God’s 11th Hour Workers
Today
In the parable of the “Workers” that
Jesus gives, found in Matthew ch.20:1-16, we find a progressive situation that
grows all the way into our present time. This is very important to understand.
The Ancient Antiochene Church of God has the proper understanding and meaning
of this important parable. In this parable we are told that a householder went
out to hire workers early in the morning. They were to work in his vineyard.
The workers hired agreed to earn a denarius or a drachma a day. This was
called “a day’s wage”. In ancient Palestine the grape harvest ripened at the
end of September. This parable was very relatable to its hearers. Those hired
were men who went to the market place early in the morning to seek work. Most
of the workers were average people, low income but hard workers. This was the
average condition of most people during the time of Jesus Christ.
These first workers went out to work at 6 Am. The second group went out “about
the 9th hour” and so on. Time was counted starting from 6 Am when the sun came
up to 6 PM went the sun went down. Thus, they started work around the 6 AM – the
first hour.
In this parable the “landowner” typifies God. God is the one seeking to
“hire” workers. In the parable we see God going out “early” to hire the
workers. In the person of Jesus Christ, God came to earth in the early morning
on Bethlehem when Mary gave birth to Jesus Christ. Jesus was born before the
church began.
When Jesus grew up and began his ministry, he sought laborers to help him.
He asked them to work “in his vineyard”. The vineyard represents Israel (Isaiah
5:7). Israel is God’s original crop, His planting. Now, even the Gentiles may
become part of spiritual Israel. Jesus gives all of his workers the “great
commission” – “Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them
in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching
them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely, I am with you always,
to the very end of the age.” (Matthew 28:10-20) Today, all true Christians are
the workers.
His pay is the promise to always be with them to help them – “I am with
you always, to the very end of the age.” The first group of workers hired
represents the first disciples and the twelve apostles. The second group of
workers goes out about “the third hour”. This second group represents the
Christian church which was started on Pentecost. We note that it was “about the
third hour” that the Holy Spirit was poured out on those who made up the first
church (Acts 2:15). So we have a Scriptural verification of what the second group
represents, this is the Christian church.
The parable goes on and states that the landowner went out again about the
6th and 9th hour to hire more laborers. The 6th
and 9th hour represent the calling of Barnabas and apostle Paul. Now
God would begin to call in the Gentiles. Jesus had told his first disciples: “I
have other sheep (non-Israelites) that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring
them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and
one shepherd.” (John 10:16). Jesus “went out” and hired Paul while Paul was on
the way to Damascus.
Finally, the landowner went out about the 11th hour and found
workers standing “idle”, not doing anything but standing around. Who is this
final group. This group that comes after the first apostles, and after the
start of the Christian church, and after the ministry of apostle Paul and the
New Testament is a latter-day group. This group represents the latter-day Christians – the remnant.
The landowner says to this group; “Why are you standing around?” They respond
that nobody will hire them. This shows the sad Laodicean condition of
Christianity today. The churches are “neither hot nor cold”, they have no true
workers that are properly trained to work or to hire. The denominated sects are
losing members and the “independent” churches are teaching false doctrines and
have become secularized. Overall, the
mainstream Christian world has “fallen asleep”.
This final group of workers, this fifth group – the 11th hour workers
– represents those who heed the Laodicean counsel to the Seventh Church. They
heed the counsel to the last church which comes from the Seventh Angel (Revelation
3:14-22). These final workers will get busy and call the true church back to
the “faith once delivered” (Jude 3). They will return to the purity of the
first church, the ancient Antiochene Church of God (Acts 11:26).
At the end of the day the workers come to gather their pay. Some complain
that they had to work longer and harder than others yet they all got the same
pay. Jesus is teaching that no matter what hour (or church epoch) you have been hired to work for
the Lord you should not complain. For God has been with you through it all.
Jesus teaches us that we must “count the cost” of being a true Christian. It
will be easier for some but much more difficult for others. We should
ultimately just be happy that we belong to him and that he died for our sins so
that we may live in Paradise with him and the church family forever.
We pray, that if you heard this message, you would join us, the ancient
Antiochene Church of God and become 11th hour workers. It is time.
Please continue to study with us here at “The Shepherds Way & Nugget of
Truth”. Keep your Bible’s with you at all times.
May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.
AACG (October 31st 2025)
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Become an 11th Hour Worker
Above: Presbyter King explains what true Christian is doing today.
*What is a New Covenant Believer?
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