How does Matthew chapter 13 verse 40 tie to the end times?
The parable of the weeds (Matt. 13:24-30) is one of the Kingdom Parables. It describes a farmer sowing his seed, expecting a crop of wheat. But as it grows it becomes obvious that some of the seed was bad and has produced weeds. For fear of disturbing the good seed the farmer lets both good and bad seed grow together. Then at harvest time he has his workers first pull up the weeds and burn them before gathering the wheat and bringing it into his barn.
The Lord’s explanation of this parable is found in Matt. 13:36-43. He said the farmer represents Him. The field is the world, with the good seed being His followers and the bad seed followers of Satan. At the End of the Age, He will first weed out the followers of Satan and throw them into the fiery furnace. Then His followers will come into the kingdom where they’ll shine like the Sun.
By the order in which things happen, we can see He’s describing the purification of Israel during the Great Tribulation. First those who have rejected Him (followers of Satan) will be destroyed and then the Lord will welcome believers into His Kingdom. Both Jeremiah 30:11 and Zechariah 13:8-9 speak of this.