The Sheep and The Goats
Matthew 24 and 25 are End Times passages and describe the events that will happen at the end. We are also given warnings to watch the condition of our heart and our responses to the future crisis. I truly believe that the passage in Matthew 25:33-40 , when the Lord separates the sheep from the goats refers to the response of the church towards a suffering Israel during the days of Jacob’s trouble. Trying times are coming for Israel and we are called to comfort and help the Lord’s brothers and sisters, which are his people Israel. The Lord says in this passage that the sheep will be separated from the goats according to what they did for his brothers and sisters. We will be judged by wether we extend a helping hand to those that are hungry, thirsty, homeless and in jail during the most difficult times in history for Israel. A time is coming when the Antichrist will seek to destroy the Jews. Although they are strong today, one day they will be helpless. Many of them will be persecuted, hungry, thirsty, homeless and in jail. In those days will you be a sheep or a goat?
Matthew 25:33-40
33 He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.
34 “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom
prepared for you since the creation of the world.35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in,36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’
37 “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39 When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’40 “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’
Joel 3:2
I will gather all nations and bring them down to the Valley of Jehoshaphat. There I will put them on trial for what they did to my inheritance, my people Israel, because they scattered my people among the nations and divided up my land.