Sheep and Goats --- Final Judgment or Particular Judgment?

[Guest]

Did Christ, in Matthew 25:31-36, describe the final judgment of all people? Or did He describe a particular judgment which will take place when He returns?

Now when the son of man comes in his glory and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne and all the gentiles will be assembled before him …

Two important matters are to be observed here. First, this judgment will take place when Christ comes in his glory, together with his angels. Surely the second coming is denoted here.

Secondly, it is stated directly that it is the “gentiles” who will be judged. I know that the primary meaning of “ethnos” is “nation”. But for the Jews, the word came to mean all non-Jews or gentiles. Then, in early Christianity, it came to be understood that only disciples of the Messiah were true Jews {Romans 2:28,29}. Only they comprise “the Israel of God” {Galatians 6:15,16}. Thus, for the early Christians, the term “gentiles” began to be applied to non-disciples. One New Testament example may be I Peter 4:3:

For we have spent enough of our past lifetime in doing the will of the Gentiles––when we walked in lewdness, lusts, drunkenness, revelries, drinking parties, and abominable idolatries. NKJV

But perhaps the following passage is the clearest example:

Beloved, you are acting faithfully in whatever you accomplish for the brethren, and especially when they are strangers; and they have testified to your love before the church. You will do well to send them on their way in a manner worthy of God. For they went out for the sake of the Name, accepting nothing from the Gentiles. Therefore we ought to support such men, so that we may be fellow workers with the truth. 3John 1:5-8 NASB

In this passage, the word translated as “Gentiles” above is translated by the RSV as “heathen”; the NRSV translates it as “unbelievers”, and the Philips translates it as “non-Christians.”
Strangely enough, the King James translates the word as “gentiles” here, but translates it as “heathen” in Gal 1:6, Gal 2:9, and Gal 3:8.

There are many examples in second-century Christians writings of using the plural of “ethnos” with reference to non-Christians.

In Matthew 25, it is unlikely that it is the “nations” who are judged. I cannot imagine, say, Brazil or Canada being cast into the aeonion fire, while United States goes into aeonion life.

Thus, as I see it, in Matthew 25, the word refers to “gentiles”, that is “non-disciples of Christ”. For there seems to be three groups in the whole passage: the brothers of Christ, and the “gentiles” who are separated into “sheep” and “goats”. As I see it, the “brothers of Christ” are all of the saints of all ages, who will be raised to life, immortal at His coming. But this account seems to refer particularily to those of His brothers who will endure the great tribulation prior to Christ’s coming, who will be hungry and thirsty, sick, and in prison.

That the dead in Christ will be raised at Christ's coming, and that Christ's disciples will be instantly made immortal without dying, is obvious from I Thess 4:13-17 as well as from the following passage:

Lo! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed. For this perishable nature must put on the imperishable, and this mortal nature must put on immortality. I Cor 15:51-53 RSV

And that they are called "brothers of Christ" may be inferrred from the fact that Jesus Himself was the firstborn of the dead, that is the first to be raised from the dead {Revelation 1:5} --- the firstborn of many brothers {Roman 8:29}.

After this event, all people who remain on earth will be non-disciples or “gentiles”. Christ will then judge them as described in the rest of the passage:

…and he will separate them from one another as the shepherd separates the sheep from the goats, and he shall place the sheep at his right had and the goats at his left, then the King will say to the ones at his right, “Come blessed ones of my Father, come inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I hungered and you gave me food. I thirsted and you gave me drink. I was a stranger and you gathered me in, without clothing and you clothed me. I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to me.”

Then the righteous will respond to Him, saying, “Sir, when did we see you hungering and fed [you] or thirsting and gave drink? Now when did we see you a stranger and gathered [you] in, or without clothing and clothed [you]? Now when did we see you sick or in prison and came to you?”

And responding, the King will say to them, “Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these my brothers, you did for me.

Then he will say to those on the left, “Get away from me, cursed ones, into the aeonian fire which was prepared for the devil and his angels. For I hungered and you gave me no food. I thirsted and you gave me no drink. I was a stranger, and you did not gather me in, without clothing, and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison, and you did not look after me.”

Then they will respond also, saying, “Sir, when did we see you hungering or thirsting, or a stranger, or without clothing, or sick, or in prison, and did not attend to you?”

Then he will respond to them, saying, “Whatever you did not do for one of these least ones, neither did you do for me.”

And these will go away into aeonion correction, but the righteous into aeonion life.

It seems that our Lord teaches that whether or not the non-disciples receive painful correction or life depends upon the way they treated Christ’s brothers prior to His coming. It is amazing that the basis on which the goats being sent to the fire, seems to rest entirely on the fact that they have done nothing to help Christ’s brothers. Not one word is said to them concerning any evil deeds which they may have done.

However, it is possible that there will be such a polarization of good and evil in those days that this one test is sufficient to separate them. Those who join the beast, or antichrist, in persecution of Christ’s disciples, will certainly not be aiding those disciples in any way. Likewise, those who will aid the disciples will not be among those who persecute them.

It seems that the righteous of that day will begin their aeonion life right here on earth during the millennium, and that this life will continue ages beyond that, without end. They will be the ones over whom Christ and His resurrected brethren will reign during the millennium, during which time Satan will be bound. These righteous will continue to be mortals and have children, some of whom will be deceived by Satan when he is loosed for a little while at the end of the millennium.

As for the goats, they will be put to death, and be raised to life at the end of the millennium {Rev 20:5}. Then they will be judged in the final judgment and cast into the lake of fire, to endure severe correction.


After Satan is loosed for a time at the end of the millennium, he deceives the nations God and Magog, who then make war against the saints. After their defeat, the final, general judgment takes place. John saw this judgment in his vision:

Then I saw a great white throne and him who sat upon it; from his presence earth and sky fled away, and no place was found for them. And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Also another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, by what they had done. And the sea gave up the dead in it, Death and Hades gave up the dead in them, and all were judged by what they had done. Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire; and if any one’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire. Revelation 20:11-15.



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[Guest]

We have been looking at history lately concerning the prophecy spoken about Israel for blessing for blessing and cursing for cursing and it seems to be supported by these verses as well.

Thus, as I see it, in Matthew 25, the word refers to “gentiles”, that is “non-disciples of Christ”. For there seems to be three groups in the whole passage: the brothers of Christ, and the “gentiles” who are separated into “sheep” and “goats”. As I see it, the “brothers of Christ” are all of the saints of all ages, who will be raised to life, immortal at His coming. But this account seems to refer particularily to those of His brothers who will endure the great tribulation prior to Christ’s coming, who will be hungry and thirsty, sick, and in prison.

Except we see the "brothers of Christ" not just as the saints - but also the Jews. We see the world is clearly dividing into 2 camps now. Who cares about Israel and who doesn't. How many righteous gentiles were there who put their lives on the line in Nazi Germany when they saw his brethren starving and naked and cast out? I'm hoping to soften my relatives' position about Israel when I see them soon. The father of lies has been very active in his propaganda war against the Jews.

Obadiah 15 "The day is near when I, the Lord, will judge the godless nations! As you have done to Israel, so it will be done to you. All your evil deeds will fall back on your own heads.
16 Just as you swallowed up my people on my holy mountain, so you and the surrounding nations will swallow the punishment I pour out on you. Yes, you nations will drink and stagger and disappear from history, as though you had never even existed. NLT

The same idea is also here in Joel 3:1-4

“In those days and at that time,
when I restore the fortunes of Judah and Jerusalem,
2 I will gather all nations
and bring them down to the Valley of Jehoshaphat.
There I will enter into judgment against them
concerning my inheritance, my people Israel,
for they scattered my people among the nations
and divided up my land.
3They cast lots for my people
and traded boys for prostitutes;
they sold girls for wine
that they might drink.
4 “Now what have you against me, O Tyre and Sidon and all you regions of Philistia? Are you repaying me for something I have done? If you are paying me back, I will swiftly and speedily return on your own heads what you have done.
14 Multitudes, multitudes
in the valley of decision!
For the day of the Lord is near
in the valley of decision.
15 The sun and moon will be darkened,
and the stars no longer shine.
16 The Lord will roar from Zion
and thunder from Jerusalem;
the earth and the sky will tremble.
But the Lord will be a refuge for his people,
a stronghold for the people of Israel.
17 Then you will know that I, the Lord your God,
dwell in Zion, my holy hill.
Jerusalem will be holy;
never again will foreigners invade her.

The Valley of decision... the judgement of the nations

Jeremiah 25:
This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, said to me: “Take from my hand this cup filled with the wine of my wrath and make all the nations to whom I send you drink it.
16 When they drink it, they will stagger and go mad because of the sword I will send among them.”
17 So I took the cup from the Lord's hand and made all the nations to whom he sent me drink it:
18 Jerusalem and the towns of Judah, its kings and officials, to make them a ruin and an object of horror and scorn and cursing, as they are today;
19 Pharaoh king of Egypt, his attendants, his officials and all his people,
20 and all the foreign people there; all the kings of Uz; all the kings of the Philistines (those of Ashkelon, Gaza, Ekron, and the people left at Ashdod);
21 Edom, Moab and Ammon;
22 all the kings of Tyre and Sidon; the kings of the coastlands across the sea;
23 Dedan, Tema, Buz and all who are in distant places;
24 all the kings of Arabia and all the kings of the foreign people who live in the desert;
25 all the kings of Zimri, Elam and Media;
26 and all the kings of the north, near and far, one after the other—all the kingdoms on the face of the earth. And after all of them, the king of Sheshach will drink it too.
27 “Then tell them, ‘This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: Drink, get drunk and vomit, and fall to rise no more because of the sword I will send among you.’
28 But if they refuse to take the cup from your hand and drink, tell them, ‘This is what the Lord Almighty says: You must drink it!
29 See, I am beginning to bring disaster on the city that bears my Name, and will you indeed go unpunished? You will not go unpunished, for I am calling down a sword upon all who live on the earth, declares the Lord Almighty.’
30 “Now prophesy all these words against them and say to them:
“ ‘The Lord will roar from on high;
he will thunder from his holy dwelling
and roar mightily against his land.
He will shout like those who tread the grapes,
shout against all who live on the earth.
31 The tumult will resound to the ends of the earth,
for the Lord will bring charges against the nations;
he will bring judgment on all mankind
and put the wicked to the sword,’ ”
declares the Lord.
32 This is what the Lord Almighty says:
“Look! Disaster is spreading
from nation to nation;
a mighty storm is rising
from the ends of the earth.”
33 At that time those slain by the Lord will be everywhere—from one end of the earth to the other. They will not be mourned or gathered up or buried, but will be like refuse lying on the ground.
34 Weep and wail, you shepherds;
roll in the dust, you leaders of the flock.
For your time to be slaughtered has come;
you will fall and be shattered like fine pottery.
35 The shepherds will have nowhere to flee,
the leaders of the flock no place to escape.
36 Hear the cry of the shepherds,
the wailing of the leaders of the flock,
for the Lord is destroying their pasture.
37 The peaceful meadows will be laid waste
because of the fierce anger of the Lord.
38 Like a lion he will leave his lair,
and their land will become desolate
because of the sword of the oppressor
and because of the Lord's fierce anger.

This judgement begins at Jerusalem, and quickly spreads through the nations. Verse 34 sounds very similar to Psalm 2:9 which is repeated in Rev 19:15 which is the second coming.

As you observed this judgement happens at Christ's return - all the saints are with him (1 Thess 3:13). So which judgement is this? In the light of Joel 3, Obadiah and Jeremiah 25 I see it as the judgement of the nations at the end of this age which ushers in the millenial reign.

[_Allyn]

Placed in wrong thread

[_Allyn]

There is in fact an eschatological chain of events that take us from the first coming of the Messiah to the eternal state. They are as follows:

1. God became man in the Person of Jesus Christ (John 1:14; 1 Tim. 3:16).
Jesus spent three and a half years preaching that "the Kingdom of God is at hand" (Matt. 4:17,23; 9:35; 10:7; 12:28; Mark 1:14-15; Luke 4:43; 8:1; 9:2,60; 10:9,11; 11:20; 16:16), then gave His life as a sacrifice for sin (Rom. 3:25; 5:6,8,11; 14:9; 1 Cor. 5:7; 15:3; Eph. 5:2; Heb. 9:26; 10:12,26; 1 Jn. 2:2; 4:10).
After three days and three nights in the grave (Matt. 12:40; 27:63; Jn. 2:19), Jesus was raised from the dead (Acts 2:24,32; 3:15,26; 4:10; 5:30; 10:40; 13:30-34; Rom. 4:25; 1 Cor. 15:15).
All of this was in precise fufillment of the "seventy weeks" prophecy of Daniel (cf. Dan. 9:23-27; 12).

2. Satan was "bound" during this time (Matt. 12:22-29; 13:24-30,47-50; Luke 10:17-19; John 12:31-32; Eph. 4:8; Col. 2:15; Heb. 2:14; 1 John 3:8 ) - implicitly foretold in Gen. 3:15. This is apocalyptically represented in Rev. 12:7-12 and 20:3. This is why Christ is so often presented as, quite literally, enlightenment for the entire world - i.e., all peoples/nations (John 1:9; 3:19; 6:14,33; 8:12; 9:5,39; 12:46; 14:31 - cf. Isa. 25:7 and 1 John 2:8 ).
Before Christ's resurrection, Satan still had reign over the minds & hearts of the nations (Psalm 147:20; Matt. 4:8; Acts 14:16; 17:30; Eph. 2:11-12). Much of this influence was achieved through the widespread reality of idolatry (2 Kings 17:29; 1 Chron. 16:26; Ps. 96:5; Acts 19:27), which allowed the powers of darkness to enjoy great control over men's hearts (Lev. 17:7; Deut. 32:17; Ps. 106:37; 1 Cor. 10:19-20). This is the reason for the otherwise perplexing narratives of Matt. 10:5-6 and 15:22-28.
Confusion reigned from Babel (Gen.11:9) to Pentecost (Acts 2:4-7) - but now God requires all to respond to Him. Although Satan does roam about on a long leash - "seeking whom he may devour" (1 Pe. 5:8 ) - he is restricted ("bound") during this present Gospel Age so that he is unable to "deceive the nations" (John 16:8-11; Acts 14:15-16; 17:30; Rev. 20:3) and the Gospel may progress (Matt. 24:14; 28:18-19; Mark 14:9; 16:15; John 4:35-38; 17:18-23; Rom. 16:25-26).

I am convinced that by "nations" is meant "people groups" -- specifically 70 (as set forth in Genesis 10 and symbolized in Ex. 15:27; Num. 33:9; and Luke 10:1,17). The binding of Satan has opened all nations to the Gospel, thereby fulfilling the promise to Abraham (Gen. 12:3; 18:18; 22:18; 26:4; 28:14; Acts 3:25 - see esp. Gal. 3:8 ). This is the actual meaning of the "world" passages (John 1:29; 3:16-17; 4:42; 6:51; 12:47; 1 Jn. 2:2; 4:14). God deals with "the world" - i.e., all peoples/ nations - through Jesus Christ. The situation of Matt. 4:8 has changed to that of Rev. 11:15.

Now the Spirit convicts the world (John 16:18 ), and the Church is the "light of the world" (Phil'p. 2:15) - Satan is now "bound" so that we live the reality of John 4:4. The end result will be the beautiful scene revealed in Rev. 5:9 and 14:6 - the vast multi-ethnic One Body of Christ.

3. The resurrected Christ ascends into heaven (Luke 24:51; John 6:62; 16:28; 17:11; 20:17; Acts 1:9; Eph. 4:8-10; Rev. 12:5), being exalted by the Father (Acts 4:11; 5:31; Phil'p. 2:9; Heb. 1:4-6).
This moment of exaltation is pictured for us in Dan. 7:13-27 and Rev. 5. In this He reclaims the glory that was eternally His (John 1:1; 17:5,24), a glory "set aside" to become our Redeemer (2 Cor. 8:9; Phil'p. 2:5-8; Heb. 2:9-18; 10:20). He now sits "at the right hand of God" (Ps. 110:1; Matt. 26:24; Mark 14:62; 16:19; Luke 22:69; Acts 2:33-34; 7:55-56; Rom. 8:34; Eph. 1:20; Col. 3:1; Heb. 1:3,8-13; 8:1; 10:12; 12:2), the Biblical fulfillment of "the throne of David" (Acts 2:30-36). This is the present reign of Christ (Matt. 28:18; 1 Cor. 15:24-28; Eph. 1:20-23; Phil'p. 2:9-11; 1 Pe. 3:22) -- a spiritual reality (see above). This is the great Messianic Kingdom depicted in Psalm 110:1, perhaps the key OT passage concerning Messiah (cf. Matt. 22:42-44) and embodied in Peter's confession of Jesus as "the Christ" (i.e., "Messiah" - Matt. 16:16-18 ). Jesus did not simply ascend to God, but to His throne -- Rev. 12:5 (i.e., He rules "all nations with a rod of iron" since His ascension). Christ's Kingdom is the heart of His message -- "the Gospel of the Kingdom" - the Messianic rule of Isaiah 9:6-7 and Dan. 2:44 is now a reality (Rev. 1:5). This spiritual rule is the "glory" that was set before Christ -- Luke 24:26; John 12:23; 1 Peter 1:11.

4. In A.D. 70, Titus and the Roman armies destroyed the temple in Jerusalem in direct fulfillment of Christ's words (Matt. 21:43; 23:38; Luke 11:17; 20:16; 21:7-24). This fulfilled Daniel's prophecy (Dan. 9:26-27; 12:7,11), being the historical demonstration of what had already occured spiritually when the temple veil was torn in two (Matt. 27:51; Mark 15:38; Luke 23:45) -- the official Divine rejection of natural Israel (cf. Matt. 8:12; 21:43; Luke 13:28; 14:24; Rom. 11; 1 Thes. 2:14-16). The "times of the Gentiles" (Matt. 8:11-12; Luke 21:24; Rom. 11:25; cf. Rev. 11:2) had begun. This is in fulfillment of passages like Isa. 66:18-19 and Mal. 1:11. There was now a "great gulf fixed" between "natural" Israel and the true "Israel of God," symbolized as being in "Abraham's bosom" (see the parable of Lazarus and the Rich Man in Luke 16). John the Baptist had foreshadowed this very reality in Matthew 3:9-10/Luke 3:8 (note the correlation between Matt. 3:10 and Rom. 11:16-22). This "casting away" of Israel is the spiritual reality symbolized by Matt. 19:28; Luke 22:29-30 and Rev. 20:4.

5. The period we are in now is variously described in Scripture as: "the last days" (Acts 2:17; 2 Tim. 3:1; Heb. 1:2; James 5:3; 1 Pe. 1:20; 1 Jn. 2:18; Jude 8 ); "the acceptable year of the Lord" (Luke 4:19; 2 Cor. 6:2); "the day of salvation" (2 Cor. 6:2; Heb. 3:7; 4:7); etc. In this age, the Kingdom is extended (Matt. 11:12; 13:33; 24:14; Acts 14:22; 1 Cor. 4:20; Col. 4:11) as the elect are gathered (John 11:52; Rom. 9:22-23; Eph. 1:10; 2 Peter 3:9,15-16) -- from all people-groups/nations (Matt. 24:14; 28:19; Mark 13:10; 16:15; Luke 24:27; John 4:22-23; Acts 1:9; 14:27; 17:30; 26:20,23; 28:28; Rom. 1:5,16; 2:9-10; 9:24-26,30; 10:12-13; 11:25,30; 16:26; 1 Cor. 1:24; 12:13; Gal. 3:13-14,28; Eph. 2:11-22; Col. 3:11; 1 Tim. 3:16; 2 Tim. 4:17). To this the OT Prophets, unknowingly (Eph. 3:2-11; Col. 1:25-28 ), gave abundant witness - Ps. 72:11,17; 86:9; Isa. 2:2; 11:10; 42:6; 49:6; 54:3; 60:3; 61:9; 62:2; 66:12,18-19; Jer. 3:17; 4:2; 16:19; Dan. 7:13-14; Micah 5:8; Hag. 2:7; Zech. 2:11; 8:22-23; Mal. 1:11; Matt. 8:11; Mark 11:17; Luke 2:32; Rom. 15:8-12; Gal. 3:8. Indeed, such is the purpose behind the casting away of natural Israel (Romans 11:11-12,15). Ironically, Israel had fulfilled the words of their own prophets by condemning Jesus -- Acts 13:27! This same motif is represented in Rev. 22:2 -- the "tree of life," whose leaves are for "the healing of the nations."

6. It is this present age that is symbolized in Rev. 20 - this "day of salvation" is represented by "the thousand years" (cf. 2 Pe. 3:8 ) - the "today" of Heb. 3:13. The exalted Jesus Christ reigns now on "the throne of David" (Acts 2:30-36), on the true "Mt. Zion" (Ps. 2:6; Heb. 12:22; 1 Pe. 2:6; Rev. 14:1), in the heavenly "Jerusalem" (Gal. 4:26; Heb. 11:10,16; 12:22; 13:14; Rev. 3:12; 21:2,10), over the true "Israel of God" (Rom. 2:28-29; 9:6; 11; 1 Cor. 10:18; Gal.6:16 - contrast Rev. 2:9 and 3:9). Furthermore, we reign "with Him" and "in Him" now, in this present life (Matt. 16:19; 24:45-47; Luke 22:29; Rom. 5:17; 1 Cor. 4:8; Eph.1:3; 2:5-6; Col. 1:13; Rev. 1:6,9; 5:10) - having partaken of "the first resurrection" (John 5:24-29; Rom. 6:6,11; Eph. 2:1,5-6; Col. 2:12-13; 3:1-3; Rev. 20:5-6) - i.e., entering His Kingdom by being "born again" (John 3:3,5; Col. 1:13; 1 Thes. 2:12; 2 Pe. 1:11). Note that Peter specifically tells us that in condemning Christ, Israel has fulfilled the prophets which were continually read in the synagogues -- Acts 13:27; this one overlooked verse contains overwhelming significance for eschatology! Later, the Apostle Peter would say specifically that the Apostles were "eyewitnesses of His Majesty" -- 2 Peter 1:16.

7. This Gospel Age will continue for a long, though fixed and determined, period of time -- again, symbolized by "a thousand years." At some point, Satan's restraint will be removed (2 Thes. 2:6-7); he will be "loosed" for "a little season" (Rev. 20:3,7-9)(It may have already begun). It is at this time that the prophesied "great falling away" will take place (2 Thes. 2:11-12), and some say the man whom the Apostle Paul called "the man of sin" will be revealed (2 Thes. 2:8-10). God's saints remain on earth during this time (shown by 1 Cor. 15:51-55 and Rev. 20:14).

8. After the "little season," Jesus Christ will return to earth literally and visibly (Matt. 24:27; Luke 17:24; Acts 1:11; Rev. 1:7). All of the dead are raised in one general bodily resurrection, the saints with glorified bodies (Job 14:14-15; Romans 8:17,19,30; 1 Cor. 15:35-56; 2 Cor. 5:1-10; 1 John 3:2). This is our "blessed hope" (Titus 2:12-13; 1 Peter 1:3-5; 1 John 3:2-3 -- cf. Ps. 16:9-10) - the "salvation" of the saints is complete only then (1 Peter 1:3). The resurrected saints and those believers still alive (also glorified) will be "caught up" to "meet Him in the air" (1 Cor. 15:52; 1 Thes. 4:15-17). The heavens and the earth are destroyed by fire (Ps. 102:25-26; Isa. 24:19-20; 34:4; 51:6; Matt. 24:35; Heb. 1:11-12; 2 Peter 3:7,10-12; Rev. 6:13-14; 20:11) and recreated into a "new heavens and new earth" (Isa. 65:17; 66:22; 2 Peter 3:13; Rev. 21:1). There will be one judgment of all people - eternal destinies, rewards, etc. are all decided at this one judgment. Those not found "written in the Lamb's Book of Life" are cast into the Lake of Fire (Matt. 25:41,46; Rev. 14:9-11; 20:15), where they suffer according to their sins (cf. Matt. 10:15; 11:22,24; Mark 6:11; Luke 12:47-48 ) and are eventually destroyed in the consuming flames (Isa. 51:6; Mal. 4:1,3; Rom. 9:22; Phil'p. 3:19; 2 Thes. 1:9; 2:9; Heb. 10:27; Jude 7). Satan and his angels suffer the same fate (Matt. 25:41; Rev. 20:10),

9. Christ will "deliver the Kingdom up to the Father" that "God may be all in all" (1 Cor. 15:28 ). This simply means that Jesus Christ will continue to reign as Deity (Rev. 22:1-4 - "throne of God and of the Lamb") -- "His Kingdom shall have no end" (Isa. 9:7; Dan. 7:13,27; 2 Peter 1:11; Rev. 11:15; 22:5). Believers will spend eternity beholding God made visible in Jesus Christ (2 Cor. 4:6; Rev. 22:4). This eternal reality is symbolically described in Rev. 21-22. This is the Kingdom of God fully actualized (Matt. 25:34; 2 Tim. 4:1,18; Heb. 12:28 ) -- it is in this sense that we pray "Thy Kingdom come" (Luke 11:2). Thus, the grand end of God's plan for history is that ontological reality of His actualized Kingdom, "wherein dwells righteousness" and "all things are reconciled" (Eph. 1:10; Col. 1:20; 2 Peter 3:13; Rev. 21:27).

[Guest]

Allyn,

I just bookmarked this page as an Eschatology reference.
(Great Job)!
Rick