shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend,
and them which do iniquity; and shall cast them into a furnace of fire:
there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth," Matt. 13:40-42. In the
parable of the tares, the Saviour said, "Let both grow together until the
harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye
together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but
gather the wheat into my barn." Thus the tares were to be gathered
_first_--not before the righteous are gathered, but before the wheat is
placed in the garner: the new earth being the garner where the righteous
are _finally_ to be gathered, they cannot be placed there till the wicked
have been gathered out. "Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun
in the kingdom of their Father. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear,"
Matt. 13:30, 43.

The disposition of the vine, its being trodden down, and the great
presence of blood flowing, symbolize the awful judgments to overtake the
wicked, after the escape of the righteous, when they are gathered into
bundles and burned. Thus Isaiah prophesied: "Who is this that cometh from
Edom, with dyed garments from Bozrah? this that is glorious in his
apparel, travelling in the greatness of his strength? I that speak in
righteousness, mighty to save. Wherefore art thou red in thine apparel,
and thy garments like him that treadeth in the wine-vat? I have trodden
the wine-press alone: and of the people there was none with me: for I will
tread them in mine anger, and trample them in my fury, and their blood
shall be sprinkled upon my garments, and I will stain all my raiment. For
the day of vengeance is in my heart, and the year of my redeemed is come,"
Isa. 63:1-4.

Before the destruction of the old world by the deluge, Noah was secure in
the ark. Before the destruction of Sodom, Lot is removed to a place of
safety. So before the destruction of the vine of the earth, the righteous
are caught up to the Lord in the air, where they are symbolized, in the
following chapter, as:

The Victors on the Sea of Glass.

"And I saw another sign in heaven, great and wonderful, seven
angels having the seven last plagues; for by these, the wrath of
God is completed. And I saw as it were a transparent sea mingled
with fire; and those who had obtained the victory over the wild
beast, and over his image, and over the number of his name,
standing on the transpare