Reklama​tion Minis​tries​
Seeing the Church and the World in Plain Vie​w​
Yes, according to this statement the harvest is the end of probationary time, taking place at, not after, the close of probation. The harvest, in other words, is a part of probationary time. It means the harvest is a part of probationary time not after it. It is the last part of it. Thus, she is in perfect harmony with what the Bible says and what we have studied. So the harvest is the last portion of man's probationary time. That last portion will begin
with the separation in the church
and end with the completion of the
gospel.
"He [Christ] has said that
false brethren will be found in the church till the close of time." 6
There is no contradiction here either. Are we not living in the close of time as we have already discussed. So the ​expression should not be taken to mean just the second coming of our Lord.
Here is the third. "When the work of the gospel is completed,
there immediately follows the separation between the good and the evil, and the destiny of each class is forever fixed." 7
This statement definitely is referring to the separation that will
take place after probation closes and culminates with the second return of Christ. But there is no
problem here because the separation at the second coming does not obviate the prior separation of the wheat and the tares. In other words, the
separation referred to in this
statement, is not referring to the
harvest of Matthew 13; they are
two different events as we have
mentioned previously.
How is the Separation to Take Place?
The Scriptures tell us that the separation of the tares from the wheat will be done by the angels,
not men. "The work of separation
is given to the angels of God, and not committed into the hands of any man." 8 And where do we find a description of this judgment or separation? Please study Ezekiel Chapter Nine. We cannot now go
deeper into the topic, but consider
this reference of Ellen White: "Study the ninth chapter of Ezekiel,
these words will be literally fulfilled." 9
Now you see the subject of the harvest in plain view. Ponder it. Pray about it, and get ready for it. Will you be ready when the angels come to "sever the wicked from among the just"? This is really something to think about.
By A. Anthony Hibbert
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1 Counsels on Sabbath School Work, pp. 28 -31, E.G. White
2 Counsels to Writers and Editors, p. 37, E.G. White
3 Testimonies for the Church, Vol. 7, p. 16, E.G. White
4 Christ's Object Lessons, p. 70, E.G. White
5 Ibid 72
6 Ibid 73
7 Ibid 123
8 Testimonies to Ministers, p. 47, E. G. White
9 Manuscript Releases, Vol. 1, p. 260, E. G. White