God purges the chaff from the wheat and the goats from the sheep

Ezekiel 20:38

Click for a description of the mark of the beast.
Click for a description of the image of the beast.

“I will purge the rebels from among you, and those who transgress against Me; I will bring them out of the country where they dwell, but they shall not enter the land of Israel. Then you will know that I am the Lord.” Ezekiel 20:38

Today, we know the promised land is not the State of Israel but is the eternal New Jerusalem that we inherit for living for God through Jesus Christ. This verse is referring to the land of Israel as the promised land of the New Jerusalem. Not everyone who lives in this country called earth will enter the New Jerusalem. God purges out the rebels and transgressors that rejects His will for them to believe in His Son Jesus Christ.

This verse can be understood by realizing that most of the Israelites in the wilderness were rebels against the word of God, like the Ten Commandments and other laws. Their behaviors were against the will of God. None of them among the rebels and transgressors entered into the promised land. Also, since the coming of Jesus Christ to this world in the flesh, rebels and transgressors against God are those who reject Jesus. Those who believe in Jesus Christ are those who will enter into the promised land of the New Jerusalem in the new heaven and earth, “Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven. But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven.” Matthew 10:32-33

This world is the country where all humanity lives. Every one of us will be brought out of this country when the resurrection of the dead happens, but those who rebel and transgress against God’s Son Jesus Christ will not enter into Heaven, “...and many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, some to
shame and everlasting contempt.” Daniel 12:2

Jesus Christ speaks to us of how the chaff is separated from the wheat so that the chaff is burned in the fire and the wheat is gathered into the barn. The rebels who reject Jesus Christ will be burned in the fire of hell, but we who believe in Jesus will inherit eternal life. Click here for the parable of the wheat and the chaff. Our Lord Jesus also speaks to us about the separation of the goats and sheep, where the sheep are given eternal life and the goats are not, click here for the parable of the goats and the sheep.

“The Son of Man will send out His angels, and they will gather out of His kingdom all things that offend, and those who practice lawlessness, and will cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth.” Matthew 13:41-42

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“….to you who do not hold to her teaching and have not learned Satan’s so-called deep secrets,“
‘I will not impose any other burden on you, except to hold on to what you have until I come.’”
“I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown.”
Revelation 2:24-25, 3:11