It was a lot of fun playing “connect the dots” with all prophetic pictures that Jesus gave the disciples pointing to the same event — the 2nd coming of the Messiah to rule and reign with a rod of iron. He gave them four different pictures of the 2nd coming, so that, no matter what group of people they would address, they would have an illustration to use in order to explain future events. They are:
The Wicked & Rebellious Lost The Righteous & Obedient Saved
Tares Wheat Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43
Bad Fish Good Fish Matthew 13:47-50
Those Who are Taken Those who are Left Matthew 24:36-42
Goats Sheep Matthew 25:31-46
See also in Rev 13:8 and Rev 17:8 — Those who take the mark of the beast (Rev 13:11-18) (wicked) are represented in the Wicked & Rebellious above. Those who do not take the mark of the beast and are killed – Rev 6:9-11; Rev 7:9-17 are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb. The invitation to the Marriage Supper of the Lamb can only be accepted through the portal of death for those in the tribulation.
Remember — all of these prophetic pictures deal with the physical return of Christ to establish his earthly kingdom, purging the world of the wicked. This happens seven years after the church is “caught up” or “raptured out” to the Judgment Seat of Christ (1 Cor 3:11-15; Romans 14:10; 2 Cor 5:1-10; 1 Cor 15:50 58; 1 John 3:1-3), to be prepared for the marriage supper of the Lamb (Rev 19:6-10; Eph 5:25-32).