Joel 3:1-17 (Matthew 25:31-46)

1.     What will happen at this judgment?

Matthew 25:32 says the Judge will separate the people of the nations as a shepherd divides (same Grk. word as separate) his sheep from his goats.  In the Middle East flocks often have sheep and goats together but at night the shepherd will separate the two.  The more unruly goats make it hard on the more gentle sheep to rest.  Jesus used this term to describe how the angels will separate the wicked from the just at the end of the age (Mt. 13:49).  Paul also used it in calling believers to be separate in their lives (2 Cor. 6:17).

2.     Where will this judgment take place?

Joel says it is in the valley of Jehoshaphat (Joel 3:3,12; Jehoshaphat means God judges) and the valley of decision (Joel 3:14).  Some take this as symbolic of judgment and that the valley is at Megiddo, the Valley of Jezreel in the north.  Others hold that it is the valley to the south of Jerusalem (Valley of Hinnom or Gehenna) or the east of Jerusalem (Kidron).  They connect these with the Valley of Berachah where Jehoshaphat and the people of Judah gathered to bless the LORD after He had given them victory in battle (2 Chron. 20:26).  This view might fit better as Jesus is seen as judging from His throne in Zion.

3.     What will be the standard at this judgment?

The words here are very specific.  The Judge (who is the LORD our Shepherd) is sitting in front of the mass of sheep and goats.  To His side are His brethren (25:40,45), the saved nation of Israel, who have already been judged, and who by definition are not in the nations that stand before Christ.  The Messiah was from the lineage of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, David and so on.  Thus the standard of judgment has to do with the way the people of the nations have treated Israel in the days of the tribulation when the antichrist had focused his terror on Israel.

The issue in judgment is faith (only faith in Christ can save) and how that faith is expressed.  It is thoroughly Biblical that the nations are accountable for their treatment of Israel.  This was part of the Abrahamic Covenant (Gen. 12:3: I will bless those who bless you and curse those who curse you).  Joel says this in 3:2-8 where he describes how the nations have treated My people, My heritage Israel.  

4.     What will be the outcome of this judgment?

This judgment has eternal consequences: the wicked go into everlasting punishment but the righteous into eternal life (25:46).  Eternity always rests in our faith-decision in Christ as Savior and Lord.  In this final judgment those who have trusted in Christ will exhibit it by standing with God in His faithfulness to Israel even as today we exhibit our faith by confessing  Christ as Lord, walking with Him in obedience, and loving for His people (1 John 4:2-3; 2:3-5; 3:14).