The Female Quixote: Penguin Classics

Jesus said ". . . the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels. As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the end of this world." Matthew 13:39, 40. Yet do we hear about this harvest? The prophetic book Revelation tells us, "And another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to him that sat on the cloud, Thrust in your sickle, and reap: for the time is come for you to reap; for the harvest of the earth is ripe. And he that sat on the cloud thrust in his sickle on the earth; and the earth was reaped." Revelation 14:15, 16.

Along with all this said, we should understand the judgment is good news; it's the everlasting gospel. This same chapter in Revelation says, "And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and tribe, and language, and people, saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment has come: . . ." Revelation 14:6, 7.

For those who will believe and trust God, the judgment is good news. "The 144,000" is about the judgment, the good news for the last days, the good news of the seal of God, the sealing of the 144,000. (Revelation 7:2) All will receive either the seal of God or be marked by the beast. There is no reason to receive the mark, but we must know what it is. The good news of the judgment is that God has made it possible for all to be sealed, not marked. But we need to study; we have to know what we must do to be approved of God.

How about the rapture? When will it come; is it really as secretive as most think? What about the 490 year prophecy of Daniel 9:24 and the 2300 year prophecy of Daniel 8:14? Who is the Little Horn that rules for many years? "The 144,000" exposes the Man of Sin (2 Thessalonians 2:3), the Little Horn (Daniel 7:24; 8:9), the beast out of the sea (Revelation 13:1). It's all very easy to understand, if we take the time to study, and turn our lives over to God, wanting nothing else but to know and do His will. However, in order to truly comprehend, we must be born again. (John 3:5)