What cost is that? Do you think you have to know what day the rapture is supposed to occur in order to be included in it?
Not knowing Jesus was born on Tabernacles is just a slight inconvenience, but being left behind because you didn't think the Feast Days mattered will put us in the category of the foolish virgins or the foolish servants that got drunk and beat the others. Just picture the virgins that were told to go where they "buy and sell" and return to find their Bridegroom gone.
I think this is an impressive misreading of the parable. The reason the foolish virgins had to go out to buy oil was because they weren't prepared in the first place. "Getting drunk and beating the others" isn't a metaphor for not keeping track of Jewish festivals, it's a metaphor for leading a morally disordered life. (Doing things like, say, getting drunk and beating people up.)
The point of the parable is not to preach some sort of gnosis (special knowledge) that some days are more special than others because of where they are on the Jewish calendar. The point is for me to stay in the state of grace and sanctity and repentance, so that when Jesus comes for me -- which could be at his Second Coming, or could be at my own death (which, for all I know, could be today) -- I will be ready.
No.
...." isn't a metaphor for not keeping track of Jewish festivals".....
I didn't say you had to keep track of them. I was showing their meaning.
...."I will be ready."....
I agree with you there. If you are ready, you will go. The question is, are you ready? The virgins weren't living for the Bridegrooms return. Are you? I can't answer those things. The point of the parable was, however to make you think if you are prepared to go, ...right now,...today. Most people seem to think they are going if anybody goes. That is up to the Bridegroom. He knows your heart. If I failed to warn people that living as the world lives won't get you to the Wedding Feast, I wouldn't be doing what I've been commanded to do. I know many "Christians" that warm pews on Sunday after living like hell on Saturday and have no problem with the way they are living. Jesus is not an insurance policy from hell. He wishes to have a relationship with each of us. Too many have the attitude, "I'm going, I'm saved". Maybe, and maybe not. The foolish virgins were admonished to go where they "buy and sell", a clear indication they were to enter the Tribulation. When they returned, it was too late. They were still virgins( Christians) and came back looking for the Bridegroom. Non believers don't do that.
Salvation can be assured, but Rapture is not the same as Judgment. The Bible isn't for non believers. It is for His people. Non believers don't believe anyway. What good does it do to warn a pagan of anything? Pagans are dead and can't see or hear spitual things because they are dead. The virgins spoken of are Christians. The servants spoken of are Christians. The Master spoken of is Jesus. Jesus means nothing to a non believer. The parables are talking to His church. He isn't warning a non believer they better get right.
Just look at the way Jesus spoke to the church elders of His day. He called them every kind of foul name. He came to save the lost, but also came to straighten out His Fathers House. The letters to the Churches in Revelations is just another example of Jesus telling His people he isn't satisfied with them. He starts with what they are doing right, then states they must change something or He won't be satisfied. There is but one church that passes all tests and that is the church that loves one another. You cannot love someone and fail to warn them of the danger they are in.
Too many Christians are comfortable in their knowledge and have never gotten off the milk and feasted on the meat. Everything is there but you have to desire to grow closer to God to find the deeper messages God has for us. I know many Christians that claim extensive knowledge and have never read the whole Bible. The certainly haven't had Bible study or any out of church knowledge given them. Many even are Sunday school teachers that have the burden of passing this knowledge on to their pupils. Reading a prepared pamphlet to the class isn't going to get the job done. Now that Bible reading and prayer are forbidden in school, most people grow up with basic knowledge and claim superior Bible ability even though they know less than the average housewife of the '40's and '50's.