of Revelation 17, she is the Mystery Babylon, the mother of harlots. And John admired her, just like this man wrote... Wait we get here and watch him watching this horse, here. See, but you noticed she was... What happened was this: that he admired her with great admiration, but the mystery was that she drank the blood of the martyrs of Christ. A beautiful church-set there decked in purple and gold-and she had a cu...