Commentary:

The Parable of the Ten Virgins

These are just my thoughts and my end time theories may not line up with yours.

"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

When the parable of the 10 virgins is researched and you ask a dozen people what it means, you are likely to get 12 different answers.

Here are my thoughts:
I believe the light of the lamps represents their testimonies,** their love, and their commitment to Jesus Christ.

All 10 virgins are followers of Jesus Christ. They all had testimonies. They all went out to "meet the bridegroom." All ten virgins were looking for the coming of the LORD, but the five foolish virgins did not prepare spiritually to maintain their testimony and commitment during the end times (probably when persecution came).

Are the five foolish virgins more attached to the world and the things in the world than to Jesus?
Jesus does warn 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
Perhaps their love is growing cold toward God and toward others. (Matthew 24:12)

Or perhaps the five foolish virgins are afraid.
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." This Bible chapter is full of end time overtones.
So 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.

We must be wise, yes, but we cannot live in a bunker until Jesus comes. (Matthew 10:16)

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

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.

Whatever the reason (love of the world, cold love toward others, or fear), we know the five foolish virgins let their lamps go out.

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

And Jesus tells the five foolish virgins "Truly, I say to you, I do not know you." (Matthew 25:12). And Jesus says the same thing in Matthew 7:23 to false followers.

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)

The "hidden talent" parable in Matthew 25:14-30 furthers our understanding of the "ten virgin parable."
In the "talent parable" the Master (God) "cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness" for hiding (and not using) what God had given him.
I believe these 2 parables are linked.

God gives us all a testimony to proclaim, not to hide.
Is it wise to hide it?

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

And remember, 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

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

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

Our testimony in the end times is more powerful and important than many believe.
God uses our testimony, in part, to overcome Satan
(and by extension, the Antichrist).

"And they have conquered him 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 changes everything.
I hope you can see how important our testimony is in the end times.

Hiding our testimony has
eternal consequences.

It is important that we maintain our testimony during the end times.

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

Decide in your heart today not to let your testimony "go out" like the 5 foolish virgins.

Decide before any persecution 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

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