Keeping Our Testimony in the End Times

The Parable of the Ten Virgins

The Parable of the Hidden Talent

How to Prevent Falling Away from the Faith

"When the Lamb broke the fifth seal, I saw underneath the altar the souls of those who had been slain because of the word of God, and because of the testimony which they had maintained;"
--- Revelation 6:9 NASB

Our End Time TESTIMONY is so valuable that Jesus gave us two parables:
The Parable of the Ten Virgins
The Parable of the Hidden Treasure.

The Apostle Paul highlights both parables, linking them together:
"For God, who said, 'Let there be light in the darkness,' has made this light shine in our hearts so we could know the glory of God that is seen in the face of Jesus Christ. We now have this light shining in our hearts, but we ourselves are like fragile clay jars containing this great treasure. This makes it clear that our great power is from God, not from ourselves."
--- 2 Corinthians 4:6-7 NLT

Parable of the Ten Virgins:
"Then the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish, and five were wise.
For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them, but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps.
As the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and slept. But at midnight there was a cry, 'Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.' Then all those virgins rose and trimmed their lamps.
And the foolish said to the wise, 'Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.' But the wise answered, saying, 'Since there will not be enough for us and for you, go rather to the dealers and buy for yourselves.'
And while they were going to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was shut.
Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, 'Lord, lord, open to us.' But he answered, 'Truly, I say to you, I do not know you.' Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.
--- Matthew 25:1-13

The parable describes ten virgins who take oil lamps to greet the bridegroom. In this parable, the bridegoom (Jesus) is delayed and all the virgins fell asleep. Five of the virgins are wise and bring extra oil, while the other five are foolish and don't bring extra oil.

The Bible defines testimony as a "burning and shining lamp:"

There is another who bears witness about me, and I know that the testimony that he bears about me is true. You sent to John, and he has borne witness to the truth. Not that the testimony that I receive is from man, but I say these things so that you may be saved. He was a burning and shining lamp, and you were willing to rejoice for a while in his light.
But the testimony that I have is greater than that of John. --- John 5:32-36

The burning lamps in the "Ten Virgin Parable" represent their testimonies, their love, and their commitment to Jesus Christ.**

It is important to note that in the parable:
• All 10 virgins are followers of Jesus Christ.
• They all had the Holy Spirit (oil)
• They all had testimonies (light of their lamps).
• They all went out to "meet the bridegroom."
• All ten virgins were looking for the coming of the LORD,
• They all fell asleep.

The five foolish virgins did not prepare spiritually to maintain their testimony and commitment during the end times and let their lamps (better translated "torches") go out.
They quenched the Holy Spirit. (1 Thessalonians 5:19)
In the original text, "quench" speaks of suppressing fire or extinguishing a flame. The Holy Spirit is like a fire dwelling in each believer.

The lamps of the five foolish virgins went out:
Their spiritual integrity, their love, their faith, and their commitment to Jesus Christ all failed.

They did not heed the Lord's warning for the need of patient endurance (perseverance in some translations) in the end times.
(Revelation 3:10, Revelation 2:2, Revelation 2:19, Revelation 13:10, Revelation 14:12, Hebrews 10:36, Hebrews 12:1)

They wanted to avoid affliction instead of letting suffering produce endurance. (Romans 5:3)

Likely reasons their lamps "go out" and their testimony is quenched:

• Love the world (1 John 2:15)
Are the five foolish virgins more attached to the world and the things in the world than to Jesus? Maybe they choose money, possessions and food over Jesus.

• Love growing cold (Matthew 24:12 NIV)
Perhaps their love is growing cold toward God and toward others because of the increase in violence and wickedness in the last days.

• Fear (2 Timothy 1:7)
Maybe the five foolish virgins are fearful and choose to hide in basements or in the countryside when the persecution starts, thinking that they will hide out until Jesus comes rather than sharing their testimony.

• Persecution (2 Timothy 3:12, Matthew 5:10, 1 Peter 4:12-14)
Possible persecution and martyrdom.

• Deception (2 Peter 2:1-3, Ephesians 5:6, Matthew 24:24)
During the first year of the tribulation, false prophets and false Christs will lead many astray. The Bible warns believers to be vigilant and not be deceived by such false teachings, even if they appear convincing.

It is noteworthy that Jesus warns the first-year tribulation church of Ephesus,
"I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first. Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first." --- Revelation 2:4-5
This speaks of a falling away, or what I see as a "drifting away" from God in the first year of the tribulation.
This drifting away, I think, is the onset of the great apostasy and involves all the above reasons.

And in Luke 12, in an end time context, Jesus exhorts us to:
"Be dressed in readiness, and keep your lamps lit.
Be like men who are waiting for their master when he returns from the wedding feast, so that they may immediately open the door to him when he comes and knocks."
--- Luke 12:35-36 NASB

The Parable of the Hidden Talent:
"For it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted to them his property.
To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away.
He who had received the five talents went at once and traded with them, and he made five talents more. So also he who had the two talents made two talents more.
But he who had received the one talent went and dug in the ground and hid his master's money."
--- Matthew 25:14-18

The reason in this parable for the worthless servant to hide his talent is fear. (Matthew 25:25)
This echos the ten virgin parable and furthers our understanding of both.

In the "talent parable" the Master (God) "cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness" for hiding (and not using) the treasure God had given him.

I believe the great treasure here is the gospel, meaning the servant is hiding his testimony of the Lord. This conclusion links the two parables into a single teaching and strengthens their meaning.

3 Reasons Why Keeping Our Testimony Is Important
► Our Testimony Prevents Us and Others From Falling Away

"... If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. ...
When the Advocate comes, whom I will send to you from the Father—the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father—he will testify about me.
And you also must testify, for you have been with me from the beginning.
All this I have told you so that you will not fall away."
--- John 15:20-27 NIV, John 16:1 NIV

We are told in this John 15 scripture that three things prevent falling away from the faith:
1. Preparing mentally for persecution.
2. Abiding in Christ through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.
3. Maintaining and giving our testimony.

This short video explains:

Adapted from Nelson Walters YouTube channel
"Are Churches Teaching Other Christians
to BETRAY You in the End Times - How to be Ready"
To watch complete video: Click Here

Giving our testimony strengthens the faith of others while strengthening ours.
After the opening of the fifth seal of Revelation, in the letter to the church of Sardis, Jesus admonishes us to:
Wake up! Strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have found your deeds unfinished in the sight of my God.

By the fifth seal, there will be great persecution, and the faith of many will be under pressure. I believe Jesus wants us to use our testimony to encourage those weak in faith.

► God Uses Our Testimony to Overcome the Antichrist:

"And they have conquered him [Satan] by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death."
--- Revelation 12:11

This verse is perhaps one of the most important in the book of Revelation.
This one short verse explains why God allows us to endure the end times and shows why our testimony is more powerful and more important than most comprehend.

God uses our testimony to overcome Satan in the last days.
(and by extension, the Antichrist).
This is a core understanding.

► Hiding Our Testimony has Eternal Consequences.
With the two parables in Matthew 25, our Lord shows us that when our testimony "goes out" or we hide it, there are consequences.

To the 5 foolish virgins, Jesus says,
"But he answered, 'Truly, I say to you, I do not know you.'" --- Matthew 25:12
And Jesus says the same thing to false followers. (Matthew 7:23)

and to the "wicked, lazy servant," Jesus says,
" And cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth." --- Matthew 25:30

Both the five foolish virgins and the servant that hid his talent end up the in lake of fire.

Decide in your heart today
not to let your testimony
"go out" like the
5 foolish virgins.
✦
And do not hide
your testimony like the
"wicked and slothful servant."

If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it.
--- Matthew 16:25 NLT

Jesus says in Matthew 10:16, "Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves."
We must be wise, yes, but we cannot live in a bunker until Jesus comes.
Is living fearfully in a bunker during the end times and withholding our testimony of Jesus Christ from a lost and deceived world around us tantamount to denying Jesus?
I think the answer is yes.

We must be vigilant to let our lights shine!
We must be prepared to give our testimony, proclaiming Jesus as the LORD.
We do not want to be foolish as in the parable of the ten virgins.

The Bible says, "choose this day whom you will serve." (Joshua 24:15)

God gives us all a testimony to proclaim, not to hide.

Scripture says "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven." --- Matthew 5:16

The Bible emphasizes that we should share the gospel.
"And he said to them, "Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation." --- Mark 16:15

Jesus said, "But whoever denies Me before men, I will also deny him before My Father who is in heaven."
-- Matthew 10:33

Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, nor of me his prisoner, but share in suffering for the gospel by the power of God,
--- 2 Timothy 1:8-9

Whoever believes in the Son of God has the testimony in himself.
--- 1 John 5:10a

Our testimony is not only what we say.
Our testimony is also the way we live our lives.
And our lives should look different than the world around us, for it is written: "Be holy, because I am holy." -- 1 Peter 1:16

And here is a sobering fact:
Martyrdom is, in itself, a testimony.

Jesus says to the end time church in Smyrna, "Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life."
--Revelation 2:10

Prepare your heart and decide before any persecution begins that
"if we live, we live for the Lord, or if we die, we die for the Lord; therefore whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s."
-- Romans 14:8

More testimony references:
Philippians 1:27-30, Hebrews 2:12 , Psalm 22:22, Romans 1:16, Luke 12:8-9, Revelation 20:4, Revelation 1:2, Matthew 5:16, Revelation 6:9 NASB, 1 Chronicles 16:8, 1 Peter 3:15, Acts 1:8, Romans 10:14, Psalm 35:28, Psalm 66:16, Psalm 35:28, Psalm 132:12 NASB, Matthew 10:18 NASB, Matthew 24:14 NASB, Acts 4:33 NASB, 2 Timothy 1:8 NASB, Hebrews 11:4 NASB, 1 John 5:10-11 NASB, Revelation 12:11 NASB, Revelation 12:17 NASB

Proclaiming Christ Like John the Baptist:

John the Baptist’s primary job was to be a witness, testifying to the identity and purpose of Jesus Christ.
John’s mission was to point people to Christ.
And in the end times, that is also our job and mission.
Revelation 12:11 NASB

John the Baptist said, "He (Christ) must increase, but I must decrease"
---John 3:30.
And so should it be for us.

And John’s ministry focused on a single command: Repent!
Repentance is turning away from sin and reorienting their whole life toward and around God. He becomes the center of our life rather than ourselves.

In the end times,
Our maxim should be that of John the Baptist:
"Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!"

John the Baptist's life is a foreshadowing of what our lives should be.
And in the end, John's testimony of truth got him beheaded just like it will be for most followers of Christ in the end times. (Revelation 20:4)

Prepare your heart and mind to surrender all to Christ, even your life if needed.

Footnote Credit:
** In Part from Nelson Walter's YouTube channel video: "Unlocking the Mystery of the Ten Virgins Parable"