PARABLE, MIRACLE, AND SIGN
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The Sea. The sea is continually used as a type of the nations, particularly in a tumultuous state. `The waters
... are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues' (Rev. 17:15).
Let us now look at the parable in the light of prophecy. The drawing of the net to shore at the end of the age
is parallel with the gathering of the living nations to the land of Israel. Note, in the parable and in the prophecy,
that the fish and the nations are living and not dead. This is not dealing with the judgment of those who are
raised from the dead, but that of the living nations, whose relation with the kingdom is to be decided.
Scripture is emphatic upon the fact that towards the end of the age Jerusalem and the land of Israel shall
become a `burdensome stone to the nations'. The `Eastern Question' gathers around Asia Minor, and the
Powers of Europe jealously regard each other in reference to Jerusalem - the key to the East. Listen to the
words of the Prophets:
`For, behold, in those days, and in that time, WHEN I shall bring again the captivity of Judah and Jerusalem, I
WILL ALSO GATHER ALL NATIONS, and will bring them down into the valley of Jehoshaphat, and will plead
with them there for My people and for My heritage Israel, whom they have scattered among the nations, and
parted My land' (Joel 3:1,2).
`Behold, the day of the LORD cometh, and thy spoil shall be divided in the midst of thee. For I WILL GATHER
ALL NATIONS against Jerusalem to battle' (Zech. 14:1,2).
`My determination is to GATHER THE NATIONS, THAT I MAY ASSEMBLE THE KINGDOMS, to pour upon them
Mine indignation' (Zeph. 3:8).
`Haste ye and come, ALL YE NATIONS round about, and gather yourselves together; thither cause THY MIGHTY
ONES (i.e. the angels) TO COME DOWN, O LORD. Let the nations bestir themselves and come up to the valley
of Jehoshaphat, for there will I SIT TO JUDGE ALL NATIONS round about' (Joel 3:11,12 Author's translation).
`When the Son of man shall come in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then shall He sit upon the
throne of His glory: and before Him shall be gathered ALL NATIONS: and He shall separate them' (Matt.
25:31,32).
As we read these prophecies it is abundantly manifested that the gathering of the nations is to be expected at
the time of the end. Matthew 25 shows that the nations who have well treated the `brethren' of the King shall
enter into the kingdom, while the nations who have ill-treated the Jew are an offence, and are gathered out of
that kingdom. Matthew 25 is national. As nations they enter the kingdom, or as nations they are debarred. It is
quite contrary to the teaching of the passage to make the kind acts of the nations a basis for `doing all things
unto the Lord', for these nations did not consciously do what they did to Israel for Christ's sake at all; they only
learn that when they stand before His throne.
The peculiar time of Israel's trouble, which is coming, will be a great temptation to all the nations to take
advantage of the helplessness of this down-trodden people, but the Lord will reward that nation which acts
kindly to His people. `Come, ye blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom'; `the righteous into age-abiding
life' (Matt. 25:34,46) is typified in the parable by the putting of the good fish into the vessels. `Every one that is
left of all the nations which came against Jerusalem shall even go up from year to year to worship the King, the
LORD of Hosts, and to keep the Feast of Tabernacles' (Zech. 14:16).
These are the good fish of the parable. The nations who are thus blessed will have a blessed portion in the
kingdom; many however, will forfeit their place when Satan is unbound at the end. Israel's pre-eminent
position in the kingdom is emphasized in the parable of the Tares, for of them it adds, `Then shall the righteous
shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father'. Thus, at the end of the age there will be two siftings and
two gatherings in connection with the kingdom. First from Israel itself (as indicated in the `Tares') He shall
thoroughly purge His floor - hypocrites and sons of the wicked one, those who say they are Jews and are not, but
who are of the synagogue of Satan (Rev. 3:9) - and then from the nations round about as already seen in the
quotations from the Prophets and Matthew 25.
These parables show us that great care is necessary in reading the Word that we do not overlook the
divisions that are made among the various classes in the kingdom. We have the `Treasure', Israel, as distinct
from the nations. We have the `One Pearl', the Remnant, as distinct from the nation. We have the good and bad
fish, the division made among the nations themselves.
Evil shall not always reign. That kingdom so long looked for will come, and then shall begin the final step
towards the goal - `A new heaven and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness'.