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I once helped a fisherman in Alaska gather fish from his net. He staked it perpendicular to the shore and we checked it when the tide went out leaving the net atop the mud. We untangled several salmon to keep, tossing them into five-gallon buckets. But we also removed several worthless fish and left them to rot.

This reminds me of a parable Jesus told in Matthew 13:47-50, “Once again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was let down into the lake and caught all kinds of fish. When it was full, the fishermen pulled it up on the shore. Then they sat down and collected the good fish in baskets, but threw the bad away. This is how it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come and separate the wicked from the righteous and throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” (NIV 1984)

Notice the angels separate the wicked from the righteous and throw them into a fire. These themes of separation and judgement are repeated in most of the passages dealing with Christ’s return. Don’t miss the big picture trying to decipher every detail in the book of Revelation or other prophecies. The basic outline of the main events is simple. The end of the age arrives. People are judged. The wicked burn. God’s people live forever with him.

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Bumper music “Landing Place” performed by Mark July, used under license from Shutterstock.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 2:00 — 3.7MB)

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | RSS | More

Many years ago, I had the opportunity to work a fishing net with a friend in Alaska. He set the net perpendicular to the shore. When the tide went out, we walked across the sand and picked the fish out of the net. That was very different than the nets used in Jesus’ day. Those were thrown or lowered from a boat then hauled in.

A fishing net is the focus of the parable in Matthew 13:47-50, “Once again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was let down into the lake and caught all kinds of fish. When it was full, the fishermen pulled it up on the shore. Then they sat down and collected the good fish in baskets, but threw the bad away. This is how it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come and separate the wicked from the righteous and throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” (NIV)

Notice the words at the beginning, “once again.” Jesus tells the parable to repeat a point for emphasis. Here, he repeats the point of the parable of the weeds. Evil and righteous people will exist together until Jesus returns. Then the angels will separate the wicked and they will be judged.

So, don’t get discouraged by the rising crime and hatred in the world. Just remember – God will set things right when Jesus returns.

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Bumper music “Landing Place” performed by Mark July, used under license from Shutterstock.