Gathering Gleanings: the Harvest is Past

“And of the children of Issachar, which were men that had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do;” -I Chronicles 12:32A.

It is all too common to hear sermons preached about how the harvest (of souls) is at hand, and how the Lord needs laborers sent into that Harvest. There is some truth in this, but today's expectations are misled. The scriptures used for this come from Luke 10:2, John 4:35, and...

“Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few; Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest.” -Matt. 9:37,38.

When Jesus spoke of the plentiful harvest, He had not yet made the way of salvation through His death on the cross. Even when He gave the Great Commission to His disciples, their preaching of the Gospel was just beginning. We are now nearly 2,000 years beyond these beginning phases, with God's wrath soon to be outpoured; they are the “days of vengeance” from Luke 21:22.

Please don't misunderstand me; God desires all men to be saved, and the preaching of the Gospel must continue earnestly, because opportunities for salvation are fading fast. But we must continue in this as unprofitable servants (Luke 17:10), without the expectation of great results, for that is the time we live in. We must learn to rightly divide the word of truth (2 Timothy 2:15);

Daniel 8:23 says it is a time when the transgressors are come to the full.

Matthew 24:12 says that the love of many will grow cold, because there is much evil.

2 Thessalonians 2:3 shows a “falling away” from saving faith.

I Timothy 4:1 says that men will depart from the faith.

2 Timothy 3:5 prophesies there will be a “form” of godliness which denies God.

2 Timothy 3:13 shows that evil men & seducers will become worse and worse.

2 Timothy 4:3,4 tells us people will reject sound doctrine, and turn to fables.

Revelation 9:20,21 & 16:9 show us that men WILL NOT REPENT, even after God chastens.

There will be NO end times' revival-Jesus never indicated that, and said it would be just like in the time of Noah, and the time of Lot (Luke 17:26-30). We must preach the truth, we must care about souls, we must give them warning while there is still time to do so. But the main harvest of souls is long past, yet some gleanings from the harvest may still be gathered. If you care about lost souls, every lost sheep is precious (Luke 15:4-7)! Jesus said that indeed, few will be saved.

This blog is written in no way for discouragement, but that you may still reach out with the true Gospel, and understand when the multitudes are NOT flocking to Christ. Yet some still may come, and we must leave the accounting up to God; it is He alone that can save the lost.

“All things are delivered unto me of my Father: and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him” -Matthew 11:27.