Matthew 22:1-14 Wedding Feast Attire

[Noeb]

I take it you are premil then, correct?

Yes.

And maybe pretrib as well?

Pre or mid.

If so, when Christ is returning, the church would be with Him, and then He would divide the sheep from the goats, with the sheep gaining entrance into the millennial kingdom. Am I close?

Yes

If so, how is it that the sheep gain everlasting life, the fact that that is only promised to the body of Christ? Are you saying they inherit everlasting life via their works, while the church inherits everlasting life via grace? Not trying to misrepresent your view or anything, just trying to understand it, since I'm not exactly certain what your view is at this point,, thus the questions.

It does not say they inherit everlasting life. It says they inherit "the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:" -which I believe is the millennial kingdom and same God intended with Adam. They go into "life eternal" like Adam did, or as we do when we first believe, via their works.

[John146]

So are you saying the Christians just have to have works towards Christians to inherit the kingdom?

No, that's not what I'm saying. In order to inherit eternal life in God's kingdom a person must repent and have faith. Once someone becomes saved it's expected that they will then serve Christ. If you truly put your faith and trust in Him then it only follows that you would want to serve Him and the primary way in which to serve Him is by helping the needy. I believe He refers specifically to helping the least of His brethren is because by doing that we are helping to build His kingdom since they are part of His kingdom.

You asked who are Jesus' brethren and I answered your question. So, what do you think of my answer to your question? Do you agree with it? Does Matt 12:50 not clearly tell us who His brethren are?

[John146]

lots are called righteous in scripture. Do you have a problem with that?

I have a problem with your doctrine, not with scripture. Only God's people are called righteous in scripture. Are you trying to say otherwise?

Adam had eternal life. He had God and the tree of life. The tree of life returns with Christ and guess who eats from it and needs it?

I don't know what you're trying to say here. Who is it that will inherit eternal life? Is it not Christians (John 3:16)?

How's that? When Jesus spoke of sheep there were no Christians.

Yes, there were. Did you forget how I defined the term "Christian". Anyone who belongs to Christ is a Christian. Do you think no one belonged to Christ when He spoke of sheep?

John 10:14 14 I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine.

Jesus had sheep at the time He said this. Who were His sheep except for those who belonged to Him? Jesus indicated in Matt 25:31-46 that the sheep will inherit eternal life in the kingdom prepared for them from the foundation of the world. No one will inherit eternal life except for those who belong to Christ. That means the sheep are those who belong to Christ. Who else could the sheep be? Who exactly do you believe the sheep represent?

The goats are those who are cast into "everlasting fire". In Rev 20:15 we can see that it is those whose names are not written in the book of life who will be cast into the lake of fire. So, the goats represent those whose names are not written in the book of life. The sheep represent those whose names are written in the book of life.

[John146]

It does not say they inherit everlasting life. It says they inherit "the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:" -which I believe is the millennial kingdom and same God intended with Adam.

I completely disagree. The following indicates that the sheep, who are also called "the righteous" (Matt 25:37), inherit everlasting life.

Matt 25:46 And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.

[shootingdead]

could the man not wearing wedding clothes be one of these who are not sincere?

Daniel 11v33 Those who are wise will instruct many, though for a time they will fall by the sword or be burned or captured or plundered. 34 When they fall, they will receive a little help, and many who are not sincere will join them. 35 Some of the wise will stumble, so that they may be refined, purified and made spotless until the time of the end, for it will still come at the appointed time.