The Harvest

1. In the book of Revelation chapter 14, a first angel gives the following command: «Thrust in Your sickle and , for the time has come for You to reap, for the of the earth is ripe.» Then a second angel comes and gives the following command: «Thrust in your sharp sickle and the clusters of the vine of the earth, for her are fully ripe.» These two scenes show us that the choices we make here on earth will determine our eternal destiny.

2. Still according to Revelation chapter 14, the One who will carry out the great harvest is Jesus Christ Himself. Indeed, the description of the great Harvester contains all the following elements (check off all the right answers):
   «He is like the Son of Man».
   «He has a golden crown on His head».
   «He has a sharp sickle in His hand».
   «He is sitting on a white cloud».

3. To identify the event symbolized by the great harvest of Revelation chapter 14, and to discover who is concerned by this harvest, we must study one of Jesus' parables. This parable, reported in the Gospel according to Matthew, contains all the keys we need to understand the harvest of Revelation. Which one is it?
   The parable of the Ten Virgins.
   The parable of the Wheat and the Tares.
   The parable of the Lost Son.
   The parable of the Good Samaritan.

4. Jesus, after telling this parable, gave its complete interpretation. His explanation is very useful in understanding the harvest of Revelation chapter 14. So, in Jesus' parable, what does «the harvest» symbolize?
   «The end of the age».
   «The proclamation of the gospel in the whole world».
   «The sons of the kingdom».
   «The great tribulation».

5. Just as a plant needs good ground without thorns in order to grow, the Word of God must find a heart receptive to its transforming seed. Jesus explains this fact in the Gospel according to Luke: «The seed is the of God. (...) The ones that fell on the good ground are those who, having heard the with a noble and good heart, it and bear fruit with .»

6. So that the precious seed of God's Word may grow within us, this seed must be exposed to sunlight. According to the Word of God, what does this sun symbolize?
   Prayer.
   Jesus Christ and His perfect righteousness.
   The Holy Spirit.
   The Bible's teachings.

7. So that the precious seed of God's Word may grow within us, this seed must also be watered with rain. According to the Word of God, what does this rain symbolize?
   Prayer.
   Jesus Christ and His perfect righteousness.
   The Holy Spirit.
   The Bible's teachings.

8. Day after day, we must allow God's seed to grow in love and knowledge in our hearts. In his Epistle to the Colossians, the apostle Paul says: «[We] ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; that you may have a worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being in every good work and in the knowledge of God.»

9. God entrusts each one of us with the holy mission of spreading the gospel, like seed spread throughout the world, with a view to the great harvest. This is why the Epistle of Paul to the Galatians states: «He who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life. And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap...»
   «... despite our lack of enthusiasm.»
   «... without having to make the least effort.»
   «... while letting others doing our part of the work.»
   «... if we do not lose heart.»

10. The book of Proverbs says: «The will not plow because of winter; therefore he will beg during the and have nothing.» This same book adds: «He who gathers in summer is a son, but he who sleeps in harvest is a son who causes .» So, let's not waste the precious time God grant us, for the great harvest is at hand.

Your name:

Your E-mail address:
(Please be sure to enter your E-mail address correctly.)