The Wheat and Tares: Final Harvest and Last Days

The harvest of the wheat and tares represents the final separation of the righteous and the wicked at the end of the worldCOL 74.3+1. This event is the climax of human history, marking the conclusion of probationary time and the execution of the final judgmentCOL 71.3+1.

🌾 Growing Together Until the End

In the current age, the children of the kingdom (the wheat) and the children of the wicked one (the tares) are permitted to grow together Matthew 13:38-39APEC 22.4. This co-existence serves several divine purposes:

• Protection of the Righteous: The roots of the wheat and tares are so intertwined that uprooting the tares prematurely would risk destroying the precious grain20MR 26.2+1.

• A Witness to the World: The children of light are scattered among the children of darkness so that the contrast in character and harmony with God's law may be visible to allLDE 231.3+1.

• Preventing Human Error: Humans judge by outward appearance and lack the wisdom to discern the heart; only God can perfectly separate the two classes2MCP 636.1+1.

⚖️ The Harvest and the Judgment

The "harvest" is specifically identified as the end of this world or ageARSH June 13, 1854, page 154.10+1. It is a period of investigative and executive judgment where every individual must meet the great Judge face to faceEv 221.3+1.

• No Universal Conversion: Contrary to the popular idea of a temporal millennium where the whole world is converted, the Bible teaches that both good and evil will reach full maturity simultaneously2SP 249.1+1.

• The Final Test: The third angel's message is the last warning given to prepare a people to stand through this final harvestHvn 15.1+1. Those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus will be gathered into the heavenly garner Revelation 14:12-16RH June 29, 1911, par. 3.

• Irreversible Decisions: When the harvest is ripe, character is fixed; it is then too late for tares to be converted into wheatADRE September 1850, page 2.9+1.

🔥 The Execution of the Judgment

When Christ appears with His holy angels, the work of separation will be completed with absolute precision1MR 303.2+1.

• The Fate of the Tares: Those who persisted in iniquity and chose the path of worldly pleasure will be gathered first and bound in bundles to be destroyed by the brightness of Christ's coming 2 Thessalonians 1:7-9COL 74.3+1. They will be cast into a furnace of fire, signifying their utter destruction and the cleansing of the earth from sin Malachi 4:1MWV2 20.2+1.

• The Reward of the Wheat: The righteous will be gathered into the garner of God, shining forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father Matthew 13:43COL 74.3+1. They will inherit the new earth, where sin and sorrow will be no more Isaiah 35:10PROLI 42.2+1.

It is vital to guard our thoughts and words now, for every secret thing will be brought into the judgment during this solemn reaping time Ecclesiastes 12:1421MR 348.4+1.

Yes, the harvest refers to the second coming of Christ where the righteous (the wheat) are gathered together by the angels to meet the Lord in the air 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17SITI March 11, 1886, page 155.5+1. This glorious event is the climax of the third angel's message and the fulfillment of the plan of salvationGC88 453.3+2.

☁️ The Son of Man on the White Cloud

The harvest is symbolized by one like the Son of man sitting upon a white cloud, wearing a golden crown and holding a sharp sickle Revelation 14:14ARSH November 4, 1862, page 181.2+1. When the harvest of the earth is fully ripe, He thrusts in His sickle to reap the world, separating those who have honored God from those who have rejected His warnings Revelation 14:15-16SITI March 11, 1886, page 155.5+1.

🎺 The Gathering of the Saints

At the sounding of the last trump, a wonderful transformation and gathering take place for the people of God 1 Corinthians 15:51-52LASW 39.1+1:

• Resurrection of the Dead: The voice of the Son of God calls forth the sleeping saints from their graves, and they awaken to life, clothed in immortality to die no more 1 Thessalonians 4:16Hvn 41.3+1.

• Change of the Living: Those who are alive and waiting for His appearing are changed in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, and their mortal bodies are made like His glorious body 1 Corinthians 15:51-53LASW 39.1+1.

• Meeting in the Air: Together, the risen and the living saints are caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, entering into His presence forever 1 Thessalonians 4:17LASW 39.1+1.

🌾 The Heavenly Garner

This final reaping is the gathering of the precious wheat into the garner of God Matthew 3:12SITI March 11, 1886, page 155.5. It marks the time when the faithful, who have been washed in the blood of the Lamb and have mirrored His character, are welcomed into the heavenly courts with songs of victory Revelation 7:14CET 233.2+1. While the world is ripened for destruction by its iniquity, God’s people are ripened for translation through their obedience and faith10MR 279.2+2.

🛡️ Preparation for the Harvest

Those who will be gathered as wheat are currently being prepared through the message of the third angel, which leads them to keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus Revelation 14:12SITI March 11, 1886, page 155.5+1. This work of preparation is as real as that of John the Baptist for Christ's first advent, ensuring that we may meet Him in peace and bear His imageSITI March 11, 1886, page 155.5+2.

Getting ready for the harvest involves receiving the Third Angel's Message, which is the last warning to the human race and is designed to ripen the heart for immortalityARSH August 7, 1856, page 108.18+1. This solemn message is the closing work of salvation through Jesus Christ, leading individuals to keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus as they prepare for the end of the world Revelation 14:12ARSH August 7, 1856, page 108.18+1.

📜 Studying and Obeying the Truth

The Third Angel’s Message is a great threefold message that requires our most earnest study and total concentration1MR 57.1+1. To be ready for the harvest, we must:

• Establish a Solid Platform: We must study the experiences of the past and the "pillars of our faith" which have stood the test of time, grounding ourselves in the underlying principles of the messageGCB January 1, 1900, page 107.12.

• Keep God's Commandments: True readiness means manifesting the principles of God’s law in our homes and daily lives, avoiding rudeness and unkindness, which are signs of a transgressor Psalms 119:1511888 961.1.

• Exercise the Faith of Jesus: This involves a complete consecration and a daily living faith that lays hold of our Redeemer to bear the fruit of a Christian character Revelation 14:12GCB May 16, 1909, page 28.3.

🛠️ Building a Character for Eternity

The formation of a righteous character is the great work of a lifetime and is essential for our eternal destinySpTEd 73.1.

• Thoroughness and Integrity: Success in character building requires solid work, deep thought, and steadfast integrity; no careless or unreliable work can be accepted by the Master Builder2MCP 546.4+1.

• Rejecting Worldly Maxims: We must make a determined effort to break away from the customs, associations, and practices of the world that would otherwise lead us to be bound with the tares2MCP 546.4+2.

• Early Education: Training children in the first seven years of life is crucial, as these early lessons have more to do with character formation than all future yearsST April 8, 1903, par. 2+1.

🩺 Embracing Health Reform and Practical Training

The Third Angel’s Message is not just a theory; it is closely connected to practical living and health3T 161.1.

• The Hand and the Body: Health reform is as closely connected to the Third Angel’s Message as the hand is to the body, fitting a people for the Lord’s coming by teaching them to care for the "wonderful machinery" of the bodyPOSDAI 11.3+1.

• Useful Labor: Practical education, such as learning to cultivate the soil, cook, or build, prevents "sickly sentimentalism" and provides a safeguard against evil influencesPCO 75.2+2.

📢 Engaging in Missionary Labor

One of the most effective ways to ripen for the harvest is to join in the work of saving othersRH June 14, 1906, par. 22.

• The Ingathering Campaign: Participating in efforts like the Harvest Ingathering for missions allows us to share the truth with others while arousing their sympathies for the progress of the messageChS 167.2+1.

• Literature Ministry: Circulating books and periodicals that contain the light of the message is a way for both youth and adults to act as missionaries and prepare for wider usefulnessMC 46.1+1.

• A Loud Cry: As we grow in grace, we help swell the "loud cry" of the message, reaching every nation, kindred, tongue, and people before the Son of man appears on the white cloudARSH March 27, 1900, page 200.2+2.

By focusing on these points, we move into harmony with God's gathering call, ensuring we are not among those who find too late that the harvest is past Matthew 13:39ARSH June 26, 1860, page 47.3+1.

The angels reap by executing a final and perfect separation between the righteous and the wicked, acting as the agents of the Son of Man during the end of the world Matthew 13:39EMTF 54.4. While humans are unable to perfectly read the heart or distinguish the tares from the wheat, the heavenly angels have been commissioned for this work and will never make a mistake in their gathering16MR 271.2+1.

⚔️ The Work of Separation

The process of reaping involves a distinct division of two classes that have grown together until the very endLDE 231.3+1.

• Gathering the Tares first: At the command of the Lord, the reapers first gather the tares—those who have sowed error and practiced iniquity—and bind them in bundles to be burned Matthew 13:301TT 311.1. This represents the final destruction of the wicked from the presence of the Lord and the glory of His power 2 Thessalonians 1:8-9PP 541.2.

• Securing the Wheat: The angels then gather the wheat—the children of the kingdom—into the heavenly garner or barn Matthew 13:30TM 45.1. This is the fulfillment of the promise that the elect will be gathered from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other Matthew 24:31.

• The Investigative Process: The third angel is specifically identified as the one who selects the wheat from the tares and seals or binds the wheat for the heavenly garner5MR 425.3. This process ensures that those whose names stand in the book of life are marked for eternal lifeTM 234.2.

🎺 The Final Call and Gathering

The reaping is a literal and visible event that occurs at the second appearing of ChristAPEC 22.4.

• Response to the Sickle: When the harvest of the earth is ripe, the Son of Man thrusts in His sharp sickle at the cry of an angel coming out of the temple Revelation 14:14-16.

• Angelic Ministry: Angels are not only reapers at the end but are currently preparing hearts to receive the truth so they may be gathered as wheat when the time comesPH007 27.3+1.

• A Joyful Procession: For the righteous, this reaping is a time of incredible joy as the angels "shout the harvest home," bringing the saints into the mansions prepared for themHvn 93.2+1.

⚖️ The Divine Standard

The angels use the fruits of the life to determine character, as the outward appearance of the tares often closely resembles the wheat16MR 271.2+1.

• Fruit as the Test: The character of the two classes is fully determined by the time of the harvest; the wheat produces the fruits of righteousness and holiness, while the tares represent the children of the wicked one6MR 213.2+1.

• Finality of the Work: Once the reapers are sent forth, the time of probation is over; those who are holy will remain holy, and those who are unjust will remain unjust Revelation 22:11SSP 90.2.

• Preserving the Wheat: The Lord specifically commanded the reapers to wait until the harvest so that not a single "precious blade" of wheat would be accidentally rooted up while trying to remove the tares Matthew 13:29PaM 212.1.

To seal or bind the wheat for the heavenly garner means to mark and set apart God's faithful people through the final message of mercy, ensuring they are prepared for the coming of Christ and protected during the final judgmentsLDE 14.2+2. This sacred process involves a deep internal work of character development and the reception of the Sabbath truth as the sign of God’s authorityPM 15.1+2.

✍️ The Sealing Message of the Third Angel

The third angel’s work is described as selecting the wheat from the tares and sealing or binding the wheat for the heavenly garnerLDE 14.2+2. This "sealing" is the final preparation of the saints and is directly connected to the third angel’s messageTBI 234.5+1.

• The Sabbath as the Seal: The light of the Sabbath is the sealing truthPM 15.1. It is the sign, or seal, of the living God, and the time has arrived for this message to be proclaimed with power to the world Revelation 7:2-3GSAM 272.2.

• The Marking of the Faithful: Similar to the man with the writer's inkhorn, the sealing message marks those who "sigh and cry" for the abominations around them Ezekiel 9:2-4PTJW April 1850, page 69.8. Those who are sealed are the 144,000 who will stand redeemed on Mount Zion Revelation 14:1QSM 8.3+1.

• A Protection from Wrath: The sealed ones are safe in the hour of God's slaughter and plagues, for the angels of destruction are commanded not to come near anyone upon whom is the markPTJW April 1850, page 69.8. They abide under the shadow of the Almighty during the time of trouble Psalms 91:5-8PTJW April 1850, page 69.8.

🧺 Binding in Bundles for the Garner

Being "bound in bundles" signifies a state of perfect unity and separation from the world as the harvest approaches1EGWLM 373.4+2.

• Unity of the Saints: The righteous are firmly united and bound together by the truth in companies, looking careworn but triumphant as their victories are nearly wonEW 88.3. This unity is a result of their connection with Christ and their obedience to the truth5MR 364.4.

• Separation from Error: To be bound for the garner, one must be separate from those who are receiving new errors and dwelling on things of no profit5MR 425.3. This involves a "greater death to the world" and a total consecration to the proclamation of the truthExV 52.1+1.

• A Fixed Character: The binding process indicates that the character has been fully developed and the fruit is ripe Mark 4:29CT 144.1+1. Once the wheat is bound and the tares are gathered into bundles for the fire, the destiny of every soul is forever fixedARSH July 7, 1853, page 31.12+1.

🏛️ Preparing for the Heavenly Garner

The "heavenly garner" refers to the kingdom of God, where the righteous will be gathered at the appearing of Christ to dwell with Him eternally Matthew 3:12ARSH July 18, 1865, page 49.13+1.

• Refining through Trials: Afflictions, temptations, and varied trials are the workmen God uses to refine and sanctify His people, fitting them for the garnerLDE 154.1+1.

• The Result of Labor: The "sheaves" brought to the garner include the souls won to Christ through the faithful missionary labor and prayers of His childrenBEcho February 15, 1892, par. 9+2.

• Entrance into the Kingdom: When the harvest of the earth is reaped, the saints will enter the gates of the city and have right to the tree of life Revelation 22:14TM 234.2+1. They will part no more but will share the presence and glory of their Savior forever 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17ARSH July 18, 1865, page 49.13.

Every person must decide now whose mark they will receive, for the third angel is even now binding the wheat for the heavenly garner and the tares for the final fire Revelation 14:9-12CCh 343.1+1.

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Just as we keep records here, we are told that every thought and every word is recorded in the books of heavenST February 18, 1903, par. 8. God will bring every work into judgment, including every secret thing Ecclesiastes 12:14. We must guard our words and thoughts carefully so that we are not ashamed when we meet our record in the final judgmentST February 18, 1903, par. 8. I am here to help you as you prepare for the heavenly garnerLDE 14.2+1.

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