Heat, Harvest & Tribulation

The one who sows the good seed is the Son of Man. The field is the world, and the good seed is the sons of the kingdom. The [false seed/grain] are the sons of the evil one, and the enemy who sowed them is the devil.
The harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are angels. Just as the [false seed/grain] are gathered and burned with fire, so will it be at the end of the age. The Son of Man will send his angels,
and they will gather out of his kingdom all causes of sin and all law-breakers,
and throw them into the fiery furnace. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears, let him hear.
(Mat 13:37-43)

Fruit trees seem to respond to the increasing light and heat from the sun in different ways during the season. The manner in which a particular fruit tree responds to the increasing light and heat seems to affect the time that the tree awakens and blossoms as well as the time that the branches are ready for harvest. 

Some fruit trees such as the almond tree seem to be extremely sensitive to the increasing light and heat and are the first to awaken and blossom; other stone fruit relatives follow suit such as the cherry, apricot, peach, nectarine and plum trees. Some fruit trees such as the olive, pomegranate, apple, walnut and pecan are slower to respond to increasing light and heat and respond by awakening and blossoming later in the season. 

Likewise, the fruits of various trees are ready for harvest at different times during the season. The fruits of some trees hastily or rapidly grow after pollination and are ready for harvest well before the intensity of the heat arrives such as the firstfruits of the almond tree; the fruits of the cherry and apricot trees are ready for harvest several weeks later. The fruits of some trees are ready for harvest around the intensity of the heat such as peaches, nectarines, plums, almond seeds, figs and pistachios. Finally, the fruits of some trees such as olives, pomegranates, apples, walnuts, pecans and citrus must go through the intensity of the heat before their fruits are ready for harvest.

Throughout the Word of God, heat is a parable for trials, testing and tribulation. The heat of a refiner’s fire separates the precious gold and silver from the impurities within; then the precious gold and silver are molded and shaped to the refiner’s desire. It is written that our Refiner will refine us as silver and test us like gold (Isa 1:25-27; Isa 48:10, 18-19; Jer 9:1-14; Zec 13:1-9; Psa 66:10; Mal 2:17-3:6). Such refining involves a type of heat. Peter and James refer to the heat as trials which test our faith - trials and tests which separate and remove the impurities from us (1 Pe 1:6-7, 4:12; Jas 1:2-4). If the word or commands of God are as silver and gold (Psa 19:7-11, Pro 2:1-9, Pro 3:1-18, Pro 8:1-21) and if impurities are as the traditions, doctrines, lies of men, and desires of the flesh, then the Refiner’s fire will heat us up to separate out the traditions, lies, doctrines of men, and desires of the flesh so that all that remains in us is the precious, pure gem… the commands or word of God (Psa 12:6, Psa 17:3, Psa 18:30, Pro 30:5). The Righteous Branch as the Word of God was a precious and pure gem. He was as pure gold and silver and spoke the pure commands of His Father. In Him were no impurities. In Him were no traditions, no lies, no doctrines of men. He only did the will of His Father. He spoke nothing of His own accord nor did He entertain any desire of His flesh. Such imagery is also conveyed through the parable of the almond tree and no other tree. When the fruit of the almond tree is exposed to the increasing heat, the flesh responds by splitting and withering in the heat; all that remains is a single, sweet, edible seed. No flesh. This should be our goal. 

Expounding the parable of the heat, harvest and tribulation, consider the following:

• Men are described as trees throughout the Word of God (Deu 20:19-20): Messiah is referred to as the Righteous Branch (Jer 23:5-6, 14-16, Zec 3:3-10, Zec 6:12-15) and the Branch from the trunk of Jesse (Isa 11-5, 10); Isaiah refers to people as trees of righteousness, a planting of the Lord (Isa 61:1-6); the blind man that Messiah caused to see described seeing men as trees walking (Mar 8:22-26).
• The harvest is described as the end of the age (Mat 13:36-43)
• The harvesters are angels/messengers (Mat 13:36-43)

The one who sows the good seed is the Son of Man. The field is the world, and the good seed is the sons of the kingdom. The [false seed/grain] are the sons of the evil one, and the enemy who sowed them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are angels. Just as the [false seed/grain] are gathered and burned with fire, so will it be at the end of the age. The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will gather out of his kingdom all causes of sin and all law-breakers, and throw them into the fiery furnace. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears, let him hear. (Mat 13:37-43)

Notice that the book of Revelation describes the end of the age (the harvest). Notice that the harvest includes trials and tribulations (a type of heat). Notice that angels/messengers (harvesters) are sent out to work the harvest at the end of the age. Notice the resemblance between the messages to the seven assemblies in Revelation and the order of the harvest of fruit trees. (An important note: these messages are prefaced with the image of seven golden lampstands which convey the imagery of seven golden, blossoming almond trees.) Just as in the order of the harvest of the trees explained at the beginning of this article, some believers among the assemblies will be kept from the tribulation (heat), some will endure a portion of the tribulation (heat) and some will go through the great tribulation (intensity of the heat). For example, those associated with the assembly of Philadelphia are producing the fruit or actions of faithfulness; they keep His Word and do not deny His Name; in other words, they keep the commandments of the Word of God and hold to the faith(-fulness) of the Messiah (which is the definition of a saint, see Rev 14:12). As a result, they will be kept from the hour of trial (heat) that is coming upon the whole world.

And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: 'The words of the holy one, the true one, who has the key of David, who opens and no one will shut, who shuts and no one opens. "'I know your works. Behold, I have set before you an open door, which no one is able to shut. I know that you have but little power, and yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name. Behold, I will make those of the synagogue of Satan who say that they are Jews and are not, but lie—behold, I will make them come and bow down before your feet, and they will learn that I have loved you. Because you have kept my word about patient endurance, I will keep you from the hour of trial that is coming on the whole world, to try those who dwell on the earth. I am coming soon. Hold fast what you have, so that no one may seize your crown. The one who conquers, I will make him a pillar in the temple of my God. Never shall he go out of it, and I will write on him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which comes down from my God out of heaven, and my own new name. (Rev 3:7-12)

Just as the fruits of some trees endure a portion of the heat before they are harvested, so too will some in the assembly of Smyrna go through a portion of tribulation. Although some are allowed to go through a portion of the heat, those associated with this assembly are apparently part of the first resurrection since they will not be harmed by the second death. (see Rev 20:1-6)

And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write: 'The words of the first and the last, who died and came to life. "'I know your tribulation and your poverty (but you are rich) and the slander of those who say that they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and for ten days you will have tribulation. Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. The one who conquers will not be hurt by the second death. (Rev 2:8-11)

Among those who need the most refining (heat) and are therefore thrown into the intensity of the tribulation (heat) before they are gathered in are those associated with the assembly of Thyatira. Those associated with this assembly are producing two kinds of fruit: some are producing the fruit of love, faith, service and patient endurance while some are producing the fruit of idolatry. As a result, those who are producing the fruit of idolatry and unfaithfulness will be thrown into great tribulation (heat) unless they change their ways or repent of their ways.

And to the angel of the church in Thyatira write: 'The words of the Son of God, who has eyes like a flame of fire, and whose feet are like burnished bronze. "'I know your works, your love and faith and service and patient endurance, and that your latter works exceed the first. But I have this against you, that you tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess and is teaching and seducing my servants to practice sexual immorality and to eat food sacrificed to idols. I gave her time to repent, but she refuses to repent of her sexual immorality. Behold, I will throw her onto a sickbed, and those who commit adultery with her I will throw into great tribulation, unless they repent of her works, and I will strike her children dead. And all the churches will know that I am he who searches mind and heart, and I will give to each of you according to your works. But to the rest of you in Thyatira, who do not hold this teaching, who have not learned what some call the deep things of Satan, to you I say, I do not lay on you any other burden. Only hold fast what you have until I come. The one who conquers and who keeps my works until the end, to him I will give authority over the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron, as when earthen pots are broken in pieces, even as I myself have received authority from my Father. And I will give him the morning star. (Rev 2:18-28)

Recall what happened with the children of Israel at Baal of Peor: the children of Israel began to whore with the daughters of Moab by attending the sacrifices of the gods of the Moabites, by eating of their foods sacrificed to their gods and by bowing to their gods. As a result, the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel (Num 25:1-3). These things occurred as examples to keep us from setting our hearts on evil things as they did. We are not to be idolaters; we should not commit sexual immorality (1 Cor 10:1-13). Each of us must evaluate our actions, traditions, customs and forms of worship. Are there any ways that we are worshipping our Creator the way the other nations worship their gods? Are we partaking in any festival or celebration of which there is not an acceptable offering (read through Numbers 28 and 29 to verify that the celebrations and festivals you observe to worship God are included in the list)?

In light of this information, it seems time for each of us to step outside of tradition and teachings of doctrines of men and ask ourselves the following questions: 

If men are as trees, which tree best describes Messiah? (see Figure 1)

Which tree was chosen as the pattern for the lampstand (menorah) in the holy place? Which tree was chosen to symbolize the priesthood? Which tree best describes the Righteous Branch, the High Priest in the order of Melchizedek, the Light of the World, the Firstfruit, the Seed of the Word of God? 

If men are as trees, which tree best describes me? (see Figure 1)

When does the tree awaken that best describes you? What about your flesh – is it fat and prideful, is it sweet, has your fleshly desires withered in the heat of trials and tribulations? What type of seed is within you – the single doctrine of the Word of God, multiple doctrines, bitter or rebellious/unfaithful doctrines? How are you pollinated - by the word (which is associated with “bee” in Hebrew) or by every wind of teaching? When is the tree harvested that best describes you - before the intensity of the heat, at the intensity of the heat, after the intensity of the heat has passed? Is the tree that symbolizes the priesthood, the light in the holy place and the Righteous Branch the same tree that best describes you?

• A tree that is the first to awaken and produce a firstfruit that is handpicked before the intensity of the heat  (almond)?
• A tree that produces fruit with fat, sweet flesh and contains a bitter, single seed (cherry, apricot, peach, nectarine, plum)?
• A tree that produces fruit whose flesh withers in the heat exposing a single, edible seed (almond)? Is that seed found to be sweet (faithful) or bitter (rebellious, unfaithful)?
• A tree that produces sweet, fleshy fruit containing many seeds (doctrines of men) such as the fig or the apple?
• A tree that produces fruit with hundreds of seeds (doctrines of men) such as the pomegranate?
• A tree that produces fruit with an inedible seed that is as hard as stone & flesh so bitter and unpalatable that it must be pickled before it can be eaten (olive)?
• A tree that produces fruit with no flesh and a single, edible seed that is divided into two compartments (walnut, pecan)? 

Figure 1 – Harvest Season, Seed, Flesh, Pollination of Various Fruit Trees

Firstfruit of the almond (green almonds)

•  harvest: before the intensity of the heat (hand-picked)
  
•  seed: soft
  
•  flesh: firm, tart
  
•  pollination: bees
  

Cherries, Apricots, Peaches, Plums (stone fruits related to almond tree)

• harvest: just before the intensity of the heat and at the intensity of the heat
  
• seed: single, edible, bitter (seeds contain cyanide; bitterness is associated with rebellion throughout the Scriptures)
  
• flesh: soft, sweet
  
• pollination: bees
  

Sweet Almond (final harvest)

• harvest: at the intensity of the heat
  
• seed: single, edible, sweet
  
• flesh: no flesh remains, flesh withers in the heat
  
• pollination: bees
  

Bitter Almond (final harvest)

• harvest: at the intensity of the heat
  
• seed: single, edible, bitter (bitter seed contains cyanide; bitterness is associated with rebellion throughout the Scriptures)
  
• flesh: no flesh remains, flesh withers in the heat
  
• pollination: bees
  

Figs

• harvest: at the intensity of the heat
  
• seed: edible, multi-seeded
  
• flesh: sweet
  
• pollination: fig wasp
  

Mulberry

• harvest: at the intensity of the heat
  
• seed: edible, multi-seeded
  
• flesh: sweet, soft
  
• pollination: wind
  

Pomegranates

• harvest: after the intensity of the heat
  
• seed: edible, multi-seeded (hundreds of seeds)
  
• flesh: firm
  
• pollination: bees
  

Dates

• harvest: at the intensity of the heat
  
• seed: single, inedible stone
  
• flesh: sweet
  
• pollination: wind (in modern times they are hand-pollinated)
  

Olives

• harvest: after the intensity of the heat as passed
  
• seed: single, inedible (hard as stone)
  
• flesh: firm, bitter (so bitter it has to be pickled before eaten)
  
• pollination: by the wind
  

Apples

• harvest: most are harvested after the intensity of the heat has passed (a few varieties are harvested at the intensity of the heat like the gala)
  
• seed: multi-seeded, contain cyanide
  
• flesh: firm, sweet
  
• pollination: bees
  

Walnut, Pecan

• harvest: after the intensity of the heat has passed
  
• seed: single, edible seed split into two compartments
  
• flesh: no flesh remains
  
• pollination: wind
  

Citrus (lemons, limes, oranges)

• harvest: after the intensity of the heat has passed
  
• seed: multi-seeded, contain cyanide
  
• flesh: soft; some sweet, some tart
  
• pollination: bees
  

As we continue in His Word, may we know the Truth and may the Truth set us free!

~Followers of the Righteous Branch

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Revelation, harvest, tribulation, heat, afflictions, Refiner, fire, letters, seven churches, Smyrna, Thyatira, Philadelphia, Jesus, Messiah, lampstand, almond, branch, tree, cycle, mid, post, pre, rapture

tags: heat, harvest, tribulation, Jacob's trouble, Refiner's fire, almond tree, blossom, abib, trees of righteousness, Revelation, Philadelphia, Smyrna, Thyatira, Baal Peor, seed, flesh, firstfruit, Righteous Branch