Today, the description of final judgment as a shepherd’s separation of the sheep and goats that are both contained within his single flock generates a consideration of judgment for all mankind as an eternal expression of divine being. Also, there is more on the Bible as literally reporting words spoken by GOD. The “Yahoo! Answers” writer using the ID “Micah” (Level 1 with 88 points, a member since January 10, 2013) posted the following:
Christians: what is Judgment Day to you according to Matthew 25:31-46?
the reason I ask is because when I grew up I was taught that judgement day is when Jesus is judges each person individually according to the wrong they have done. but according to Matthew 25 Jesus judges for righteous works and lack of righteous works, not necessarily sin that we have committed. As a kid I was taught that on judgement day we will watch a video of our life and review all the mistakes we have made. I find this very contradicting to what the Bible says concerning Jesus Christ and His blood shed for us. The Bible says that God forgets our sin and cast it as far as the east is from the west. And what about everything it says in the book of Romans about how Christ died for us while we were still sinners. as you know there are many more verses that are similar. please share your thoughts, use scripture to back it up. Thanks.
THE BATTLE AXE: Words Spoken By GOD? (06/05/2013)—As a device to preserve a collective consciousness and various oral traditions among mankind, the Bible consists in ideas and understandings that may be presented through multiple systems of human language and words. For this reason, when embracing the holy writings, believers are carefully directed away from human verbal expression to discern and realize their own spirit content, and the revealed spirit content of GOD. (We see a similar process in the way Internet readers ignore typos to focus upon the meaning of what is intended by a written statement, or question that is posed.) The highest content of Scripture is its sacred substance, rather than the peculiar accounts of judgments against sin, life principles and models for prosperity, and narratives of human events. The Bible is to be embraced as holy based upon such features as its eternal aspect, details of divine operations, portrayals revealing sovereign person, sacred purpose, power to sanctify, and defining truth.
THE GOLDEN ARROW: For the LORD hath poured out upon you the spirit of deep sleep, and hath closed your eyes: the prophets and your rulers, the seers hath he covered. And the vision of all is become unto you as the words of a book that is sealed, which men deliver to one that is learned, saying, Read this, I pray thee: and he saith, I cannot; for it is sealed: And the book is delivered to him that is not learned, saying, Read this, I pray thee: and he saith, I am not learned. Wherefore the LORD said, Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honour me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men: Therefore, behold, I will proceed to do a marvellous work among this people, even a marvellous work and a wonder: for the wisdom of their wise men shall perish, and the understanding of their prudent men shall be hid. Woe unto them that seek deep to hide their counsel from the LORD, and their works are in the dark, and they say, Who seeth us? and who knoweth us? Surely your turning of things upside down shall be esteemed as the potter’s clay: for shall the work say of him that made it, He made me not? or shall the thing framed say of him that framed it, He had no understanding? (Isaiah 29: 10-16, King James Version)
THE DOUBLE DAGGER: Repentance Must Come Before Resurrection (04/27/2013); Destroyed in Noah’s Flood? (04/28/2013); Acknowledging Divinity? (03/30/2013); GOD Hiding in Plain Sight (03/26/2013); The Love of GOD (03/03/2013); Why A “Spokesperson”? (01/14/2013); No Contradictions? (01/15/2013)
Micah, here are some points of understanding I am permitted to share, that are endorsed by many mature Christian believers, and that pertain to the teachings on Judgment. Many agree wrath against sin and Judgment are permanent and perpetual aspects of divinity, and are not “one-time events”:
(1) From the beginning of the Scriptures, where GOD is proclaimed as Creator of heaven and earth, divine tools of division and separation are described. The Maker is revealed acknowledging a difference between light and darkness, assigning value, and establishing order that gives preliminary form to frameworks of time and space (see Genesis 1: 1-6, King James Version).
(2) In the same way the description of GOD as Creator is to be accepted as an indisputable fact that is basic to all later information provided by the holy writings, GOD is proclaimed as Law Giver and Judge (see Exodus 34: 1-8, KJV). Terms for the various covenant agreements between GOD and mankind all include acceptance of divine authority, obedience to sacred law, and submission to divine judgment appearing as both correction and as punishment. Among them are covenants through Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses, David and Jesus Christ.
(3) Before the appearance (we say, incarnation) of GOD in the person of Jesus Christ upon the earth, GOD continued solely as an invisible spirit having no dimension or material form (see John 4: 24, KJV). When ousted from the Garden of Eden, mankind received instruction and guidance from GOD through prophets and spokespersons such as the Angel bearing a flaming sword who barred the entrance to Eden, the Patriarchs who served for hundreds of years as living witnesses to acts of GOD, the line of prophets, judges, and later, priests, kings, and apostles. See Hebrews 1: 1-14, KJV.
(4) Sin is an influence that opposes the existence of divine person, sacred law, and continued being for the Creation of GOD by operating upon self-will in created beings and living creatures. Sin cannot operate upon the will of GOD. Yet, sin was first recognized among the holy angels (see Jude 1: 5-7, Ezekiel 28: 12-18, KJV). Where the revealing of GOD to created beings and living creatures proceeded through the force and process of the natural world, the worship of idols, flesh, and common objects in nature (e.g., bulls, the moon, stars, and sun) became widespread as a consequence of sin (see Romans 1: 18-23, Romans 5: 13-14 and Romans 3: 20-23, KJV).
There is far more to be said, correctly applied, and spiritually apprehended. (For example, (5) Final judgment of the wicked is that aspect of divine revelation wherein the righteousness of GOD is most clearly and directly displayed (see Daniel 7: 9-10, KJV). While the language used suggests a courtroom drama, there will be no accuser (e.g., Satan already will have been consigned to the lake of fire); and a person must respond only to the record of their own life deeds (see Revelation 20: 10-12, KJV). The focus of this judgment will be the sacred substance of ones being (such as faith, holiness, joy, longsuffering, love, truth, wisdom, and wrath against sin). The books of life are a primary tool in judgment. Human behavior and conduct are recorded there that portrays the absence or presence of divine content within ones make-up.) Even so, I trust this fragment will be useful. Be it unto you according to your faith.
THE BLACK PHOENIX
Washington, DC
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