In our previous post we were in the process of mentioning some of the things which have already taken place and or are in the process of taking place during this the “Day of the Lord” (the millennial or thousand year day), as well as those things which have yet to have taken place during this time.
We mentioned the fall of Babylon (the professing church), that it had fallen, fallen from the Lord’s favor and was no longer used of Him as a repository of truth, yes it still contains little bits and pieces of truth (some of the basic first principle doctrines) mixed with error, but this is just so as to make it palatable enough for the unlearned or nominal Christian. But this condition will not continue indefinitely, Babylon is destined for destruction, and like a great millstone (the world’s largest and oldest grinder of food for Christendom) it will be destroyed never to rise again (Rev 18:21).
Because she glorified herself believing herself to be rich in the truth and in the spirit of the truth and in need of nothing (Rev 3:17), “Therefore her plagues will come in one day (the “Day of the Lord”, and in three stages), first by death (having fallen from favor) then by mourning and famine (spiritual famine, having been deprived of the light of truth, Rev 18:23), and lastly she will be utterly burned with fire (with destructive calamities), for strong is the Lord God who judges her.” (Rev 18:8) The first two of these stages has already taken place the last awaits its appointed time.
Her destruction will be sudden, violent and complete, “These two things shall come to you in a moment, in one day: The loss of children, and widowhood. They shall come upon you in their fullness Because of the multitude of your sorceries, for the great abundance of your enchantments. “For you have trusted in your wickedness; you have said, ‘No one sees me’; your (worldly) wisdom and your knowledge have warped you; and you have said in your heart, ‘I am, and there is no one else besides me.’ Therefore evil shall come upon you (the unrelenting anarchist masses); you shall not know from where it arises. And trouble shall fall upon you; you will not be able to put it off. And desolation shall come upon you suddenly, which you shall not know.” (Isa 47: 9-11; Compare with Ezek 27:27)
Another work which is presently taking place though totally unknown by the world and the professing church even as the work of separating the wheat and the tares is taking place is the gleaning work or separation of “the wise and the foolish virgins”, the “Little Flock” and the “Great Company class” here at the end of the age.
The burning of the tares is associated with the final destruction of Babylon, however it is quite evident that we have not yet reached that point, Babylon has not yet been destroyed, nor yet “cast into the sea (the anarchist masses) there to be “burned with fire”, “with violence the great city Babylon shall be thrown down and shall not be found anymore” (Rev 18:8).
There are two parts to the harvest of the end of this age “the harvest of the earth” as previously mentioned and “the harvest of the vine of the earth” the first of which involves the reaping of the “ripe-wheat” (the faithful over-comers, the “wise virgins”), and the second the “gleaning” of the “un-ripe wheat” (the “grapes” or “foolish virgins”, the great company class). Matt 25:2
It is not until the close of the first harvest, the vintage harvest (“the harvest of the earth”), that winter comes “THEN shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved.” (Matt 24:21-22)
The vintage harvest (the “ripe wheat”) is taken before winter, before the great tribulation, as is clearly noted by the phrase “It is done” in the Rev 16:17 which precedes the “great earthquake”, Armageddon. Upon the completion of the vintage harvest, the “harvest of the earth”, the next stage in the harvest begins with the “vine of the earth” (Christendom) being cast into the “great wine-press of the wrath of god” (the great time of trouble). It is during this time that the “un-ripe wheat”, the “grapes” (the great company class) will be “gleaned”, harvested from the field (Isa 24:10-14).
Next up in this, the “Day of the Lord” is of course the great time of trouble itself, i.e., the “great earthquake”, Armageddon, the “Time of Jacobs Trouble”. This trouble will be worldwide in scope, no nation or people will be spared from its effects. The Time of Jacob’s trouble will be especially centered on the nation of Israel.
With the completion of these events the present heavens (powers of spiritual control, both the seen and the unseen), will pass away with a great noise (uproar and confusion), and the elements (of society) will melt with fervent heat (human passion and wrath); both the earth (the present social order) and the works that are in it will be burned up (dissolved) in order to make way for the new heavens (powers of spiritual control, God’s kingdom, His glorified Church) and a new earth (society reorganized under God’s kingdom). 2 Pet 3:10, 13
We will continue with our next post.
We mentioned the fall of Babylon (the professing church), that it had fallen, fallen from the Lord’s favor and was no longer used of Him as a repository of truth, yes it still contains little bits and pieces of truth (some of the basic first principle doctrines) mixed with error, but this is just so as to make it palatable enough for the unlearned or nominal Christian. But this condition will not continue indefinitely, Babylon is destined for destruction, and like a great millstone (the world’s largest and oldest grinder of food for Christendom) it will be destroyed never to rise again (Rev 18:21).
Because she glorified herself believing herself to be rich in the truth and in the spirit of the truth and in need of nothing (Rev 3:17), “Therefore her plagues will come in one day (the “Day of the Lord”, and in three stages), first by death (having fallen from favor) then by mourning and famine (spiritual famine, having been deprived of the light of truth, Rev 18:23), and lastly she will be utterly burned with fire (with destructive calamities), for strong is the Lord God who judges her.” (Rev 18:8) The first two of these stages has already taken place the last awaits its appointed time.
Her destruction will be sudden, violent and complete, “These two things shall come to you in a moment, in one day: The loss of children, and widowhood. They shall come upon you in their fullness Because of the multitude of your sorceries, for the great abundance of your enchantments. “For you have trusted in your wickedness; you have said, ‘No one sees me’; your (worldly) wisdom and your knowledge have warped you; and you have said in your heart, ‘I am, and there is no one else besides me.’ Therefore evil shall come upon you (the unrelenting anarchist masses); you shall not know from where it arises. And trouble shall fall upon you; you will not be able to put it off. And desolation shall come upon you suddenly, which you shall not know.” (Isa 47: 9-11; Compare with Ezek 27:27)
Another work which is presently taking place though totally unknown by the world and the professing church even as the work of separating the wheat and the tares is taking place is the gleaning work or separation of “the wise and the foolish virgins”, the “Little Flock” and the “Great Company class” here at the end of the age.
The burning of the tares is associated with the final destruction of Babylon, however it is quite evident that we have not yet reached that point, Babylon has not yet been destroyed, nor yet “cast into the sea (the anarchist masses) there to be “burned with fire”, “with violence the great city Babylon shall be thrown down and shall not be found anymore” (Rev 18:8).
There are two parts to the harvest of the end of this age “the harvest of the earth” as previously mentioned and “the harvest of the vine of the earth” the first of which involves the reaping of the “ripe-wheat” (the faithful over-comers, the “wise virgins”), and the second the “gleaning” of the “un-ripe wheat” (the “grapes” or “foolish virgins”, the great company class). Matt 25:2
It is not until the close of the first harvest, the vintage harvest (“the harvest of the earth”), that winter comes “THEN shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved.” (Matt 24:21-22)
The vintage harvest (the “ripe wheat”) is taken before winter, before the great tribulation, as is clearly noted by the phrase “It is done” in the Rev 16:17 which precedes the “great earthquake”, Armageddon. Upon the completion of the vintage harvest, the “harvest of the earth”, the next stage in the harvest begins with the “vine of the earth” (Christendom) being cast into the “great wine-press of the wrath of god” (the great time of trouble). It is during this time that the “un-ripe wheat”, the “grapes” (the great company class) will be “gleaned”, harvested from the field (Isa 24:10-14).
Next up in this, the “Day of the Lord” is of course the great time of trouble itself, i.e., the “great earthquake”, Armageddon, the “Time of Jacobs Trouble”. This trouble will be worldwide in scope, no nation or people will be spared from its effects. The Time of Jacob’s trouble will be especially centered on the nation of Israel.
With the completion of these events the present heavens (powers of spiritual control, both the seen and the unseen), will pass away with a great noise (uproar and confusion), and the elements (of society) will melt with fervent heat (human passion and wrath); both the earth (the present social order) and the works that are in it will be burned up (dissolved) in order to make way for the new heavens (powers of spiritual control, God’s kingdom, His glorified Church) and a new earth (society reorganized under God’s kingdom). 2 Pet 3:10, 13
We will continue with our next post.
