The Harvest of the End of the World
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The concept of the "Harvest of the End of the World" is a significant eschatological theme found in the New Testament, particularly in the teachings of Jesus Christ. This theme is primarily drawn from the parables and apocalyptic discourses that describe the final judgment and the separation of the righteous from the wicked.

Biblical References

1. The Parable of the Weeds (Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43): In this parable, Jesus compares the kingdom of heaven to a man who sows good seed in his field. However, while everyone is sleeping, an enemy sows weeds among the wheat. When the plants sprout, the servants ask if they should pull up the weeds, but the owner instructs them to let both grow together until the harvest. At that time, the reapers will gather the weeds to be burned and the wheat to be stored in the barn. Jesus explains this parable to His disciples, stating, "The harvest is the end of the age, and the harvesters are angels" (Matthew 13:39). The weeds represent the sons of the evil one, and the wheat symbolizes the sons of the kingdom. This parable emphasizes the final separation and judgment at the end of the age.

2. The Parable of the Net (Matthew 13:47-50): Jesus further illustrates the end-time judgment with the parable of the net. A net is cast into the sea, gathering all kinds of fish. When it is full, the fishermen sort the good fish into containers and throw away the bad. Jesus explains, "So will it be at the end of the age: The angels will come and separate the wicked from the righteous" (Matthew 13:49). This parable reinforces the idea of a final sorting and judgment.

3. The Book of Revelation (Revelation 14:14-20): The imagery of harvest is vividly depicted in Revelation, where John describes a vision of a white cloud with one "like a son of man" seated on it, wearing a golden crown and holding a sharp sickle. An angel emerges from the temple, calling out, "Take your sickle and reap, because the time to reap has come, for the harvest of the earth is ripe" (Revelation 14:15). This passage portrays the final reaping of the earth, symbolizing the ultimate judgment and the gathering of the faithful.

Theological Significance

The harvest imagery in these passages underscores the certainty and inevitability of divine judgment. It serves as a reminder of the moral and spiritual accountability of all individuals. The separation of the righteous from the wicked highlights the justice and holiness of God, who will ultimately vindicate His people and punish evil.

The harvest motif also emphasizes the role of Jesus Christ as the judge of the living and the dead. As the Son of Man, He is entrusted with the authority to execute judgment, a theme consistent with His teachings throughout the Gospels.

Practical Implications

For believers, the Harvest of the End of the World serves as both a warning and an encouragement. It calls for vigilance, faithfulness, and readiness, as the timing of the harvest is known only to God. The anticipation of this event motivates Christians to live lives that reflect the values of the kingdom of heaven, bearing fruit in keeping with repentance and righteousness.

The theme also inspires evangelistic efforts, as the knowledge of a coming judgment compels believers to share the gospel message with urgency, inviting others to become part of the harvest of the righteous.
Torrey's Topical Textbook
Matthew 13:30,39
Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather you together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

Post-Millennialism Refuted.
... In Matt.13:39 we read "The harvest is the end of the world," and again in
Matt.24:3--- "And as He sat upon the Mount of Olives, the disciples came unto Him ...
/.../pink/the redeemers return/iii post-millennialism refuted .htm

What the Reign of the Saints with Christ for a Thousand Years Is ...
... shall gather out the tares which He suffered to grow with the wheat till the harvest,
as He explains in the words "The harvest is the end of the world; and the ...
//christianbookshelf.org/augustine/city of god/chapter 9 what the reign of.htm

The Harvest of the Earth.
... This is the separation of the righteous and wicked, who were to "grow together till
the harvest," which, says the Saviour, "is the end of the world," Matt.13:39 ...
/.../bliss/a brief commentary on the apocalypse/the harvest of the earth.htm

And He Set Forth to them Another Parable, and Said...
... tares are the children of the evil one; and the enemy that sowed them [1229] is
Satan; and the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels. ...
/.../hogg/the diatessaron of tatian/section xvii and he set.htm

Petilianus Said: "And Again, Charity Suffereth Long...
... And when the Lord has said, "The field is the world, the harvest is the end of the
world," though He said of the wheat and of the tares, "Let both grow ...
/.../chapter 79 173 petilianus.htm

The Enemy Sowing Tares.
... evil one in their hearts. The harvest is the end of the world, and the
reapers are the angels of God. As therefore the tares are ...
/.../anonymous/mother stories from the new testament/the enemy sowing tares.htm

Letter Lxxvi. (AD 402. )
... and let the tares multiply." He said, "The field is the world;" He said not, "The
field is Africa." He said, "The harvest is the end of the world;" He said not ...
/.../augustine/the confessions and letters of st/letter lxxvi a d 402.htm

John Chapter xviii. 33-40.
... For His kingdom is here until the end of the world, having tares intermingled therewith
until the harvest; for the harvest is the end of the world, when the ...
/.../augustine/homilies on the gospel of john/tractate cxv john chapter xviii.htm

The First Great Group of Parables.
... sons of the kingdom; and the tares are the sons of the evil one; 39 and the enemy
that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; and the ...
/.../mcgarvey/the four-fold gospel/liv the first great group 6.htm

The Understanding of Parables.
... sons of the kingdom; and the tares are the sons of the evil one; and the enemy that
sowed them is the devil: and the harvest is the end of the world; and the ...
//christianbookshelf.org/barton/his life/the understanding of parables.htm

Resources
What does the Bible say about work ethic? What is a Christian work ethic? | GotQuestions.org

What is the meaning of “Cast your bread upon the waters” in Ecclesiastes 11:1? | GotQuestions.org

How does God restore the years that the locusts have eaten (Joel 2:25)? | GotQuestions.org

Harvest: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

Bible ConcordanceBible DictionaryBible EncyclopediaTopical BibleBible Thesuarus
Subtopics

Harvest

Harvest of Barley, Before Wheat

Harvest of Wheat at Pentecost, in Palestine

Harvest: And of Wheat Before Harvest Time

Harvest: Celebrated With Joy

Harvest: Figurative

Harvest: Promises of Plentiful

Harvest: Sabbath Desecrated In

Harvest: Sabbath to be Observed In

The Harvest of a Time of Judgment

The Harvest of a Time when Many are Ready to Receive the Gospel

The Harvest of Barley at the Passover

The Harvest of Ripeness for Wrath

The Harvest of Seasons of Grace

The Harvest of the End of the World

The Harvest of Wheat at Pentecost

The Harvest: (Cold In) of a Refreshing Message

The Harvest: (Dew In) of God's Protection

The Harvest: (Rain In) Honor Given to Fools

The Harvest: A Time of Great Joy

The Harvest: Called The: Appointed Weeks of Harvest

The Harvest: Called The: Harvest Time

The Harvest: Failure of a Cause of Great Grief

The Harvest: Failure of a Punishment for Sin

The Harvest: Failure of Occasioned by Drought

The Harvest: Failure of Occasioned by Locusts

The Harvest: Failure of Sometimes Continued for Years

The Harvest: Fields Appeared White Before

The Harvest: Former and Latter Rain Necessary to Abundance of

The Harvest: Ingathering of Fruits of the Fields

The Harvest: Legal Provision for the Poor During

The Harvest: Men and Women Engaged In

The Harvest: Miraculous Thunder In

The Harvest: Not to be Commenced Until the First Fruits had been offered

The Harvest: Omitted in the Sabbatical Year

The Harvest: Omitted in Year of Jubilee

The Harvest: Patience Required in Waiting For

The Harvest: Persons Engaged in Binders

The Harvest: Persons Engaged in Called Harvest-Men

The Harvest: Persons Engaged in Called Labourers

The Harvest: Persons Engaged in Fed by the Husbandman During

The Harvest: Persons Engaged in Often Defrauded of Their Wages

The Harvest: Persons Engaged in Reapers

The Harvest: Persons Engaged in Received Wages

The Harvest: Slothfulness During, Ruinous

The Harvest: The Sabbath to Observed During

The Harvest: To Continue Without Intermission

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The Harvest of the Earth
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