Christ’s Object Lessons—“Tares Among the Wheat: The Time of Harvest”

COL 74.4 “The tares are permitted to grow among the wheat, to have all the advantage of sun and shower; but in the time of
harvest ye shall “return, and discern between the righteous and the wicked, between him that serveth God and him that
serveth Him not.” Malachi 3:18. Christ Himself will decide who are worthy to dwell with the family of heaven. He will judge
every man according to his words and his works. Profession is as nothing in the scale. It is character that decides destiny.”

IDENTIFICATION MARKS

1. “the time of harvest”

2. “the harvest is the end of the world”
3. “As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the end of this world.”
4. “there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.”
5. “Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father.”

TM 506.1-507.2 “In the East the former rain falls at the sowing time. It is necessary in order that the seed may germinate. Under
the influence of the fertilizing showers, the tender shoot springs up. The latter rain, falling near the close of the season, ripens
the grain and prepares it for the sickle. The Lord employs these operations of nature to represent the work of the Holy Spirit.
As the dew and the rain are given first to cause the seed to germinate, and then to ripen the harvest, so the Holy Spirit is
given to carry forward, from one stage to another, the process of spiritual growth. The ripening of the grain represents the
completion of the work of God’s grace in the soul. By the power of the Holy Spirit the moral image of God is to be perfected
in the character. We are to be wholly transformed into the likeness of Christ.
“The latter rain, ripening earth’s harvest, represents the spiritual grace that prepares the church for the coming of the
Son of man...
“While we cherish the blessing of the early rain, we must not, on the other hand, lose sight of the fact that without the
latter rain, to fill out the ears and ripen the grain, the harvest will not be ready for the sickle, and the labor of the sower will
have been in vain...”

SpM 3.2 “When the four angels let go, Christ will set up His kingdom.”

RH August 1, 1849, par. 14 “I was taken off in vision to the Most Holy Place, where I saw Jesus still interceding for Israel. On the
bottom of his garment was a bell and a pomegranate, a bell and a pomegranate. Then I saw that Jesus would not leave the
Most Holy Place, until every case was decided either for salvation or destruction: and that the wrath of God could not come
until Jesus had finished his work in the Most Holy Place—laid off his priestly attire and clothed himself with the garments of
vengeance. Then Jesus will step out from between the Father and man, and God will keep silent no longer; but pour out his
wrath on those who have rejected his truth. I saw that the anger of the nations, the wrath of God, and the time to judge the
dead, were separate events, one following the other. I saw that Michael had not stood up, and that the time of trouble, such
as never was, had not yet commenced. The nations are now getting angry, but when our High Priest has finished his work in
the Sanctuary, he will stand up, put on the garments of vengeance, and then the seven last plagues will be poured out. I saw
that the four angels would hold the four winds until Jesus’ work was done in the Sanctuary, and then will come the seven last
plagues.”

5MR 425.3 “I then saw the third angel. Said my accompanying angel, “Fearful is his word, awful is his mission. He is the angel
that is to select the wheat from the tares, and seal or bind the wheat for the heavenly garner.” These things should engage the
whole mind, the whole attention. Again I was shown the necessity of those who believe we are having the last message of
mercy, being separate from those who are daily receiving or imbibing new error. I saw that neither young nor old should attend
the assemblies of those who are in error and darkness. Said the angel, “Let the mind cease to dwell on things of no profit.”