²⁹ But when the grain ripens, immediately ^(A)he puts in the sickle, because the harvest has come.”

¹³ Then I heard a voice from heaven saying ^[a]to me, “Write: ^(A)‘Blessed are the dead ^(B)who die in the Lord from now on.’ ”

“Yes,” says the Spirit, ^(C)“that they may rest from their labors, and their works follow ^(D)them.”

Reaping the Earth’s Harvest

¹⁴ Then I looked, and behold, a white cloud, and on the cloud sat One like the Son of Man, having on His head a golden crown, and in His hand a sharp sickle. ¹⁵ And another angel ^(E)came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to Him who sat on the cloud, ^(F)“Thrust in Your sickle and reap, for the time has come ^[b]for You to reap, for the harvest ^(G)of the earth is ripe.” ¹⁶ So He who sat on the cloud thrust in His sickle on the earth, and the earth was reaped.

Reaping the Grapes of Wrath

¹⁷ Then another angel came out of the temple which is in heaven, he also having a sharp sickle.

^7 (A)I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. ⁸ Finally, there is laid up for me ^(B)the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous ^(C)Judge, will give to me ^(D)on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.

⁴⁰ Therefore as the tares are gathered and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of this age. ⁴¹ The Son of Man will send out His angels, ^(A)and they will gather out of His kingdom all things that offend, and those who practice lawlessness, ^42 (B)and will cast them into the furnace of fire. ^(C)There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth. ^43 (D)Then the righteous will shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. ^(E)He who has ears to hear, let him hear!

³⁰ Let both grow together until the harvest, and at the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, “First gather together the tares and bind them in bundles to burn them, but ^(A)gather the wheat into my barn.” ’ ”

Israel’s Futile Idolatry