Prophecy Section Edited by Charles L. Feinberg, Th.D. Ph.D. Dean, Talbot Theological Seminary
JESUS
when
returns
by Gordon Chilvers
W HEN WE look at God’s plans for the future of the world we see how completely He has provided for every division of mankind. Often we consider the two divisions o f Church and Jew, yet the nations of the world at the juncture of the ages are also important in the study of prophecy. Not least, are we concerned with their judgment. When Jesus was on earth, He explained that He was to be the Judge o f all men. When speaking to the Jews, He said of Himself: God “ hath given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man” (John 5:27). As the Judge, “he shall reward every man according to his works” (Matt. 16:27). Referring to one particular judgment, our Lord declared: “When the Son o f man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory” (Matt. 25:31). Here He will sit with all the majesty that rightly belongs to Him. The time when this takes place is determined as His Second Advent. This is when He will return “with power and great glory” (Matt. 24:3). God speaks of the occasion as that time when “ I shall bring again the captivity of Judah and Jerusalem” (Joel 3 :1 ). The Jews will be gathered to their land at Christ’s Second Advent. This judgment will take place then. The long-awaited kingdom of God on earth will be about to begin and this event is an essential preparation for it. The hour will then have arrived for Him to pronounce verdicts that will decide the destiny of millions o f people who are on earth at that time. Joel tells us that the location for this judgment has been fixed. Unlike other judgments, it will not take place in Heaven but on earth. Joel says it will be in “ the valley of Jehoshaphat” (Joel 3 :2 ). This points to a place near Jerusalem, a city which is to be prominent in the events of that period, for it is the city of God and the capital o f restored Israel. Our Lord identifies the people at this judgment
when He continues: “Before him shall be gathered all nations” . Earlier God had declared: “ I will also gather all nations, and will bring them down into the valley of Jehoshaphat, and will plead with them there” (Joel 3 :2 ). He commands: “Assemble yourselves, and come, all ye heathen, and gather yourselves together . . . Let the heathen be wak ened, and come up to the valley of Jehoshaphat: for there will I sit to judge all the heathen round about” (Joel 3:11, 12). These then are the people who will be alive at the time when Jesus returns. This is not the same judgment as that of the Great White Throne. There the dead are raised and judged. Here there is no mention of the dead, for it is the living who are judged. At that time, Jesus will make a permanent sep aration between two groups. “He shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats: And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.” (Matt. 25:32, 33 ). Being placed on the right is emblematic of honor and privilege, so being put on the left is indicative of dishonor and punishment. This separation reminds us of an ancient cus tom in the East which we do not follow in the West. Here we have separate flocks of goats and sheep. There, goats and sheep were mixed together in one crowd and one shepherd would look after both. The King asks no questions of anyone present. Judgment does not depend on what either sheep or goats say. Rather, the verdict depends on the per fect and full knowledge of the Judge. Sharply-contrasted actions mark the two groups. As we should expect of our Lord, He com mends before He blames. The works of those rec ognized as sheep are deeds o f kindness, shown in the pity and sympathy to those in distress. “ 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: Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me” (Matt. 25:35, 36). THE KING'S BUSINESS
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