CHAPTER SEVEN

Christ's Appointed Reapers

Everyone familiar with the third angel's message knows what the three angels of Revelation 14:6-11 represent. They know that the angels definitely do not represent literal angels, but instead they are symbolical angels. Inspiration states:

"God has called His church in this day, as He called ancient Israel, to stand as a light in the earth. By the mighty cleaver of truth, the messages of the first, second, and third angels, He has separated them from the churches and from the world to bring them into a sacred nearness to Himself. He has made them the depositaries of His law and has committed to them the great truths of prophecy for this time. Like the holy oracles committed to ancient Israel, these are a sacred trust to be communicated to the world. The three angels of Revelation 14 represent the people who accept the light of God's messages and go forth as His agents to sound the warning throughout the length and breadth of the earth." 5 T 455-456.

Thus the angels of Revelation 14 represent human beings. They are the messengers who proclaim the three angels' messages. Put simply, angels in Bible prophecy represent messengers with messages.

Now let us examine another scripture: "The enemy

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that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels." Matt. 13:39.

The Bible describes the angels of Matt. 13:39 as "the reapers." Some say that "the angels" who do this very important work of reaping represent literal angels from heaven, while others say that "the angels" are symbolical of human beings as well as holy angels who work in conjunction with Christ. Let us find out if these angels are literal or symbolical. First we must see what the law and the testimonies say, since "to the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them." Isa. 8:20.

God's Word clearly reveals that Christ at His second advent will come with a retinue of literal angels. It is often said that the reapers of Matt. 13:39 are the same as the angels that come with Christ at His second advent. If they are not, then they must be symbolical, and then it is possible that they are like the angels of Revelation 14. Let us take the time to determine this.

In the gospel of John, Jesus tells us exactly who are "the reapers," how they do the work of reaping, and also who sends them forth. Jesus said, "And he that reapeth receiveth wages, and gathereth fruit unto life eternal: that both he that soweth and he that reapeth may rejoice together. And

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herein is that saying true, One soweth, and another reapeth. I sent you to reap that whereon ye bestowed no labour: other men laboured, and ye are entered into their labours." John4:36­38.

"I sent you to reap." Who was Christ speaking to? He was speaking to His disciples, who at that time were but a little company of human beings. Therefore, according to the Bible, reapers not only represent literal angels, but also human beings sent forth by Christ.

When Christ was on earth, He sent forth human beings to work for Him. Jesus said to His disciples, "Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves." Matt. 10:16.

Therefore, Christ's appointed reapers are not only the angels who come with Him at His second coming, but also workers He sends forth ("His army"Joel 2:2, 11). Hence, besides literal angels who assist in the work of reaping, in these last days Jesus also sends forth human beings (the little company) to reap or gather the rest of the remnant with the divine instruments of truth and love.

Thus "the reapers" of Matt. 13:39 represent God's messengers, just as "the angels" did in Revelation 14. In Matthew's prophecy, however, "the angels" (reapers) are symbols of the little company who work "in the time of harvest" (Matt. 13:30). They are divinely appointed messengers, members of God's special army, those who do a work similar to that of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christthe Master of medical missionary evangelistic work. With truth and love they reap the harvest. Thus the third angel is to "select the wheat from the tares, and seal,

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or bind, the wheat for the heavenly garner" (EW 118).

This will take place when the third angel's message is proclaimed by the little company during the time of the judgment of the living. With the power and force of "the refreshing" (Acts 3:19; EW 271-272) Christ's appointed reapers will bring about the unification and mobilization of the Jacobites in God's church (the 144,000). The message of the little company will be the third angel's message in verity, the uplifting of Jesus Christthe true balm of Gilead. This they will do through the medical missionary evangelistic work, since this is the only true and "practical" way to offer the truth of righteousness by faith to others.

"There is a great work to be done. How shall we reveal Christ? I know of no better way. . . than to take hold of the medical missionary work in connection with the ministry." MM 319.

"Medical missionary work is the pioneer work. It is to be connected with the gospel ministry. It is the gospel in practice, the gospel practically carried out. I have been made so sorry to see that our people have not taken hold of this work as they should." CH 532.

"Practical work will have far more effect than mere sermonizing. We are to give food to the hungry, clothing

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to the naked, and shelter to the homeless. And we are called to do more than this. The wants of the soul, only the love of Christ can satisfy. If Christ is abiding in us, our hearts will be full of divine sympathy. The sealed fountains of earnest, Christlike love will be unsealed." COL 417.

"The minister, the missionary, the teacher, will find their influence with the people greatly increased when it is manifest that they possess the knowledge and skill required for the practical duties of everyday life. And often the success, perhaps the very life, of the missionary depends on his knowledge of practical things. The ability to prepare food, to deal with accidents and emergencies, to treat disease, to build a house, or a church if need beoften these make all the difference between success and failure in his lifework." Ed. 221.

Yes, my dear brothers and sisters, medical missionary evangelistic work is the "pioneer work" of Christ's appointed reapers (the little company) who will pioneer into new hearts and new fields. Only through the power of God and the "practical" application of present truth via this work will the Lord be able to advance the message of the third angel. This is a practical work, theory alone will not do it.

When the three angels' messages of Revelation 14 are "repeated" by God's true servants in this end time (7BC 978), the theory and practice of it will give birth to all the faithful in Laodicea and Babylon. This is what will enable the rest of the remnant from the church and then those in the world to fully mature and be ready for reaping during their time of harvest. Surely the little company of medical missionary evangelists, represented

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by the reapers of John 4:36-38 and Matt. 13:39, are laborers together with God. They are like the three angels of Revelation 14:6-11. These human agents, along with their heavenly angelic assistants, will do the reaping or harvesting in these last days, both in Israel and in Babylon (Matt.13:30; Jer.8:20).

"When connected with other lines of gospel effort, medical missionary work is a most effective instrument by which the ground is prepared for the sowing of the seeds of truth, and the instrument also by which the harvest is reaped." RH, Sept. 10, 1908.

In light of all that has been said, we see that God and holy angels will work with Christ's appointed reapers (the little company or God's special army) to gather and unify the rest of the remnant. Through the power of the Holy Spirit miracles will be wrought and the truth will seal the saints. Then, after "the mighty shaking" (EW 50) has taken place in the church, the Lord Himself declares:

"And I will set a sign among them, and I will send those that escape of them unto the nations, to Tarshish, Pul, and Lud, that draw the bow, to Tubal, and Javan, to the isles afar off, that have not heard My fame, neither have seen My glory; and they shall declare My glory among the Gentiles." Isa. 66:19.

Says Inspiration about this loud cry: "Then a multitude not of their faith, seeing that God is with His people, will unite with them in serving the Redeemer." COR 123. (See also CT 532; Rev. 7:9; and 1 Peter 4:17.)

"One interest will prevail, one subject will swallow up every other,Christ Our Righteousness." COR 94.