Tag Archives: sheep and goats

Friday Proverb – How Do You Want To Be Remembered?

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It is endlessly fascinating to me, just how specific the Word of God is on virtually every subject.  Most thinking people are aware on some level of the basic human desire to be remembered after passing on.  Some call it a legacy – some want their name in the history books – some want a nice eulogy at their funeral.  However it is expressed – it seems to exist in all people on some level – and that is why it is addressed in the Bible. 

What is notable about the Bible and Its treatment of this subject, is that It is only concerned with God’s memory of our legacies.  Not things made with human hands, such as plaques, memorials, headstones, charitable trusts, art work etc. . .

Do you know that to God – there are only two kinds of people?  Sheep and goats, or saved and unsaved.  That’s right –  not good, bad, hard working, lazy, selfish, charitable or greedy – it makes no difference.  You are either justified and sanctified by the Blood of Christ or you are not.

Proverbs 10:7

The memory of the just is blessed:

Think about that – if you repent and trust in the Lord Jesus Christ as your Savior He has promised that He will not remember your sins, because God will only see His righteousness – and we achieve justification through Him.

Psalm 103:11-13

11 For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear Him.

12 As far as the east is from the west, so far hath He removed our transgressions from us.

13 Like as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear Him.

but the name of the wicked shall rot.

No matter how famous, no matter how much charity, no matter how many good works – the promise for the wicked unrepentant is that every idle deed and word is remembered – none of the record of their world famous deeds will stand – none of their riches – not even a bowling trophy!  The only thing, the only thing that matters is that you trust in Him today without delay!

2 Thessalonians 1:7-9

7 And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with His mighty angels,

8 In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ:

9 Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of His power;

sheepgoats

Friday Proverb – Ill Gotten Gains

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Proverbs 10:2

 Treasures of wickedness profit nothing:

Some would look at this illustration and think it belongs to another, “less civilized” era.  Mankind has not changed, just the dressings have.  There are more that will deceive and take advantage of others, than there are that won’t.  We all need to be very circumspect in this matter.  Even pocketing extra change mistakenly given to you by a cashier constitutes as a “treasure of wickedness.” There may be some people who seem to be “getting away with it,” but they will be judged.  Perhaps not in this life, but definitely in the next.

but righteousness delivereth from death.

rapture23

Not deliverance physical death, perhaps, but deliverance from eternal death in the Lake of Fire – yes.  Only those who have admitted their sinfulness, and turned towards Jesus Christ and asked Him into their hearts are considered righteous.  In God’s eyes there are only two kinds of people in the world – sheep and goats – or – saved and unsaved.

Matthew 25:31-33

31 When the Son of man shall come in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then shall He sit upon the throne of His glory:

32 And before Him shall be gathered all nations: and He shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats:

judgment of the nations

33 And He shall set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left.

Judgments – Part 4

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Quickly reviewing  the first three segments of this series (which dealt entirely with the judgements of believers) :

  1. The judgment of the believer’s sins
  2. The judgment of the believer’s self
  3. The judgment of the believer’s works

This fourth part deals with the judgment of the nations, all of which  are to be judged at the Second Coming of Christ. 

The judgment of the nations is not the great white throne judgment.

The judgment of the nations will take place “when the Son of man shall come in His glory. . .then shall He sit upon the throne of His glory.”  Rev. 20:11-15 – 

11 And I saw a great white throne, and Him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.

12 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.

13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.

14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.

15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.  If you read that passage carefully, you will see that the Great White Throne is never called “the throne of His glory.”  The throne of His glory is here on earth – and  judges only the living!

At the judgment of the nations, there will be no resurrection of the dead.  But at the Great White Throne – ALL the wicked dead are raised.  Rev. 20:13 – And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.

At the judgment of the nations, the judge is GOD “the King” judging the living nations in His earthly kingdom.  But at the Great White Throne, the judge is GOD, judging only the wicked dead. 

At the judgment of the nations – no books are opened!  Whereas at the Great White Throne the “books were opened.” 

At the judgment of the nations, there are two classes of people judged:

  “sheep” – the saved.  Rev. 7: 9-17 –

9 After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands;

10 And cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb.

11 And all the angels stood round about the throne, and about the elders and the four beasts, and fell before the throne on their faces, and worshipped God,

12 Saying, Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honour, and power, and might, be unto our God for ever and ever. Amen.

13 And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they?

14 And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

15 Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve Him day and night in his temple: and He that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them.

16 They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat.

17 For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.  These are those who are saved during the Great Tribulation, after the sealing of the 144,000 Jews who do the work of evangelizing the world. 

“goats” – the unsaved   2 Thess. 1:7-10

7 And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with His mighty angels,

8 In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ:

9 Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of His power;

10 When He shall come to be glorified in His saints, and to be admired in all them that believe (because our testimony among you was believed) in that day.  Hard to believe, but there will be many with hardened hearts, who will still reject Jesus Christ, even while they experience the terrible events during  the Great Tribulation.  

At the great white throne there is only one class – “the wicked dead”

At the judgment of the nations, the Righteous King gives the earthly kingdom to those who are born again as “sheep.”  This begins the millennial earthly reign of Christ.  At the Great White Throne which occurs after the 1,000 years – there are no saved, and no Kingdom – they are ALL cast into the Lake of Fire. 

The judgment of the nations has nothing to do with the church!!!!

judgment of the nations

Matthew 25:31-32

31 When the Son of man shall come in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then shall He sit upon the throne of His glory:

32 And before Him shall be gathered all nations: and He shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats. . .