this is fantastic thanks for sharing, I am trying to understand if the sheeps and goat jugement is the same as the great white thrown Judgment? seems to me the sheep and goat judgment happens right after the tribulation but the great white thrown Judgement happens after the 1,000 rule of Christ, but it is not crystal clear?
this sounds like right after tribulation
Matthew 25:31-46 (sheeps and goats)
“When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. And he will place the sheep on his right, but the goats on the left. Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, ...
in chapter 20 is seems to be talking about the 1,000 year rule of Christ and this just seems to be last in the chapter giving me the thought it is at the end of the 1,000 rule
Revelation 20:11-15 (great white thrown)
Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. From his presence earth and sky fled away, and no place was found for them. And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done. And the sea gave up the dead who were in it, Death and Hades gave up the dead who were in them, and they were judged, each one of them, according to what they had done. Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. And if anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.
would love to here your thoughts on it
thanks
Thanks for your comment Dave. My perspective on eschatology though comes from a different angle than what you may have thought. Let me give an explanation for how I approach eschatology especially. Paul was correcting the Corinthian's errors of following various teachers and opposing one against another. It is obvious that some persons were 'reading into' the Scriptures their own preconceptions and desire to be different and advanced, rather than what the Scriptures state, thus you end up with divisions in the body of Christ. Paul as a safeguard stated the following:
"I have applied all this to myself and Apol′los for your benefit, brethren, that you may
learn by us not to go beyond what is written, that none of you may be puffed up in favor of one against another." (1Cor 4:6 RSV)
John's gospel gives us an example of what happens when we 'read into' what is stated out of our own minds, seeking to know the future in this very example:
"When Peter saw him, he said to Jesus, 'Lord, what about this man?' Jesus said to him, 'If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you? Follow me!' The saying spread abroad among the brethren that this disciple was not to die;
yet Jesus did not say to him that he was not to die, but, 'If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you?'” (John 21:21-23 RSV)
When I am studying Scripture, I am very cautious about reading into the apocalyptic language and high symbolism of the prophecies, ideas that will not fit with or agree with the plain, clear cut statements of Scripture. I admit, my framework for eschatology is quite limited being based upon explicit statements of Scripture, though I do as most, have my ideas what many of the symbols and apocalyptic language mean. But, I admit once I leave the explicit statements of Scripture I'm into my personal theories that are just that, theories. But as to your question, I see it like this:
Matthew 24:1-35 are clearly and explicitly about the judgment coming on the Jews coming up to and climaxing in 70AD. Nothing there do I see predictive about our future. There is a switch, a turning point in v36 where it goes to our future and the last day which is emphatically unknown, leading through time until the resurrection and judgment: I believe the subject matter is as given in some Bibles, "The Necessity for Watchfulness"(24:36-44), "The Faithful or Unfaithful Slave"(24:45-51), continuing in chapter 25, "The Parable of the Ten Bridesmaids"(25:1-13), "The Parable of the Talents"(25:14-30) and then "The judgment of the Nations"(25:31-46) which I do believe is the same as the great white throne judgment you mention in Revelation 20.
I do not believe in a 7-year great tribulation, as taught in modern day eschatology, because I do not find it stated and taught in Scripture. It is 'read into' the Scriptures, and I do not find it taught therein. I embrace the humble approach and statement on the last day, as to limited dogmatism, given in the First London Confession of Baptists/1646:
LII.
There shall be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and unjust, and everyone shall give an account of himself to God, that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad. Acts 24:15; 1 Cor. 5:10; Rom. 14:12. [Matt. 25; Rev. 22:11,12,13,14,15.]
I do believe there is a period of great trouble just before the last day, but I see it as the "little season" spoken of in Revelation 20:3. I believe I am living in the 1000 years now and do not seek it in the future.
