[460]The Lord gives a picture in the twenty-fifth chapter of Matthew of this kingdom class. (Matthew 25:1-13) Here he speaks of ten virgins who took their lamps and went forth to meet the bridegroom.  A virgin means a pure one.  Lovers of the Lord Jesus, the bridegroom, long for his return.  These took their lamps.  The lamp represents the Word of God; as the Psalmist says:  “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet”. (Psalm 119:105) Part of these virgins were wise; therefore they took oil in their vessels.  The wise represent the bride class, the faithful ones; while the foolish ones picture a class of greater numbers who will not be of the bride class, but will be born on the spirit plane.  While these have waited for the coming of the Lord, the foolish ones have been indifferent.  They have had no oil, have not had the spirit of the truth, the loving zeal for the Lord and his cause; hence they have been negligent.  Whereas the wise virgins have been watching and have kept their lamps trimmed and burning; which means they have studied the Word of God and watched the fulfillment of prophecies, striving to develop the fruits and graces of the spirit and to be prepared for the coming of the Bridegroom.  As these, then, of the bride class come to a knowledge of the fact that the bridegroom is present, they join in the cry:  “Behold the Bridegroom!” And they hasten to prepare to meet him.  During the time of the harvest of the gospel age, during the second presence of the Lord, members of the wise virgin class coming to a knowledge of the truth of his presence have rejoiced greatly because the Lord has returned; and the joy of the bride class has increased as the members have marked the ever-increasing evidence manifesting the Lord’s presence and the preparation for his kingdom.  And as they have cried out, “Behold the Bridegroom!” they have been zealous in presenting the message of truth to others, that their hearts might be refreshed.  The Lord has a special reward for those who love his second appearing, as the Apostle plainly stated. (2 Timothy 4:8) There will not be a great number of this bride class.  On the contrary, they are small in number.  Jesus said there would be but a little flock.  (Luke 12:32) Through the Revelator he designates the number as 144,000.—­Revelation 14:1.

[461]Some of these dear saints, however, have been developed from time to time throughout the gospel age, beginning with the apostles at Pentecost.  These have died and waited for the return of the Lord.  Since the Scriptures show that the dead know not anything until the resurrection, it would be reasonable to expect the Lord to do something for these who had died faithful to their covenant and to expect that he would do something for them early in the time of his presence.  St. Paul says:  “For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.  For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God:  and the dead in Christ shall rise first:  then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air; and so shall we ever be with the Lord.”—­1 Thessalonians 4:15-17.