The Judgment of the Nations

(Read Matt. 25:31-46)

There are several major judgments spoken of in Scripture.

1. The judgment of all sin (at the cross where Christ took God's wrath on himself), Rom. 3:21-26

2. The judgment of believers (according to their works at the judgment seat of Christ in heaven), 1 Cor. 3:10-15; 2 Cor. 5:10

3. The judgment of Israel (during the times of the Gentiles, culminating at the Lord's return), Mal. 2:17-3:5

4. The judgment of the nations (at the time of Jesus’ return, for the way they have treated Israel), Joel 3:1-16; Mt. 25:31-46

5. The judgment of the wicked dead (at the Great White Throne all unbelievers judged for their evil works), Rev. 20:11-15

Matthew 25:31-46 and Joel 3:1-16 speak of the judgment of the nations (25:32, all the nations will be gathered before Him; 3:2, I will gather the nations … I will enter into judgment with them).  Jesus taught this as part of the Olivet Discourse, begun when His disciples asked questions about the sign of His coming (24:3).  This teaching is often heard from evangelical pulpits as part of pleas for people to care for the poor and needy, something which they certainly should do (care for the poor and needy).  But the use of this passage for that purpose is to take it out of its context and to miss the point.

For the next few Saturdays we will blog on this event.

1)    When will this judgment occur?  Joel 3:1, 14-16; Matt. 25:31

Joel says it will be when I bring back the captives of Judah and Jerusalem (3:1).  It is part of the coming day of the Lord (3:14), when the sun and moon will grow dark, and the stars will diminish their brightness (3:15).  It is after the return of Christ when He will roar from Zion, and utter His voice from Jerusalem (3:16).  Matthew says it will be When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory (25:31).  Both passages refer this to the time when, as Rev. 10:7 says, the mystery of God will be fulfilled.  Christ returns and the Father fulfills His promise to give Him the nations as an inheritance (Psalm 2:6-9).  In the course of events in Revelation 19-20 this judgment fits the time of Armageddon (19:17-21), called the supper of the great God (19:17) which comes immediately after the return (19:11-16).

2)    Who will be judged? Joel 3:2; Rev. 19:11-12; Matt. 25:32-33.

It is the nations, the people of the world apart from Israel who will have her own time of judgment.  Revelation points to a time when all the armies of the earth gather at Armageddon.  As Matthew 25 indicates it is a judgment of individuals, not simply nations or armies judged corporately.  And it is those who, at the end of Daniel’s 70^th week, have gathered under the Antichrist.