1881 Watch Tower - A2Z.org

PRESENCE OF CHRIST BEFORE THERAPTURE OF THE CHURCH.Christ's personal presence and ministry of three and a half yearsat the first advent, as well as the three and a half yearsR263 : page 68which followed his ministry, is termed "the Harvest." It was theharvesting of the Jewish or Law age. Christ was present as thechief reaper--his disciples as under-reapers. Their work wasseparating of wheat from chaff, and the gathering of the wheatinto the higher or Gospel dispensation. That harvest was the endof that age. Jesus said to his disciples, "Lift up your eyes andlook on the fields, for they are white already to harvest." "I sendyou to reap that whereon ye bestowed no labor; other men (theprophets) have labored and ye are entered into their labors."--John 4:38. That work was not general, nor for the world. Heconfined his labors to Judea, and the work to them did not ceaseuntil five days before his death, when he rode on the ass into thecity, wept over it, gave them up, and said: "Your house is leftunto you desolate." After his resurrection he sends the disciplesto "preach the Gospel to every creature, beginning atJerusalem." Nor were they suffered to preach to the world ingeneral until the seven years of harvest-work to that Jewishpeople was fully accomplished, as God had promised.--Daniel9:27. "He (Jesus, chief reaper) shall confirm the covenant withmany for one week" (seven years), in the midst of the weekmaking all sacrifice to cease--by offering himself the truesacrifice. But the harvest or reaping done in the end of theJewish age was confined to them as a people. The oracles ofGod had been committed to them as a people; wheat was soughtamong them, but as a nation they proved to be mainly chaff. Thewheat was garnered (brought into the Gospel church) and thechaff burned (nation destroyed), and thus their harvest ended.During the Gospel age, the church does not reap, but sows theseed. Paul plants, Apollos waters, God gives increase, etc. Butthere is to be a harvest in the end of this age, as illustrated in theparable of the tares and wheat, and taught in the explanation ofthe same.--Matt. 13. Notice that both wheat and tares are in thekingdom of heaven--the church--and that this parable, as alsothe other six of the series, relating to "the kingdomR263 : page 69of heaven"--the church--refers not to the non-professing world,but to two classes in the church.The Son of Man planted the church pure, good seed. During thedays of the apostles there were special "gifts of the Spirit," suchas "discerning of spirits," etc., by which they were able toprevent tares from getting in among the wheat--hypocritesgetting into the church,--(instance, 1 Cor. 5:3.--"Simon Magus"