The Seven parables 2/7

Wheat and Tares

The second parable is about the wheat and tares (or, weeds).  Christ sowed the wheat (i.e. scattering the seed of wheat) which represents all true believers[17] in the world (field 13:38) and Satan sowed the weeds while everyone was sleeping at night, representing unbelievers. This is typical of Satan who is always sly and cunning, a master counterfeit.  This is the sphere of professing Christendom (saved and unsaved) where evil co-exist with good.  The tares are weeds when fully grown resemble wheat;[18] representing empty professors without Christ, they are the counterfeits–sons of Satan; such as false prophets, and false teachers performing signs and wonders that are happening today and will intensify in the mystery kingdom throughout the world.[19]  ‘For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only He (Holy Spirit)  who now restrains will do so until He is taken out of the way.’  (2 Thess 2:7).  This verse clearly tells us that the Holy Spirit will be taken away with the Church during the rapture.  The weeds cannot be removed early because doing so will damage the wheat.[20] The field is the world (13:38), not Church,[21]  where good and bad co-exist until the Second Coming  when the wheat and the tares are separated (Matt 25:32) ‘at the time of the harvest’ (13:30).   The wheat enters the millennium (Matt 25:34), and the tares thrown into the lake of fire (Matt 25:40-42, 49-50; Rev 20:15).  ‘This Age is broader that but includes the Church age…The Church…will conclude at the rapture…’[22]  Although this parable does not mention rapture, we do know that he Church must be raptured prior to the tribulation, but the seed-sowing program continues.[23]

This parable was another secret not revealed to OT saints.  They did not know that the new kingdom will have evil and good living side by side until His Second Coming.  They only knew that God’s kingdom should only consist of righteousness.