The Parable of the Weeds
Matthew 13:24, “Jesus put another parable before them, saying, “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a man who sowed good seed in his field, Verse 25, but while his men were sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat and went away. Verse 26. So, when the plants came up and bore grain, then the weeds appeared also. Verse 27. And the servants of the master of the house came and said to him, ‘Master, did you not sow good seed in your field? How then does it have weeds?’ Verse 28. He said to them, ‘An enemy has done this.’ So, the servants said to him, ‘Then do you want us to go and gather them?’ Verse 29. But he said, ‘No, lest in gathering the weeds you root up the wheat along with them. Verse 30. Let both grow together until the harvest, and at harvest time I will tell the reapers, “Gather the weeds first and bind them in bundles to be burned, but gather the wheat into my barn.”’”
This is a prophetic and instructional warning given by Jesus to His disciples (and all future disciples, i.e., Christians). Jesus spoke these words in or around 29 C.E. Matthew recorded this event in or around A.D. 60. These dates are especially important when considering the timing of the tribulation periods as this is a reference to the coming 5th Seal of the Tribulation. (Read to the end to see how Jesus explains this parable of the weeds.)
The Apostle Paul says this (of the coming 5th Tribulation Seal):
2 Thessalonians 2:1 “Now we ask you, brothers and sisters, regarding the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him,
(First, please note that this is a direct reference to the time just after the 5th tribulation seal and the instant of the 5th tribulation seal:
Matthew 24:29, “Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. Verse 30. Then will appear in heaven the sign of the Son of Man, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.
Verse 31. And he will send out his angels with a loud trumpet-call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.”)
Continuing with 2 Thessalonians 2, verse 2, “that you not be quickly shaken from your composure or be disturbed either by a spirit, or a message, or a letter as if from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has come. (“The Day of the Lord” is the Great Tribulation which is a 7 year period which begins with the breaking of the 6th tribulation seal).
Verse 3. “No one is to deceive you in any way! For it will not come unless the apostasy comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, verse 4, who opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, displaying himself as being God.”
Paul makes a direct mention that BEFRORE the Day of the Lord, the breaking of the 6th tribulation seal and during the 5th tribulation seal, the Apostasy is completed.)
Outlined, verse by verse, makes this easier to understand; just read slowly and take it at face value.
1. With regard to the coming of our Lord and the gathering together to Him
2, Do not be quickly shaken from your composure or be disturbed either by a spirit or a message or a letter, to the effect that the day of the Lord has come.
3. Let no one in any way deceive you
*4. For the day of our Lord and the gathering together to Him will not come unless the apostasy comes first
*5. For the day of our Lord and the gathering together to Him will not come unless the man of lawlessness is revealed
6. The man of lawlessness is the son of destruction, (verse 4) who opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship,
7. He takes his seat in the temple of God, displaying himself as being God.
WHAT IS THE APOSTASY: In Christianity, Apostasy is the rejection of Christianity by someone who formerly was a Christian.
The title of this article might suggest that misbehavior and apostasy is a recent malaise of the church. Apostasy, from the Greek word, “apostasia”, means “a defiance of an established system or authority; a rebellion; an abandonment or breach of faith.”
The term apostasy comes from the Greek word apostasia, meaning defection, departure, revolt or rebellion. It has been described as “a willful falling away from, or rebellion against, Christianity.
In the first-century world, apostasy was a technical term for political revolt or defection. Actually, just like in the first century, spiritual apostasy threatens the Body of Christ today.
Revelation 6:9, tells us, that, “When the Lamb broke the fifth seal, I saw underneath the altar the souls of those who had been slain because of the word of God, and because of the testimony which they had maintained; Verse 10, and they cried out with a loud voice, saying, “How long, O Lord, holy and true, will You refrain from judging and avenging our blood on those who dwell on the earth?” Verse 11. And there was given to each of them a white robe; and they were told that they should rest for a little while longer, until the number of their fellow servants and their brethren who were to be killed even as they had been, would be completed also.”
Matthew 24:9, also tells us that one sign of the 5th Tribulation Seal is being broken and reason for a ‘falling away from the faith’ is, “Then they will hand you over to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations because of My name. Verse 10. And at that time many will fall away from the faith, and they will betray one another and hate one another. Verse 11, And many false prophets will rise up and mislead many people. Verse 12. And because lawlessness is increased, most people’s love will become cold.”
Even now, before the great persecution of Christians has reached the Western world, Pew Research and Barna Research, both, are revealing what the corporate Church is unwilling to admit, that many are leaving the church and are not returning. But, the other half of this ‘equation’ is that many are LEAVING THE TEACHINGS OF JESUS – that is, they are falling away from the faith – but they are staying in the church .
This “falling away from the faith”, as told by Pew and Barna research, alone, may not signal what prophetic scriptures has foretold regarding the “Great Falling Away” (The Great Apostasy) but, considering everything that has already come to pass (the breaking of the first four Tribulation Seals) you can be confident this is what is prophesied.
Just prior to this falling away from the faith, Jesus warns, “See to it that no one misleads you. For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and they will mislead many people”, (Matthew 24:4-5). False teachers may not say the exact words, “I am Jesus”, but they will claim to represent Jesus and His Gospel, and will mislead many people. Institutional deception is our greatest threat.
I have personally experienced pulpit bullies, false teachers, apostates and heretics in our postmodern church. Many of these men seem to have started right, but, over time, their ‘true selves’ emerged, and they are the ravenous wolves which scriptures warn about:
Matthew 7:15-23 says, “Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves. “You will know them by their fruits. Grapes are not gathered from thorn bushes nor figs from thistles, are they? “So, every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit. “A good tree cannot produce bad fruit, nor can a bad tree produce good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. “So then, you will know them by their fruits.”
“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter. “Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?’ “And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; DEPART FROM ME, YOU WHO PRACTICE LAWLESSNESS.’
This is being seen in the Church of the 20st and 21st centuries. Please review this timeline progression of the Church falling into apostasy:
AD 1 The Church of Jesus Christ, The Body of Christ, had no buildings, little money and no wealth. The Church was a Movement.
Although the penalty for becoming a Christian was often death. The Church grew exponentially.
AD 49. The Church expanded into Greece. The Church became a philosophy to many. The Church grew and size and influence.
AD 313. The Church expanded into Rome and it gained recognition. It grew in power and popularity. It obtained wealth, buildings, property and influence. It became an institution.
AD 380. The Church expanded into Europe. It was becoming a worldwide phenomenon. It grew in wealth, stature, power and influence. It had become a culture.
AD 1607. The Church reaches America.
AD 1681. The Church became corporate. It had became a business and incorporated. It became regulated by the government.
The Corporate Church grew. It needed money to support growth and expansion, which meant the Corporate Church needed more people.
AD 1777. The state of Virginia granted tax exemption to houses of worship.
AD 1894. The corporate church was granted tax exemptions by the Federal Government.
AD 1954. The Federal Government regulated what a church could and could not say in order to retain tax exempt status.
The church continued to grow, and in order to attract more people the Corporate Church lowered its membership and doctrinal standards. More people became ‘members’ and gave more money to support more growth.
The Church corporation is complete with leaders, boards and membership and a business model.
Local churches compete against one another for members (customers). The church is selling itself in “three line slogans”.
The Church members now have choices and have become religious consumers. Church people can shop around for the religious brand and standards that best suits them. (2 Timothy 3)
The Leadership (pastors and preachers) have become CEOs, disciples have become church leaders, growing their 501(c)(3) business models.
Record numbers of pastors quitting because of stress, burnout or are being fired by their congregations (some stats say 1500 – 1700 leave “the ministry” each month).
Church debt in America soars; church foreclosures soar.
AD 1968. The church ordains homosexuals as clergy.
AD 1972. The United church of christ ordains homosexual clergy
AD 2010. The Lutheran church ordains homosexual clergy
AD 2012. The Presbyterian church ordains homosexual clergy
The Episcopal Church in the United States and the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) have also allowed ordination of openly gay and lesbian candidates for ministry for some years.
Internationally, churches that have ordained openly lesbian or gay clergy include the Church of Scotland, the Church of England, the Church in Wales, the Church of Sweden, the Church of Norway, the Church of Denmark, the Church of Iceland, the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland, the Evangelical Church in Germany, the Methodist Church in Britain, the Protestant Church in the Netherlands, the United Protestant Church in Belgium, the Swiss Reformed Church, the United Protestant Church of France, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada, Anglican Church in Canada, the Old Catholic Church, the Czechoslovak Hussite Church and the United Church of Christ in Japan.
AD 2021. The church is losing and has lost influence. The church in 2021 is losing members and adherents. (George Barna research; Pew Research)
AD 2023. Much of the current-day church is teaching and living a different Gospel than that of the Apostles.
JESUS EXPLAINS THE PARABLE OF THE WEEDS OF THE FIELD
Matthew 13:36, “Then he left the crowds and went into the house. And his disciples came to him, saying, “Explain to us the parable of the weeds of the field.” Verse 37. He answered, “The one who sows the good seed is the Son of Man. Verse 38. The field is the world, and the good seed is the sons of the kingdom. The weeds are the sons of the evil one, Verse 39, and the enemy who sowed them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are angels. Verse 40. Just as the weeds are gathered and burned with fire, so will it be at the end of the age. Verse 41. The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will gather out of his kingdom all causes of sin and all law-breakers, Verse 42, and throw them into the fiery furnace. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Verse 43. Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears, let him hear.
FAITHFUL AND WISE
Matthew 24:45, “Who then is the faithful and wise servant*, whom his master has set over his household, to give them their food at the proper time? Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes. Truly, I say to you, he will set him over all his possessions.
The Reward of the Faithful Servant
They were all called ‘servants’ but only the ones who did what the Master said are rewarded. The wicked disobedient will be cut to pieces and put with the hypocrites where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth.
THEY ARE ALL CALLED VIRGINS
Matthew 25:1, “Then the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them, but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps. As the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and slept. But at midnight there was a cry, ‘Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.’ Then all those virgins rose and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ But the wise answered, saying, ‘Since there will not be enough for us and for you, go rather to the dealers and buy for yourselves. ’And while they were going to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was shut. Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, ‘Lord, lord, open to us.’
But he answered, ‘Truly, I say to you, I do not know you.’ Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.
The Punishment of the Wicked
But if that wicked servant says to himself, ‘My master is delayed,’ and begins to beat his fellow servants and eats and drinks with drunkards, the master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he does not know and will cut him in pieces and put him with the hypocrites. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
THEY ARE ALL CALLED SERVANTS
Matthew 25:14, “For it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted to them his property. To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away. He who had received the five talents went at once and traded with them, and he made five talents more. So also, he who had the two talents made two talents more. But he who had received the one talent went and dug in the ground and hid his master’s money.
Now after a long time the master of those servants came and settled accounts with them. And he who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five talents more, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me five talents; here, I have made five talents more.’ His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’
And he also who had the two talents came forward, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me two talents; here, I have made two talents more.’ His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’
He also who had received the one talent came forward, saying, ‘Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you scattered no seed, so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here, you have what is yours.’ But his master answered him, ‘You wicked and slothful servant! You knew that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I scattered no seed? Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received what was my own with interest. So, take the talent from him and give it to him who has the ten talents. For to everyone who has will more be given, and he will have an abundance. But from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. And cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’
The Rewards of the Faithful and the Punishment Fearful Servants
They were all called ‘servants’ of the Master. But only the faithful are rewarded and the fearful are counted as worthless and are cast into the outer darkness.
THE SHEEP FROM THE GOATS
Matthew 25:31, “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.
And he will place the sheep on his right, but the goats on the left. Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’
“Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink, I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.’ Then they also will answer, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to you?’ Then he will answer them, saying, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.’ And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”
The Final Judgment
The faithful sheep on His right and the goats on His left. The sheep who showed compassion, mercy and servanthood are welcomed into the kingdom prepared for them since the foundation of the world.
The unfaithful goats on His left are told to depart from Him, and are called cursed, and sent into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels
WHO SHOULD HEAR THIS AND HEED HIS WORDS?
Pastors: Prepare those in your charge. Teach this to them. Remind them. Warn them. Encourage them. You are to watch over and to care for the flock of Jesus. It is not yours to judge or to remove them. Please remember that you are being held to a higher accountability.
Christians: Those whom Jesus calls the ‘good seed’ or the ‘wheat’. Jesus has said He speaks in parables because “To you it has been granted to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been granted.”
If we are to consider ourselves as followers of Jesus, that is as Christians, then let’s check ourselves to insure that our faith is not without works, otherwise that faith is dead. Let’s be found doing what Jesus teaches in the way and in the spirit He commands. Otherwise, we may be deluding ourselves and will be found out at the time of the judgment as being among the ‘tares and weeds’, counted amount the ‘foolish’ and of the ‘goats’ to be separated and ‘sent into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels’.
Your Brother and Friend,
Mike Young
SHIPWRECKED – Enemies Within The Church
WHAT IS THIS STRANGE NEW GOSPEL?
Whitestone Fellowship 
Dear Michael
Many thanks for your post, it provides an excellent overview of the current situation and the corruption in the church. I consider the separation of the wheat and tares is occurring as the fruits of each are being shown in this time of COVID 19 which came in God’s plan to expose the false ones who love lies from those who love the truth.
As regards ‘The man of lawlessness’ it is my habit to anagram words and phrases to see if anything lies hidden.
In this case I came up with two part single word anagrams.
1) Stonewall – this is the organisation based in the UK promoting the evil LGBTQi+ etc. agenda.
2) Allentown – I thought this a little odd (I did stay once with a lovely family there during a school educational trip in 1978). However, on further research I found that a Stephen Barrett was top of the list of notable people on the Wikipedia entry for the city.
He founded Quackwatch which seeks to expose questionable alternative therapies and other medical practices. However, it ignores the medical big pharma fraud of vaccines and it neuro-toxic drugs so whilst it probably makes some valid points, it is corrupt and biased.
I hope to do some more research as the company has since been incorporated into Center for Inquiry, set up by Paul Kurtz who was an atheist philosopher.
Anyway, I would like to thank you again for what you do, and for helping to did further to expose the deceit and lies and who of Satan’s minions is behind it.
Kind regards.
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