What is a "threshing floor?" A "Threshing Floor" is a smooth, flat surface that was used in the process of harvesting. Before machinery, farmers used a threshing floor to separate the grain from the chaff. The harvest would be spread over the threshing floor and then the animals, cattle or oxen, would be led over it, causing them repeatedly to tread upon the sheaves on the floor.
The purpose is to break the sheaves apart with their hooves, to loosen the edible part of the grain from the inedible part. The grain would be separated from the husks, or chaff and then tossed into the air so that the wind could blow the chaff away, leaving only the good, edible grain. This was called "winnowing."
In the Bible, the threshing floor is used as a symbol of God's judgment. In the Old Testament, Hosea prophesied that because Israel had repeatedly turned from God to worship false idols, His judgment upon them, He would scatter them to the winds as the chaff from the threshing floor. "Therefore they shall be as the morning cloud, and as the chaff that is driven with the whirlwind out of the floor, and as the smoke out of the chimney. Yet I am the Lord thy God from the land of Egypt, and thou shalt know no god but me: for there is no saviour beside me" (Hosea 13:3-4). In the Book of Ruth, the threshing floor formed the backdrop to the love story of Boaz and Ruth.
In the New Testament, John the Baptist uses the example of the "threshing floor" to describe the coming of Jesus, the Messiah who would separate the true believers from the false ones. The true believers that follow Jesus will be gathered into the kingdom of God just like the grain is gathered into the barns. Those who reject Jesus will be burned-up, "With unquenchable fire," just like the chaff is burned. "Whose fan is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire" (Matthew 3:12).
A "threshing floor" is a place where the grain is separated from the chaff, where the good is separated from the bad. As the chaff is removed, only the good of the grain remains This is a vital part of the harvest, because the grain is useless while it's mixed with the chaff.
As believers of Christ, true worship will always lead to a refining process in our lives. This process of separating those of God from those that are not His. We can learn while in the "threshing" process. The "threshing" process is a very powerful process. Just as threshing involves a physical act, which is "crushing," Jesus allows this to happen to people. The Holy Spirit can penetrate people's heart, by bringing about some mighty impressive things, such as the conversion of hearts and souls.
During this "threshing" process, the Holy Spirit divides the righteous from the wicked, the Lord's people from the world, and God's truth from Satan's lies. Those who repent are counted among the righteous. The wicked will experience the judgment of the Lord.
Threshing is the necessary step before the final "winnowing." Remember, the grain is separated from the chaff by tossing it into the wind. The wind blows away the chaff. Throughout the history in the Bible, the Lord at times, has sent His judgments against wicked people. When Christ returns, He will separate the righteous from the wicked.
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