Matthew 13:39 is best interpreted as the "end of the age" ~ R.C. Sproul, The Last Days According to JesusMy only dispute in this case is primarily with that of Revelation 14 and one like unto the Son of man in that chapter.
So why would Jesus be seen as being among those that reap the earth when the following clearly indicates otherwise? It seems to me if Jesus is among these, that makes Him an angel then.
Matthew 13:39 The enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels.
Jesus is the speaker here. I don't see where He indicated that He and the angels are the reapers.
Maybe in general, my entire approach is all wrong? I try my best to interpret things in such a way that there are no obvious contradictions. Others at times give the impression contradictions are irrelevant. I don't understand how something contradictory could actually be the truth though. Granted, sometimes things only seem contradictory when in reality they are really not. But in this case how can Matthew 13:39 mean anything other than it plainly says----the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels? Thus making the two beings seen is Revelation 14 with sickles, angels.
39 the enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels. The enemy who sowed them is the devil, the harvest is the end of the age; and the reapers are the angels. aión
I appreciate your point about the angels coming to Jesus and proclaiming that it was the time of the harvest. I don't have a clear response to this as I've honestly not studied Revelation recently. I did find this, however (it's interesting to me to learn that there was a clear parallel to the timing and the symbolism of the sickles):
In Revelation 14:14-18 angels depart from the Temple and call out to Jesus who is seated on the clouds of heaven holding a sickle in preparation for the harvest at the end of the age. Could the fact that Jesus and the angels in vs. 14-18 are holding sickles hint at the fact that the events described in these verses transpired during the harvest months? Yes. The Jews revolted against Rome during the barley harvest, and the Roman offensive began at the start of the grape harvest hence the sickle imagery and grape harvest symbolism in these verses. ~
Revelation 14 - The Grim Reaper
Revelation 14 - The Grim Reaper
......and this from Steve Gregg ~ https://www.amazon.com/Revelation-Four-Views-Parallel-Commentary/dp/0840721285:
Some have thought it strange that Christ, the Lord over all angels, would take instructions from an angel who urges Him to Thrust in Your sickle and reap (v. 15). However, the angel simply represents the church praying in obedience to Christ, who commanded that believers “pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest” (Matt. 9:38). In response to the request, laborers are in fact sent and the earth (or land) was reaped(v. 16). ~ Steve Gregg
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