The Five Judgments, Part #4 of 5

JUDGMENT NO. 4

1. Subjects-- The NATIONS (Gentiles).

2. Time-- The "Revelation of Christ."

3. Place-- The "Throne of His Glory." On the Earth-- "Valley of Jehoshaphat."

4. Basis of Judgment-- Their Treatment of Christ's Brethren-- The Jews.

5. Result-- Some Nations "SAVED," Others "DESTROYED."

This judgment is FUTURE.

The account of this Judgment is given in Mt 25:31-46. The description of this judgment, and of the one given in Re 20:11-15 are combined by many, and taken to teach the doctrine of a general judgment. But when we compare them as they differ so widely that it is evident that they do not describe the same event. What God has put asunder let no man join together. The following comparison will show the difference in the two accounts

Matthew 25:31-46

1. No Resurrection.

2. Living Nations Judged.

3. On the Earth. Joel 3:2.

4. No Books Mentioned.

5. Three Classes Named. "Sheep," "Goats," "Brethren."

6. Time-- Before the Millennium.

Revelation 20:11-15

1. A Resurrection.

2. Dead judged.

3. Heaven and Earth Gone.

4. Books Opened.

5. One Class Named. "The Dead."

6. Time-- After the Millennium.

This comparison reveals the fact that one of these judgments is "on the earth," the other in the "heavens," and that they are separated by 1000 years.  

(Many World leaders and groups have attempted to destroy the Jews as a nation and a people, claiming their Birthright for themselves.  If this was allowed to happen, the written Bible prophecies would fail and it is the thinking of the Devil (Antichrist) that Jesus Christ would not have a reason to return to this earth.  Even religious organizations have unwittly participated in this Unholy scheme.  Many still wonder, what was Hitler’s real reason for trying to destroy the Jews.  Understanding the Bible prophecies will help us understand what has been and still is going on in the Middle East.)

The Greek word "ethnos" here translated "Nations" occurs 158 times in the New Testament. It is translated "Gentiles" 92 times, "Nation" or "Nations" 61 times, and "The Heathen" 5 times, but it is never in any instance (unless it be this) applied either to the "dead" or the "resurrected."

As this is a judgment of nations only, the Jews cannot be in it, for they are not reckoned among the nations. Nu 23:9. And as the Church will be associated with Christ in this judgment, for the "Saints" (the Church) shall judge the "World" (the Nations) (1Co 6:2), the Church cannot be in this judgment either. As we have seen the Church and the Jews have been already judged, so the "Judgment of the Nations" cannot be a general judgment. Who then, is asked, are meant by the Sheep? Do they not represent the Righteous, and all the Righteous from the beginning of the world to the end of Time? And do not the Goats in like manner represent all the Wicked?

If the Sheep are the Righteous, and the Goats the Wicked, then who are the Brethren? If they are the "followers of Christ," as some claim, they should be classed with the Sheep. The Scriptures teach that the Righteous are saved by "faith," and the Wicked are lost because they "reject Christ," but in this judgment scene the Sheep inherit a "Kingdom" and the Goats are commanded to "depart," because of their treatment of the Brethren.

All the confusion is caused by trying to make a judgment of "nations" mean a judgment of "individuals." The Sheep represent one class of Nations, and the Goats another class, while the Brethren represent the Jews (Christ's brethren). We must bear in mind the time and place of this judgment. The time is at the "Revelation of Christ" when He comes to set up His "Millennial Kingdom" on the earth. The place is the "Valley of Jehoshaphat" in the vicinity of Jerusalem.

"For, behold, in those days, and in that time, when I shall bring again the captivity of Judah and Jerusalem, I will also gather ALL NATIONS, and will bring them down into the `Valley of Jehoshaphat,' and will plead with them there for MY PEOPLE and for my heritage ISRAEL, whom they have scattered among the Nations, and parted my land." Joel 3:1-2.

This prophecy clearly states that there is to be a "Judgment of Nations" on the earth in the "Valley of Jehoshaphat" at the time of the restoration of the Jews to their own land, and that the basis of judgment is the treatment by the nations of Christ's brethren-- The Jews.

During the "Tribulation Period" the Nations that treat the Jewish People kindly, feeding and clothing them, and visiting them in prison, will be the "Sheep Nations," while those who neglect to do so will be the "Goat Nations." At the "Judgment of Nations" the King (Christ) will say to the "Sheep Nations," inasmuch as ye have been kind to My brethren (the Jews), "Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world." This Kingdom is the "Millennial Kingdom" that the "Sheep Nations" as Nations will "inherit" and possess during the Millennium. And as they are to be among the "saved nations" of the New Earth (Re 21:24) it can be said of them that they, or at least the righteous individuals of them, shall enter into life eternal. Mt 25:46. Christ's sentence upon the "Goat Nations" will be-- "Depart from Me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the Devil and his angels," and "these shall go away into everlasting punishment." The "Goat Nations" will at once be destroyed as Nations, not one of them shall get into the Millennium, and the wicked individuals that compose them will perish and be eternally lost.