(8.) If when the church is taken, there are to be in the kingdom only two classes, the tares and the wheat, how can I be watching for the Lord, so long as I see a third class still in existence?
Ans. There has been some misunderstanding of the passage in page 242, to which reference is made. It might, no doubt, have been put more plainly. But what is said in the paper in question, is that in the parable taken up, it is “a simple question of good wheat for the granary, or of tares for the burning.” That is evident. Then, that “all seem to have taken sides before the close of the time of harvest, either manifestly for Christ, or as manifestly against Him.” It is not meant that before the Lord takes His people to Himself this last will be; but as in page 244: “The true saints once taken out of (Christendom)... the rest of the professing body will be given over to become, as they speedily will become, from being unbelievers of the truth, believers of a lie.” That is after the taking up of the Church, although this “taking sides” may have begun before. The language is not as clear as might be, but that is the meaning.
(9.) Are angels the instruments whereby the Church, at the coming of Christ, is brought to Him? The angels gather both tares and wheat; do they gather the Church, or is it the Lord Himself does so?
Ans. The angels are ministering spirits, sent forth to minister to the heirs of salvation (Heb. 1:1414Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation? (Hebrews 1:14)). I see no reason to doubt that their ministry extends on to the day of the saints’ rapture. Precisely in what it may consist I do not know; but “the voice of the archangel,” in 1 These. 4:16, seems also to intimate some sort of angelic ministration.