Matthew 25:5-7
While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept. And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him. Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps.
In the parable, all the ten virgins went out to meet the bridegroom. All had lamps and vessels for oil. For a time there was seen no difference between them. So with the church that lives just before Christ’s second coming. All have a knowledge of the Scriptures. All have heard the message of Christ’s near approach, and confidently expect His appearing. But as in the parable, so it is now. A time of waiting intervenes, faith is tried; and when the cry is heard, “Behold, the Bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet Him,” many are unready. They have no oil in their vessels with their lamps. They are destitute of the Holy Spirit. COL 408.2
Cry; g2906. κραυγή kraugē; from 2896; an outcry (in notification, tumult or grief): — clamour, cry(-ing).
AV (6) – cry 3, crying 2, clamour 1;
a crying, outcry, clamour[1]
As seen it is an outcry and from the quotation about it is easy to deduce that it is a cry of notification telling the sleeping virgins that they were to arouse for their hopes were to be realized. The bridegroom was coming, this message first arrived in, July 21, 1844 at the Boston tabernacle and from there it steadily grew louder and louder until all the sleeping virgins were aroused. It went from city to city, but on, August 14, 1844 at the Exeter camp meeting the midnight messenger Samuel Snow came riding in on a horse carrying the message of the hour. Joseph Bates was in the pulpit when this messenger arrived and was told there was an urgent message from the Lord. In response, he graciously gave way to this speaker who gave his discourse informing the people that on, October 22, 1844 the Lord would come to purify the earth with fire. As they then thought, the message was so convincing that on the morning of, August 15, 1844 he was asked to give this message again and was received with great joy.
In laboring to accomplish our whole duty to God and the scattered flock, it is important to understand our present work clearly. With pleasure we look back to those happy years when the servants of the Lord were fervently, and with one united voice proclaiming the coming of the Lord. They were not then running off into views which had no particular bearing upon the main question, but the burden of every called and chosen servant was, “Fear God and give glory to him, for the hour of his judgment is come.” While they were thus united, God blest their labors everywhere, and the cause moved on gloriously. But during the delay, or tarrying time in 1844, distracting views sprung up, and fanaticism began to appear. These, however, were swept away by the seventh month cry, like the dew before the sun, and in the closing up of the message of the second angel, every voice was again raised in concert in proclaiming, ‘Behold the Bridegroom cometh, go ye out to meet him.’ ARSH January 10, 1856, p. 117.1
As seen the midnight cry was given in the closing up of the second angel’s message and fanaticism could not stand before it. This message was presented not in the arguments of men but was rather accompanied by the power of the Holy Spirit. It was the clear light given about, October 22, 1844 which had this effect. The preaching of definite time aroused the people of God but some had oil while others did not have any. The midnight cry was and is a clear understanding of the light given for the time that, that message is given.
The Karaite reckoning also helped with shedding light on this way mark it was discovered that August 15, 1844 was actually the 1st day of the 5th Jewish month and Ezra 7:9 also helped in shedding great light as well.
Ezra 7:9- For upon the first day of the first month began he to go up from Babylon, and on the first day of the fifth month came he to Jerusalem, according to the good hand of his God upon him.
Here we see Ezra reaching Jerusalem on the 1st day of the 5th month and in Early Writing Ellen White says the people of God were on their way to the city and we see that Ezra reached Jerusalem at this time therefore typifying the beginning of the Church Triumphant
The cry has gone forth into all the land “Behold the Bridegroom cometh;” and the sleeping virgins are beginning to be aroused, and are trimming their lamps—they are examining this question and promulgating their views respecting it. And while many see clearly the evidence that the Son of man is near, even at the doors; others acknowledge that their lamp, the Bible, sheds no light on their minds respecting his approach. If the Bible does contain the light, and they see it not, it must be that their lamps are gone out for the want of oil in their vessels. We are, therefore, the more astonished when men of acknowledged research, and reputed piety, are willing to stand up and proclaim to the world that they are in total darkness respecting the time of the end; and that when that day shall come, it may come even upon them as a thief in the night: for such is the fair inference from their conclusions. HST September 21, 1842, p. 5.12
This passage clearly reveals that the foolish and wise virgins are demonstrating how they had prepared for the event. The foolish were constrained to say they see no light on the topic being brought to view namely the coming of Christ. There are only two places in the Bible where the first day of the fifth month is mentioned let us look on them;
Numbers 33:38
And Aaron the priest went up into mount Hor at the commandment of the Lord, and died there, in the fortieth year after the children of Israel were come out of the land of Egypt, in the first day of the fifth month.
Notice that Aaron who was the high Priest dies on the first day of the fifth month and this is the first place where this term is used in the Bible, the duty of the High Priest is to make reconciliation between God and his people and if he dies that signals no need for his service, showing therefore that the people of God are at peace with God typifying as stated before typifying a victorious church.
Ezra 7:9
For upon the first day of the first month began he to go up from Babylon, and on the first day of the fifth month came he to Jerusalem, according to the good hand of his God upon him.
Ezra leaving the captivity of Babylon with the third decree for the restoration of Jerusalem reaches Jerusalem on the time specified showing the triumph of the church. In contrast to this triumph and by interference from other passages we can also see Jerusalem going down and therefore while the new Jerusalem( heavenly ) is being instituted the old Jerusalem is going down.
The glories that the midnight cry illustrates for the church cannot here be described, may we all strive most earnestly to be a part of this triumphant church family.
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