Gather First The Tares (ii)

Barnes in his commentary says this about the above text:

"Gather not my soul with sinners - Margin, "take not away." The word rendered "gather," means properly to "collect;" to "gather," as fruits, Exodus 23:10; ears of grain, Ruth 2:7; money, 2 Kings 22:4. There is the idea of assembling together, or collecting; and the meaning here is, that he desired not to be united with wicked people, or to be regarded as one of their number." 

The Psalmist understood that there would be a complete separation of the righteous and the wicked when each are "gathered" in the end time harvest. He did not want to be gathered with the unbelievers, with the ungodly, with the impenitent, i.e. with the chaff or weeds. In this second chapter in this short series we will further consider both the end time gathering of living saints, via the rapture, and the end time gathering of living sinners. 

In the previous posting we saw that the children of God will be separated from the children of the devil at the end of the present age. We saw that this separation involves those who are alive on earth when Christ comes again and did not involve the separation of the dead. 

There is a "gathering," or a "reaping" or "harvesting" of both the wheat and the tares and the gathering of the tares would be first on the list of things the harvest angels would be ordered to do. The gathering of the wheat is fulfilled when the instantaneous transformation of the bodies of saints occurs in the rapture. The gathering of the tares, or children of the wicked one, occurs prior to the gathering of the wheat and their gathering involves their having been either cut down or pulled up. Following that, the tares are put into bundles for later burning.

If this is correct, and I believe it is, then how and when will the living and growing tares (who are unsaved unbelievers) be 1) gathered together? and 2) tied together in bundles? Also, how long will it take to complete this winnowing and purging of humanity? 

We cannot say that the tares (unbelievers who are alive at the end of the age and who are on earth during the harvest) are gathered in the same way as are believers, i.e., through a catching away to the heavens. Surely the gathering of the wicked involves their being cut down or rooted up and which effects their loss of life and permanent destruction, the very kind that we see in chapters six through twenty of the Book of Revelation (all which deals with what occurs when Christ is revealed from heaven with his mighty angels). This cutting down of the wicked, and gathering and bundling them together, occurs over the several years spanning the Apocalypse, with the final gathering of the wicked and their destruction and burning occurring at the final battle of Armageddon (Rev. chapters 16 & 19 as we will see). 

It is interesting how the book of Revelation speaks of several end time gatherings of the wicked, which may well be the bundling of the tares (children of the wicked one) described in the parable. Further, if the gathering of the wheat in the rapture occurs in Revelation chapter nineteen, as surely seems to be the case, then we ought to find somewhere in previous chapters of Revelation where and when the harvesting and gathering of the tares occurs.

So, let us notice first this text from the Apocalypse and an end time large scale gathering of the wicked:

"12 And the sixth angel poured out his vial upon the great river Euphrates; and the water thereof was dried up, that the way of the kings of the east might be prepared. 13 And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet. 14 For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty. 15 Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame. 16 And he gathered them together into a place called in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon." (Rev. 16: 12-16 kjv)

Is this one of the bundles of tares gathered together by the will and providence of God for their destruction? I believe so. In fact, as we will see, the more we near the "end of the age" and begin to experience the things connected with the return of Christ in the Book of Revelation, the more we see the wicked band together as never before (under the leadership of the Devil and his son the Antichrist). 

There will be numerous gatherings of the wicked (bundles) when Christ returns in judgment upon the wicked. There will also be movement upon living believers at the end of the age to also gather together in groups or bundles for safety and for holiness. But, it is upon the end time gatherings of the wicked that we are focusing now. 

In the above text it is not the angels of God who do the gathering, as in the parable of the tares, but it is "three unclean spirits like frogs" or "the spirits of demons" who do the gathering. However, in response we say that both holy angels and demons may be said to do the gathering. The gathering of the demonic spirits results from God's unleashing them for that purpose. It is a judgment of God for them to become prey of demons and so gathered together in bundles to be destroyed. We see this same thing in the story of Job's afflictions. Satan brought his ills upon him but Job ascribed all to God saying "the Lord gave and the Lord has taken away, blessed be the name of the Lord" and said to his wife "shall we receive good at the hand of God and not evil also?" (Job 2: 10, 21) God may be said to cause Job's calamities because it required the willing permission of God for Satan to be able to do those calamities. In fact, all the awful calamities in the Book of Revelation are ordained of God for the punishment of the wicked who refused faith and repentance, and he employs evil spirits and hellish creatures to effect that punishment.  

Notice also that the text says that "the kings of the earth and of the whole world" are gathered, which is indeed a large gathering or bundle of tares. Recall that Christ said "the field is the world" and here we see an end time gathering of the wicked "of the whole world." And, why gather them together in bundles? To burn them in the fire, i.e. in order to destroy them or get rid of them.

"11 Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war. 12 His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns. He [e]had a name written that no one knew except Himself. 13 He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. 14 And the armies in heaven, clothed in [f]fine linen, white and clean, followed Him on white horses. 15 Now out of His mouth goes a [g]sharp sword, that with it He should strike the nations. And He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron. He Himself treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. 16 And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS." (Rev. 19: 11-16 nkjv)

I believe this is the battle of Armageddon mentioned by way of anticipation in chapter sixteen. In chapter sixteen the gathering of the wicked, both rulers and armies, commences in a place in Israel called Armageddon and the destruction of them occurs in chapter nineteen which represents what Christ will do when he descends from the clouds and stands upon the earth. In other words, the weeds are gathered in chapter sixteen but they are burned in chapter nineteen. 

Notice that it is a scene where and a time when all the impenitent wicked on earth (who have aligned themselves with Antichrist and Satan) will be destroyed in the manner described. Further, it cannot be doubted that the raptured saints are with Christ in the heavens when the "armies of heaven" gather in the clouds of heaven. It is when these words of the Psalmist will be fulfilled: 

"5 Let the saints be joyful in glory: let them sing aloud upon their beds. 6 Let the high praises of God be in their mouth, and a two-edged sword in their hand; 7 To execute vengeance upon the heathen, and punishments upon the people; 8 To bind their kings with chains, and their nobles with fetters of iron; 9 To execute upon them the judgment written: this honour have all his saints. Praise ye the Lord." (Psa. 149: 5-9 kjv)

Both saints and angels will have roles to play in the various activities connected with Christ's return and the establishment of the Millennial age and kingdom. Saints, as good soldiers of Jesus Christ, will join the "armies of heaven," perhaps being an army distinct from the armies of angels; Christian soldiers. 

Further, this scene in Revelation chapter nineteen is when Christ smites the nations with a rod of iron. That being so, the saints must be present with Christ at that time for they also will be involved in this smiting of the nations for so the record is:

“And he who overcomes, and keeps My works until the end, to him I will give power over the nations— ‘He shall rule them with a rod of iron; They shall be dashed to pieces like the potter’s vessels’[fn]— as I also have received from My Father." (Rev. 2: 26-27 nkjv)

So, as Christ smites the nations completely in Revelation chapter nineteen it is highly probable that the saints descend with him from the clouds, upon their own white horses and chariots, with heaven's weapons. 

Further, notice how the scene in Revelation nineteen has Christ with a robe "dipped in blood." This is the blood of the wicked who the Lord will slaughter when he returns. Again, obviously, this slaughter only involves those who are alive when Christ engages the wicked in this final battle. This slaughter of the wicked is spoken of by the prophets of old. For instance, Isaiah wrote:

"Who is this who comes from Edom, With dyed garments from Bozrah, This One who is glorious in His apparel, Traveling in the greatness of His strength?— “I who speak in righteousness, mighty to save. Wherefore art thou red in thine apparel, and thy garments like him that treadeth in the winefat? I have trodden the winepress alone; and of the people there was none with me: for I will tread them in mine anger, and trample them in my fury; and their blood shall be sprinkled upon my garments, and I will stain all my raiment. For the day of vengeance is in mine heart, and the year of my redeemed is come.” (Isa. 63: 1-4 nkjv)

Also, the Psalmist spoke of this end time bloody destruction of the wicked, how they are cut down by the Redeemer and Avenger, the Lord Jesus Christ at the appointed time. 

"But God shall wound the head of his enemies, and the hairy scalp of such an one as goeth on still in his trespasses. The Lord said, I will bring again from Bashan, I will bring my people again from the depths of the sea: That thy foot may be dipped in the blood of thine enemies, and the tongue of thy dogs in the same." (Psa. 68: 21-22)

So, again, it is Christ, along with the saved of all the ages, who descend from the clouds and smite the nations, slaughter and uproot the wicked rebels and to no doubt protect those few meek and humble people who hid themselves from the Antichrist and helped Christians and Jews (the sheep peoples), albeit without becoming believers of Christ up to that time (much like when Rahab helped the Israelite spies). The saints will have the blood of the enemies of God and of Christ upon their garments in that day as does Christ their Commander. As Psalm 149 says, the saints will "execute vengeance and punishments" and "execute the judgment written" upon the wicked at the end of the age, and will act as military police in binding and chaining the leaders in the rebellion at the end of the age.

"17 Then I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the birds that fly in the midst of heaven, “Come and gather together for the [h]supper of the great God, 18 that you may eat the flesh of kings, the flesh of captains, the flesh of mighty men, the flesh of horses and of those who sit on them, and the flesh of all people, [i]free and slave, both small and great.” 19 And I saw the beast, the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against Him who sat on the horse and against His army. 20 Then the beast was captured, and with him the false prophet who worked signs in his presence, by which he deceived those who received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image. These two were cast alive into the lake of fire burning with brimstone. 21 And the rest were killed with the sword which proceeded from the mouth of Him who sat on the horse. And all the birds were filled with their flesh." (Rev. 19: 17-21)

Not only does the first part of chapter nineteen speak of the gathering and destruction of the wicked by Christ, by his people, and by the angels, but the latter verses (above) do so more directly. There is also not only a gathering of those who have embraced Antichrist (the beast), and a destruction of them, but also a gathering of the vultures to eat the dead flesh of the wicked in that final day. These wicked ones, these tares, these children of the wicked one, will be "gathered together" to make war against the Lord, but they are nothing but a bundle of weeds readied for either burning in the dump or for the vultures to eat.

This invitation given to the vultures to come eat the flesh and blood of the ones slaughtered by the Lord, to partake of this "supper," is referred to in this oracle of the Lord Jesus Christ, in my view:

"26 Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, he is in the desert; go not forth: behold, he is in the secret chambers; believe it not. 27 For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. 28 For wheresoever the carcase is, there will the eagles be gathered together." (Matt. 24: 26-28)

It is believed by many that in the days of Christ most cities had a common garbage dump called "Gehenna" and into this place dead animal carcasses were thrown and where a constant fire was burning and devouring the combustible things in it. This became a picture of "the lake of fire and brimstone" and which is "the second death." (Rev. 20: 14) It was also described by Christ as a place "where the worm dies not nor the fire is quenched." (Mark 9: 48)  So, what happens to the wicked at the second coming of Christ with his saints and with the holy angels? Their bodies are thrown in the dump to be eaten by vultures or burned in the fires. 

"Then I looked, and behold, a white cloud, and on the cloud sat One like the Son of Man, having on His head a golden crown, and in His hand a sharp sickle. And another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to Him who sat on the cloud, “Thrust in Your sickle and reap, for the time has come for You to reap, for the harvest of the earth is ripe.” So He who sat on the cloud thrust in His sickle on the earth, and the earth was reaped. Then another angel came out of the temple which is in heaven, he also having a sharp sickle. And another angel came out from the altar, who had power over fire, and he cried with a loud cry to him who had the sharp sickle, saying, “Thrust in your sharp sickle and gather the clusters of the vine of the earth, for her grapes are fully ripe.” So the angel thrust his sickle into the earth and gathered the vine of the earth, and threw it into the great winepress of the wrath of God. And the winepress was trampled outside the city, and blood came out of the winepress, up to the horses’ bridles, for one thousand six hundred furlongs." (Rev. 14: 14-20 nkjv)

Again, we see a description of the end time gathering of the tares and of their separation from the wheat and their being rooted out of the new heavens and earth of the Millennium. What is described above is what will occur as part of the coming Apocalypse and appearing of Christ Jesus the Lord and King and part of that end time harvest of the wicked. 

Now let us look at some old testament prophecies of the end time gathering into bundles the wicked who will be thus bundled for destruction.

“Therefore wait for Me,” says the LORD, “Until the day I rise up for plunder; My determination is to gather the nations To My assembly of kingdoms, To pour on them My indignation, All My fierce anger; All the earth shall be devoured With the fire of My jealousy." (Zeph. 3: 8 nkjv)

That is just what we see in the book of Revelation. The nations are being gathered together so that they may be destroyed by the fire of God's wrath.

"Now also many nations are gathered against thee, that say, Let her be defiled, and let our eye look upon Zion. But they know not the thoughts of the LORD, neither understand they his counsel: for he shall gather them as the sheaves into the floor. Arise and thresh, O daughter of Zion: for I will make thine horn iron, and I will make thy hoofs brass: and thou shalt beat in pieces many people: and I will consecrate their gain unto the LORD, and their substance unto the Lord of the whole earth." (Micah 4: 11-13)

That is a description of the end time gatherings of the wicked generation who will be gathered for destruction and separation from the earth and the righteous who will be left to inherit it.

"Proclaim ye this among the Gentiles; Prepare war, wake up the mighty men, let all the men of war draw near; let them come up: Beat your plowshares into swords, and your pruninghooks into spears: let the weak say, I am strong. Assemble yourselves, and come, all ye heathen, and gather yourselves together round about: thither cause thy mighty ones to come down, O LORD. Let the heathen be wakened, and come up to the valley of Jehoshaphat: for there will I sit to judge all the heathen round about. Put ye in the sickle, for the harvest is ripe: come, get you down; for the press is full, the fats overflow; for their wickedness is great. Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision: for the day of the LORD is near in the valley of decision. The sun and the moon shall be darkened, and the stars shall withdraw their shining. The LORD also shall roar out of Zion, and utter his voice from Jerusalem; and the heavens and the earth shall shake: but the LORD will be the hope of his people, and the strength of the children of Israel. So shall ye know that I am the LORD your God dwelling in Zion, my holy mountain: then shall Jerusalem be holy, and there shall no strangers pass through her any more." (Joel 3: 11-17)

This is another prophecy of the end time gathering of the tares. Like the other texts of similar focus it occurs as part of the day of wrath and vengeance, in a day of slaughter, in the day when the Lord separates those who he finds alive on earth when he comes. 

I will post one short concluding article for this series and then work to finish my long series on the afterlife (which is now dealing with these same eschatological questions).