Judgment of the nations, Matthew 25

[Beckrl]

In Matthew Chapter 25:31-46 I find the judgment of the nations. The sheep are judged and allowed to enter the kingdom, but the goats shall go away to everlasting punishment. These scripture generates come questions for me. I take it that this is Jesus return and he shall judge the nations that are on the earth.

1)My first question is who are these nations pre-sheep and pre-goats?

2) What is the theme for allowance to enter the kingdom?

3)Would it not be good works?



31When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory:
32And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats:
33And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.
34Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:
35For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:
36Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.
37Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?
38When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?
39Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?
40And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.
41Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:
42For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink:
43I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not.
44Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee?
45Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me. 46And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.

I have thought that these maybe those that enter the Millennium kingdom, How do you understand these verses?

Beck

[quiet dove]

I am not sure what you mean by pre sheep and pre goats, but wouldn't the sheep and the goats be those with faith in Jesus and those without, and within those that are sheep, with faith, wouldn't their works still be an outward reflection of their inward faith?

[DeafPosttrib]

Before we go to Matthew 25:31-46. First, suggest you to read Matthew chapter 13 talking about harvest. Notice Matt. 13:28-30, Christ explained about harvest, he said, the servants ask question to their master, should we go ahead pulling tares out of the wheat, the master tell them, no, leave them alone, let both tares and wheat growing together. Tares is a type of wicked people, wheat is a type of just people. Today, there are over 6 billion population over the world. Both wicked and just people are growing together right now. When the end of the age come, as Christ comes with his angels. Angels will gathering all nations of the world, to aparted world into two classes, take all wicked people separated from the just people. Then send wicked people away into everlasting fire.

There will be no wicked person survived after the judgment day at His coming.

'Enter into the kingdom' is a picture of eternal life-salvation.

Notice Matt. 25:35-45 mentioned about conditionals. These do not do these things shall not enter everlasting life.

I believe in conditional salvation (NONOSAS). Many of amills believe in unconditional salvation (OSAS).

Of course, many amills and I do not always agree on everything about salvation issue. But, I do agree with amills on everything what will be happen at the end of the world.

Matt. 25:31-46 telling us, it is very clear describe of Second Coming at the end of the age is posttribulational, and it describes of one future judgment day. None find anywhere in context of Matt. 25:31-46 speak of millennial, because either "a thousand years" or "the thousand years" is not mentioned there. So, there, this passage gives us a clear picture of one future coming, one future judgment day. It is clearly amillennial.

In Christ
Rev. 22:20 -Amen!

[John146]

In Matthew Chapter 25:31-46 I find the judgment of the nations. The sheep are judged and allowed to enter the kingdom, but the goats shall go away to everlasting punishment. These scripture generates come questions for me. I take it that this is Jesus return and he shall judge the nations that are on the earth.

What does other scripture say? That He is going to judge nations or individuals?

Romans 14
10But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. 11For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.
12So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.

2 Cor 5:10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.

Acts 17
30And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:
31Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.

All of these teach that individuals will be judged on the day of judgment, not nations. Let scripture interpret itself.

1)My first question is who are these nations pre-sheep and pre-goats?

What do you mean? Again, it's speaking of individual sheep and goats that are taken out and separated from all nations.

2) What is the theme for allowance to enter the kingdom?

Loving your fellow man, which all true Christians will do. If you truly have faith in Christ you are born of the Spirit and the Spirit leads you to do the works "which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them" (Eph 2:10).

3)Would it not be good works?

No. It may appear that way at first glance, but will anyone who truly has faith in Christ not love their fellow man and will they ignore the plight of the "least of these"? No.

1 John 3
10In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother.
11For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another.

[Beckrl]

What does "inherit the kingdom" mean, if we are already a part of the kingdom of God.

[John146]

What does "inherit the kingdom" mean, if we are already a part of the kingdom of God.

The fullness of His kingdom when Satan's kingdom of darkness is no longer side by side with God's kingdom of righteousness in the world.

Matt 13
29But he said, Nay; lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them. 30Let 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.
39The enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels.
40As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the end of this world. 41The 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;
42And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.
43Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.

Notice that Jesus calls it "the kingdom of their Father". When He returns, He will deliver up the kingdom to the Father.

1 Cor 15
22For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.
23But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming.
24Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father ; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power.

Believers will inherit that kingdom along with immortal bodies when Christ returns at the end of the age.

50Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.
51Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,
52In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
53For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.
54So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.

[Beckrl]

The fullness of His kingdom when Satan's kingdom of darkness is no longer side by side with God's kingdom of righteousness in the world.

Matt 13
29But he said, Nay; lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them. 30Let 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.
39The enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels.
40As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the end of this world. 41The 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;
42And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.
43Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.

Notice that Jesus calls it "the kingdom of their Father". When He returns, He will deliver up the kingdom to the Father.

1 Cor 15
22For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.
23But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming.
24Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father ; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power.

Believers will inherit that kingdom along with immortal bodies when Christ returns at the end of the age.

50Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.
51Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,
52In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
53For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.
54So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.

So the sheep and goats would be like matthew 13 of the wheat and tares.
I believed that part but was trying to place them into the millennium kingdom. Even though we will reign with Christ in his thousand year reign.

[John146]

So the sheep and goats would be like matthew 13 of the wheat and tares.

Yes, that's what I believe. The wheat are the children of the kingdom while the tares are the children of the wicked one.[/quote]It's the saved and the lost. Both are sent to different eternal destinies at that time. The wheat inherit the kingdom of the Father while the tares are cast into a furnace of fire. Isn't that referring to the lake of fire?

I believed that part but was trying to place them into the millennium kingdom. Even though we will reign with Christ in his thousand year reign.

Where does the parable of the wheat and tares mention another group besides the wheat and the tares?

Matt 13
37He answered and said unto them, He that soweth the good seed is the Son of man; 38The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one;

If you're saying that the wheat go into the millennium then why does it mention "the kingdom of their Father"? When does Jesus deliver the kingdom to the Father? At His coming.

1 Cor 15
22For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. 23But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming.
24Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power.

[David Taylor]

In Matthew Chapter 25:31-46 I find the judgment of the nations

Remember Beck, also, that the term 'nation' in English; is based on the word 'ethnos' in the original Greek.

It can ben interpretted as 'nation' as in political organization, (which we predominately refer to that word as today); but it also can mean just 'peoples' or 'multitudes' or even 'gentiles' as a group.

Today we think of nation as govermments....but the original useage in scripture in the NT is more often than not, just referring to multitudes of peoples.


Some examples:

Mt 28:19 "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost "

This is individual evangelism to the peoples of the nations right? Not specifically to the governments of nations.

also

Rev 5:9 for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation;

even in the eternal state:

Rev 21:24 And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it: and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honour into it.


Groups of individuals....not earthly governmental organizations being dealt with.

[third hero]

Matthew 25:34
Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:

What is this "kingdom prepared from the 'foundation of the world'"?

[ross3421]

Before we go to Matthew 25:31-46. First, suggest you to read Matthew chapter 13 talking about harvest. Notice Matt. 13:28-30, Christ explained about harvest, he said, the servants ask question to their master, should we go ahead pulling tares out of the wheat, the master tell them, no, leave them alone, let both tares and wheat growing together. Tares is a type of wicked people, wheat is a type of just people. Today, there are over 6 billion population over the world. Both wicked and just people are growing together right now. When the end of the age come, as Christ comes with his angels. Angels will gathering all nations of the world, to aparted world into two classes, take all wicked people separated from the just people. Then send wicked people away into everlasting fire.

There will be no wicked person survived after the judgment day at His coming.

'Enter into the kingdom' is a picture of eternal life-salvation.

Notice Matt. 25:35-45 mentioned about conditionals. These do not do these things shall not enter everlasting life.

I believe in conditional salvation (NONOSAS). Many of amills believe in unconditional salvation (OSAS).

Of course, many amills and I do not always agree on everything about salvation issue. But, I do agree with amills on everything what will be happen at the end of the world.

Matt. 25:31-46 telling us, it is very clear describe of Second Coming at the end of the age is posttribulational, and it describes of one future judgment day. None find anywhere in context of Matt. 25:31-46 speak of millennial, because either "a thousand years" or "the thousand years" is not mentioned there. So, there, this passage gives us a clear picture of one future coming, one future judgment day. It is clearly amillennial.

In Christ
Rev. 22:20 -Amen!

Amen. This gathering of the sheep and goats is the resurrection of the dead for judgment and as you point out along with other scriptures nulifies a gap betwen judgments of the godly and wicked which is nessesary to support a literal 1000+ year reign.