When
does the end of the age occur? I believe that we are on the brink of
the end of the age right now. We are — in all probability — in the
last generation.
The New Testament indicates that the
end of the age is another expression for the last days,
which (as we will show in chapter 13) began on the day of Pentecost
and ends at the Second Coming (1 Cor. 10: 11; Heb. 9: 26).
If we are in
the generation that is to see the Second Coming, then we are also in
the generation that will see the harvest that Jesus said will
immediately precede it.
Keep in mind
that this last generation is at least thirty-one times more populous
than the first generation, and the world population has more than
doubled since 1950. Which explains why there can and will be such a
large harvest in “these last days.”
We have answered the “when”;
the question now is “how?” How is God going to bring
about this massive harvest? The answer may be in the familiar parable
of the tares.
THE
PARABLE OF THE TARES
Observe how these following two Scripture
readings confirm each other on who “the gathered out” are.
37. (Jesus said), “The one who sows the good seed is the Son of Man,
38. And the field is the world; and as for the good seed, these are
the sons of the kingdom; and the tares are the sons of the evil one;
39. And the enemy who sowed them is the devil, and the harvest is
the end of the age; and the reapers are angels.
40. Therefore, just as the tares are gathered up and burned with
fire, so shall it be at the end of the age.
41. The Son of Man will send forth His ANGELS, and they will
gather out of His Kingdom all stumbling blocks, and those who
commit lawlessness,
42. And will cast them into the furnace of fire; in that place there
shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
43. Then the RIGHTEOUS WILL SHINE FORTH AS THE SUN in the kingdom of
their Father. He who has ears, let him hear. (Matthew 13:37-43)
37. For the coming of the Son of Man will be just like the days of
Noah.
38. For as in those days which were before the flood THEY were eating
and drinking, THEY were marrying and giving in marriage, until the day
that Noah entered the ark,
39. and THEY did not understand until the flood came and took THEM
all away, so shall the coming of the Son of Man be. (Matthew
24:37-39)
Let me point out the obvious. The phrases
“gather out of” (in vs. 41) and “took them all away” (in vs. 39 & 48)
are saying the same thing about the same kind of people, and refers to
the same event — the Second Coming. Verses 47 through 50 really clench
this point.
When the Lord speaks of removing the
rebellious from His Kingdom, He means He will remove them from the
face of His planet — which also belongs to His people. Those
rebellious ones simply do not belong in His holy presence (Matt. 5:
5).
Was
that interesting? There is so much more in this chapter that you will
want to read. Is this a good time to order the book?
