Identifying God's Vineyard Today

Jesus may have had Isaiah's words in mind when he gave the parable of the murderous cultivators: "There was a man, a householder, who planted a vineyard and put a fence around it and dug a wine press in it and erected a tower, and let it out to cultivators, and traveled abroad."  Unhappily, the cultivators betrayed the vineyard owner, even killing his son.  Jesus went on to show that this parable  involved more than just literal Israel when he said: "The Kingdom of God will be taken from you  [fleshly Israel] and be given to a nation producing its fruits." - Matthew 21:33-41, 43.

That new  "nation" proved to be  "the Israel of God" - a spiritual nation of anointed Christians totaling 144,000.  (Galatians 6:16; 1 Peter 2:9, 10; Revelation 7:3, 4) Jesus compared these disciples to "branches" on "the true vine," namely, himself.  Naturally, these branches are expected to bear fruit.  (John 15:1-5)  They must manifest Christ like qualities and participate in the work of preaching  "this good news of the Kingdom."  (Matthew 24:14; Galatians 5:22, 23) But ever since the death of the twelve apostles, the great majority of those who claim to be branches of "the true vine" have proved to be counterfeits -producing wild grapes instead of good fruits. -Matthew 13:24-30, 38, 39.

Therefore, Isaiah's condemnation of Judah applies today to Christendom.  A study of her history-her wars, her crusades, her Inquisitions-reveals just how sour her fruit has been!  Nevertheless, the true vineyard of anointed Christians and their "great crowd" companions must heed Isaiah's words.  (Revelation 7:9)  If they are to please the vineyard's owner, they must, individually and as a group, produce fruits that  please him.

Next time: "Wild Grapes"

From the Book Isaiah's Prophecy Light for all Mankind