The Wheat and the Tare

LifewithJesus
Dec 23, 2025
15 min read

Updated: Dec 28, 2025

‭‭Revelation‬ ‭14‬:‭15‬, ‭18‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

“And another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to Him who sat on the cloud, “Thrust in Your sickle and reap, for the time has come for You to reap, for the harvest of the earth is ripe.” And another angel came out from the altar, who had power over fire, and he cried with a loud cry to him who had the sharp sickle, saying, “Thrust in your sharp sickle and gather the clusters of the vine of the earth, for her grapes are fully ripe.””

Welcome to the first message in the “THIS or THAT” series 🙂🎉!

Today, we are looking at “The Wheat or the Tare.”

It’s my prayer as you read you are blessed and will be in the right side of history on the last day in JESUS name🙏

From the last post; you will know I am studying the book of Revelations at the moment.

What is the Book of Revelation About? (so far)

The book of Revelations is a book of the BIBLE about visions JOHN the Apostle of GOD had about the end times.

Here’s a quick journey through the chapters so far:

Chapters 1–3: Introduction and Jesus’ letters to the seven churches.
Chapters 4–5: progressed to a vision where John is shown a vision of God's throne in heaven. A scroll with seven seals, representing God's plan and judgment, is presented, and only the Lamb (Jesus Christ) is worthy to open it.
Chapters 6–8a: covers a series of judgments unfolding on earth, symbolized by the four horsemen of the Apocalypse (representing conquest, war, famine, and death), the persecution of martyrs, and cosmic disturbances as the Lamb opens the first six seals.
Chapters 8b–11: Seven angels blow trumpets, unleashing further devastation on the earth, including ecological disasters affecting the sea, fresh water, and vegetation. This section also includes visions of two witnesses who prophesy and are martyred, and the announcement of Christ's coming kingdom upon the seventh trumpet.
Revelation Chapter 12 depicts a woman (symbolizing Israel) and her male child (Jesus Christ) being persecuted by a great red dragon (Satan), who is cast down from heaven to the earth after a war with Michael and his angels.
Chapter 13 introduces two beasts, (Antichrist and False Prophet) enforcing evil and the mark of the Beast (666).
Chapter 14 shifts focus to Mount Zion, where the Lamb stands with the 144,000 redeemed faithful, followed by three angels proclaiming messages of salvation, of judgment on Babylon and warnings against the beast's followers.

This chapter then leads us to the final harvest, symbolizing final judgment and ultimate separation between those who belong to Christ and those who reject Him.

That is the focus of this blog; chapter 14:14-20 which tells of the time of harvest after this tribulation period.

The Harvest After the Reign of the Beast

Revelation 14 talks about a period of Harvest of the whole earth, a two-part judgment where humanity is reaped like crops for either salvation or condemnation. The first harvest is a "wheat" harvest, a positive reaping where the righteous are gathered to safety. The second is a "grape" harvest, which symbolizes the wicked being gathered and crushed in the "great winepress of the wrath of God" for judgment.

The wheat or Tare Harvest: The Moment of Separation

We see in revelation two types of Harvest:

The first is the Harvest of wheat which JESUS HIMSELF collects:

Revelation 14:14-16 NKJV

“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. And another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to Him who sat on the cloud, “Thrust in Your sickle and reap, for the time has come for You to reap, for the harvest of the earth is ripe.” So He who sat on the cloud thrust in His sickle on the earth, and the earth was reaped.”

The second is the harvest of Tare which an angel collects

“And another angel came out from the altar, who had power over fire, and he cried with a loud cry to him who had the sharp sickle, saying, “Thrust in your sharp sickle and gather the clusters of the vine of the earth, for her grapes are fully ripe.””

The first reaping sounds like the gathering of grain, the second a gathering of grapes.

To understand this twofold harvest more clearly, we must remember that Revelation is written in symbols, revealing end-time realities through imagery. Scripture often interprets Scripture, and this harvest scene is not new.

Long before John saw it in Revelation, Jesus Himself taught this very truth in parable form. In Matthew 13, Jesus explained the meaning of the final harvest through the Parable of the Wheat and the Tares revealing that a great separation would come at the end of the age.

The Parable of the wheat and Tares

Matthew 13:24-25 NKJV

“Another parable He put forth to them, saying: “The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field; but while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat and went his way.”

Jesus had already prepared us for this moment long before John saw it in Revelation.

In Matthew 13:24–30, Jesus tells the parable of a man who sowed good seed (wheat) in his field. While men slept, an enemy came and sowed tares (weeds) among the wheat. When both began to grow, the servants wanted to pull the tares out immediately; but the master said:

“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 gather the wheat into my barn.’”

Later, Jesus explains the meaning plainly (Matthew 13:36–43):

“He answered and said to them:
“He who sows the good seed is the Son of Man.
The field is the world,
the good seeds are the sons of the kingdom,
but the tares are the sons of the wicked one.
The enemy who sowed them is the devil,
the harvest is the end of the age, and
the reapers are the angels.”

What Jesus taught in parable form, John sees fulfilled in prophetic vision.

Just as Jesus said in Matthew 13, the harvest is the end of the age; the same reality revealed in Revelation 14.

Growing Together Until the End

The Bible says that while men slept, the enemy sowed tares. These tares were not immediately removed. Instead, they were allowed to grow alongside the wheat.

Matthew 13:26 (NKJV)

“But when the grain had sprouted and produced a crop, then the tares also appeared.”

Both grow in the same field. Both exist at the same time. But there is a crucial difference:

The wheat produces fruit
The tares do not

The tares exist to disrupt, deceive, and hinder; but they will not prevail.

This often leads us to ask: Why must believers coexist with sinners in this world?

The servants in the parable asked the same question.

Matthew 13:27 (NLT)

“The farmer’s workers went to him and said, ‘Sir, the field where you planted that good seed is full of weeds! Where did they come from?’”

The farmer answered plainly:

Matthew 13:28–30 (NLT)

“‘An enemy has done this!’ the farmer exclaimed. ‘Should we pull out the weeds?’ they asked. ‘No,’ he replied, ‘you’ll uproot the wheat if you do. Let both grow together until the harvest. Then I will tell the harvesters to sort out the weeds, tie them into bundles, and burn them, and to put the wheat in the barn.’

The Bible speaks about how the patience of the saints will play an important role to believers until the coming of JESUS CHRIST; revelation actually mention this terms a few times ‘The Patience of the Saints’. The period is now and the patience of the saints is not only needed but it will be rewarded in the end.

The patience of the saints

To be honest this is the main point of this message; The patience of the saints.

‭‭James‬ ‭5‬:‭7‬-‭8‬ ‭NLT‬‬ “Dear brothers and sisters, be patient as you wait for the Lord’s return. Consider the farmers who patiently wait for the rains in the fall and in the spring. They eagerly look for the valuable harvest to ripen. You, too, must be patient. Take courage, for the coming of the Lord is near.”

I had the same question the disciples asked; why not uproot the weeds for the wheat to grow uninterrupted, why should they grow together? Also if there are weeds; doesn’t it affect the growth of the wheat?

The command to let the wheat and tares grow together reveals more than a future judgment; it defines the present calling of God’s people. The time between sowing and harvest is a season of waiting, endurance, and trust. This is why Scripture later speaks of the patience of the saints. While evil continues to operate and the tares remain among the wheat, the righteous are called to remain faithful, bearing fruit and trusting the Lord of the harvest.

The separation is certain, the timing is God’s, and until that day arrives, patience is not optional; it is the mark of the saints.

Yes I know Revelation is speaking about the great tribulation; terrible times of trouble that will come on the whole earth. It also describes the evil of Satan and his agents against the Church of God. Those who will not worship the satanic beast power won’t be allowed to buy and sell (Revelation 13:17) and the beast will even be given the authority to “make war with the saints and to overcome them” (Revelation 13:7). But through this terrible time of testing, the saints of God will have to display their God-given patience in enduring trials and faithfully following Jesus Christ and obeying God’s commandments. They can know that in the end God will win and their patience will be rewarded. .

The wheat has to learn patience with having the weeds growing in its midst. The wheat comes to trust the owner, knowing the owner, who is JESUS, is doing everything possible to bring the wheat to fruition.

And the Bible speaks about the patience of the saints:

Revelation 14:12-13 NKJV

“Here is the patience of the saints; here are those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus. Then I heard a voice from heaven saying to me, “Write: ‘Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.’ ” “Yes,” says the Spirit, “that they may rest from their labors, and their works follow them.””

Our Patience is recognized and blessed by GOD in the end: And this is the hope we have that in the end GOD WILL WIN and our patience's will be rewarded in JESUS NAME🙏

James 5:7-8 NKJV

“Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, waiting patiently for it until it receives the early and latter rain. You also be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand.”

Patience is required in our called ministry in working with brothers and sisters in Christ, and especially with the lost.
Patience is required in the face of tribulation, and in the troubles and trials of life that we are promised we will face.
Patience is required if we are to strive for maturity in the faith.

Herein lies the patient of the saints.

Romans 8:18 NKJV

“For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.”

So even as James 5:7-8 NLT says; “Dear brothers and sisters, be patient as you wait for the Lord’s return. Consider the farmers who patiently wait for the rains in the fall and in the spring. They eagerly look for the valuable harvest to ripen. You, too, must be patient. Take courage, for the coming of the Lord is near.”

And we behold the day that JESUS will return to collect us:

Revelation 14:12-13 NKJV

This is where the Patience of the saints comes in; clinging on to that hope that one day JESUS will come and take us home.

Be patient, therefore, brethren, until the coming of the Lord.

All kinds of people live together in the world.
Good (wheat) and evil (tares) exist side by side.
God allows this coexistence until the final judgment.

We are patient but we are patient with hope; and this is the hope we cling to:

James‬ ‭5‬:‭8‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

“You also be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand.”

But patience is not the end of the story; it is the preparation for it. The season of endurance does not cancel the harvest; it leads to it. Scripture is clear: while God calls His people to wait, He has never delayed the separation itself; only its timing.

The same passage in Revelation that calls for the patience of the saints is immediately followed by the vision of the harvest. Endurance comes first; separation comes next. The wheat is not endlessly surrounded by tares; the waiting has an appointed end. The harvest will come. The righteous are reaped to safety, and the wicked are gathered for judgment.

Patience prepared the saints for this day. Revelation 14 reveals its outcome.

Lets go back to the separation, the Scripture Is Consistent with this: final separation is 100% certain; The Bible repeatedly shows that humanity will not remain mixed forever. The waiting will end. The harvest will come. And every soul will be gathered according to what it truly is.

The Bible repeatedly shows this final division:

Sheep and Goats — Jesus Separates All Nations

Matthew 25:31–34, 41 (NKJV)

“When the Son of Man comes in His glory… He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats. And He will set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left.”

To the righteous:

“Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you…”

To the wicked:

“Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire…”

Good Fish and Bad Fish

Matthew 13:47–50 (NKJV)

“The kingdom of heaven is like a dragnet…They gathered the good into vessels, but threw the bad away. So it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come forth, separate the wicked from among the just, and cast them into the furnace of fire.”

Another unmistakable picture of the final separation.

The Harvest of the Earth — Righteous vs. Wicked

Revelation 14:14–20 (NKJV)

Verses 14–16 — the righteous are harvested (wheat)

Verses 17–20 — the wicked are harvested (grapes) and crushed in the winepress of God’s wrath

This chapter shows the two final harvests: salvation and judgment.

Books Are Opened — Destiny Decided

Revelation 20:11–15 (NKJV)

“And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened…And the dead were judged according to their works…Anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.”

Two groups: Book of Life or not.

Good and evil live side by side for now. Wheat and tares grow together; for now.

But harvest is certain.

So we endure.
We obey.
We remain faithful.

Remember that still;

Romans 8:31-39 NLT

Nothing Can Separate Us from God’s Love

35 Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death? 36 (As the Scriptures say, “For your sake we are killed every day; we are being slaughtered like sheep.”[a]) 37 No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us.

And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,[b] neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. 39 No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.

The enemy can try but the gates of hell will not prevail

Here is the patience of the saints. And we know how it ends: Jesus is glorified, Jesus wins. 🙏

Know this: Judgment Day is coming. When that day arrives, there will be no middle ground. Every soul will belong to one harvest or the other, and the choice is eternal.

The only way to be counted among the righteous harvest is through Jesus Christ. He is the One who gathers the saints because He knows His own. The Shepherd recognizes His sheep, and He alone calls them by name and gathers them safely to Himself.

Before the final harvest falls, After the reign of the Beast and the great persecution of the faithful, God still shows mercy. God sends His angels. This alone reveals His mercy. Even when judgment is near, God does not act without warning. Three angels are sent to the whole earth, one proclaiming the everlasting gospel, one announcing the fall of Babylon, and one warning of the consequences of following the Beast. These angelic messages are God’s final call to humanity; an invitation to repent, to turn from false worship, and to receive the everlasting gospel. This proves that God takes no pleasure in the death of the wicked; He desires that all should be saved.

Revelation 14:6-11

The Three Angels

⁶And I saw another angel flying through the sky, carrying the eternal Good News to proclaim to the people who belong to this world—to every nation, tribe, language, and people. “Fear God,” he shouted. “Give glory to him. For the time has come when he will sit as judge. Worship him who made the heavens, the earth, the sea, and all the springs of water.”

Then another angel followed him through the sky, shouting, “Babylon is fallen—that great city is fallen—because she made all the nations of the world drink the wine of her passionate immorality.”

Then a third angel followed them, shouting, “Anyone who worships the beast and his statue or who accepts his mark on the forehead or on the hand must drink the wine of God’s anger. It has been poured full strength into God’s cup of wrath. And they will be tormented with fire and burning sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and the Lamb. The smoke of their torment will rise forever and ever, and they will have no relief day or night, for they have worshiped the beast and his statue and have accepted the mark of his name.”

This tells us something important: God’s mercy is always calling. Even in the darkest hour of human history, when rebellion is open and persecution is fierce, God still reaches out and says, Repent. Turn back to Me. Choose life. He never stops reaching for souls. 💛

But Scripture is also clear; this call will not last forever. The angels speak before the harvest, not after it. Mercy has a window. Grace has a season. And when that season ends, the sickle falls.

Even now, God is calling you. As long as you have breath, you have an opportunity to repent.

How?

Repent; turn away from sin and from every false allegiance. Believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, who died for your sins and rose again. Confess Him as your Lord and Savior, and surrender your life to Him.

Hebrews 3:15

while it is said: “Today, if you will hear His voice, Do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion.”

Choose life. Choose Christ. Before the harvest falls; come to Jesus. 🙏

We all began as sinners. None of us was born righteous. As the Bible says, “In sin my mother conceived me,” and “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” Because of sin, we were once separated from God; like goats, tares, bad fish, and lost sheep.

To be made right with God, to become His own, we must first acknowledge the truth: I have sinned. I believe that God sent His Son, Jesus Christ, in the form of a man to take my place. God is a righteous Judge, and the consequence of sin is death; eternal death. But because God loves me so much, He sent His Son to die for me.

Jesus came into this world, took my place, and died on the cross for my sins. All I have to do is believe this truth; that Jesus died for me and paid the price I could never pay.

Today, I accept and believe that Jesus Christ is my Lord and my personal Savior. Because of Him, I am forgiven, cleansed, and set free from all sin, guilt, and condemnation.

I now belong to God. I am His child. I am saved by grace through faith.

Amen.

Prayer Of Repentance

Thank you JESUS for your word today, thank you for enlightening me on the true meaning of life; that YOU are the SON of the LIVING GOD, JESUS CHRIST that was sent by GOD to this earth to die for my sins. I acknowledge that I am a sinner and need to be born again; I acknowledge that I cannot save myself, I acknowledge and believe that YOU died on the cross of Calvary for all my sins; I acknowledge and believe that YOU bore the punishment of all my sins; I accept YOU as my only LORD and PERSONAL SAVIOUR, and all my sins have been forgiven. I say Thank YOU JESUS and I receive the new life YOU have given me, YOUR LIFE, MY LORD JESUS.

And so I shout THANK YOU JESUS FOR SAVING ME, THANK YOU JESUS COS ALL MY SINS HAVE BEEN FORGIVEN, THANKING YOU JESUS COS I AM SAVED, AND VICTORIOUS IN YOU. THANK YOU JESUS BECAUSE I AM NOW A CHILD OF GOD; HALLELUJAH, AMEN!

If you did say a prayer of repentance, big big congratulations and welcome to the Christian family🤗 please reach out to us using the Contact link; we’d like to get in touch with you and help you as the PERSON OF THE SPIRIT OF THE LIVING GOD leads us🙏🙂

Wondering what next? Walking in the newness of life in CHRIST