Mat 13:41  The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom [within, (Luk 17:20- 21)] all things that offend, and them which do iniquity;
Mat 13:42  And shall cast them into a furnace of fire [fiery trials, (1Pe 4:12)]: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.

Mat 24:3  And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world? [Greek: aion, age]

Mat 24:13  But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.
Mat 24:14  And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.

When is “the end of the world? Is “the end of the world” the time when others get their just rewards? When does “the end come?” When are we judged? When do we all reap what we have sown? When do we all get our just rewards?

Both Christ and Paul answer this question. Christ tells us that the end comes, when “this gospel is preached in all the world for a witness to all nations; … then shall the end come.” Exactly when is that? How does Christ answer that question? Here are His words:

Mat 24:29  Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken: [Taken right out of Isaiah 13, quoted above.]
Mat 24:30  And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.
Mat 24:31  And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.
Mat 24:32  Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh:
Mat 24:33  So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors.
Mat 24:34  Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled.
Mat 24:35  Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.

In Matthew 13 “the reapers are the angels” who “gather the tares first and burn them.” In Matthew 24 “He shall send His angels… and they… gather together His elect.” So both are done “in the time of the harvest… the end of the age… in the kingdom of God within you.” Just as Christ had said back in chapter 13.

Mat 13:30  Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn.

Who experiences this burning of the tares? Is it this present evil world? Or does this time of “burning the tares first… begin at the house of God?”

1Co 3:13  Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is.

1Pe 4:12  Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:
1Pe 4:13  But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.

We are to “rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings.” So the tares are gathered first, but both the wheat and the tares are gathered “at the time of the harvest.” What is the time of the harvest? It is the time when Christ says to the reapers, “Gather the tares first, and bind them in bundles to be burned.” It is the time when angels are sent forth to “gather out of his kingdom all things that offend.” So while both the tares and the wheat are gathered “at the time of the harvest,” the tares are actually gathered and bound in bundles and burned first. “Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn.”

Mat 13:41  The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity;

Mat 13:30  Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn.

Verse 41 is referring back to what Christ had said in verse 30.

Mat 13:24  Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field:
Mat 13:25  But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way.
Mat 13:26  But when the blade was sprung up, and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also.
Mat 13:27  So the servants of the householder came and said unto him, Sir, didst not thou sow good seed in thy field? from whence then hath it tares?
Mat 13:28  He said unto them, An enemy hath done this. The servants said unto him, Wilt thou then that we go and gather them up?
Mat 13:29  But he said, Nay; lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them.
Mat 13:30  Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn.

It is instructive that the tares do not become apparent within us until “fruit is brought forth. Only then do “the things that offend” become apparent to all. The “things that offend” in verse 41, are the “tares,” or “the children of the wicked one” which are also “in his kingdom.”

Mat 13:36  Then Jesus sent the multitude away, and went into the house: and his disciples came unto him, saying, Declare unto us the parable of the tares of the field.
Mat 13:37  He answered and said unto them, He that soweth the good seed is the Son of man;
Mat 13:38  The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one;
Mat 13:39  The enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels.
Mat 13:40  As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the end of this world.
Mat 13:41  The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity;
Mat 13:42  And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.
Mat 13:43  Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.

Where is this kingdom of God out of which the things that offend are gathered? We have been conditioned to think of ‘the field’ and the kingdom as being in two entirely different places. The Truth of the Word of God is that both are within us. If we lose sight of the Truth of where this kingdom is located, then we will completely miss the point of this parable, and of all of Christ’s parables, because all of Christ’s parables concern themselves with “the mysteries of the kingdom of God.” So let me ask again, Where is the kingdom of God in which these “tares,” these “children of the wicked one” take root and grow right along with the “good seed” which we are told are “the children of the kingdom?” Where are both growing? Where both are growing was at one time referred to as “the field,” but look at what that “field” has now become:

Luk 17:20  And when he was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, he answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation:
Luk 17:21  Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you.

What was once the world within us has now become “the kingdom of God is within you.” Compare these verses in Luke 17, with this statement which we read earlier:

Mat 13:38  The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one;
Mat 13:39  The enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels.
Mat 13:40  As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the end of this world.
Mat 13:41  The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity;

The field out of which His angels “gather all that offends,” has now become “His kingdom” out of which “all things that offend” are now gathered. When we become knowledgable of what is the Biblical meaning of “the time of the harvest,” what is “heaven,” what are “the clouds of heavens,”  what is “the field,” what are “the tares,” what is “the earth,” what is “all the world,” what are “all the tribes of the earth,” and what is “this generation,” then, and only then, can we see and understand that all of these “things of the spirit,” all pertain to “the mysteries of the kingdom of God… within you.”

Only then will we understand that God is not now judging this world without, but is rather beginning His judgment at His own house, gathering the tares out of His own field and purging all that offends within His own kingdom “within you.” All such Truth is, of course, “foolishness to the natural man.”

1Co 2:12  Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.
1Co 2:13  Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
1Co 2:14  But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

When do “all these things” come to pass? Who sees “the end of the world? Is it only those who are living when Christ sets up His millennial kingdom and rules over the kingdoms of this world through His elect? Is that what is meant by “the end of the world?” Absolutely not! Here is what is meant by “the end of the world:”

Mat 24:13  But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.
Mat 24:14  And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.

Mat 24:33  So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors.
Mat 24:34  Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled.
Mat 24:35  Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.

Have you ever noticed that “He that endureth to the end” immediately precedes “This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations, then shall the end come?”

Have you ever noticed that “then shall the end come” is followed by “This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled?” “All these things” means “all these things.” Go back and read all of Matthew 24 and see what Christ has already discussed when He uses the phrase “all these things.” “All these things” includes “this gospel of the kingdom being preached in all the world for a witness to all nations; and then shall the end come.” “All these things” culminates in “the shaking of the heavens,” and that is when “all the tribes of the earth mourn, [when] they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.” Remember, Christ is saying all of this in answer to His disciples’ question “What will be the sign of your coming and the end of the age?” Who sees and understands all of this? Upon whom does the end of the age come? Let me repeat who it is who sees “the end of the age.”

1Co 10:11  Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world [Greek: age] are come.

If all of this was actually fulfilled in that generation, and it was, just as it has been being fulfilled in every generation that reads and understands these words since the death and resurrection of Christ, then the phrase “preached in all the world for a witness to all nations” has nothing to do with world wide evangelism, or the judging of this world at this time, as it is taken and as it is understood in the world of Babylon. It does rather, have everything to do with all of the nations of the “field [which] is the world” which becomes “the kingdom of God within” us.

Notice, for example what we are told in the book of Revelation, about the one single beast which is within us all.

Rev 17:9  And here is the mind which hath wisdom. The seven heads are seven mountains, on which the woman sitteth.
Rev 17:10  And there are seven kings: five are fallen, and one is, [and] the other is not yet come; and when he cometh, he must continue a short space.
Rev 17:11  And the beast that was, and is not, even he is the eighth, and is of the seven, and goeth into perdition.
Rev 17:12  And the ten horns which thou sawest are ten kings, which have received no kingdom as yet; but receive power as kings one hour with the beast.
Rev 17:13  These have one mind, and shall give their power and strength unto the beast.
Rev 17:14  These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful.

“Seven kings… an eighth king… ten kings… all within one beast, all of which are also referred to as “the tares [and] the children of the wicked one,” within the parable of the sower, which our Lord informs us is all about “the mysteries of the kingdom of God within you.”

The ends of the age are come upon us! The kingdom of God is within us! The good seed which are the children of the kingdom, and the tares which are the children of the wicked one, are within us! The seven heads and the ten horns are all kingdoms with kings, and they are all within us! It is all within the kingdom of God, within us!

So then, the gathering of the tares to be burned in the furnace, and the gathering together of God’s elect, are both “at the time of the harvest… the end of the age… this generation.” All of this is concerned, at this time, with the first harvest of the firstfruits at the end of the firstfruit age. But there are two harvests, and there are two resurrections. Both are judgments, and judgment is always chastening, and the Lord chastens only those He loves.

1Co 11:31  For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged.
1Co 11:32  But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world.

God is not at this time judging this world. This world will be judged at its appointed time, and we need not pray that that time be changed. Here is the order of God’s judgments:

Exo 23:16  And the feast of harvest, the firstfruits of thy labours, which thou hast sown in the field: and the feast of ingathering, which is in the end of the year, when thou hast gathered in thy labours out of the field.

Exo 34:22  And thou shalt observe the feast of weeks, of the firstfruits of wheat harvest, and the feast of ingathering at the year’s end.

Heb 12:6  For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.

Conclusion

What does all of this have to do with what should be our attitude towards those who are running the affairs of this world? What should be our attitude concerning those who do not know Christ and who hate and despise all that Christ represents? What should be our attitude toward those who have been destroyed or will be destroyed in coming calamities? Our attitude should be that we apply  every lesson of every tragedy personally and within, and to our own judgment of our own lives.

Like Christ, we are not to spend our time in praying against the will of God for those in this world, but on the other hand we should never see  the tragedies in the lives of those who died when Herod mingled their own blood with their sacrifices, or those on whom the tower of Siloam fell, or those thousands on whom the World Trade Towers fell, as Job’s miserable comforters perceived all tragedies. We should never see the tragedies and calamities of this age as God’s judgment upon those people who were personally involved, or as His judgment on this, or any nation as a whole. It is nothing of the kind. All who see it as such have forgotten that “the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God,” and this world, and all the men of this world, will face their own judgment at a later date. They will be judged at the great white throne judgment.

Let us judge ourselves and leave the judging of those without, up to the Lord, as we are admonished.

1Co 5:12  For what have I to do to judge them also that are without? do not ye judge them that are within?
1Co 5:13  But them that are without God judgeth. Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person.

Let us all remember the attitude of our Lord expressed concerning the tragedies of this age:

Luk 13:2  And Jesus answering said unto them, Suppose ye that these Galilaeans were sinners above all the Galilaeans, because they suffered such things?
Luk 13:3  I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.
Luk 13:4  Or those eighteen, upon whom the tower in Siloam fell, and slew them, think ye that they were sinners above all men that dwelt in Jerusalem?
Luk 13:5  I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.

Mat 23:26  Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first that which is within the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean also.

If we “cleanse first” what is within us, then that which is without, in this world, will be cleansed also, at the appointed time, through us.

Rom 11:30  For as ye in times past have not believed God, yet have now obtained mercy through their unbelief:
Rom 11:31  Even so have these also now not believed, that through your mercy they also may obtain mercy.

That is the blessing we have been given if we “clean first that which is within.”