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Bro Branham taught that the ten virgins in Matthew 25 represent churchgoers across denominations who anticipated Christ's return, with both wise and foolish virgins being "virgins" (sanctified, clean, holy people) but distinguished by the presence of oil symbolizing the Holy Spirit in their lamps. The wise virgins, having the Holy Spirit, entered the wedding supper with the Bridegroom (the Rapture), while the foolish virgins, lacking oil despite being believers, went to buy it during the church ages' slumber but missed the Rapture when the cry came at midnight, finding the door shut with the words "I know you not." Evidence: [THE TEN VIRGINS, AND THE HUNDRED AND FORTY-FOUR THOUSAND JEWS — 60-1211M: ¶144–¶153]; [THE TEN VIRGINS, AND THE HUNDRED AND FORTY-FOUR THOUSAND JEWS — 60-1211M: ¶170–¶176]
He explained the foolish virgins must go through the great tribulation period, facing outer darkness with weeping, wailing, and gnashing of teeth, as they slumbered without the Holy Spirit and sought it too late after rejecting the fullness of Atonement. They are the Gentile remnant or sleeping virgins who keep God's commandments and the testimony of Jesus but are separated for judgment, rising in the general resurrection after persecution and martyrdom, like sheep divided from goats. Evidence: [THE PATMOS VISION — 60-1204E: ¶3–¶8]; [QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS — 64-0823E: ¶173–¶179]; [GOD BEING MISUNDERSTOOD — 61-0723E: ¶56]
Regarding the new birth, Bro Branham distinguished the foolish virgins as begotten by the Spirit (like a baby in the womb) through stages of repentance and sanctification but not fully born again until receiving the Holy Ghost, which they lacked, unlike the wise who were Spirit-filled and ready. They miss the Rapture but, in these passages, appear not eternally lost—living eternally yet separated from the New Jerusalem and Bride, judged righteous in the end despite tribulation—though one sermon notes no further salvation post-Rapture as their state is fixed. Evidence: [QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS — 64-0830E: ¶90–¶93]; [QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS — 64-0823E: ¶173–¶179]; [THE TEN VIRGINS, AND THE HUNDRED AND FORTY-FOUR THOUSAND JEWS — 60-1211M: ¶302–¶306]
Now, they’re not lost, but they’re just “slumbered and slept.” They’re waiting, see. They didn’t say they was dead, but they’re “slumbering and sleeping.” [THE TEN VIRGINS, AND THE HUNDRED AND FORTY-FOUR THOUSAND JEWS — 60-1211M: ¶148]
So then the foolish virgin was the one who did not have oil in their lamps, that I believe that was cast out into outer darkness where there’ll be weeping, wailing, and gnashing of teeth. And if you’ll compare that, or your footnotes, it’ll run it right back again to the great tribulation. [THE PATMOS VISION — 60-1204E: ¶7]
“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. [QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS — 64-0823E: ¶174]
You’re begotten of the Spirit, just like a baby is begotten, and in the womb of a mother, but not born until they receive the Holy Ghost. [QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS — 64-0830E: ¶91]
...the five foolish virgins were not lost; but they were not permitted to go into the Wedding Supper, but they suffered persecution and was martyred, and raised again at the general resurrection... [GOD BEING MISUNDERSTOOD — 61-0723E: ¶56]
Reader Note: For full context and to verify wording, read the full sermon and cited paragraphs in The Table: The Table (plain link: https://table.branham.org/)
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