Thunderian
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- Joined
- Mar 13, 2017
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This came up on another thread, but in the interests of keeping religion in the Religion section, I will continue here. This is for you, @TempestOfTempo.
The subject, broadly, was people who have protected Jews in times of trouble, and it brought to mind something I'd come across and haven't really gotten into but still think is kind of neat.
In Matthew 25, at the so-called "Sheep and Goats" judgment, Jesus is depicted on his throne, having come to earth in his glory. The nations of the world are gathered before him, and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats.
This is an interesting scene because, as redeemed Christians, there will never come a day when we stand with the nations and are divided into saved and unsaved. We will have our works judged, but our eternal security is never in doubt. So what's going on?
The passage says this judgment will take place "when the Son of man shall come in his glory", so this is obviously at "the end" that Jesus spoke of. The nations in the passage mean all the living people on the earth, so this has to be a judgment of living people after the second advent of Jesus Christ. It's not in Heaven, because there are unsaved people there.
Christians aren't judged for their righteousness -- Jesus Christ is our righteousness -- so the big question is, how are the people in this passage made righteous? What makes a sheep different from a goat? How are they saved?
Yes, I know we are saved through faith in Jesus Christ, but when he is sitting on the throne of his glory, surrounded by angels, having just destroyed evil, believing in Jesus Christ the King will be easy. Anyway, the Lord himself tells these people how they are saved, because it appears that even they are surprised.
Me belief is that this judgment is at the end of the seven year period the Bible calls "the time of Jacob's trouble", a season of unparalleled persecution against Jews. The passage really makes it look like people who help Jews will be counted as righteous and be allowed to enter the Kingdom of Heaven. I imagine there will be lots of people who will help Jews during the Tribulation because it's the right thing to do, just as Jews have been helped thoughout the ages when under attack.
I wonder what others think.
The subject, broadly, was people who have protected Jews in times of trouble, and it brought to mind something I'd come across and haven't really gotten into but still think is kind of neat.
In Matthew 25, at the so-called "Sheep and Goats" judgment, Jesus is depicted on his throne, having come to earth in his glory. The nations of the world are gathered before him, and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats.
33 And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.
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:
35 For 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:
36 Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.
37 Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?
38 When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?
39 Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?
40 And 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.
41 Then 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:
This is an interesting scene because, as redeemed Christians, there will never come a day when we stand with the nations and are divided into saved and unsaved. We will have our works judged, but our eternal security is never in doubt. So what's going on?
The passage says this judgment will take place "when the Son of man shall come in his glory", so this is obviously at "the end" that Jesus spoke of. The nations in the passage mean all the living people on the earth, so this has to be a judgment of living people after the second advent of Jesus Christ. It's not in Heaven, because there are unsaved people there.
Christians aren't judged for their righteousness -- Jesus Christ is our righteousness -- so the big question is, how are the people in this passage made righteous? What makes a sheep different from a goat? How are they saved?
Yes, I know we are saved through faith in Jesus Christ, but when he is sitting on the throne of his glory, surrounded by angels, having just destroyed evil, believing in Jesus Christ the King will be easy. Anyway, the Lord himself tells these people how they are saved, because it appears that even they are surprised.
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:
Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me
(the sheep are all like, "Huh? We did?")
And 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.
Brethren when used by a Jew means "fellow Jews", and does not necessarily mean that the brethren are believers, so when Jesus Christ says "my brethren", he means Jews.Me belief is that this judgment is at the end of the seven year period the Bible calls "the time of Jacob's trouble", a season of unparalleled persecution against Jews. The passage really makes it look like people who help Jews will be counted as righteous and be allowed to enter the Kingdom of Heaven. I imagine there will be lots of people who will help Jews during the Tribulation because it's the right thing to do, just as Jews have been helped thoughout the ages when under attack.
I wonder what others think.