1. Events Surrounding the Return of Christ At the Judgement Seat of Christ

2. Events Surrounding the Return of Christ How do we get to Sinai? Mans transport, or Gods? Matt. 18:10Ps. 34:7 Matt. 18:10 and Ps. 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. 40:31 Isa. 40:31 - Immortal travel not dependent on gravity or physical exertion. Luke 24:36 Luke 24:36 – Christ just appeared – no doors opened!

3. Events Surrounding the Return of Christ Examples of mortal transfer John 6:16-21 Disciples in boat some distance from Capernaum. Immediately at land! 15 km

4. Events Surrounding the Return of Christ Examples of mortal transfer Acts 8:39-40 1 Thess. 4:17 Acts 8:39-40 - caught away is harpazo - used 1 Thess. 4:17. V.26 V.26 - Directed to Gaza to meet Ethiopian eunuch. V.40 V.40 - Transported to Ashdod (32 kms). Consider also Enoch and Elijah.

5. Events Surrounding the Return of Christ The Order of Judgement Matt. 20:1-16Matt. 19:27-30 Matt. 20:1-16 (Context Matt. 19:27-30). 19:30; 20:16 First/Last – Last/First principle (19:30; 20:16). Those called last appear first for reward. Why? Practicalities of the judgement process. Matt. 20:16 Millions resurrected – majority awaiting rejection – many be called, but few chosen – Matt. 20:16. Holding the raised dead in a state of frailty (albeit wholeness) secures control. Dan. 10:10-11; 15-17 Foreshadowed – Dan. 10:10-11; 15-17.

6. Events Surrounding the Return of Christ The 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). Ex. 40 Building of Tabernacle and Ark provides the clue – Ex. 40. Judgement process about 1 year!

7. Events Surrounding the Return of Christ A Verbal Account to the Angels Romans 14:10-12 10 But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. 11 For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God. – Cited from Isa. 45:23 12 So then every one of us shall give account 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. exomologeomai – to speak out and confess fully.

8. Events Surrounding the Return of Christ The 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 Christs judgement throne beginning with the final generation and working back to Adam.

9. Events Surrounding the Return of Christ The Process of Judgement Matt. 25:32 Christ simply separates sheep from goats and waves to right and left respectively – Matt. 25:32. Matt. 7:22-23 Some object and claim better treatment. A one line answer is given by Christ – Matt. 7:22-23. 1 Cor. 15:51-53 When all have appeared, Christ glorifies the righteous simultaneously – 1 Cor. 15:51-53. Lk. 13:28 Christ then dismisses the rejected and the angels herd them away – Lk. 13:28.

10. Events Surrounding the Return of Christ The Angels at the Judgement 1. Accompany Christ when he returns as judge of the household – Matt. 16:27; 25:31; Mk. 8:38. 2. The results of judgement are to be declared in their presence – Luke 12:8-9; Rev. 3:5. 3. They will remove and punish the rejected – Matt. 13:49-50.

11. Events Surrounding the Return of Christ Role of the Angels – Hebrews 1:14 14 Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation? Gr. eis diakonia – Lit. with a view to service Gr. apostello – to send forth, equip and despatch on a mission Gr. litourgikos – public service; esp. in the Temple

12. Events Surrounding the Return of Christ The Judgement Seat – Matt. 25:31-46 31 When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory: - i.e. Christs judgement throne – Luke 9:26 32 And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats. Suggests goats more numerous John 5:27 Title of Christs delegated authority to judge – John 5:27. His work as saviour qualified him to be judge of man. (Bro. John Carter) Acts 15:14; Rev. 5:9 People of all nations – Acts 15:14; Rev. 5:9

13. Events Surrounding the Return of Christ Two Classes at the Judgement ? SHEEP DependentSubmissive Willing Obedient Gregarious White Selective eatersGOATS IndependentRebellious Uncaring Disobedient Solitary Black Eat anything

14. Events Surrounding the Return of Christ Goats are capricious Goats 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.

15. Events Surrounding the Return of Christ The characteristics of sheep Attentive - John 10:27 Attentive - John 10:27 –My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. Responsive – Isa. 40:11 Responsive – Isa. 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 - Ps. 23:2 – Willingly led - Ps. 23:2 – He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.

16. Events Surrounding the Return of Christ The characteristics of sheep Isa. 53:6 Occasionally stray - Isa. 53:6 – All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way. Isa. 53:7 Submissive - Isa. 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.

17. Events Surrounding the Return of Christ Reward of the Right Hand Matthew 25 left 33 And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left. 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. Ps. 16:11Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore. - Ps. 16:11

18. Events Surrounding the Return of Christ Ye have done it unto me Matt. 25:34-46 1 John 4:17 1 John 4:17 - …because as he is, so are we in this world. V.35-36 V.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 & 45 V.40 & 45 – Contrast –...these my brethren and these.

19. Events Surrounding the Return of Christ Next Study (God willing) Study 3 – Come, my people, hide yourself for a moment