Many of us have be taught a lesson that unfortunately is one of those lessons where Inspiration says--we have to "unlearn".

"We have many lessons to learn, and many, many to unlearn. God and heaven alone are infallible. Those who think that they will never have to give up a cherished view, never have occasion to change an opinion, will be disappointed. As long as we hold to our own ideas and opinions with determined persistency, we cannot have the unity for which Christ prayed." (SLM, vol. 1, p.37)

Our SDA thinking has been primarily that this lesson of the harvest applies to the very end of the world--ie. last day prior to the Lord coming in the clouds.

However let us look more deeply into this parable, so that all truth can be discerned and carefully investigated.

THE WHEAT AND THE TARES -- MATTHEW 13
(Outline # 24)

Meditation:
INTRODUCTION: This study reveals that the wheat (faithful) and the tares (unfaithful)are commingled in the Seventh day Adventist church, and will be separated before the second coming of our Lord and Saviour in the clouds of glory. Not at the coming of the Lord in the clouds, as commonly taught. It also reveals who is going to do the separation, when it is going to be, and how it is going to take place.


1. Matthew 13:24-30
Review: Emphasize Matthew 13: 30 - note that the harvest begins with the separation of the wheat and the tares.

2. Interpretation/Meaning
Read: Matthew 13:36-40

a. Man/sower - Christ - verse 37

b. Good seed - Righteous - verse 38

c. Tares - Unrighteous - verse 38

d. Men slept/Servants - Church leaders - verse 25, 29; (COL p.71)

e. Enemy - Satan - verse 39

f. Reapers - Angels - verse 39

3. When is the Harvest?

a. Read: Matthew 13: 39 - The harvest is in the end of the world.

b. But this could not be the very day when Christ returns as
generally thought.Why?

c. Read: Jeremiah 8:20

i. Here the wicked cry out that the harvest is past, and as a
result they are lost.

ii. This reveals that the harvest was/is a time when you can be
saved. Thus, the harvest could not be the second coming.

iii. Thus, the harvest will end when probation closes for all. (See
also 5T 353; 7T 16)

d. Therefore, the harvest is during probationary time, when there is still a chance for the people to be saved. After probation closes there will be no more opportunity for anyone to be saved. The
destiny of all would have been decided life or death.

e. Read: Amos 8: 11-12

i. The wicked realize that they are hopeless.

ii. There was a famine not of food, but the Word of God.

iii. It shows that there was an abundance of the truth before
the close of probation.

iv. The fact that the wicked are trying to find the Word shows
that probation has closed and they are lost.

v. Therefore, now is our chance to feast on the Word of God,
through the Bible and the Spirit of Prophecy.

4. Meaning Of The Term "End of the World."

a. Read: Matthew 13:39

b. Read: Hebrews 9: 24-26 - Paul describes of Christ's entering the
Most Holy Place which took place in 1844, as the "end of the world."

c. Read: 1 Cor. 10-11 - Paul uses the phrase, "ends of the world" is a term for the last days.(Not THE last day)

d. Thus the phrase "end of the world" simply means the last days /
latter days / our time.
Example: December is the end of the year.

e. The Harvest will not take place in one day. It is a process that
needs time.

5. What Is The Field?
Read: COL 70-71

a. The Field signifies the "church in the world." -the remnant church in the last days which is the Seventh day Adventist —the church of Christ in the world —where the wheat and tares are
commingled and will be separated.
Read: Testimonies to Ministers, pp. 46,47

6. When Does The Harvest Begins?

Read: Matt. 13:30

a. The harvest must begin when the wheat and tares are
separated.

b. The first thing he will do in the time of harvest is separate the two.

c. Thus the harvest will begin when the wheat and tares are
separated in the church (the Field).

7. Who is Going To Do The Separation?

a. Read: Matthew 13: The angel of God are the reapers.

b. Read: TM 47

c. Read: Ezekiel 9

d. 3T 266-267

8. Compare Matthew 13:40-41 and Matthew 24:30-31

a. Matt. 13: 40-41 - gather those that offend (the wicked) out of His church.

b. Matt. 24: 30-31 - He will gather the elect (righteous) and take
them with Him to heaven.

c. Thus the harvest of Matthew 13 is NOT the second advent but takes place in the church before the close of probation and
Christ's second return

Summary:

The time is surely coming when the faithful and the unfaithful ones in the church must undergo separation. Then the Lord can garner in His sheaves into His barn (the purified Church). We may or may not be there, that is really our choice. The Lord is giving us warning after warning on what to do, so that we might be spared,and be
counted as part of the wheat in His barn.