“THE 41 PARABLES OF JESUS CHRIST”
28 general parables and 13 kingdom of heaven parables
 Parable #23 –  “THE GROWING SEED”
Mark 4:25-28,29
The 10^th of the 28 general parables

 BACKGROUND:
In 445BC, with one Bible week equating to seven years (a prophetic year being 360 days), God commanded that seventy weeks each of 7 years, would be determined upon Israel, that is … 70 weeks x 7 years = 490 years (Daniel 9:24-27).

This time frame is broken into four time periods of (a) 7 weeks + (b) 62 weeks + (c) the mystery church age of about 2,000 years + (d) 1 week = 70 weeks and is explained as follows:

#1. Seven weeks of years is 7 x 7 = 49 years … the time it takes to restore and build Jerusalem from 445BC to 396BC.

#2. Sixty two weeks of years is 62 x 7 = 434 years … the time from the building of Jerusalem in 396BC to Christ being cut off at the cross in 32AD.

#3. The church age of approximately 2,000 years

#4. One week of years is 1 x 7 = 7 years … this is the seven years of tribulation of God’s wrath upon the earth, that takes place after the rapture … called Daniel’s 70^th week.

 The following Timeline will help (not drawn to scale):

“THE GROWING SEED” PARABLE Mark 4:26-28,29
And he said, So is the kingdom of God, as if a man should cast seed into the ground; And should sleep, and rise night and day, and the seed should spring and grow up, he knoweth not how. For the earth bringeth forth fruit of herself; first the blade, then the ear, after that the full corn in the ear. But when the fruit is brought forth, immediately he putteth in the sickle, because the harvest is come.

For the Jew, entry into the kingdom of God, which we have today, was via the kingdom of heaven, which has now ceased.

This parable is given to demonstrate that the kingdom of God would come after the kingdom of heaven … that is after Christ being crucified.

he that hath = he already has the kingdom of heaven. These were they that believed Christ was fulfilling the law perfectly on behalf

to him shall be given = the kingdom of God … this coming after the cross … and outlined under Paul’s gospel

and he that hath not = those not saved into the kingdom of heaven … Abraham’s bosom

from him shall be taken even that which he hath = these are they who say they cast out devils and so on (Matthew 7:22)

And he said, So is the kingdom of God as if a man should cast seed into the ground = this will be the good ground … not the way side, thorny or choking weed grounds

And should sleep, and rise night and day, and the seed should spring and grow up,

he knoweth not how = no works needed on behalf of the man to grow it

For the earth bringeth forth fruit of herself; first the blade, then the ear, after that the full corn in the ear = everything necessary has been done    

But when the fruit is brought forth, immediately he putteth in the sickle, because the harvest is come = this will be the Christian rapture followed by the judgment seat of Christ (Romans 14:10; 2 Corinthians 5:10).

This will be a sickle harvest of the terror of the Lord … yes Dear Reader, knowing the terror of the Lord we persuade men (2 Corinthians 5:11) and our works are to be judged (1 Corinthians 3:15)

TODAY’S APPLICATION:
This parable is set in the context of the following scripture …

“And he said unto them, Take heed what ye hear: with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you: and unto you that hear shall more be given. For he that hath, to him shall be given: and he that hath not, from him shall be taken even that which he hath.” (Mark 4:24-25).

Yes Dear Reader, Christ will put his sickle through the Christian’s works … saved but the works will be tried by fire.

“If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.” (1 Corinthians 3:15)

“Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are made manifest unto God; and I trust also are made manifest in your consciences.” (2 Corinthians 5:11)

This parable has application to both kingdoms of God and heaven. As mentioned in the Ten Talents parable, works will be rewarded in the seven years of tribulation … as well as under the Christian’s judgment at the judgment seat of Christ.

Harley Hitchcock
November 2023

www.
AustralianBibleMinistries
.com

“THE 41 PARABLES JESUS CHRIST”
28 general parables and 13 kingdom
of heaven parables
 Parable #24 –  “THE ABSENT HOUSEHOLDER”
READ Mark 13:33-36,37
The 11^th general parable of the
28 general parables 

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