“The Son of man shall send forth his angels (Servants or messengers, begotten of his spirit), and they shall gather out of his kingdom ALL THINGS (errors, falsehoods, deceptions) THAT OFFEND, and THEM (that cause others to stumble, including many teachers and ministers) WHICH DO INIQUITY (teach false doctrines); And shall cast them into A FURNACE OF FIRE (the “Great time of Trouble”, this fire is as much a symbol as are the tares, the wheat and the garner, do not forget that this is a “parable”): there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.”
The expression "weeping and gnashing of teeth" occurs altogether seven times in the New Testament. It is used as a metaphor describing trouble, distress, perplexity and persecution. The “wailing” or commotion is a result of the separation work even now taking place between the wheat and the tares, as the true class (wheat) is drawn to the truth, and thereby established in truth, the false class (tares) continue to clutch onto the “doctrines of men” esteeming errors as truth, thereby the commotion or “wailing”.
The “gnashing of teeth” represents great disappointment, sorrow, pain, trouble and anguish throughout Christendom "Men's hearts failing them for fear and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth." (Luke 21:26)
This “gnashing of teeth” signifies the chagrin, (disappointment) and savage animosity brought about by “brother turning against brother” (Matt 10:21) as those professed Christians (tares) turn and rend their brethren, the true followers of the Lord (as is off times evident on this and many other Christian(?) forums). As it was in the case of Stephen, “They gnashed on him with their teeth” Acts 7:54. With a wicked condition of heart; the words of Stephen were to them stings, rebukes, arousing their hatred to a pitch of frenzy.
How many times have we experienced this on these boards?
Part of this work of separating is also in the “binding” of the tares, As the Jews failed to recognize the binding and blinding influences which came upon them, so nominal Christians today fail to see the features of the "harvest" work now in progress.
The majority of professed believers are completely obvious that the harvest is even taking place right now, and not only this but that the “Lord of the Harvest” (Luke 10:2) is present, thus like their predecessors, their counter parts during the Jewish harvest, they too are failing in the “day of their visitation”.
They are bound by human traditions and by a worldly spirit, bound tightly by their own prejudices, and their own preconceived ideas as to what is truth. They are also bound by the impression that it is essential to their salvation to be joined to some one of the various churches of Christendom--it matters little to which one--thus combining the idea of individual responsibility with sectarian bondage.
As it was with regards to the faithful of the Jewish age so it is with the faithful of the Gospel age they are being “gathered into the garner (or barn)”, the True Church, The Church of Christ, their names being written in heaven, not upon any earthly roll call, "Gather my saints together unto me…" (Psa. 50:5) Not into another denomination or sect, but gathered to Christ, into oneness with him, in fellowship of spirit through the knowledge of his Word, the truth.
Continued with next post.
