The Second Component to the Coming Judgment is Harvest!

The second component to the coming judgment is the harvest of eternal souls. It is extremely important that we, as the Body of Christ, understand the destiny of the Church to reap the harvest. There is a shaking coming and even has already begun. It will shake the very foundation of the universe and everything in it. Sin and rebellion has forced a time of judgment and reaping.

Heb. 12:25, “See that ye refuse not him that speaketh. For if they escaped not who refused him that spake on earth, much more shall not we escape, if we turn away from him that speaketh from heaven: 26 Whose voice then shook the earth: but now he hath promised, saying, Yet once more I shake not the earth only, but also heaven. 27 And this word, Yet once more, signifieth the removing of those things that are shaken, as of things that are made, that those things which cannot be shaken may remain. 28 Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear: 29 For our God is a consuming fire.”

It is a dangerous thing to refuse the admonition of God. “See that ye refuse not him that speaketh.” God has spoken to this world through His Word and His messengers. In the most recent years the population of earth has grown more and more indifferent to anything related to Christianity. God has spoken in the churches and called us to righteous living but so called Christians bristle at the thought that they are lacking in any sense. The Word was given to us to rebuke, reprove, exhort and instruct. The Holy Spirit of Christ was given to convict of sin and lead into all Truth. And that is what He is doing, convicting and teaching. His light will dispel the darkness. If we walk in His light, we will experience His constant, loving correction. Correction means that we have to make an adjustment or change our course of direction. The Holy Spirit is our faithful, loving companion and will help us to walk in the Truth of God.

This reference in Hebrews 12, is to a prophecy given by the prophet Haggai in 2:6-9. God's promise was for a shaking of all things that can be shaken, all things earthly so that things eternal shall remain. Both point to a yet future time when all things created will be separated from those things eternal.

Haggai 2:6, “For thus saith the LORD of hosts; Yet once, it is a little while, and I will shake the heavens, and the earth, and the sea, and the dry land; 7 And I will shake all nations, and the desire of all nations shall come: and I will fill this house with glory, saith the LORD of hosts. 8 The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, saith the LORD of hosts. 9 The glory of this latter house shall be greater than of the former, saith the LORD of hosts: and in this place will I give peace, saith the LORD of hosts.”

Haggai was the first prophetic voice to be heard following the exile of God's people in Babylon. His ministry was to call the people to finish the Temple. Work on the Temple had been delayed for 15 years, because of fear, apathy and opposition from the heathen tribes that had settled in Jerusalem after the Jews were taken to Babylon. Haggai chided the people for living in their “ceiled houses” while the Temple was left unfinished. His call was “consider your ways.” God's warning was that He would bring their prosperity to naught because His house laid waste. The Lord stirred them up and they finished the Temple in four more years.

But this Temple was nothing compared to the Temple that Solomon built. God reiterated His covenant with Israel when He brought them out of Egypt in v.5. Now He is looking into the future in v.6 when He will fully restore the nation in their promised land given to their father Abraham. Once again “...I will shake the heavens, and the earth...” This prophecy points to the future fulfillment and restoration of Israel at the second coming of Jesus Christ. “I will shake all nations, and the desire of all nations shall come:..” Jesus Christ will establish the Kingdom of God on the earth and “The glory of this latter house shall be greater than of the former...” Former things will pass away and all things will become new in Him.

The shaking referred to by Haggai and the writer of Hebrews refers to a time of separation. A time when the earthly will be separated from the eternal, the good from the bad, the wheat and tares, the harvest and the chaff. The end result being the establishment of the literal, eternal Kingdom of God to be ever present with the redeemed.

The followers of Jesus expected Him to set up a literal ruling government at which time He would rule from the throne of David in Jerusalem. As we know, that has not happened yet! Christ pointed to a yet future time when that will actually take place.

Paul wrote to the Church at Corinth reminding them that “...the fashion of this world passeth away,”

1 Cor. 7:31. He was speaking concerning temporal attachments and being held captive by them. Though they are good in themselves we are not to be constrained by them. We need to be free from any and all encumbrances that would restrain us from hearing and being obedient to the voice of Christ. Let us always follow the Lord Jesus closely, not to be guilty of following afar off. Our conformity to Him will be the sustaining power when all else has failed. The outward form of this world and everything in it will pass away.

The words “Yet once more,” point to the final change which will initiate the removal of all that can pass away. The removing of created things that the things not shaken can remain...that is the Kingdom in us, not anything of material creation. It is to that end that Christ prepares the Church.

Matt. 28:18, “And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. 19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.”

Christ has given the ministry of bringing in the Harvest to the Church. The Holy Spirit within us will equip and empower us to rise to the challenge in the midst of darkness and evil. The light shines brighter the greater the darkness. We have already entered into an extended time of sensual depravity and spiritual hypocrisy. The Body of Christ has an enormous task to reach the lost in face of great opposition. The affront to the Gospel is growing strong every day. The mere mention of the name of Jesus will insure persecution. But God is greater. “Greater is He that is within me than he that is in the world...” God will use the Church to do great things in the name of Christ. That is why Satan fights so hard against the message of Jesus. There is power in that name (Jesus). Christ will reveal His power, His grace, and His glory through us as we submit to His leadership. He will use the trying times ahead to discipline and train us. Do not resist. Do not question the Lord's WAY. Yield to Him and allow Him to do His work in you even during all this shaking as the Bride makes herself ready. God has a plan. He will protect His Church and preserve His people. Blessed be the name of the Lord.

More to come on this subject.