Years ago, I wondered over the scriptural imagery of angels waiting “day and night” for “the great command” to come down and reap the tares in a wicked and suffering world; it seemed rather eager to me (see D&C 38:12⁠; 86:5⁠). Given such massive, needless human suffering, I don’t wonder anymore!

Even so, the final reaping will occur only when the Father determines that the world is “fully ripe.” Meanwhile, brothers and sisters, the challenge is surviving spiritually in a deteriorating “wheat and tares” world (⁠D&C 86:7⁠). – Neal A. Maxwell, “Behold, the Enemy is Combined,” Ensign (CR) May 1993