Why Did They Fall Asleep?

From a medical and health perspective, sleep is an integral part of human life and is extremely necessary for restoring strength and biochemical processes in the body. The consciousness of a sleeping person disconnects from the reality of the surrounding world, and they plunge into non-existence. At the same time, a person dreams.

The Bible uses the similarity of this state of mind, transferring it to the spiritual sphere of my life for comparison. Regarding health, sleep is good, but not always so when we talk about salvation. Let's consider the spiritual side of this process.

In the parable of the ten virgins, Jesus said that everyone fell asleep. This means that we are all sleeping together now. Why were we assessed this way?

However, no one condemns us for sleeping. The prophecy about the last time makes it clear that it's important to have a supply of oil for the lamp.

Let's look at examples of unusual sleep in the Bible. Night, raging waves, disciples in horror, the vessel has sprung a leak, mortal danger has appeared, and Jesus is sleeping soundly on the stern of the fishing boat. His life rests in God's hands, and He knows that nothing will happen to Him until His mission is fulfilled. But when the time came, Jesus was no longer asleep.

Betrayal, night, the Garden of Gethsemane. The Teacher prays and asks three disciples to stay awake with Him. But they fell asleep, and after waking up and Christ's remark, they fell asleep again. But when Christ was seized, then no one slept until His death.

Persecution, prison, Peter is thrown into a dungeon, chained, sentenced to death, but he sleeps calmly among the soldiers until an angel wakes him up.

Night, Paul's sermon until midnight, everyone listens to the experiences of the Holy Spirit's victory. The young man Eutychus falls asleep, falls from the third floor and dies. Then God, through Paul, resurrects this person.

What do these unusual sleeps have in common? All these people felt safe, and their body responded to this state of mind and decided to reboot through sleep.

Peace and safety - this is what the virgins felt, although they all knew perfectly well that their "Titanic" would soon sink. And the problem was not in sleep, but in the fact that some of them did not stock up on oil for the lamps, and upon awakening, they realized their mistake. However, it was too late.

The Lord warns us that in the last time there will be many deadly deceptions, and we should stay awake. The feeling of peace and safety will become fatal and sleep-inducing for many.

From the prophecies, we know that the enemy of the soul is preparing for the last events, and he will do everything possible to seduce, if possible, even the elect. He is preparing earthly kings and existing authorities for the last battle, in which he plans to defeat all of God's children. Our enemy is very insidious, and he understands that a sleeping warrior of Christ is not able to recognize traps and does not pose a danger.

In 1 Thessalonians 5:3 it is written: "While people are saying, 'Peace and safety,' destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape."

We are given a warning that there will be an imaginary peace and false security that will put our spirit to sleep. And the parable of the ten virgins tells that this is exactly what will happen. And what do we see? Around us is mortal danger, the enemy of the soul plans to kill us, setting traps for the soul, time is running out, and soon there will be no time left for preparation, while Jesus advises buying Heavenly oil. And we rest, enjoying a peaceful time, relying on the care of our governments for our well-being. We are lulled by the fact that everything is under control, and we should not be afraid of various crises. Babylon is rapidly preparing the mark of the beast to put it on people's hands and consciousness, and we sleep, believing that we should not worry and be distracted by any secondary things.

They shout in my ears that the end is near, and I consider these shouters to be fanatics, radicals, and extremists. And the conspiracy theorists are so annoying with their investigations that I principally don't listen to anything they have found out, which they are trying to share with me. What conspiracy? Peace and safety!!! If there was something dangerous, the Lord would definitely have written it in His prophecies. And what is happening now is a temporary phenomenon that will soon pass, and we will again live calmly. If only there was no war.

It is sad to realize that the wise virgins are also among those who are asleep. Whoever I consider myself to be, and however I prepare, the spirit of drowsiness will come into my life. I don't want this and strongly resist, but I see that my spiritual strength is weakening and needs a reboot while there is peace and safety around. When the war begins, there's no time for sleep. I will take the necessary position and concentrate on victory.

Unfortunately, the wine of Babylon and its magic has put to sleep all living on Earth, except those who help Satan set traps and plan the murder of careless inhabitants.

When I see danger and start trumpeting about it, for some reason people who are set to be watchmen and shepherds, who should support me in this matter, suddenly turn out to be my opponents and ask me to calm down and not "boil water in a glass."

It creates the impression that being awake is a sin, and sleep is the safest state for the soul.

I don't know the full power of Satan's deception and therefore underestimate his abilities. Considering myself saved, I rest on my achievements and stop being vigilant. The enemy cannot separate me from God's love, and therefore he has changed tactics and gone underground, trying not to reveal his insidious plans to anyone. And on all those investigating his strategy, he hangs the label of fanatics and tries to infect with this spirit those who managed to learn something about his pernicious plans.

Love is what the enemy of the soul fears most. This feature of the righteous person's thought makes the mind wise, and the will of the believing person strong in God's principles.

Jesus knows what I will face in the last battle, and therefore advises me to buy what will make me a winner. Although, stocking up on oil, I don't see the need for a lamp in the sunlight, but by faith I understand that soon night will come when no one will be able to buy or sell, and therefore I make the necessary stocks now, while there is still time and opportunity.

My ability to love under any circumstances will be very useful to me during that period when everyone will be expiring from fear in anticipation of disasters falling on the Universe. And I will be waiting for my dear Jesus at this time and will go out to meet Him with the light of His love in me.

Now, during the time of peace and safety, the science of love does not interest many, and during the time of tribulation and war, it will be considered completely useless for the unwise. The cost of Heavenly goods and the whole armor of God can be appreciated in peacetime when no one is persecuting, and there is something to pay with. When nothing threatens me, I can calmly study Heavenly values and buy them. And during the battle, there will be no time for buying, and nowhere to trade.

Who among us doesn't like peace and safety? I love silence, it puts me before a free choice. I choose love, and with it all the problems for its testing.

Questions for reflection on this chapter

1. Please read Matt. 25:5,13; 8:24; 26:39-46; Acts 12:6; 20:9; Prov. 8:34; 10:5; 23:24; Song of Sol. 5:2; Isa. 56:10; Rev. 14:8; Prov. 23:31-35; Eph. 5:14-18; 1 Thess. 5:2-11; Matt. 24:42-43; Mark 13:35-37; 1 Pet. 4:7; Rev. 3:2-3; 16:15 in light of this chapter.

2. What did you understand from this chapter?

3. Is all safety and peace bad? Isa. 32:17; Ps. 127:1-2.

4. What kind of sleep is this chapter talking about?

5. Does a person's behavior and faith differ in peacetime and during a crisis?

6. Are crisis and trials necessary for vigilance?

7. Does the wine of Babylon put us to sleep?

8. What is the difference between the sleep of the wise and the sleep of the foolish virgins?

9. Is our Lord coming soon?

10. When can the state of peace and safety in the soul be very dangerous?

11. What should be done to stay awake?

12. If the parable of the ten virgins says that everyone fell asleep, should I try to stay awake?

13. Does the material in this book instill peace and safety in your heart?

14. What is the difference between false peace and safety and God's peace and safety?

15. Is it bad to feel safe being under the protection of the Most High?

16. What types of false security are you familiar with?