The vineyard parable of Matthew 20 is the story of four groups of harvest workers Jesus said would be gathered at his coming.

If we are to understand God’s plan for us in these end times, we need to know who these groups are and why Jesus said their labors would be rewarded – but not in the order they expect.

It is because the harvest workers are paid out of order that Jesus closes both of his marriage parables with these remarkable words:

“For many that are first shall be last; and the last first: for many be called, but few chosen..” (Matt 20:16)

Unlike every modern bible teacher I have heard explain this parable, Jesus did not make the point of his story about the equivalence of eternal life given to each worker — rather it was about when that payment was made!

Jesus even describes their complaint due to feeling unequally treated when the laborers are paid in reverse order in Matthew 20:11,12.

Pray that the Holy Spirit reveals the meaning of this amazing story to you so that you are able to receive it, as this will make things much easier for you in the days ahead.

Here are the four groups of harvest found in the Bible:

1) Man-child (144,000 first fruits, Rev 12:5, 14:4)
2) Gentile church (bride of Christ + her companion virgins / Psl 45)
3) Dead in Christ – first only with respect to group 4 (1 Thes 4:16)
4) Final rapture of those who are alive and remain (1 Thes 4:17)

Please note that all four harvest groups are represented by a different seasonal crop, each of them listed in Revelation Chapter 6, verse 6:

1) Barley / Spring
2) Wheat / Summer
3) Wine (grapes) / Fall
4) Oil (olives) / Winter

This gathering of believers will follow God’s divine order, just as each crop is harvested in its own season — not in one 24-hour day — but over the course of an entire year!

It will begin with the Man-child in Revelation 12, whose identity is the 144,000 virgin Hebrews described as the first fruits of harvest in Revelation 14:4.

The 144,000 are also found in Psalm 45:16, referred to as the princes throughout the Earth — those who will rule with Christ (Rev 12:5) when he returns.

The Man-child will be followed by gentile believers, meaning the Church saints, who are also found in Psalm 45, referred to as the daughter of the King.

But she is not alone — she is followed by her virgin companions — those who follow after her according to the Hebrew text!

Group 3 are those who have died in Christ and who are resurrected just before Group 4, a final catching up of those who are alive and remain (1 Thes. 4:16,17) at the Lord’s coming.

There are three Rapture groups and one resurrection group to be harvested during the 42 months of the 7 trumpets.

Since Jesus promised to shorten those days for the Elect’s sake, however, the harvest may come to an end much earlier!

The final Week of Daniel was cut in half by Jesus’ ministry before his death, so there is no 7 year tribulation as the modern Church believes, which is why John only refers to 1,260 days (42 months) in the book of Revelation.

While popular with many Christians, the same-day-Rapture doctrine contradicts the Lord’s warning that his virgins will be separated at the door into the marriage:

“And [be] ye yourselves like unto men that wait for their Master, when he shall return FROM the wedding; that when he cometh and knocketh, they may open unto him immediately.” (Luke 12:36)

Notice how it is the LORD himself who knocks on the door to receive his followers in this passage — just the opposite of what happens in the parable of the ten virgins in Matthew 25!

I have been shown that Rapture will not be a one-day event and that the harvest will take place beginning at the 3rd Trumpet, which is described in Revelation Chapter 8.

It will conclude at the last trump with a final catching up, just as the Apostle Paul said.

In the Vineyard parable, Jesus gave us four points of a divided harvest during the events of the 7th Seal — at the 3rd hour, the 6th hour, the 9th hour, and the 11th hour.

There is also an early or pre-dawn group in the Vineyard parable, however these individuals were not assigned a Clock time as the others, pointing to those who have already been harvested.

How do we know?

It is recorded in Matthew’s Gospel that many saints were raised up with Jesus and sent forth to testify of his resurrection — before the day of Pentecost! (Matt 27:51-53)

See my Secrets of the Harvest message (Parts 1 & 2) dated May 29, 2022 under “Special Updates 2022” for how the Clock shows we will reach the start of harvest only after the head-wound to the first beast in Revelation 13!

The sequence of harvest shown below should help explain why these events cannot be confined to just one 24-hour day.


I pray this information will be a comfort to you as we move into the time of harvest!

Peter John Brandal