365 Days in the Gospels and Spirit of Prophecy
The Net is Cast - Where Do You Stand? — April 8 [Description]
Bible discovery
Matthew 13:47-50 365D 98.1
47 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a dragnet that was cast into the sea and gathered some of every kind, 365D 98.2
48 which, when it was full, they drew to shore; and they sat down and gathered the good into vessels, but threw the bad away. 365D 98.3
49 So it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come forth, separate the wicked from among the just, 365D 98.4
50 and cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth.” 365D 98.5
Spirit of Prophecy Reading
Christ’s Object Lessons pp.122-123: 365D 98.6
This chapter is based on Matthew 13:47-50. 365D 98.7
The kingdom of heaven is like unto a net, that was cast into the sea, and gathered of every kind; which, when it was full, they drew to shore, and sat down, and gathered the good into vessels, but cast the bad away. So shall it be at the end of the world: the angels shall come forth, and sever the wicked from among the just, and shall cast them into the furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.” 365D 98.8
The casting of the net is the preaching of the gospel. This gathers both good and evil into the church. When the mission of the gospel is completed, the judgment will accomplish the work of separation. Christ saw how the existence of false brethren in the church would cause the way of truth to be evil spoken of. The world would revile the gospel because of the inconsistent lives of false professors. Even Christians would be caused to stumble as they saw that many who bore Christ's name were not controlled by His Spirit. Because these sinners were in the church, men would be in danger of thinking that God excused their sins. Therefore Christ lifts the veil from the future and bids all to behold that it is character, not position, which decides man's destiny. 365D 98.9
Both the parable of the tares and that of the net plainly teach that there is no time when all the wicked will turn to God. The wheat and the tares grow together until the harvest. The good and the bad fish are together drawn ashore for a final separation. 365D 98.10
Again, these parables teach that there is to be no probation after the judgment. When the work of the gospel is completed, there immediately follows the separation between the good and the evil, and the destiny of each class is forever fixed. 365D 98.11
God does not desire the destruction of any. “As I live, saith the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live. Turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die?” Ezekiel 33:11. Throughout the period of probationary time His Spirit is entreating men to accept the gift of life. It is only those who reject His pleading that will be left to perish. God has declared that sin must be destroyed as an evil ruinous to the universe. Those who cling to sin will perish in its destruction. 365D 98.12