Events Surrounding the Return of Christ

““At the Judgement At the Judgement Seat of Christ”Seat of Christ”

Events Surrounding the Return of Christ

How do we get to Sinai?How do we get to Sinai? Man’s transport, or God’s? Matt. 18:10Matt. 18:10 and Ps. 34:7Ps. 34:7 – How can

angels rapidly traverse the immense distances between heaven and earth?

Closest star to earth - Alpha Centauri is 4.3 light years (297,600 kph) away.

Isa. 40:31Isa. 40:31 - Immortal travel not dependent on gravity or physical exertion.

Luke 24:36Luke 24:36 – Christ just appeared – no doors opened!

Events Surrounding the Return of Christ

Examples of mortal transferExamples of mortal transfer

John 6:16-John 6:16-2121

Disciples in boat some distance

from Capernaum.

Immediately at land!

15 km

Events Surrounding the Return of Christ

Examples of mortal transferExamples of mortal transfer Acts 8:39-40Acts 8:39-40 -

“caught away” is harpazo - used 1 Thess. 4:171 Thess. 4:17.

V.26V.26 - Directed to Gaza to meet Ethiopian eunuch.

V.40V.40 - Transported to Ashdod (32 kms).

Consider also Enoch and Elijah.

Events Surrounding the Return of Christ

The Order of JudgementThe Order of Judgement Matt. 20:1-16Matt. 20:1-16 (Context Matt. 19:27-30Matt. 19:27-30). First/Last – Last/First principle (19:30; 19:30;

20:1620:16). Those called last appear first for ‘reward’. Why? Practicalities of the judgement

process. Millions resurrected – majority awaiting

rejection – “many be called, but few chosen” – Matt. 20:16Matt. 20:16.

Holding the raised dead in a state of frailty (albeit wholeness) secures control.

Foreshadowed – Dan. 10:10-11; 15-17Dan. 10:10-11; 15-17.

Events Surrounding the Return of Christ

The Length of the JudgementThe Length of the Judgement Calculate time if Christ interviews each

responsible person individually.

Say, 20 million responsible, given 1 minute per interview = 38 years required (24 hr day).

Say, 10 mill. @ 1 hour interview = 1142 years (24 hr day).

Building of Tabernacle and Ark provides the clue – Ex. 40Ex. 40. Judgement process about 1 year!

Events Surrounding the Return of Christ

A Verbal Account to the AngelsA Verbal Account to the AngelsRomans 14:10-12Romans 14:10-12

10 But why dost thou judge thy brother? 10 But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of judgment seat of ChristChrist. . 11 For it is written, 11 For it is written, AsAs I live, saith the I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall every tongue shall confessconfess to God. to God. – – Cited Cited from from Isa. 45:23Isa. 45:2312 So then every one of us shall give 12 So then every one of us shall give accountaccount of himself to God. of himself to God.

Should be - “God” (Gr. Theos)

Gr. logos – the word spoken; an expression of the thoughts of the mind; an account or exposition.

Gr. Gr. exomologeomaiexomologeomai – to – to speak out and confess fully.speak out and confess fully.

Events Surrounding the Return of Christ

The Process of JudgementThe Process of Judgement Angels raise the dead and transport to

Sinai. Angels collect the responsible living

and transport to Sinai. Angels interview each responsible

person. Angels bring contemporary groups

before Christ’s judgement throne beginning with the final generation and working back to Adam.

Events Surrounding the Return of Christ

The Process of JudgementThe Process of Judgement Christ simply separates sheep from

goats and waves to right and left respectively – Matt. 25:32Matt. 25:32.

Some object and claim better treatment. A one line answer is given by Christ – Matt. 7:22-23Matt. 7:22-23.

When all have appeared, Christ glorifies the righteous simultaneously – 1 Cor. 1 Cor. 15:51-5315:51-53.

Christ then dismisses the rejected and the angels herd them away – Lk. 13:28Lk. 13:28.

Events Surrounding the Return of Christ

The Angels at the JudgementThe Angels at the Judgement1.1. Accompany Christ when he returns Accompany Christ when he returns

as judge of the household – as judge of the household – Matt. Matt. 16:27; 25:31; Mk. 8:3816:27; 25:31; Mk. 8:38..

2.2. The results of judgement are to be The results of judgement are to be declared in their presence – declared in their presence – Luke Luke 12:8-9; Rev. 3:512:8-9; Rev. 3:5..

3.3. They will remove and punish the They will remove and punish the rejected – rejected – Matt. 13:49-50Matt. 13:49-50..

Events Surrounding the Return of Christ

Role of the Angels –Role of the Angels – Hebrews 1:14Hebrews 1:14

14 Are they not all 14 Are they not all ministeringministering spirits, spirits, sent forthsent forth to ministerto minister for for them who shall be heirs of them who shall be heirs of salvation?salvation? Gr.Gr. eis diakonia eis diakonia – –

Lit. with a viewLit. with a view

to serviceto service

Gr. apostello – to send

forth, equip and

despatch on a mission

Gr. litourgikos – public service; esp. in the Temple

Events Surrounding the Return of Christ

The Judgement Seat – The Judgement Seat – Matt. 25:31-46Matt. 25:31-46

31 When 31 When the Son of manthe Son of man shall come in shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon him, then shall he sit upon the throne of the throne of his glory: his glory: - i.e. Christ’s judgement throne –- i.e. Christ’s judgement throne – Luke 9:26Luke 9:26

32 And before him shall be gathered 32 And before him shall be gathered all all nationsnations: and he shall separate them one : and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth from another, as a shepherd divideth hishis sheep from the sheep from the goatsgoats.. Suggests goats Suggests goats

more numerousmore numerous

Title of Christ’s delegated authority to judge – John 5:27John 5:27. “His work as saviour qualified him to be judge of man.” (Bro. John Carter)

People of all nations – Acts 15:14; Rev. 5:9Acts 15:14; Rev. 5:9

Events Surrounding the Return of Christ

Two Classes at the JudgementTwo Classes at the Judgement

??SHEEPSHEEP

Dependent

SubmissiveSubmissiveWilling

ObedientGregarious

WhiteSelective

eaters

GOATSGOATSIndependent

RebelliousRebelliousUncaring

DisobedientSolitaryBlack

Eat anything

Events Surrounding the Return of Christ

Goats are capriciousGoats are capriciousGoats are capricious. They are impulsive and unpredictable, devious and contrary. When they are grazing, it is not unusual to see several with their heads through a fence, straining to reach the grass that is always greener on the other side! If they are not poking their heads through fences, they may be standing on their hind legs, stretching for those tender leaves just out of reach. Goats are never content with what they have.

Events Surrounding the Return of Christ

The characteristics of sheepThe characteristics of sheep Attentive -Attentive - John 10:27John 10:27 – “My sheep hear

my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.”

Responsive –Responsive – Isa. 40:11Isa. 40:11 – “He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young.”

Willingly led -Willingly led - Ps. 23:2Ps. 23:2 –– “He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.”

Events Surrounding the Return of Christ

The characteristics of sheepThe characteristics of sheep Occasionally stray - Isa. 53:6Isa. 53:6 – “All

we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way.”

Submissive - Isa. 53:7Isa. 53:7 – “…he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.”

Events Surrounding the Return of Christ

Reward of the Right HandReward of the Right HandMatthew 25Matthew 25

33 And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the leftleft. 34 Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.“Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy

presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.” - Ps. 16:11Ps. 16:11

Events Surrounding the Return of Christ

““Ye have done it unto me”Ye have done it unto me”Matt. 25:34-46Matt. 25:34-46

1 John 4:171 John 4:17 - “…because as he is, so are we in this world.”

V.35-36V.35-36 – The kindnesses are only those the Lord could fittingly identify with.

Bro. Carter – “To feed a sick soul may have greater value than feeding a hungry body; to help the spiritually weary may fill a greater need than restoring physical vigour.”

V.40 & 45V.40 & 45 – Contrast – “...these my brethren” and “these”.

Events Surrounding the Return of Christ

Next StudyNext Study(God willing)(God willing)

Study 3 – “Come, my people, hide yourself for a

moment”