There have always been different points of view and interpretations regarding the book of Revelation as far back as history records. In approaching this topic, we must never abandon a very important fundamental key to Bible interpretation. Difficult verses must be understood in light of the many clear verses on the identical subject. If the Bible is God's Word it cannot contradict itself.
Psalm 18:30 As for God, his way is perfect: the word of the LORD is tried: he is a buckler to all those that trust in him.Psalm 19:7 The law of the LORD is perfect, …
God cannot state one thing and then state the opposite concerning the same truth. When we have such an apparent contradiction the problem lies within our understanding or our source of references. For example, if we do not understand administrations; we will never be able to rightly divide the Word. If and when God changes how he deals with mankind, he will always show us clearly in his Word how and why.
Most of the apparent contradictions concerning this subject will be quickly removed when we understand the biblical key: to whom it is written. Failure to understand to whom it is written, and a lack of knowledge regarding biblical administrations has caused most of the problems in this field.
Before we begin to look at Matthew 25,we must first understand the biblical truth and doctrine of salvation. Only when we comprehend and appreciate this truth will we be able to interpret difficult verses in light of the many clear verses regarding the identical subject. We have already seen that God and his word are perfect. God can not give you the gift eternal life in verse 8 and contradict himself in verse 12.
Ephesians 2:8-9 8For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9Not of works, lest any man should boast.
If you refuse to believe this truth and accept it with simple faith you will never understand Christ's Millennial Kingdom. Let's look at some other scriptures that declare the same truth.
Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. 2 Corinthians 5:1 For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.Hebrews 9:11-12 11But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building; 12Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us. 1 Peter 5:10 But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.1 John 5:11-13 11And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. 12He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. 13These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.
*Encarta Dictionary (Soukhanov, 2001) defines the word eternal as thus:
1. Existing through all time: lasting for all time without beginning or end
2. Unchanging: unaffected by the passage of time eternal truths; something everlasting: something that lasts for all time without beginning or end
The Greek defines the word the same way. In other words, God's gift of salvation to us is unchanging; unaffected by the passage of time, something everlasting: something that lasts for all time.
Acts 15:11 But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they. Acts 16:30-31 30And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? 31And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.Romans 5:7-10 7For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die.8But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. 9Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. 10For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. Ephesians 2:5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved ;) 2 Timothy 1:9 Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began, Titus 3:5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;Romans 10:9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.Romans 10:13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.Titus 3:4-7 4But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, 5Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; 6Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; 7That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
Get rid of God, His son, His Word, and just be a good boy or girl that's all you need.
If there was a way we could save ourselves then there could be a way we could unsave ourselves. Matthew 25:31-46 is not written to the church of grace . No born again believer in the church of grace will ever be judged with reference to his or her eternal life.
Matthew 25:31 begins with …
Matthew 25:31 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: 1 Thessalonians 4:16-18 16For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 17Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.18Wherefore comfort one another with these words. These two scriptures are not talking about the identical record. Words are useless for communication if we refuse to believe that God means what he says and says what he means.Matthew 25:31 When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, …1 Thessalonians 4:16-18 16For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: …
Matthew teaches "he is coming in glory and with all the holy angels" ... Thessalonians teaches "the lord himself ... an archangel and the trump of God …" Matthew teaches "he sits upon the throne of his glory …"
*Citation: Soukhanov, Anne H. "Eternal." Microsoft Encarta College Dictionary. New York: St. Martin's, 2001. 490. Print.
To be continued …ÿ
Note: All scripture is from the King James Version unless otherwise noted. NIV indicates The New International Version, NLT indicates the New Living Translation, NAS indicates the New American Standard version, NKJV indicates the New King James Version, ASV means the American Standard Version, NJB means the New Jerusalem Bible, BBE means the Bible in Basic English, DBY means the Darby translation, NAU means the American Standard Version, 1995 Edition, and NAB means the New American Bible translation. For more information, go to the Works Cited page.