“The End of the Age – Regarding the Gentile Nations”
Matthew 25:31-46
“When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory. All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats.”– Matthew 25:31-32
This last section of the Olivet Discourse takes us right to the Millennial Kingdom when Jesus returns, “the holy angels with Him,” and sets up His physical rule upon this earth. Seven years of judgment precedes the Millennium, the seven-year Tribulation, that “seventieth week” prophesied in Daniel 9:24. Jesus’ Second Coming is at the end of that seventieth week. He will return with His bride, the church, and rule and reign together upon this earth for a thousand years [ref. Rev 20].
The first thing upon Jesus’ Return will be the judgingof the nations. “All the nations will be gathered together before Him, and He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats.” Those in Christ [His sheep] will inherit the Kingdom. Those not in Christ [the goats] “will go away into everlasting punishment.” [Matt 25:46]
The latter days, as highlighted in the Olivet Discourse, involves three groups of people [ref. 1 Cor 10:32]. Group 1, Matt 24:1-44, concerns the Jews during the Tribulation; Group 2, Matt 24:45-25:30 concerns the church before the Tribulation; and Group 3, Matt 25:31-46, concerns the Gentile nations after the Tribulation when Jesus returns.
Regarding this last section, it is important to observe the eternal places reserved for the “sheep and goats.” There is no such thing as annihilationism in the Bible. There will never be a time when our souls will cease. The soul is eternal and will one day inherit an eternal body. For the “sheep,” it will be an eternal body made to dwell in heaven with our Lord; for the “goats,” it will be an eternal body made to be cast into the eternal fire apart from our Lord. Christ stated thisclearly, “And these will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.” [Matt 25:46]
In this dispensation of mercy, in this time of the church, we must make God’s work our priority. Because the time is near, and the clock is ticking. He is coming. And He is coming soon. We must be ready.
