The Fire in Matthew 25

From a visitor of this site I received the following question:

In Matthew Jesus speaks about the judgment of the nations. Whoever “treats Israel well” will stand at God’s right hand. Here no resurrection has preceded. Yet it is spoken of as the punishment from Revelation 20, the lake of fire, comparing it with the fact that “the goats” end up in the fire with Satan and his cohorts. Still, in my opinion, it must be another judgment, because no resurrection has taken place beforehand. How is that exactly?

ANSWER:
This concerns the gathering of the nations in Jerusalem, prior to the thousand years (Rev. 19:19–21). By then the “Son of Man” (Ben Adam) has taken His place on “the throne of His glory” (Matthew 25:31). Those who have not been good to the least of His brothers (>brothers according to the flesh = Israelites) are referred to the fire prepared for the devil and his messengers (Matthew 25:41). With his messengers (angels) we are to think of the beast and the false prophet. Of this trio we read that they will be cast into the lake of fire and brimstone (Rev. 19:20; 20:10).

This judgment will take place in the region that once before burned with fire and brimstone: the area of the Dead Sea (Gen. 19:24,28). It is in this environment that also the “goats,” i.e. the unwilling nations, will perish.

The judgment in Matthew 25 runs parallel to what we find at the end of Rev. 19. There too is a gathering of nations and at the same time the end of “the beast and the false prophet.” In one breath it is said: “and the rest (>goats) were killed with the sword” (Rev. 19:21).

We also read about this judgment in Joel 3:1–2:

“For behold, in those days, and in that time, when I shall bring back the captivity of Judah and Jerusalem, I will also gather all nations, and will bring them down into the valley of Jehoshaphat (= YAHWEH judges), and will plead with them there for My people and for My heritage Israel, whom they have scattered among the nations, and parted My land…”

Note the sequence: restoration of Israel, gathering of all nations in “the land,” and a judgment “for My people’s sake” (cf. “the least of My brothers”).

Delen: