The Great Harvest of Mankind

Well, that was beautiful. Thank you so much. Beautiful tone. Thank you for using your gift to glorify God in that way.

Well, we are here, brethren, one final time to also glorify together in our worship to our Almighty God. So if you are ready, I'm ready, let's not delay. The title of our final message today is The Last Great Harvest of Mankind. Let's give ourselves to this day because did you know that the eighth day, the last great day that we observe here and now, did you know that this day provides the answer to one of the greatest dilemmas facing those who call themselves Christians? Have you ever considered that? That this day, the meaning behind the eighth day, which we now observe, this day provides the answer to one of the greatest dilemmas facing all those who call themselves Christians. What is the dilemma that this day answers? Well, the dilemma is this. If the Christian God is who the Bible says he is, a loving God whose will is to save all of humanity, if that is his desire and if that is his will, why hasn't he saved so many down here on earth? Again, that's the dilemma. It's simple, but it's absolutely profound. If you will, open your Bibles to John 3, verse 16 and 17, because it is in John 3, verse 16 and 17, where this dilemma arises.

Look at these words that John has written here about our loving God. Here it is, John 3, verse 16, verse 17, For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. And then listen to verse 17, For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through him might be saved. Let's stop there. So again, for those sincere followers of God the Father and Jesus Christ, the question arises, if God through Jesus intended to save the world, why hasn't the world been saved? And I propose to you today that this is the fundamental question for Christians around the world. And again, it's an incredible dilemma. I don't think there's any other question that's this enormous in scope, because perhaps those that are following God think of the billions that they haven't been able to reach. The billions who've lived and died throughout history's generations of people never even heard the name Jesus Christ, Jesus Christ, to whom there is no other name under heaven, whereby we must be saved. That's a fact.

But brethren, this isn't merely a theological question for Christianity as a whole, because for so many, this dilemma resides in their very homes. This dilemma has an aim. This dilemma has a face, someone they deeply love, someone that just simply does not believe.

And suddenly, this dilemma then becomes intensely personal. Let me briefly tell you a story of a mother who shared this story with me. This was on the eighth day 10 years ago to this day, and I've never forgot it. She told me of her son that she had desperately tried to reach years earlier, and I've changed the names for this retelling. There was a mother named Margaret who prayed for her son Daniel almost every day of his life. Daniel was now 32 years old, and when Margaret closed her eyes each night, she would pray for him, and she would see that little boy kneeling beside their bed as he began to speak his first prayers, stumbling through them. She remembered taking him to Sunday church service, reading the Bible stories to him, quietly hoping that one day he would love Jesus Christ for himself. But somewhere along the way, Daniel walked away. There wasn't any specific reason. It was layered. He grew older. He began to ask questions of his mother. She didn't always have the answers, but Daniel also saw the hypocrisy in the church. Those who claimed to be Christians, he experienced disappointments that left him wondering, where is God? He watched as those around him that he loved suffer through different trials, and gradually, he was able to find the answers. He eventually, gradually, questions became doubts. Doubts became distance, and distance hardened his heart into unbelief. But Margaret never stopped trying to reach her son. Sometimes she would send him a Scripture. Sometimes she would carefully bring God into conversations. Sometimes she wouldn't say anything at all, because she feared about Pushing him away if she came too hard. Daniel would even pull further away, though, but she always prayed, God, would you reach this son, my son, in a way that I can't?

Years passed, then came the phone call that every mother dreads. Daniel was sick. Margaret suddenly found herself beside the hospital bed, where she watched her once energetic 32-year-old son grow weaker and thinner. She noticed that the doctors began to speak careful words when they entered the room. And through it all, she thought she had run out of time, and that thought overwhelmed her. She tried again one evening when the hospital room was unusually quiet. Margaret pulled up a chair next to Daniel's bed and took his hand. Daniel, I need to ask you something. He looked at her. She struggled to keep her voice from breaking.

Honey, would you please turn to God? Would you please believe in Jesus Christ?

Daniel closed his eyes for a moment. He knew how much this meant to her. Finally, he squeezed her hand and said, Mom, I love you, but I can't tell you something that I don't believe. Her heart sank. Daniel, please, Mom, we've talked about this. Tears began to roll down her face. I just don't want to lose you.

Daniel looked at his mother and quietly said, You're going to have to let me go. But, you know, Margaret wasn't thinking about losing him at that moment. She was thinking about eternity.

She had been taught, and she heard it from the Sunday pulpits. Her pastor would say, This is the time. This is the day of salvation. The only day. And so if her son died without accepting Jesus Christ, there would be no other opportunity. And the clock was running out. She prayed harder. She begged God. She asked her friends to pray. Every morning, she would enter into the hospital room, hoping that something had changed. Every evening, she would walk out, feeling empty inside. Finally, the day came. Daniel could barely speak. She leaned closer one more time. Honey, would you please call upon Jesus? Don't leave this world without him.

Daniel slowly opened his eyes. There was no anger in them. Only exhaustion. Mom, she moved closer. I love you.

She desperately waited for more. Nothing came.

A few hours later, Daniel died. And Margaret's world collapsed. And the questions came. What if I had talked to him more? What if I explained it differently? What if I had been a better example? What if I had prayed harder? And then this question, how could I have reached so many, but not be able to reach my only son? She remembered the boy next to her bed. She remembered his first prayers. And now, according to everything that she understood about God's salvation, there was no hope left. The opportunity was over. The door was closed.

Incredibly heartbreaking, isn't it? It's heartbreaking to consider that death would put an end to her son's opportunity to be saved.

We'll come back to Margaret a little bit later for the rest of the story. But let's ask, is death really the end of Daniel's opportunity? Or has God revealed something greater? Something far more hopeful? Something far more merciful? Something far more magnificent that the world has ever known? Well, it is into this darkness and confusion that the understanding of the eighth day becomes a beacon of light because the eighth day proclaims loudly that Daniel's story does not end there in that hospital bed.

Oh no! Rather, the Bible reveals that there is coming a great day, one last great day, where the graves will open and the lives of those who seemingly have been lost forever will rise again. And it will be a day when people, all people, who never truly knew God the Father, will finally have their eyes opened to learn, to accept, and to believe in Him.

There is still hope for the Son that the mother could not reach. And that, brethren, brings us to this magnificent day and the meaning of the eighth day, the second resurrection. God's great plan of salvation reveals that His will is to save all of mankind, but each in their own order. And helpfully and very effectively, the Bible evokes imagery in the use of farming language to explain all this to us, where the Bible says that it's God's purpose to reap only a small harvest of people for salvation at this time. And they're called firstfruits, with a later plan to reap a larger harvest for salvation at a later time.

And that later harvest will be a vastly greater number of people to be harvested for the purpose of saving them. This is the answer to the great dilemma. God has revealed an order for harvesting mankind to salvation, and it takes place into two stages to harvest, ultimately leading to the vast majority of mankind to be saved. Do you believe this? Well, in the time we have left, let's take a look at these two remarkable spiritual harvests.

And if you'd like, take special notes, because what I'm going to give you is the blueprint to solidify this truth in your own heart, and also when the opportunity arises to share this with others. So where should we begin? Well, let's begin with the first harvest, and turn with me, if you will, to James chapter 1 verses 16 through 18.

This is where we're going to begin here. The book of James chapter 1 verses 16 through 18. Jesus's brother James gives us here one of the most direct statements with regards to God's first harvest of mankind, and James is going to call them a kind of first fruit harvest of mankind. Fitting to start here, James brings this to light. James 1 beginning in verse 16, James says, James says, Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren, my brothers and sisters.

Every good gift and every perfect gift comes from above, comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning. And then listen to verse 18.

Speaking of the Father, here it is, verse 18. Of his own will, he brought us forth by the word of truth that we might be a kind of first fruits of his creatures. Let's stop there. You see, here we're taught of this first spiritual harvest. James speaks of the harvest. This is not a physical harvest, of wheat or grain.

This is a first fruit harvest of mankind, here. And I don't know, I like to picture James maybe as he's considering what he's going to write, looking out at the harvest. And he says, you know, we're a little bit like that. We're a kind of first fruit harvest of people that God is reaping, saving. This is the truth here.

So just as they harvested physical crops, there was an initial spring harvest, followed by a later fall harvest to come. Likewise, the physical shows us the spiritual and reveals that God is harvesting people for eternal life in his kingdom. And it all begins with an initial harvest, a kind of first fruits. We're kind of a first fruits of his creatures. Why use, why evoke, why employ this kind of language here if he's not revealing this first harvest with a logically a later harvest to follow? You see, it's a great truth.

How about another statement of truth? Turn with me to Romans 8. Let's look at verses 22 through 23, just two verses. This is now the Apostle Paul, and he's going to be speaking of those with the opportunity of being the first harvest, those in Christ. And he's going to say here in Romans 8, verse 22 and 23, that they receive the first fruits of the Spirit.

That's remarkable terminology. Look at this. Romans 8, verses 22 and 23. For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now, verse 23, he says, but not only that, but we also who have the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption. Let's stop there. Isn't that incredible that there is God's Spirit is actually received by those and given to those. It's kind of the first fruits of the Spirit, even. So not everyone at this time has access to God's Spirit, only those called with the potential to be part of the first harvest. If somehow we tried to argue that God is providing his Spirit to all, then why speak of the Spirit in this way? You see. And going down to verse 28 through 30 here. Look at this. Verse 28. And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to his purpose, for whom he foreknew, he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he, Jesus, might be the firstborn among many brethren. Now listen, verse 30. Moreover, whom he predestined, these he also called. Whom he called, these he also justified, and whom he justified, these he also glorified. So let's stop there. An amazing truth here. Jesus did come to save the world, but the saving plan is in stages. There are only some who are predestined to receive this call. You see, many are called, not all.

There are only some who are predestined to receive the call to be part of, to have the opportunity to be part of the first fruit harvest. And Jesus was the firstborn among many brethren, many brothers and sisters to follow. So, yes, God, through Jesus Christ, has called these brethren to have a first opportunity for saving. And the truth is, God is not calling everyone to this opportunity today. This is not the only day of salvation. Look around! Look around the world! How could it be? How could it be? You see, when you know this truth, it helps make sense of the world that we see around us. God is not calling everyone to this opportunity. This is not the only day of salvation for humanity.

But God did send his son into the world, and so to save it. And so there is coming a day of a later harvest of mankind. But for now, he begins with a call to the first fruits, to receive the first fruits of his spirit, to be predestined to this opportunity, to be conformed to his son. Let's dig deeper into the discussion. We're going to stay with Paul here, but let's look at his letter that he wrote to the Corinthian church. Turn with me to 1 Corinthians 15 verses 20 through 24. This, of course, 1 Corinthians 15 verses 20 through 24. This is the Great Resurrection chapter here, and Paul is going to effectively evoke more farming language here. And we could say this is the most direct conversation with regards to the harvest, the reaping of mankind here. And here Paul is going to reveal the later harvest to come. This is awesome. 1 Corinthians 15. Let's begin in verse 20. Paul writes, But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep, who have died. Listen to this next phrase here. For since by man, that's Adam, came death by man, capital M, Jesus, also came the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive, but each one in his own order. Christ the firstfruits, afterwards those who are Christ at his coming. Then comes the end when he delivers the kingdom to God the Father, and he puts an end to all rule, authority, and power.

So, remarkable. Paul says, yes, Jesus's resurrection was true. Therefore, there is a future harvest of mankind. That is secured. Because Christ died and rose again, he has become the the firstborn of the firstfruits who have fallen asleep. Verse 22 again, in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive. That is the truth. In Christ all shall be made alive. Christ's death and his rising up again makes life possible again for all of mankind.

But, maybe the most powerful phrase in all of scripture, he says there in verse 23, each one in his own order. Yes, the firstfruits are going to rise at Christ's coming. Incredible. Christ died and rose again. There is a resurrection for everyone, a resurrection for all of mankind. All will be saved from the grave. But there's an order in which mankind will be raised from the grave. And the first to be raised will be Christ at his coming. God foreknew, he predestined to call only some to this opportunity now. And they will be raised after receiving that call, responding to the call, committing to Jesus by grace, in faith, persevering to the end. They will rise at Christ's return, and they will be part of the first fruit harvest.

You know what I'm going to ask next, right? What about the rest? What about the rest? Because Paul also revealed that in Adam all died. That's true. But in Christ, all will be made alive. What about this all that Paul has declared here? All shall be made alive. The rest of the dead. What about those who aren't part of this first fruit harvest? Well, I'll say it again. This is how and when we come to this wonderful day and its meaning, this eighth day. And the apostle John is so helpful now. He almost picks up the baton from Paul here, and he begins to write then about these two harvests. And so John picks up his pen, and he begins to write not only the truth of the first resurrection, but the second resurrection also. The miraculous truth of the second resurrection, the second harvest to come. Turn with me once again to Revelation 20, beginning in verse 4, if you will.

Revelation 20, we're going to begin in verse 1. We'll read through verse 6 to begin. Now, in my Bible here in Revelation, before the chapter begins, it's says, Saints to reign with Christ a thousand years here. And so John is going to reveal in great detail not only one, but in fact two great harvests. Look at what he says here, regarding these harvests. Revelation 20, beginning in verse 4. And I saw, John says, thrones. And they set upon them, and judgment was given, was committed to them.

Then I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus, and for the word of God, who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received the mark on their foreheads or their hands. And they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years. Verse 5. But the rest of the dead did not live again until the thousand years were finished.

This is the first resurrection, he says. Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years. Let's stop there. Okay, first fruits raised, living with Christ a thousand years. But what about those who ever lived and died in the past? Well, he says, verse 5 again, the rest of the dead did not live again until the thousand years were finished. But again, John says, blessed and holy is he or she that has part of the first resurrection. Over such the second death has no power, and they shall be priests here and reign with them a thousand years. That's incredible. If there must be a first, then logically there must be a second. And we learn here from John's writings that those in Christ will rise to live with Jesus Christ and the Father in eternity. You read, the second death has no power over them, over this first harvest resurrection. And it does not say that about those who are raised a thousand years later. So we can deduce that those raised a thousand years later would be raised to physical life. The second death would still have power over them, you see.

So then, we know that in that second resurrection they will be subject to death again. They will be raised a thousand years later. They will not have yet received eternal life.

And as we look and go on here, we see John describe God as seated on a great white throne. And now John begins to pin the part of his letter that speaks of the second resurrection harvest. Look at Revelation 20, staying here, verses 12 and 13.

John's going to turn his full focus onto the later harvest to come. This is a thousand years later after Christ's return. Verse 12 and 13, John says, And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and the books were opened, and another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged according to their works by the things which were written in the books. The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and death in Hades, the grave, delivered up the dead who were in them, and they were judged, each one according to his own works. Let's stop there. Amazing. The Greek word for books here is biblia, so meaning the Bible.

The books of the Bible will be opened to these individuals now raised at this second resurrection. And so God at this time will give them the understanding, the eyes and the ears, to understand the words in the book, in the books, the Bible, to truly comprehend it. So for the vast collection of humanity, it'll be in the second resurrection, where this great white-throat judgment period, where they will for the first time have the books opened to their understanding, truly for the first time, opened in such a way where they can fully understand and comprehend. So during the great white-thrown judgment period, everyone who previously never had their true opportunity to understand will finally be given full understanding through the giving of God's Spirit to understand God's Word and then to be judged by it.

So those, after having the books of the Bible open to them, they will be guided by it. They will have their choices day by day examined in the light to choose to repent and turn toward their heavenly Father for their opportunity to have another book open to them.

Just like the firstfruits have the opportunity now to be written in the book of life, today, these men and women at the second resurrection will also have that opportunity to have their names written in the book of life. We're taught that the book of life now contains the names of those true saints of God, those who have overcome in this lifetime, called and overcame, and they will be resurrected at Christ's return in the first resurrection. So why reopen the book of life again a thousand years later? Why do that?

So that new names can be written in it.

So the vast majority will be raised back to physical life here and they will have an opportunity to be written in the book of life. They will be given their opportunity to have their name etched there forever.

And in the end, any man or woman who does not yield after having full understanding of what and whom they are refusing or rejecting, Revelation 20 verse 15, then and only then will they be thrown into the lake of fire and utterly destroyed. So only after all of this do we read, anyone not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire. Again, then and only then, those whose hearts are so completely darkened, then and only then will God mercifully destroy them so they don't have to live in the misery of their decision. So here with the with the last death of a human being, with all others having eternal life, we see verse 14 where John sees this vision of death in the grave being thrown into the lake of fire. Death in gray and the grave never to return again. The last enemy of man, death, is destroyed. In other words, the last human being thrown in the lake of fire will take death with him. But brethren, let me remind you of God's will. Did you know that it's God's will that none perish in the lake of fire?

But that all would come to repentance?

Turn with me to 2 Peter 3 verse 9. I just want you to read this. This is, we are revealing how great our God is. Such a loving God.

We'll read this together. This is what we want to declare here. This is our final scripture to read today. And what a scripture it is!

Look at the heart of our father here, 2 Peter 3.9. The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some count slackness, but is long-suffering toward us, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. So I declare to you today on this great eighth day that this is our loving God, long-suffering toward us, long-suffering to all of mankind, not willing that any should perish, but that all would come to repentance. Wow!

When God says this is his will, that none perish, I believe him.

And I believe that his will will be on full display on this great eighth day.

So that through these two great harvest resurrection events, God the Father, through Jesus Christ, will in fact save mankind.

For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through him might be saved. Oh, brethren, this is the incredible plan of salvation for of our Almighty and loving God. And it is greater and deeper and more beautiful than we could ever imagine. The second resurrection begins the great harvest of mankind. Those generations who've ever lived and died without ever hearing the name of Jesus, they will stand once again. And let me tell you, they're going to stand before a throne, and it's a throne of grace. Not to be cast away, but to be finally taught, to finally understand, to finally see and receive the love of God in its fullest. The second resurrection declares God's mercy, and it's as wide as eternity itself. And his plan is big enough to gather every nation, every nation, every tribe, every tongue into his harvest. And they will be given the opportunity to life.

What a God we serve! What a plan of love and restoration!

Well, before we close, I want to pick back up with Margaret. Margaret, because it was on that eighth day 10 years ago, I watched her as she took a moment to catch her breath. And she said, but you know, I was wrong.

I was wrong about my son's final destiny. Thankfully, I was wrong, she said.

And because, and while Daniel's death did take him away at this time, and that's more difficult than you could imagine some days, I now know it's only for a time, because my son will rise again. And I can remember, she said, when that day comes, and when I give him his first hug, I don't know if that hug will ever end, she said.

And in a moment, we are going to sing these words.

God, be with you till we meet again. How can we sing those words?

We can sing those words because of this incredible eighth day.

That mother did not fail simply because she couldn't reach her son. There are some people we cannot reach. There are some hearts we cannot open. There are some minds that cannot be awakened, but God can, and God will.

That is going, is the magnificent meaning of this eighth day, the hope of the resurrection, the second resurrection to come. So I declare to you today, this is the last great harvest of mankind.