Thread by @LifeToDryBones, The Sheep & Goat Judgement And It's Relationship With The Judgement Of [...]

The Sheep & Goat Judgement And It's Relationship With The Judgement Of Joel 3

A Thread

One of the most debated topics in Biblical theology, especially among New Testament scholars, is the Judgement of the Goats and Sheep. Some schools of thought argue that the Brethren, Goats & Sheep are different sets of people, others argue that the Sheep & Brethren are the same.

Now, if the Sheep & Brethren are the same people, then Jesus would have also referred to the Sheep as His brethren, but He didn't.
All literary expressions & contextual connotations indicate that the Goats, Sheep & Brethren are three different sets of people.

So, who are His brethren?

Now, some scholars claim that 'brethren' in the context of Matthew 25, refers to the 'brethren' of Matthew 12:50.
But if that were to be the case, then both 'His brethren' & 'the Sheep' would all have been regarded as "my brethren".

Therefore, 'brethren' in the context of Matthew 25, doesn't mean those who do the will of the Father.
The only other definition of brethren in this context, would be Jesus' brethren by blood, which are the Israelites (always try to put yourself in the position of the speaker).

With that made clear, let's look at Matthew 25:31-32.
Here, we see that the event of this portion of scripture, will happen at the return of The Messiah, & these verses also indicate that this event is the same with Matthew 24:30, meaning that the events are the same.

We see here that, at His arrival, Jesus judges the nations, not unbelievers per se, but The Nations.
Now, tying in with Joel 2:30-3:2, we see that the same event of Jesus' arrival & judgement on the nations(Mtt 24:30, 25:31-32), is paralleled in Joel 3.

Also, all the aforementioned scriptures show that this event happens after the cosmic signs of the end, which was also stated in Matthew 24; therefore, these three chapters are referring to the same event.

Here (Matthew 25:34-40), we see expressly, that Jesus judges the nations for how His brethren, Israel, was treated; this is why, out of the nations, there came goats & sheep.
These sheep and goats will be judged accordingly.

Now, to further buttress the point that, these judgements are about how the Israelites were treated, the book of Joel went into further details on what The Most High was judging the nations for.

In Matthew 25:35-36, we see that the Sheep treated Israel favourably.

It's important to know why Israel had to be treated favourably; yes they were naked, unclothed & hungry, but this happened due to a cause.

Joel 3:2-3

Now, we see that the reason why Israel was disadvantaged in such manner & needed such care, was because they were scattered among all nations & were sold into slavery; this was the reason for this judgement on the nations of the earth.

Also, you'd notice that, these scriptures also align with the battle of Armageddon in Revelation 16:16, which as we know, also happens at the end of this age/dispensation.
You'd also notice that in Matthew 25, Joel 3 & Revelation 16:16, it was God who gathered these nations.

We also see, that the judgement is about how Israel was treated while they were scattered among the nations.
Matthew 25:41-46 tells us of the punishment of the people of the nations who mistreated Israel in their time of captivity; these are the nations pointed out in Joel 3:4-6.

Also, in those verses, we see more details on the level of slavery & scattering perpetuated by the aforementioned nations.

Now, one nation that stands out is Greece.

This is important because we have to know who the Greecians are today.
In antiquities, you'd understand that the Greecians of the 800BC to about 100BC, were a people that made up two massive empires of Greece & later, Rome (Greeco-Roman), & that empire is today, Europe.

So, these are the people who the Israelites were sold to; & of course, the United States of America, is also an extension of this Greecian empire which later became Rome & is now Europe.

These verses tells us that The Most High will do to those who scattered Israel, what they did to Israel, & this is the everlasting punishment that was mentioned in Matthew 25:46.

You'd notice that in that same v46, the righteous mentioned there are the sheep.

This clearly indicates that it's only those who truly believe on The Messiah & treat Israel well, that will partake in the New Kingdom. This is important because, anyone who's truly of the Father & does His will, will treat Israel well, not on their own volition, but because...

they have the Spirit of God in them; notice that none of the verses emphasized on the nations necessarily knowing WHO Israel is, nevertheless, only those with the Spirit of God would treat Israel well, regardless, this is why Jesus called them "righteous".

As for the goats, contrary to popular theology, they won't be sent into a lake of fire of any sort, rather, they'll be sent into punishment, and Joel 3:7-8 tells us that these punishments is a vengeance of The Most High on the nations which participated in selling Israel...

Into slavery and scattering, therefore the punishments on the nations will be slavery & scattering, just like they did it to Israel.
Also, note that the Gentile is defined in Genesis 10:2-5; unsurprisingly,this still points to the Greecians, which evolved into Rome & now, Europe.

Those are who the Bible defines as Gentiles.
Now, the Sabeans that the goats of the nations would be sold to, are descendants of Cush, son of Ham, which are today in Africa.

This becomes a full retribution of justice which is backed by Galatians 6:7.

So, the coming of Jesus is to rescue Israel from bondage & scattering among the nations, and also to bring alongside the Israelites, the sheep in all the nations into His glorious kingdom (Isaiah 14:1).

Please, always have it in mind that, for both Israelites & non-Israelites...

the key to having eternal life & partaking in that Great Kingdom, is to receive and believe in The Messiah, as well as keeping the commandments of The Father.

This is the relationship between Matthew 25:31-46 and Joel 3.
To know more about the Sabeans in Joel 3, please watch this very informative teaching displayed below.
(Credits to TEOTW Ministries)

Stay blessed & Shalom!

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