WHO ARE THE SHEEP AND THE GOATS?

In Matthew 25:31-46, Jesus explains the Judgment of the Nations, which will occur at His Second Coming. This is not to be confused with the Judgment Seat of Christ (born again believers in heaven during the Tribulation - Rom. 14:10; 1 Cor. 3: 8-15; 2 Cor. 5:10), or with the Great White Throne Judgment (those whose names are not written in the Lamb's Book of Life at the end of the Millennium - Rev. 20:11-15). I would like to make a few observations about the identity of the "sheep" and the "goats."

First of all, there are four groups mentioned at this judgment: His holy angels (v. 31); the "nations" make up two groups (v. 32-33); and the Lord's "brethren" (v. 40, 45). It is extremely important to the interpretation of this passage, that we understand it is the Gentile "nations" which are being judged. The "sheep" are not Jews, nor or they the Church.

Secondly, Matthew 25:32, "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." In this verse, the antecedent "nations" is neuter, and the pronoun, "them," is masculine. In addition, the word "nations" cannot mean actual nations because the Word says that ALL nations will hate the Lord's brethren (Joel 3:1-2; Matt. 24:9). Therefore, a better translation would be "Gentiles," which would allow for individual Gentiles to minister to His brethren.

Thirdly, as far as I can tell, the argument that only the "saved" can enter the Millennium is not supported by Scripture or logic. If the "sheep" were saved individuals, Jesus would not need to separate them from the "lost goats" based upon their works; works do not save. And yet, the passage clearly states that His decision as to which group the individual belongs, is based upon their works.

Fourthly, the "logic" that declares the unsaved cannot enter into the Lord's 1000 year Kingdom, but by the end, nearly the entire population is lost (Rev. 19:19-20). Of course, there are those who say that the saved who lived through the Tribulation, are procreating children who are not saved. That would imply that Jesus need not rule with "a rod of iron" until those entering the Millennium had children (Ps. 2:9; Rev. 12:5; 19:15).

And finally, to those who point out that the Kingdom was "prepared for (them) from the foundation of the world" (Matt. 25:34), and say that proves all entering will be saved. I would point out that lots of things were prepared "before the foundation of the world." Christ was crucified before it (Heb. 4:3; Rev. 13:8). The Mystery of the Church was hidden (Matt. 13:35). And the prophets of old were determined to be made martyrs before the world was formed (Lk. 11:50). It is quite possible that God planned to have both saved and unsaved Gentiles in the Kingdom He planned for His Son.