Before discussing the phrase "the end of the world," let us return to the passage in John mentioned above. The word used for field in verse 35 is not the same as that which occurs in the parable under consideration, but they are synonyms according to Abbott-Smith's Manual Greek Lexicon Of The New Testament on page 486. What is especially interesting about this word then, since it is a synonym to the one in Matthew 13:24, 27, 31, 36, 38, 44, is that it is used of Judea in the following passages:

- Mark 1:5 "land"

- Luke 2:8 "country"

- Acts 8:1 "regions"

- Acts 10:39 "land"

- Acts 26:20 "coasts".

This information lends further support to our conclusion.

The word translated "that reapeth" in verse 36, and "reapeth" in verse 37, and "to reap" in verse 38, is often associated with our lives in the Truth such as in these verses. Consider the following examples of this fact:

1 Cor. 9:11 "If we have sown unto you spiritual things, is it a great thing if we shall reap your carnal things?"

2 Cor. 9:6 "But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully."

Galatians 6:7-9 "Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the spirit shall of the spirit reap life everlasting. And let us not be weary in well doing; for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not."

Now let us return to the consideration of the phrase "the end of the world." It has already been stated that this does not have to apply to the return of Christ so let us prove this fact. The only other occurrences of this phrase besides its three occurrences in this parable where it is found in verses 39 and 40, are as follows:

- Matthew 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 (aion)?" Bro. John Thomas in both Elpis Israel and in The Last Days of Judah's Commonwealth And Its Latter Day Restoration demonstrates that this applies to the end of the Mosaic Age. Bro. H.P. Mansfield in The Story Of The Bible, Vol. 11, pages 117-121 demonstrates the same thing.

- Matthew 28:20 "Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world (aion). Amen." In the works mentioned by Bro. Thomas above, this passage is demonstrated to relate to the end of the Mosaic Age. In Bro. Mansfield's The Story Of The Bible, Vol. 12, pages 175-176 the same point is demonstrated.

- Hebrews 9:26 "For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world (kosmos): but now once in the end of the world (aion) hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself." This obviously applies to Christ's first advent and the end of the Mosaic Age. It likewise is discussed by Bro. Thomas in the above mentioned works. This represents a complete listing of every occurrence outside of Matt 13 of this phrase. Therefore, it is very interesting to find that in every occurrence outside of this parable it definitely applies to the end of the Mosaic Age. Logically, then, should not it be understood in the same manner in this parable? The answer is obviously yes! What is even more interesting is the fact that Christ in this very parable says that it applies to his age when he says in verse 40, "As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the end of this world (aion)."

Christ tells his servants that the reapers who are the angels (verse 39) will gather the tares together first and "burn" them in "a furnace of fire." (verses 30, 40-42) The word translated "to burn" in verse 30, and "burned" in verse 40 also occurs in the following passages where it applies to the end of Judah's Commonwealth in A.D. 70:

- Matthew 3:12 "Whose fan is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner (Note: The same Greek word is translated "barn" in Matt. 13:30 and "garner" in Luke 3:17.) but he will burn up the chaff with the unquenchable fire (Note: The same as the Greek word translated "fire" in Matt. 13:40, 42, 50; and "fire" in Luke 3:17.)".

- Luke 3:17 It is identical to Matthew 3:12.

- 2 Peter 3:10 "But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heaven shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up." We have already seen that this applies to A.D. 70 above.