When Jesus returns and gathers His elect, the bible likens it to an agricultural harvest. Of course, this refers to the resurrection of the righteous, often called the rapture of the church. When the time is right, when the full number of gentiles has come in, Jesus will commence the harvest. “And another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to Him who sat on the cloud, ‘thrust in Your sickle and reap, for the time has come for You to reap, for the harvest of the earth is ripe.’ “ (Revelation 14:15)
Jesus explained the parable of the Sower to His disciples so that they would understand what the coming Kingdom was like. The Sower (Jesus) sows good seed (His Word) in His field (the earth). However, an enemy sowed bad seed (tares) in His field. So, both grow up together. Jesus allows this to happen. “Let both grow up together until the harvest, and at the time of the harvest I will say to the reapers, ‘First gather the tares and bind them in bundles to burn them but gather the wheat into My barn’ “ (Matthew 13:30). Jesus further explains: “The enemy who sowed them (tares) is the devil, the harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are the angels. Therefore, as the tares are gathered and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of this age.” (Matthew 13:39-40). John the Baptist, using similar harvest metaphor, prophesied this about the One coming after him; “His winnowing fork is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clean out his threshing floor, and gather His wheat into the barn; but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.” (Matthew 3:12)
When the time for harvest is fully come, the reapers will be pressed into action. The tares: “The angel thrust his sickle into the earth and gathered the vine of the earth and threw it into the great winepress of the wrath of God.” (Revelation 14:19). The wheat: “And He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.” (Matthew 24:31). Angels have many functions related to mankind in God’s kingdom. (“Are they not all ministering spirits sent forth to minister for those who will inherit salvation?” Hebrews 1:14). For a short time, at the end of the age, their main task will be as reapers.
I believe we are fast approaching the time when Jesus will command the reapers to complete the harvest. From my vantage point, I can’t help but note that it seems the tares are out pacing the growth of the wheat. If that is true, it’s another indication of just how close we are to the end of the age. The reapers are coming! Are you ready?
Maranatha, Jim
Both biblical and world history, ancient and modern, has clearly demonstrated that nations (political entities, people groups) that have turned their back on God, have suffered consequences, and many have even ceased to exist. And if the November election goes “the wrong way”, and the US continues on the path we have trodden, not just the past three plus years, but arguably at least back to the 60’s and before, God’s judgment may fall on the nation even before His return in glory. In my opinion, there’s precious little detail in Mt. 25:32 to tell us exactly what the separation will look like and what the Lord will say to those nations, if in fact that means political entities. Will He list a litany of national or corporate offenses committed against Him? Will He show them how He has called out to them repeatedly through His prophets? Or will He speak approvingly of those nations who have chosen to the best of their ability with the light they have been granted to serve Him? The good news follows in vs. 33-46. Over the centuries, God’s people, the righteous described in these verses, regardless of the path their political leaders have taken, will be counted among His sheep. It’s interesting too that the Greek ethnos translated ‘nations’ and found 160 times in NT, is translated ‘Gentiles’ over 90 times.
Just to clarify, this comment was intended for the previous post “US Election and Bible Prophecy”. The person commenting is Pastor Dick Lohry. The Anonymous label is misplaced.
Jim