WHEN SHALL THESE THINGS BE? WHAT SHALL BE THE SIGNS OF THY COMING AND THE END OF THE WORLD? Matt. 24:3-13, Mk. 13:3-13, Lk. 21:7-19, 20-24…4
Key: SCHAFF: “When the Lord open his mouth, we should open our ears and hearts”
THE JUDGMENT OF THE NATIONS…2 Matt. 25:31–46
The scene of this judgment is on the earth, the time is at the return of Christ in glory. “This judgment is to be distinguished from the judgment of the great white throne of Rev. 20:11-15. Here there is no resurrection, the persons judged are living nations; no books are opened, and three classes are present, sheep, goat, brethren. The test in the judgment is the treatment accorded by the nations to those whom Christ here called “my brethren.” C. I. Scofield.
- This passage has nothing to do with the resurrection, it is a judgment of the nations on earth after the return of Christ in glory Matt. 24:30-31, Rev. 19:11-14, Is 63:1-6 to tread the winepress of the wrath of God Rev. 14:16-20. The kings of the earth will be gathered at Armageddon Rev. 16:14-16.
- The test of the judgment. Matt. 25:37-40. “…In as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren…”
- ‘Unto one of the least of these my brethren”. The brethren here is textually the Jewish Remnant who will be saved during the tribulation, and are ‘Jehovah witnesses’ –who will have to preach the gospel of the kingdom Matt. 24:14, Is. 43:10; 52:7-10.
- The Salvation or birth and sealed of the remnant Jews. Rev. 7:1-8, Rom. 9:27-29; 11:1-6, 26-32. God’s plan to graft Jewish believers into His program will be fulfilled before the great tribulation.
- “God has not rejected and disowned His people (whose destiny) He had marked out and appointed and foreknown from the beginning.” Rom. 11:2 Amp “…He will banish ungodliness from Jacob. And this is my covenant with them when I will take away their sins.” Rom. 11:26-27. The salvation of Israel Rom. 9:27-29 as predicted by the prophets is that a remnant (a small part of them) will be saved. The total number is 144, 000 Jews. This has nothing to do with the church.
- It is called the birth of a nation. Rev. 12:1-6, Is. 66:7-10, Jer. 30:4-7. Israel will be kept save from the trouble of the 1260 days or 42 month or 3½ years. Rev. 12:6, 12-17, Is. 26:20-21.
- His brethren here are the Jews. Matt. 13:55-56, Jn. 7:3—5, Rom. 9:3-5, Heb. 2:18-17
- Believers are also called brethren Matt. 12:47-50; 23:8, Jn. 21:22-24, Heb. 2:11-13, it is however not applicable here Matt. 10:40-42. They will be rewarded at the judgment seat of Christ. 2Cor. 5:10 1Cor. 3:13-15, Heb. 6:10-12. It continues