One of the things I look for in my Bible studies, and really enjoy when I find it, is to see where the Bible undeniably interprets itself. I hate it when I must rely upon my own interpretation or that of other men whom I respect. Sometimes this is unavoidable, but it is always, at least in my own mind, a tentative matter, until I am able to discover where scripture interprets itself. One of the really wonderful things I have discovered, through reading and listening to godly men, is that Jesus’ Parable of the Tares is based upon Jesus’ understanding of Daniel’s prophecy.
Jesus said, “Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father” (Matthew 13:43). It is quite evident that Jesus is drawing from Daniel 12:3, wherein similar language is used concerning the righteous shining as the sun etc. However, we need to ask when would this take place, according to Jesus? Well, he says that the tares (unbelievers) shall be cast into the fire at the end of the age (Matthew 13:40), which he said was also the time of the harvest (verse-39), which is also the time of the resurrection, and this is understood by comparing this verse with Matthew 24:31. Notice that the angels are sent out to gather the elect, and this is at the sound of the trumpet, which is elsewhere interpreted as the time of the resurrection (1Corinthians 15:52; 1Thessalonians 4:16).
Daniel agrees with the context that resurrection occurs at the time when the righteous shine forth:
And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which stands for the children of your people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time your people shall be delivered, everyone that shall be found written in the book. And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars forever and ever. (Daniel 12:1-3 — emphasis mine)
At the time when the righteous are shinning forth as the brightness of the firmament (verse-3), the resurrection of the just and the unjust occurs (verse-2). Nevertheless, when does the resurrection take place, according to Daniel? He says it occurs when Israel’s great prince stands up, which he does at a time of great trouble, such as was never witnessed, since Israel was a nation. But what does Jesus say about this?
According to Matthew 24:21, Jesus said there would be a time of great tribulation such as was never before witnessed nor would be afterward. This sounds a lot like Daniel 12:1. Then Jesus says that ‘immediately after the tribulation’ (Matthew 24:29), the Son of man would come in great power and majesty (verse-30), sending his angels to gather the elect, i.e. resurrection (verse 31). But, how does Daniel pinpoint that event? Well, one of the angels in Daniel’s vision asked another angel, “How long before the end of these wonders” (Daniel 12:5), to which the other angel replied, “When the power of the holy people is broken, these things will be finished” (Daniel 12:7).
Daniel was speaking of his people, Israel (Daniel 12:1), not the world, not the gentiles. He was speaking of Israel. When, therefore, was Israel’s power broken? What was Israel’s power? Wasn’t Israel’s power his relationship with the Lord? When did that relationship end? Was it not when the Old Covenant was fulfilled and taken out of the way? When did that occur? Was it not cir. 70 AD, when the Lord came in the clouds (Matthew 24:30, 26:64) to judge Jerusalem and destroy the Temple? If not, why not?
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