Who are the five virgins, who had no oil in their lamps, in Matthew 25:3?

In the Parable of the Wise and Foolish Virgins there are ten virgins. Five were wise and Five were foolish. To identify the two classes of virgins, you have to go to the book of Revelation.

Revelation 7:4,9,14-15,  “…I heard the number…sealed…144,000…and I saw a great multitude which no man could number…These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple…”

In Revelation 7, we see two groups, the 144,000 and an unnumbered group –  both are holy and in heaven. Another example of two holy groups is found within the tribe of Levi. Numbers 3:6-9,  “Bring the tribe of Levi near, and present them before Aaron the priest, that they may minister unto him. And they shall keep his charge, and the charge of the whole congregation before the tabernacle of the congregation, to do the service of the tabernacle… And thou shalt give the Levites unto Aaron and to his sons: they are wholly given unto him out of the children of Israel.”

Notice the Levites were not the priests, but served before the tabernacle and the priesthood. There were a relatively small number of the Levite tribe who were specially selected to be of the priesthood; the vast majority of the Levites fell into the servant class. Putting Revelation and Numbers together we get a much clearer picture on this other larger, unnumbered group.

As a Christian, we are called to be Kings and Priests of God in the Kingdom which we all pray for. Many are called, but few are the elected—few actually make the grade that is. Few are of the Bride class (Matthew 22:14). In the Virgins Parable, all 10 were waiting for the Groom, until the midnight cry. Sadly, the foolish virgins saw did not have enough oil to meet the Groom.

The foolish are the unnumbered group of Revelation 7, and the Levites of Numbers 3. They are virgins, that is they are not contaminated by the world, but they don’t have enough oil. They are foolish and slack and miss out of the grand prize of being part of the Bride of Christ.

Revelation says they had to go through the Great Tribulation and wash their robes in the blood of the Lamb—that is they had to go to the marketplace and buy more oil in the parable. They miss out on the chief prize, the high calling, but as we find out later in Revelation they do get a reward and blessing. They do rejoice at the marriage supper of the Lamb and His Bride.

Rev 19:9  And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God.