Previously, we determined that Yeshua began His ministry by preaching the Gospel of the Kingdom which was documented in 15 Kingdom parables.  We also found that He later provided a more in-depth explanation of these 15 parables in His narrative found in Matthew 24.  There, we found that the Kingdom parables are describing end time events meant for the benefit of “the Remnant” believers that will “endure” to the end of the age.

Of these 15 Kingdom parables, four are found to contain a reference the phrase: “there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” 

• So it will be at the end of the age; the angels will come forth and take out the wicked from among the righteous, and will throw them into the furnace of fire; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.  

Matthew 23:49-50 NASB

In this article, we are going to determine the significance of this phrase, “there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” We begin by examining the parable of the dragnet. 

THE PARABLE OF THE DRAGNET

• “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a dragnet cast into the sea, and gathering fish of every kind; and when it was filled, they drew it up on the beach; and they sat down and gathered the good fish into containers, but the bad they threw away. So it will be at the end of the age; the angels will come forth and take out the wicked from among the righteous, 50 and will throw them into the furnace of fire; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”  

Matthew 23:47-50 NASB

Notice that the parable begins with the reference to “the kingdom of heaven,” which is customary to Kingdom parables.

• “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a dragnet cast into the sea, and gathering fish of every kind;” 

Matthew23:47 NASB

Reading on, we further see a description of a group using a dragnet to catch fish.  Notice in this parable that the good fish are kept in containers and the bad fish are separated then thrown away.

• And when it was filled, they drew it up on the beach; and they sat down and gathered the good fish into containers, but the bad they threw away.

Matthew 23:48 NASB)

Yeshua further clarifies that this is an event that will take place at the “end of the age,” where the “wicked” will be separated from the “righteous”…

• So it will be at the end of the age; the angels will come forth and take out the wicked from among the righteous,

Matthew 23:49 NASB

…with the “wicked” being cast into a “furnace of fire” where there will be “weeping and gnashing of teeth.”

• And will throw them into the furnace of fire; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Matthew 23:50 NASB

Except for minor variations, this “purging” of the “wicked” from the “righteous” is a common theme found in the Kingdom parables.

Unfortunately however, many have been misled to believe that this future event is a description of the second resurrection where the “unjust” will be judged and thrown into the lake of fire.

• 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.

Revelation 20:13-15 NASB

It does not.

Notice that the second resurrection takes place at the end of the Son of Man’s Millennial Reign.

• But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished…

Revelation 20: 5 KJV

And unlike the second resurrection, these four parables are describing an event which is going to take place at “the end of the age” …

• So it will be at the end of the age; the angels will come forth and take out the wicked from among the righteous,

Matthew 23:49 NASB

…when Yeshua conquers the nations of the world…

• And from of his mouth proceeds a sharp sword and with it He should smite the nations: and He shall rule them with a rod of iron: and He treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of The Most High.

Revelation 19:15 KJVm

…at the beginning of the Millennial Reign.

Notice that there will be survivors of the nations…

• Then it will come about that any who are left of all the nations that went against Jerusalem will go up from year to year to worship the King, The Most High of hosts, and to celebrate the Feast of Booths.

Zechariah 14:16 KJVm

…which are those that are going to be ruled with “a rod of iron” during the Millennium.

• And from of his mouth proceeds a sharp sword and with it He should smite the nations: and He shall rule them with a rod of iron: and He treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of The Most High.

Revelation 19:15 KJVm

And if that wasn’t bad enough, notice, that the angels will have already poured “the vials of wrath” which will pollute the entire earth.

• And I heard a great voice out of the temple saying to the seven angels, Go your ways, and pour out the vials of the wrath of The Most High upon the earth.

Revelation 16:1 KJVm

These are the living conditions that “the survivors of the nations” are going to have to endure during the entire Millennial Reign.

• But the marshes and swamps will not be healed; they will still be salty.

Ezekiel 47:11 TLB

To make matters worse, these “survivors of the nations” won’t be able to be able to die during this thousand year reign.

• And in those days shall men seek death, and shall not find it; and shall desire to die, and death shall flee from them.

Revelation 9:6 KJV

And “the survivors of the nations” won’t be the only ones that will have to exist under these conditions. This is the same fate that awaits the “wicked” which will have been living in The Most High’s “place of refuge” with “the Remnant of Israel”  during the Great Tribulation.

According to the Yeshua, these “wicked” individuals are going to be separated from “the Remnant” at His second coming where they will be gathered up and cast “out” upon that part of the earth where the vials of wrath will have been poured.

• “But when the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, then He will sit on His glorious throne. All the nations will be gathered before Him; and He will separate them from one another, as the shepherd separates the sheep from the goats; and He will put the sheep on His right, and the goats on the left.”  

Matthew 25: 31-33 NASB

And it is under these conditions that these “wicked” individuals will be “weeping and gnashing of teeth.”

• And cast the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Matthew 25:30 KJVm

Next: The Four Phases of the Millennial Reign

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