Matthew 25:31-46

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It is my understanding that some people believe Matthew 25: 31- 46 describes an event that takes place immediately after the tribulation. Those of that belief say this judgment's purpose is to determine the unsaved people that will go into the millennium.  The goats are not rewarded and go to eternal torment. The commentaries that comment on this section of scripture are quick to point out this event is not teaching a works based salvation. This is simply a reward for the sheep's treatment of the Jews during the tribulation. They do not enter into eternal life as is stated in verse 46 although the goats do go off to eternal punishment. The sheep are rewarded with a few extra years of life on earth.

One argument that I have heard is that just as the old prophets could not see the time between Jesus' first and second coming, the 1000 years between the tribulation and the day of judgment was not seen.  Who is the prophet here? Jesus! If He could not see the future accurately in this, just how much can we trust the other things that He said? I choose to believe that He knew what He was talking about.   

This is not rewards immediately after the tribulation. Proof, in addition to trusting Jesus' word, is supported by verses 31 and 46. These 2 verses stand as bookends proving this takes place after the white throne judgment. We will discuss these in order.

Some versions have added "holy angels"  or "His angels" in verse 31. I say added because holy is not in the verse. The word "His" is limited to the positions at the beginning and the end of the verse. The first "His" precedes glory or majesty at the beginning. The other "His" precedes throne or glory at the end of the verse. The his or holy in relation to the angels is not in the original verse.

After the fall the only time all the angels will be at one place is on the day of judgment. Jesus knows what He is describing and just who is present. If this event happened immediately after the tribulation there would be no fallen angels present. After the tribulation all the demons are held in abyss until the day of judgment. At the white throne judgment every angel and human is present. This is their day of judgment as well all of mankind except the redeemed and good angels. The earth and heavens have fled away. There is nowhere else to be but at the white throne on the day of judgment. Jesus knows all the angels will be at the white throne. When He related this judgment to the disciples and He said all the angels would be there- He meant just that.

Since by verse 31 all the angels are present this must be the white throne Judgment.

Proof in verse 46 later.

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The proof contained in verse 46.

2 Peter 2:9 then the Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of temptations and to reserve the unjust under punishment for the day of judgment, 10 and especially those who walk according to the flesh in the lust of uncleanness and despise authority. They are presumptuous, self-willed. NKJV

Matt 11:24 But I say to you that it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment than for you." NKJV

Not one commentary states that the goats do not go to eternal punishment. The commentaries that comment on 46 agree that the goats deserve their eternal punishment. 

God has set a day to judge the world. Until that day no human is given "eternal punishment or torment." All who die, without Jesus, go to Hades to await the day of judgment. If the events in Matthew 25:31-46 happened prior to the day of judgment then in verse 46 Jesus would have said something to the effect: the goats were sent to Hades and the sheep entered into the millennium.

Just why, in this account,  did they go off to eternal punishment?

Matt 25:41 "Then He will also say to those on the left hand, 'Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels:  42 for I was hungry and you gave Me no food; I was thirsty and you gave Me no drink;  43 I was a stranger and you did not take Me in, naked and you did not clothe Me, sick and in prison and you did not visit Me.' NKJV

Nothing is said about them personally doing harm to Jesus' brethren. They did not curse the brethren. All they did was not help. Clearly the only thing looked at during this judgment is did these people help or not help the Jews.

Because God is just we know that the guilty will be punished. Because God is just we also know that God does not punish someone unless that person has transgressed a law. The goats did not transgress any law by not helping the Jew.

All those being judged in Matt 25 had to have been judged prior to this event. In other words Jesus has already awarded everyone at the white throne judgment eternal punishment. Then, after that, He blessed those who helped the Jews. He rewarded them by entering eternal life on the new earth. They cannot see the Father in Heaven nor pass through the gates in new Jerusalem. They do not get a body like Jesus'. Because the goats did nothing to be rewarded for their eternal punishment from the white throne was not voided.

I can understand that some other prophets could not determine when eternal punishment is given. This is Jesus speaking. He knows because He is the judge. He also knows the law and only punishes transgressions of the law.

It is the responsibility of Christians to give the unsaved  an accurate picture of our God. The more they know about Him should create in them a desire for a relationship with Him.