While the whole nation of Israel is beloved by God, even now during this age, when

they still reject Christ, they are "beloved for the fathers' sake" (Rom. 11: 25-29). How

much more must this be true of the faithful remnant in Israel. The doctrine of the

remnant is of great importance. God never leaves Himself without a witness. The

Scripture shows that at the blackest times of Israel's history, there was always a remnant,

a few who remained absolute faithful to the Lord. They are designated as "the remnant

according to the election of grace" (Rom. 9: 27; 11: 5).  Heb. 11: gives a list of those in

O.T. times who were proved faithful despite all difficulties, opposition and suffering.

Many of them have given their lives for God and there will be those in the future days

when Antichrist reigns who will also do this. Surely all these are very precious to the

Lord and come under the symbolism of the "pearl of great price"; who like faithful

Abraham will finally find their place in the heavenly Jerusalem, the city whose builder

and maker is God and whose glory and wonder are described in detail in Rev. 21:

These two parables graphically set forth these two companies in Israel. We have the

elect nation as distinct from the Gentile nations, and the elect remnant, faithful even to

death, who are distinct from the Nation as a whole.

Once more we see the Lord showing the disciples how God's plan for Israel will run

its course, and in spite of all hindrances will reach its glorious goal when the kingdoms of

this world are at last claimed by Christ and become subject to His righteous rule.

In this parable we find two kinds of fish, good and bad, and this is parallel to the

Wheat and Tares, as the structure given earlier shows. There is one difference however.

The tares were the Satanic counterfeit of the true wheat, but in the drag net the bad fish

do not counterfeit the good, but nevertheless they are separated from them at the end.

One point we must not miss. When the fish are brought to the shore they are living

and not dead. This shows clearly they typify living people and do not represent the

judgment of those who are raised from the dead. Scripture reveals that at the end time,

not only will Israel be dealt with, but also the living nations, whose relationship with the

kingdom must be settled.

A gathering of the nations of the world is to be expected as the age reaches it close

(Joel 3: 1, 2, 11, 12; Zeph. 3: 8; Zech. 14: 1, 2). It is this that leads to the battle of

Armageddon. And then, after the Second Coming of Christ, we read: