8.1. THE PARABLE

This is probably the most evident and clear parable of them all.

Mat. 13:47"Once again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was let down into the lake and caught all kinds of fish.

48 When it was full, the fishermen pulled it up on the shore. Then they sat down and collected the good fish in baskets, but threw the bad away.

49 This is how it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come and separate the wicked from the righteous

50 and throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

8.2 THE SEA

The sea or waters represents the nations of the world. Thus in Rev. 17:15 we have:

15 Then the angel said to me, "The waters you saw, where the prostitute sits, are peoples, multitudes, nations and languages.

8.3 THE FISH

Fish has been the symbol of early Christian churches. The declaration of the believer in the early church was codified in one sentence. "Jesus Christ, Son of God is Redeemer" If the first letters of this Greek statement is taken then it gives the word Fish in Greek. Hence the sign of the fish was the secret code of during the persecution period. A Christian recognized another Christian with their ability to complete the picture of fish started by one. The first person would draw a simple curved line on the sand or paper.

If the other person is a Christian they will complete the sign of fish and then wipe it off. It is also to be noted that most of the Apostles were fishermen. At the time of the call of Peter, Jesus said to Peter, "I will make you fishers of men." Fish was standard part of the food in Israel and is so even today. Jesus used fish to feed the mass as in the feeding of the five thousand and of the seven thousand. He used fish as a breakfast by the side of the Lake of Galilee when he reinstated the runaway disciples.

Christians are the edible fish which live in the Gentile corrupt world.

8.4 THE GREAT SEPARATION

Into this sea will the net be cast. There will be a round up when the righteous are separated from the unrighteous. The righteous will be with the Lord. The wicked will be thrown back into the sea. But righteousness is practically impossible to attain by sinful men.

Rom 2: 13 For it is not those who hear the law who are righteous in God's sight, but it is those who obey the law who will be declared righteous.

Romans continues to examine this concept and declares:

Rom. 3: 10 As it is written: "There is no one righteous, not even one;

11 there is no one who understands, no one who seeks God.

12 All have turned away, they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one."

13 "Their throats are open graves; their tongues practice deceit." "The poison of vipers is on their lips."

14 "Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness."

15 "Their feet are swift to shed blood;

16 ruin and misery mark their ways,

17 and the way of peace they do not know."

18 "There is no fear of God before their eyes."

19 Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be silenced and the whole world held accountable to God.

20 Therefore no one will be declared righteous in his sight by observing the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of sin.

But how can a man be righteous before God?

21 But now a righteousness from God, apart from law, has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify.

22 This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference,

23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

24 and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.

Thus only the believers are counted righteous because of cross. Therefore this separation by the Angels occurs at the time of Rapture - when Jesus comes for the Church.

1 Thess. 3: 15 According to the Lord's own word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left till the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep.

16 For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first.

17 After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever.

At the rapture the believers are taken away and the unbelievers are thrown back into the sea of the nations. But now the sea turns our to be a furnace of fire where men will weep and gnash their teeth - a world of great tribulation. The world system based on selfishness will destroy itself and turn on the heat by their sinfulness and selfishness.

This is the story of the Kingdom of Heaven. Hence the story ends with the separation with the righteous shining like a star in the heavens.

But the story continues on the earth and that story is given in Revelation as the Laodecian Church.

8.5 THE LAODECIAN CHURCH

What is this church after the church is taken away? On that great day of separation, which will happen in a twinkling of an eye, all those who have put their trust in Jesus will go with him. But the institutional church will still be here to stay. Church is the bride of Christ. The institution is not. It is only a means - the great tree. The apostate church still be filled with people while the Gospel preaching churches will still continue with a depleted audience led by a few unsaved pastors. The sudden disappearance of the believers will remain as a witness to the rest of the people.

There will be two alternatives for them. One is to accept the reality and confess the name of Jesus. This will bring great persecution and eventual martyrdom. The other alternative is to go along with the institutional church. Priestcraft and hypocrisy will take over the church. Now that the sowers are missing for they have gone for their sabbath, weeds will flourish. Signs and wonders with the power of familiar spirits will be performed and another period of darkness will dawn on earth. In that darkness will be left behind a few bright spots of light - lives which will soon be put out.

Rev, 3: 14 "To the angel of the church in Laodicea write: These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God's creation.

15 I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other!

16 So, because you are lukewarm--neither hot nor cold--I am about to spit you out of my mouth.

17 You say, 'I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.' But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked.

18 I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see.

19 Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest, and repent.

20 Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me.

21 To him who overcomes, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I overcame and sat down with my Father on his throne.

22 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches."

8. 6 THE LAST AND THE FINAL CALL

The seventh church age is peculiar age where sowers are missing. The period of open book ends and the period of grace ends. However in the ingenious plans of God, He never leaves even this period without witness. Revelation 11 gives us the picture of two witnesses who may be identified as Moses and Elijah who will prophecy for one thousand two hundred and sixty days with great miracles. Direct intervention of Satan himself will put an end to this period. These will bring out 144,000 Jews sealed with the name of the Lord (Rev 14:1-5) and sealed and protected till the end of the age. (Rev. 7:4-8) finally when even these are transfigured and taken up a direct call is given.

"And I saw another angel flying in mid-heaven having eternal good tidings to proclaim unto them that dwell on earth." This is the last and final call.

No one can say that God is not just.

8.7 THE END OF THE AGE

The end of the age is heralded by the visible appearance of Jesus Christ on the earth. He will come back with the host of angels in the clouds with the church back to the earth.

This is the Day of the Lord.

Mat. 24: 29 "Immediately after the distress of those days "'the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from the sky, and the heavenly bodies will be shaken.'

30 "At that time the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and all the nations of the earth will mourn. They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky, with power and great glory.

Zach 14: 4 On that day his feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, east of Jerusalem, and the Mount of Olives will be split in two from east to west, forming a great valley, with half of the mountain moving north and half moving south.

5 You will flee by my mountain valley, for it will extend to Azel. You will flee as you fled from the earthquake in the days of Uzziah king of Judah. Then the LORD my God will come, and all the holy ones with him.

This is the end of the age of Gentiles and of the Church. A new age now dawns with Christ the King - a thousand years of theocratic rule on this earth. During this period, mankind will be trained to be citizens of the Kingdom of Heaven. When that period ends, a new Heaven and a new Earth will be created and will join the rest of the unfallen or redeemed creations in the Universe. The earth will be released from the hold of the sun to join this great cosmic civilization. "Eye has not seen nor the ear heard what God has prepared for those who love him" But all those who refuse to learn and decides to assert themselves of their own free will, they will be cast out where there will be weeping and gnashing teeth again in multiplied form as it is today.