Conclusion Of The Sign Of The Last Days- When Christ Arrives In Kingdom Power

Since the sheep are on earth, they want to know how they could have done such fine deeds for their heavenly King. "Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you," they ask, "or thirsty, and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and receive you hospitably, or naked, and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to you?"

"Truly I say to you," the King replies, "to the extent that you did it too one of the least of my brothers, you did it to me." Christ's brothers are the remaining ones on earth of the 144,000 who will rule with him in heaven. And doing good to them, Jesus says, is the same as doing good to him.

Next, the King addresses the goats. "Be on your way from me, you who have been cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the Devil and his angels. For I became hungry, but you gave me nothing to eat, and I got thirsty, but you gave me nothing to drink. I was a stranger, but you did not receive me hospitably; naked, but you did not clothe me; sick and in prison, but you did not look after me."

The goats, however, complain: "Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison and did not minister to you?" The goats are judged adversely on the same basis that the sheep are judged favorably. "To the extent that you did not do it to one of these least ones [of my brothers]," Jesus answers, "you did not do it to me."

So Christ's presence in Kingdom power, just prior to the end of the wicked system of things in the great tribulation,will be a time of judgment. The goats "will depart into everlasting cutting-off, but the righteous ones [the sheep] into everlasting life." Matthew 24:2-25:46; 13:40, 49; Mark 13:3-37; Luke 21:7-36; 19:43, 44; 17:20-30; 2 Timothy 3:1-5; John 10:16; Revelation 14:1-3.

Next time: Jesus' Final Passover Is At Hand

The Greatest Man Who Ever Lived, 1991