²⁹ But when the grain is ripe, at once ^(A)he puts in the sickle, because the harvest has come.”

¹³ And I heard a voice from heaven saying, “Write this: ^(A)Blessed are the dead ^(B)who die in the Lord from now on.” “Blessed indeed,” says the Spirit, ^(C)“that they may rest from their labors, for their deeds follow them!”

The Harvest of the Earth

¹⁴ Then I looked, and behold, a white cloud, and seated on the cloud one ^(D)like a son of man, ^(E)with a golden crown on his head, and a sharp sickle in his hand. ¹⁵ And another angel ^(F)came out of the temple, calling with a loud voice to him who sat on the cloud, ^(G)“Put in your sickle, and reap, for the hour to reap has come, for ^(H)the harvest of the earth is fully ripe.” ¹⁶ So he who sat on the cloud swung his sickle across the earth, and the earth was reaped.

¹⁷ Then another angel came out of the temple in heaven, and he too had a sharp sickle.

^7 (A)I have fought the good fight, ^(B)I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. ⁸ Henceforth there is ^(C)laid up for me ^(D)the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, ^(E)the righteous judge, will award to me on ^(F)that day, and not only to me but also to all ^(G)who have loved his appearing.

⁴⁰ Just as the weeds ^(A)are gathered and burned with fire, so will it be at ^(B)the end of the age. ^41 (C)The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will gather out of his kingdom all ^(D)causes of sin and ^(E)all law-breakers, ^42 (F)and throw them into the fiery furnace. In that place ^(G)there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. ⁴³ Then ^(H)the righteous will shine like the sun ^(I)in the kingdom of their Father. ^(J)He who has ears, let him hear.

³⁰ Let both grow together until the harvest, and at harvest time I will tell the reapers, ^(A)“Gather the weeds first and bind them in bundles to be burned, but gather the wheat into my barn.”’”

Israel's Futile Idolatry