(Bible + Spirit of Prophecy Definitive Teaching)
❌ No.
The tares will never become wheat.
The wheat will never become tares.
The Bible and Spirit of Prophecy teach that their character is fixed, and the only reason they appear “together” until the harvest is because God does not prematurely remove them before the final judgment.
BIBLE TEACHING
Parable of the Wheat and Tares (Matthew 13:24–30, 36–43)
Jesus explicitly explains:
1. Wheat = children of the kingdom “The good seed are the children of the kingdom.” — Matthew 13:38
2. Tares = children of the wicked one “The tares are the children of the wicked one.” — Matthew 13:38
These are two distinct classes, not one class that later transforms into another.
3. They grow together ONLY until the harvest “Let both grow together until the harvest.” — Matthew 13:30
This does not say they switch classes. It only says they are allowed to coexist.
4. At the harvest (judgment), the separation occurs “The harvest is the end of the world.” — Matthew 13:39
At the harvest:
The tares are bound in bundles and burned (v. 40–42).
The wheat is gathered into the garner (v. 30).
5. There is zero Biblical statement that tares turn into wheat.
Instead, the harvest reveals what each already is, not what each might become.
SPIRIT OF PROPHECY TEACHING
The SOP strengthens the Biblical position:
1. Wheat and tares are not interchangeable
Ellen White makes it absolutely clear:
“Christ has plainly taught that those who persist in open sin must be separated from the church.” — COL 71
Tares = hypocrites, false brethren, unconverted
Wheat = the truly converted
These identities do not change at the harvest.
2. The separation does not change character — it reveals character
“The tares and the wheat are to grow together until the harvest; and the harvest is the end of probationary time.” — COL 72
Probation determines the character.
Harvest reveals the results — it does not transform.
3. Tares remain tares at the harvest
Ellen White writes:
“The tares represent a class who are the fruit or embodiment of error, of false principles. Their growth does not change them.”
— COL 70–71
Direct quote:
❌ “Their growth does not change them.”
Thus:
They do not become wheat.
They remain embodying false principles.
4. Wheat remains wheat
“In the harvest of the world, the wheat and tares are separated. Character is revealed.” — COL 74
Character revealed, not transformed.
5. After probation closes, no change is possible
“When probation closes… the cases of every soul will have been decided.” — GC 491
This applies to the harvest in the parable.
Thus:
❌ No tares become wheat.
❌ No wheat becomes tares.
Probation closes while they are still growing together, not when they separate.
WHY THE PARABLE WAS GIVEN
The parable is NOT teaching:
❌ Tares will later convert into wheat
It IS teaching:
✅ God does not prematurely remove unconverted members
because
❌ humans cannot accurately judge the heart and
❌ uprooting tares may harm the wheat
This is a parable of divine patience, not character mutation.
COMMON MISUNDERSTANDING:
“Anyone can change, so tares can become wheat.”** Yes — individuals can be converted today while probation is still open.
But once they are converted, they are no longer tares. But the parable does not say:
“tares become wheat”
“wheat become tares”
The parable defines both as final classes at harvest.
When a sinner repents today, he ceases to be a tare.
The parable refers to the condition of individuals at close of probation, not during their lifetime before conversion.
CONCLUSION (Bible + SOP):
❌ Tares will NOT become wheat in the future.
❌ Wheat will NOT become tares in the future.
✔️ Everyone may choose Christ TODAY and become wheat before probation closes.
✔️ At the harvest (close of probation), character is fixed for eternity.