172 - Parable of the Kingdom 3: The Net#
172 - Parable of the Kingdom 3: The Parable of the Net
(JP Text Group - Ren Wei Compilation)
Matthew 13:47-50:
The kingdom of heaven is like a net that was thrown into the sea and gathered fish of every kind. When it was full, men drew it ashore and sat down and sorted the good into containers but threw away the bad. So it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come out and separate the evil from the righteous and throw them into the fiery furnace; in that place, there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Let us pray together:
Heavenly Father, we especially thank and praise you. Thank you for giving us the beginning of a new week. You use your words once again to nourish us. May each brother and sister stand firm on your words, equipping ourselves with your words, so that we know how blessed we are in this world because we have a Heavenly Father who watches over us, protects us, and provides for us. No matter what problems we encounter, we believe that the Heavenly Father will prepare better for us. We completely dedicate the following time to you. May the Holy Spirit personally guide each of our hearts. In the name of the Lord Jesus, we pray, Amen!
Although Jesus spoke many parables about the kingdom of heaven, each parable is quite different and distinct. The things Jesus used as metaphors were very common at that time. Why does Jesus sometimes say the kingdom of heaven is "a treasure hidden in a field," sometimes "a good pearl," and sometimes "a net"?
It is because Jesus' preaching is different from that of the Pharisees. The purpose of Jesus' preaching is very simple; He expresses the most complex matters in the simplest way. Is the kingdom of heaven easy to describe? The kingdom of heaven is not easy to describe. Our language cannot adequately explain the kingdom of heaven. To help them understand how wonderful the kingdom of heaven is, Jesus used very familiar things from everyday life to convey the message of the kingdom.
For farmers, who work in the fields every day, the most familiar thing is the farmland. So Jesus said, "The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure hidden in the field where you work." For business people, who hope to find valuable pearls, Jesus said, "You who do business hope to find good treasures; the kingdom of heaven is like a good pearl." Today, Jesus is speaking to a group of fishermen, so He uses "the net" as a metaphor in His preaching.
Preaching in the church can be quite challenging, as there are all kinds of people—those who have graduated from graduate school and those who have never been to school, the elderly, and children. Each person's experiences, relationships, and life situations are different. If we only preach in one way, some people may not understand. It is not that we cannot use technical terms; even if we explain them clearly, people may not want to listen. For example, if I talk to you about Greek philosophers for a long time, it would mean nothing to you. I hope to convey the kingdom of heaven to you in a way that you can understand, just as Jesus used metaphors and familiar things to explain the matters of the kingdom.
There are two ways Jews cast nets: the first way is fishing with hooks, putting bait on the hook, throwing it into the sea, and starting to fish, which yields only a few fish, maybe one or two; the second way, which is also very common, is to use nets to catch fish. The nets used for fishing are relatively large and cannot be handled by one person alone, so at least two or more people are needed to drag the net. When the fishermen stand in the deeper part of the shore or when two boats move forward with the net, the net opens up, and the fish get caught in it. This is the process of fishermen catching fish with nets.
Through this parable, Jesus tells us: the kingdom of heaven is like a net cast into the sea, and the purpose of casting the net is to catch fish and some valuable aquatic creatures, not to catch stones and shells. The work of casting the net cannot be accomplished by one fisherman alone; it requires several people to work together. Here, "the one casting the net" refers to the believers in the church who work alongside Jesus. Today's parable is different from the previous ones; the previous parables were about individuals, while today’s is about the church.
Casting the net is not a task that one person can complete; it requires several people to cooperate, unite, and work together. Additionally, casting the net requires keen eyes and excellent fishing skills. If you know nothing and just take two boats and drag the fishing net, you may not catch any fish. You must understand the conditions in the sea, just as we need to understand people if we want to lead a soul to salvation.
If you do not know what this person does, you cannot just say to them, "You should believe in Jesus! Believing in Jesus leads to heaven, and not believing leads to hell." This way of evangelizing worked in the 1970s and 1980s. Nowadays, if you randomly grab someone and say that to them, they will think you are "crazy." Therefore, we need to understand people and their social backgrounds, and then use language they can understand to share the gospel.
Brothers and sisters, evangelism is the mission entrusted to us by Jesus; it is the mission for every believer. Therefore, we should share the benefits of the kingdom of heaven that we understand in a way that others can comprehend or testify to them. Although one person can evangelize and catch fish, the number will be very small. If everyone works together, the task can be accomplished much faster.
Jesus Christ hopes that each of us will become evangelists, sharing the good news of the kingdom of heaven with the world so that they can enjoy the blessings of Jesus Christ with us. The best way to evangelize is for many believers and coworkers to work together, but remember: it is not by our own strength, but by the power of Jesus in us, as we work together with God to evangelize.
Evangelism requires understanding the environment. Just like Paul, who heard the call from Macedonia, saw the people's thirst and needs, and then went there to preach the gospel. The early church believers worked together to spread the gospel, and their footsteps were very beautiful; this is a model worth imitating today.
Here, "the one casting the net" refers to you and me. We cannot let Jesus do the work. Many people in the church pray like this: "Lord Jesus, hurry up and work! This soul is so pitiful!" We often say, "Lord Jesus, you do the work! You change this world! You change my husband! You turn his heart back to believe in you!" Such prayers are incorrect. If you do not share the gospel with him, he cannot believe. You need to open your mouth and speak to him. The Lord Jesus wants us to evangelize to all nations.
We need to understand that today we are casting the net, and the manager is Jesus. We are the ones doing the work, and the net refers to the church. We know that fishing nets are generally made of high-quality ropes, very tight, strong, and durable. The fishing net is woven in rows, with horizontal and vertical rows. In the church, among brothers and sisters, some are doing the horizontal rows, and some are doing the vertical rows. We need to connect with each other, and the body must work together to save souls. While we can do things on our own, the effect is much greater when we work together. Once the fishing net is woven together, it can withstand storms, resist corrosion, and block the impact of fish.
Fishermen live by fishing, so they take great care of their nets. When not at sea, they will wash the net clean and keep it on the boat or at home, using it only when they go out to sea. If the net is damaged, they will repair it; if not repaired, fish will escape through the gaps.
The church itself is a huge net. If we think that today we can just bring people around us to the church and consider the task complete, without caring for them anymore, it is like letting fish slip out of the net; they have not gained anything. We need to work together to spread the gospel and help this person understand what the kingdom of heaven can bring him. We should not let him think it is just a spiritual support; we need him to realize that Jesus is in his life and that Jesus can truly help him.
Brothers and sisters, if we find that there are some problems in the church, what we need to do is to mend the net, not tear it. We cannot say, "This church has problems; I found that a certain deacon is unqualified, so I will not stay in this church." Then, when we meet others, we talk about the problems of this church. This is not mending the net; it is tearing it. This person gains nothing, and he will have no reward in heaven. If we see that brothers and sisters have shortcomings, we need to make up for their shortcomings, just like Peter, who found that the fishing net was broken and needed to repair it. This is the church.
The responsibility of the net is to catch fish when they come in, and the responsibility of the church is to accept believers. When people come into the church, the church must be responsible for them. We cannot let Jesus be responsible; we are truly responsible for them. It is not enough to just bring someone to church and let them listen to the sermon, thinking the task is complete. Once a person accepts Jesus, we are responsible for them; we need to pray for them often and encourage them. Their faith life is just beginning, and the church needs to shine to lead them.
Revelation chapters 2 and 3 mention seven churches. If the church does not shine, it means that the fishing net is not functioning; then what is its purpose? If the net is full of holes and cannot be repaired, you will throw it away and get a new net because you are responsible for these fish.
Today we need to understand that there is a difference between the parable and reality. In reality, our purpose for fishing is to eat, but why does Jesus catch us? It is to give us abundant life. You cannot say, "We are like nets, casually pulling people into the church and then slaughtering them." Some people say, "You can't believe in Jesus! I don't believe in Jesus and know nothing, but when I go to church, they make me pay! Isn't that just bringing people in to 'slaughter' them?"
We need to understand that the net of Jesus Christ is different from the nets of the world. Once He catches the fish, that fish no longer needs to look for food on its own. Here, Jesus will provide for you. This is the net of Jesus Christ; we are the fish, and we are very willing to enter this net because this net is different from the "net" that "eats" us. Therefore, we need to share this gospel with the world. When we enter into Jesus Christ, He will provide for us and give us the best.
The responsibility of the church is to shine and accept believers. In Revelation, the seven churches mention some issues within the churches. Let us look at the Bible together:
Revelation 2:1-5:
To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: The one who holds the seven stars in his right hand, who walks among the seven golden lampstands, says this: I know your deeds, your toil, and your perseverance, and that you cannot tolerate evil men, and you put to the test those who call themselves apostles, and they are not, and you found them to be false; and you have perseverance and have endured for my name's sake, and have not grown weary. But I have this against you, that you have left your first love. Therefore remember from where you have fallen, and repent and do the deeds you did at first; or else I am coming to you and will remove your lampstand out of its place—unless you repent.
Verse 5 contains a warning: "Therefore remember from where you have fallen, and repent and do the deeds you did at first; or else I am coming to you and will remove your lampstand out of its place—unless you repent."
Then let us look at Revelation 3:14-16:
To the angel of the church in Laodicea write: The Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God, says this: I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot; I wish that you were cold or hot. So because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth.
Many people are afraid when they read this verse, and some even scare believers by saying, "Be careful! If you do not repent, if your behavior is not good, if you do not toil and persevere, and cannot tolerate evil men, God will throw you away and remove you from the lampstand and blot you out of the book of life." Where will they be blotted out to? Many people say that means they will not be saved. Some people have believed in the Lord for a lifetime and still do not know if they can be saved.
From Revelation chapter 2 to chapter 3, the seven churches mentioned are not addressed to believers but to the angels of the churches. The church is the golden lampstand, and the church has a responsible person, who is the angel of the church. If you read Revelation carefully, you will find such words:
"To the angel of the church in Ephesus write..."
"To the angel of the church in Smyrna write..."
"To the angel of the church in Pergamum write..."
All refer to the angels of the church, not the believers.
If it were addressed to believers, it would be problematic. If God is going to spit you out of His mouth, are you a lukewarm believer? Some people say, "I am just like what you said; I am lukewarm, neither cold nor hot. I have not evangelized; I have no interest in evangelism, and I have not witnessed God in my life. It seems that God is not in my life." Some people start to explain, "Congratulations, you have become lukewarm; God is going to spit you out, and you will not be saved." Such explanations undermine salvation, and many people begin to worry about whether they can go to heaven.
In fact, this scripture is addressed to the angels of the church. Taking our church as an example, if this verse were written to our church, it would be for me. As an angel of the church, if I am a lukewarm preacher, how can you be better? If I do not have a good testimony, how can your testimonies be good? This is a very important matter.
If the angel of this church has a problem with his message, if he preaches the law and constantly criticizes believers, saying, "You are all sinners; you must cast out demons every day and not let evil spirits work in you..." If he preaches about demons every day, it would be strange if believers are not possessed by demons! If this angel misrepresents the message, it will have a severe impact on the believers below. Not to mention fishing, they would be too busy repairing the net to do it well. The main work of the church is to accept believers and save souls. If our net has problems, can we still save souls? We must first save ourselves!
Let me share something with you. As mentioned in the scripture about the church in Laodicea, "I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot; I wish you were cold or hot. If you are lukewarm, I will spit you out of my mouth." The meaning of this scripture is: For a pastor of a church, if the message he preaches cannot edify the believers, God will spit him out and take away his position; he can no longer be the angel of the church. From the outside, it looks like the net has been thrown away, meaning that this church (not God's church) cannot shine, and the lamp on the lampstand is always dim, and the state of the believers is dark. Then this church will have to close its doors.
If the preacher's situation is dark, the people below will also be in darkness. In such a case, God must take responsibility for His children. He will do something: He will remove the lampstand and spit this person out, and he will lose his position. For example, if some deacon in the church can no longer set an example, God will let him leave this church. When he goes to another church, he will no longer be a deacon. He can no longer lead others; he becomes what we call a "layperson." He can no longer lead others and let them see him move forward; he has been removed from that position, but he is still a saved person.
If I constantly use the law to criticize you, God will close this church; there will be no way to shepherd you. You will go to other churches, but my position will be affected. I may no longer be a pastor; I might have to find a job or do business. I can no longer serve because wherever I serve, I cannot edify others or bring benefits. This is the meaning of this scripture; it is addressed to the angel, not to the believers. We must distinguish this clearly.
We know that nets are used for fishing, and the angel of the church is mainly there to supply believers, not to criticize them. If this net has problems and is full of holes, the best way is to throw the net aside; you cannot keep using it to fish. Remember: this net is broken, but new nets will come in; the fish will not be affected. For our church, even if it closes, you will not be affected; you can still go to other churches.
The net refers to the church, which is a place of light, a place that can provide food for the world and nourish the world. When we catch fish, we must feed them; we cannot let the fish go hungry. When a person enters the church, we need to bring change to their life and living. For example, if he was previously a person suffering from depression, not knowing how to live, always sleepless, you bring him to the church; you need to be responsible for his life because you know where the solution is—it's in Jesus Christ.
You bring him before Jesus, allowing Jesus to personally supply him and solve his problems, so that his life can be built up. Once he knows the benefits of Jesus Christ, he will go with you to catch other fish. The purpose of fishing is not to eat this "fish"; it is different from the purpose in reality. Our purpose in fishing is to nourish this "fish"; we do not want him to wander in the sea anymore. We want him to come and receive the best supply. The purpose of saving a soul is for his benefit; hallelujah!
The responsibility of the church is to shepherd believers and tell them God's words. When they lose direction, the words of Jesus Christ are their direction; when they are weak, the words of Jesus Christ are their strength. We bring the fish in to help them live more healthily; hallelujah! This way, we can attract more people to enter the church. The work of the church must not be done in a scattered manner; we cannot say, "You do your thing, and I do mine," without interacting. That will not work. We need to work together, cooperate, and complement each other.
Ephesians 2:21: In whom the whole building, being fitted together, is growing into a holy temple in the Lord.
The "Him" in the scripture refers to our Jesus. We are connected together through Jesus, becoming the holy temple of the Lord. Isn't that like a net? You and I are connected through Jesus; you and he are connected through Jesus; he and he are also connected through Jesus, forming a net. Everyone lives for the flourishing of the gospel and the building of God's holy temple. This is what this scripture tells us: The kingdom of heaven is not a solo endeavor; it requires us to unite with others through Jesus to build it.
Matthew 13:47: The kingdom of heaven is like a net that was thrown into the sea and gathered fish of every kind.
Where is the net cast? This net is not cast in the mud or in the desert; it is cast into the sea. The "sea" symbolizes many nations, peoples, and tribes; you can understand it as the world. The church is cast into the world! The church needs to exist in the world and be with people. In the Middle Ages, a group of people who believed in Jesus became extreme; they thought the world was too filthy and people's hearts too deceitful, so they did not want to live with the world. As a result, they built monasteries in the mountains to cultivate themselves.
Please remember: God allows the net to be cast into the sea, meaning He wants the church to be in this world, and we can change this world. Do not think that your colleague is unlovable or that your boss is too annoying. Do not forget: we are the net. Once you enter the company, you become the net. Who are the fish? Your unlovable colleague and annoying boss are the fish. If you bring them back through Jesus Christ, they will become lovable. Although their tempers may be terrible and their behaviors may be bad, once they know Jesus, they will change.
We know that nets must be cast into the sea; the church must be in the world. "The net is cast into the sea, gathering all kinds of aquatic creatures." The aquatic creatures include fish, shrimp, turtles, and other organisms. What does this represent? It represents all kinds of people in the world! Some people are like this, and some are like that, but Jesus accepts them all. The net must gather these aquatic creatures; "all kinds of aquatic creatures" refers to all kinds of people; "gathering all kinds of aquatic creatures" means accepting different people. The church must accept all kinds of people.
For me, pastoring is difficult; there are all kinds of people—those with fiery tempers, gentle tempers, those with high education, and those with low education. When I preach at this time, the impatient ones say, "Why are you still preaching? Can you hurry up?" But the slow ones have not yet understood! But please remember, the Holy Spirit will work during preaching. I do not preach by my own strength; I rely on the power of the Holy Spirit to do this. When the net moves, it is very large; both the fast and the slow can come in. The purpose of wrapping you in the net is to edify you.
The church on earth is mixed, containing all kinds of people: good people, bad people, useful people, and useless people. Do not say, "The church is a holy place, without sin, and of high quality." That is wrong! Many people think the church is a place of mutual love, where everyone is good, and God is good. In reality, without Jesus Christ, the church is the most chaotic place in the world.
Some of us run companies, and managing your employees is easy because you hold their lifeline; everything is in your hands. When you hire, there will be qualifying conditions, such as "Do not hire those who have not graduated from college" or "Do not hire those without a bachelor's degree." These are your conditions. But the church cannot do this; anyone can come in. If there is no Jesus Christ, saying "mutual love" is just an empty phrase; if Jesus Christ is not here, people will not be fishing but will be "fighting" among themselves. Such things happen in all kinds of churches.
Do not think that there is nothing happening in the church; every church will have issues because there are all kinds of aquatic creatures inside, which will lead to problems.
From the development of the church to today, people believe there are two ways for the church to exist: one believes that those in the church should be holy, advocating an "exclusive" viewpoint, thinking that the church is holy and prepared for holy people. Unclean people, lowly people, sick people, bad-behaved people, and people with bad reputations should not come in. Are there such churches in the world? Yes, there are! The Bible mentions them.
The Jewish temple was not a place that just anyone could enter; the lame and the blind had no qualifications to go in. Such people could only be in the courtyard of the Gentiles. If they dared to enter the temple, they would be thrown out at the door. The Jews believed that those entering the church must be holy and sinless.
Today, many churches continue this Jewish model. If a person is not holy, they should not come in (to the church). I have examples around me; some churches have very strict requirements. For example, if the meeting is at two o'clock, if you arrive after two o'clock, you should not come in. They will say, "What do you think this place is? You are late and still dare to come in; you can stand outside and listen to the sermon." People coming to this church must be holy, obedient, and have rules. This is an "exclusive" type of church.
Let me share a testimony, a real-life example.
There are some law churches that pay special attention to people's outward appearance. There was a sister who had never worn makeup, lipstick, or nail polish in her life. One time, she went to a church in another place to meet the pastor of that church because she had been listening to his sermons and really wanted to meet him. That day happened to be a Sunday, and she planned to go with her sister.
Before going, she carefully dressed up for the first time in her life, putting on lipstick, painting her nails red, and wearing a dress. As soon as she entered the church and sat down, an old lady immediately came over and criticized her, saying, "Look at you, you look like a ghost. Can you glorify God's name like this? You are bringing shame to God!"
At that moment, this sister was very hurt. Later, when she met the preacher, she told him about this situation. She said, "They have no idea; this is the first time I have worn lipstick and painted my nails. I wanted to attend God's gathering in my best appearance, yet I received such treatment." They believed that those coming to church should be holy, dignified, and have etiquette. This is the first type of church.
The second type of church is the "inclusive" church. No matter what kind of person you are, you are welcome. Even if you have a bad reputation, you are welcome because Jesus receives people this way.
Which do you think is more appropriate? The second one, because it has biblical basis!
Mark 2:17: When Jesus heard this, He said to them, "It is not those who are healthy who need a physician, but those who are sick; I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners."
Do you think the "sinners" mentioned here are those who are polite, high-quality, holy, and sinless? What are sinners? Those who think they can enter the temple and believe they can be accepted by God are "self-righteous" people. Jesus said, "I did not come to call such people; I came to call sinners." If you think you are terrible, Jesus says, "Come!" If you think you are useless, Jesus says, "Come!" If you feel lost in life and need Jesus, Jesus says, "Come!" Jesus calls such people.
The doors of our church are always open; as long as you are willing to come, we welcome you. Do not think, "I have no knowledge, no education." It does not matter; if you can understand what I say, you can come. As long as you sit here and are willing to listen, we welcome you. We have no right to refuse anyone who is willing to come before God, no matter who they are; as long as they are willing to come, we need to receive them. When facing different people, we need to use different wisdom to tell them what the kingdom of heaven is, just like Jesus did, using different metaphors to explain the kingdom to farmers, merchants, and fishermen.
Colossians 1:28: We proclaim Him, admonishing every man and teaching every man with all wisdom, so that we may present every man complete in Christ.
What does "all wisdom" mean?
It means what Paul said: "To those under the law, I became as one under the law; to those without law, I became as one without law." You need to know what this person does and what kind of words he can understand. Through such words, you explain the gospel of God to him. Amen! The goal is not just to bring that person to church and consider the task complete; we want to bring people to God, let them know God's goodness, and ensure their lives are no longer wandering, lost, or in despair. We want them to come into God's fullness.
If you encounter those who resist, and you kindly share the gospel with them, but they do not accept it and even slander you, what should you do? The best method is to leave; it is the simplest and most effective method. You can say, "I will not argue with you; since you are unwilling to listen, I will not speak to you anymore." If you have a burden for this person, you can pray for them. If others label you as a "heretic," will you label them as a "heretic" too? If others say you are wrong, can you say they are under the law? Do not do that.
2 Timothy 2:25-26: With gentleness correcting those who are in opposition, if perhaps God will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth, and that they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will.
Brothers and sisters, if you sincerely explain the gospel of Jesus Christ to your relatives and friends, and they resist you, but you have a burden for them, you should gently correct those who oppose you. Absolutely do not attack or condemn each other. "If perhaps God will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth." Brothers and sisters, a heart of repentance is given by God. You can tell them with various wisdom, and God will help them understand the truth. Because they are currently captured by the devil, it is said that they "may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil."
Today, you are not in the devil's snare; where are you? You are in the net of Jesus Christ. Please remember: If you are not in the net of Jesus Christ, you are in the net of the devil. You cannot say, "I am a fish, so I do not swim in the water." Try it! I used to tell a joke: You catch a fish from the sea and throw it on the sand. The fish flops around on the sand; you cannot say, "Look! This fish is so happy! Since it left the water, it is dancing so happily on the sand!" Is that what the fish thinks? The fish is actually in great pain.
Seeing people around you who are wealthy, powerful, and lacking nothing, why should you share the gospel with them? Do not forget: they are "flopping" in the devil's net! Will a fish flopping on the sand be comfortable? Do not forget: If you do not bring him into the net of Christ, he is in the net of the devil, and ultimately, the devil will lead him to death. The one who truly wants to "eat" this fish is not Jesus but the devil. Therefore, our responsibility is great. If you do not save him, if you do not give him the gospel, the devil will eventually devour him.
We know we are people with a mission. I hope that we brothers and sisters need to connect with each other and work together to save souls in the world. The world is still in the devil's net; we need to gently admonish those people, pray for them, and ask God to give them a heart of repentance so they may understand the truth. Amen! Jesus did not give us the authority to judge and condemn. Many people say, "I see you have resisted me more than once or twice; you are destined for hell; you cannot enter the kingdom of heaven." Do not say that! Such statements are too absolute.
Let me share a testimony:
Before I believed in the Lord, nearly twenty people simultaneously shared the gospel with me for almost two years. They were indeed persistent and used gentleness to admonish me, but in the end, they saw no results because I always resisted them. I debated with them, and I read the Bible, but I just did not believe. My only purpose in reading the Bible was to become familiar with it and use it to attack them, leaving them speechless. As a result, these people concluded in front of me, "Do not share with him anymore; he is not predestined by God." At that time, I did not understand what this sentence meant, but now I do. We should not draw such conclusions about anyone! If those people knew my current state, what would they think?
Just like Stephen back then, when he was stoned to death, what was Paul doing? He was watching the clothes and saying, "You go stone him; I will keep an eye on your clothes!" Paul was their accomplice. Stephen also saw Paul; if at that moment, Stephen said Paul was doomed and should go to hell, what would happen when he saw Paul in heaven one day?
We do not know what will happen in the future. We must not be "fortune tellers." What we need to do is gently admonish those who resist, and God will give them a heart of repentance so they can understand the truth and awaken, escaping the snare of the devil. Please remember, brothers and sisters: they are still ensnared by the devil, which is why they always provoke, attack, and slander you. Once they awaken and are released by Jesus Christ, they will no longer do these things. God has not given us the power to judge and condemn; He only allows us to evangelize and gently admonish everyone. Judgment belongs to the Lord.
Next, let us look at the scripture: "When the net was full, men drew it ashore." The net being full indicates that the time has come, the number of those saved is complete, and judgment will begin.
Revelation 6:9-11:
When He broke the fifth seal, I saw underneath the altar the souls of those who had been slain because of the word of God and because of the testimony which they had maintained; and they cried out with a loud voice, saying, "How long, O Lord, holy and true, will You refrain from judging and avenging our blood on those who dwell on the earth?" And there was given to each of them a white robe; and they were told that they should rest for a little while longer, until the number of their fellow servants and their brethren who were to be killed even as they had been, would be completed.
We know that martyrs have a number, and the saved also have a number. Once the number is complete, the net is full, and no more fishing can be done. If too many fish are caught, the net may break, or the fish may escape. After the net is full, the best way to handle it is to draw it ashore. With God, there is a time and a number. God is currently working among the Gentiles. When that time comes and the number is complete, God will stop working and enter the last "seven," and the Jews will begin to be saved. At that time, God will not work as extensively among the Gentiles as He does today, just as He does not work extensively among the Jews today. The focus of God's work will change. Once the number is complete, there will be no more discussions about salvation; that is when judgment will begin.
"Men will draw the net ashore"—it is God who draws the net! Today, we are all in the world, worshiping God and listening to the word together in the church. But are all of us saved?—No! Some people come to church with ulterior motives.
When I first went to church to believe in Jesus, I had a purpose; my purpose was to find a wife, haha... Don't laugh! My purpose was very simple because I heard that there were many young sisters in the church. I had a higher chance of going to church because I did some research before going and found that there were many unmarried sisters in the church. But after I went to church, God changed my heart, gave me a heart of repentance, pulled me out of the devil's net, and helped me truly know Him.
We may enter the church with impure motives at first, but if in the end, you still have such ulterior motives, there will be a problem. There will indeed be people in the church who have never believed; some people sit in church for a lifetime and never believe. When everyone is sitting here, we cannot tell who is saved, just like the aquatic creatures in the sea; you swim, and I swim, and everything seems fine. One day, when the fishing net is full, God will draw this net ashore, and everything will be revealed. When the net is drawn from the water, shrimp, crabs, fish, and stones will all be revealed. Today, we are not the discerners; we should not discern. It is our Lord who judges; we just need to fish. This is the purpose of the net.
"Men drew the net ashore and then sat down," sitting down represents rest! On the day of judgment, Jesus Christ will sit on the throne to judge.
Because we are going to talk about eschatology, we need to discuss much information about Revelation.
Revelation 20:11-15:
Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat upon it, from whose presence earth and heaven fled away, and no place was found for them. And I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and books were opened; and another book was opened, which is the book of life; and the dead were judged from the things which were written in the books, according to their deeds. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead which were in them; and they were judged, every one of them according to their deeds. Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. And if anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.
"Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat upon it," sitting on it means that Jesus is no longer standing; sitting down represents that justice has been completed, and He is at rest. All redemptive work has been completed, so He sits on it. "From His presence, earth and heaven fled away, and no place was found for them," means there is no hiding; nothing can hide anymore; everything will be revealed before God.
Many people do not understand this scripture and become frightened. They see: "They will be judged according to their deeds!" What kind of people are thrown into the fire?—The unbelievers! Unbelievers do not need to be judged; they are directly thrown into the lake of fire. There is no record of how the unbelievers are judged. Their end is only one—being thrown into the lake of fire. Just like when the net is drawn from the sea, if it is fish, you need to consider whether it can be eaten; if it is a stone, you do not need to think; you just throw it back into the sea.
This is the work of separation that God will do in the last days. If your name is not written in the book of life, you will be thrown into the lake of fire; if your name is written in the book of life, then you will be judged according to your deeds, but this judgment is not punishment but reward. Therefore, the judgment of Christians is a reward, but for the world, it is eternal destruction.
"The angels will come out and separate the evil from the righteous and throw them into the fiery furnace; in that place, there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth." Who do the "evil" refer to here? Some say it refers to those who do evil. Are there Christians who do evil? Yes! Will these people be thrown out? Please listen carefully: Salvation is not related to our behavior.
Psalm 10:4: The wicked, in the haughtiness of his countenance, does not seek Him; all his thoughts are, "There is no God."
So "the wicked" refers to those who do not believe in God, those who do not accept Jesus Christ.
The net cast into the sea refers to the church in the world, doing the work of salvation, just like the net in the sea. The church is active and must continually save souls. Brothers and sisters, I hope you invite people to come to church, let them hear the good news of the gospel, let them hear the truth of Jesus Christ, and let their lives be transformed. When the time comes for God to begin judging the world, we will receive rewards from God.
We know that the day of the Lord Jesus' return is very near; we may see it in this generation. However, if someone tells you the specific day, then he must be a heretic. We only know that this day is very near; it will surely come. On that day, it will not be about separating the righteous from the wicked but about separating the wicked from the righteous. This is the judgment within the church. Just as there are people in the church's net who do not believe, they will be taken out and thrown away.
The sea contains not only fish; when the net is drawn up, there will also be seaweed, discarded clothes, broken hats, and other things. These things will be taken out and thrown away, but the good fish will be placed into containers.
"So it will be at the end of the age; the angels will come out and separate the evil from the righteous and throw them into the fiery furnace; in that place, there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth." This is what we read in the scripture today; ultimately, the fate of the wicked, those whose names are not written in the book of life, will be thrown into the lake of fire. Here, the "fiery furnace" is a metaphor; can people enter the furnace? Ultimately, the "lake of fire" proves the entire judgment.
You still have the opportunity to share the gospel with your friends, letting them understand the grace of Christ. We need to emphasize again: The church is like a net in this world, gathering aquatic creatures. Inviting people to come to church is absolutely not to "slaughter" them; inviting them is to supply them with life, to provide them with the life of Jesus Christ. Hallelujah!
Let us pray together:
Heavenly Father, we especially thank and praise you! Thank you for allowing us to understand once again that we are the good fish in the net, and the church is the net. While we are in this world, we are to fulfill the role of the net, allowing those around us to enter this net. In the past, we were like wandering fish, searching for food everywhere, struggling for our lives and living, but today we enter into Christ, and the Lord Jesus Christ takes full responsibility for us.
Lord Jesus! I am willing to enjoy the supply you give us in Christ, and I also wish that my friends around me can hear such good news. Help us once again, give us strength, give us wisdom, and let us use various wisdom to admonish people to come to Jesus Christ.
Thank you and praise you, Heavenly Father, for your love for us, helping us, and giving us strength to glorify your name in our lives this week. Thank you and praise the Lord! In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, we pray, Amen!