Leaves Of Gold

16-B. Consequences of Sin at Kadesh Barnea (Numbers 32:6-3)- The nation Israel reached Kadesh Barnea after two years in the wilderness. At Kadesh Barnea they so sinned against the Lord that He passed judgment upon them, saying, "The carcasses of you who have complained against Me shall fall in this wilderness ... from twenty years old and above" (Num:14:29-32, page 154i Deut. 1 :1-2:1, page 181). They committed th(· sin that leads to death. For the next thirty-eight years, every adult twenty years old and above died a premature death, except Joshua and Caleb, who believed that God could give them Canaan. During the two years prior to reaching Kadesh Barnea, Israel witnessed many miracles, some in Egypt and some in the wilderness.

The question is, how could Israel witness so many miracles and then turn their backs on God in unbelief! They had faith to forsake Egypt and cross the wilderness, but not enough faith to enter God’s Promised Land, Hebrews 3:16-19. In The Book of Hebrews, God warns us --- lest we commit the sin that leads to a premature death.. Do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion (...in the wilderness....) Beware, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God, Heb. 3>8-12.

16-C. Consequences of Sin: The Fiery Serpents (Numbers 21:4-9)-Near the end of their forty years of wandering in the wilderness, some of the people sinned the sin that leads to death. In unbelief they spoke against God and Moses. "So the LORD sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people; and many of the people of Israel died" (v. 6). Their sin was threefold. It was a sin of unbelief against

(1) God. "And the people spoke against God ... 'Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness?' " (v. 5). Unbelief always cries, "WHY?"

(2) Moses. "And the people spoke against God and against Moses" (v. 5). They were discouraged because the way was hard; they spoke against God, blaming Him and Moses. Moses had come to them in Egypt in the name of the Lord, saying, "I AM has sent me to you" (Ex. 3:13-15, page 60). There is always a price to pay when you go forth to do the will of God in the name of the Lord. Moses suffered because he was doing good, but his persecutors suffered to the point of death because they were doing evil (1 Pet. 3:15-17, page 1267).

(3) God's provision for them. They said, "There is no food and no water, and our soul loathes this worthless bread"-manna, bread from heaven (v. 5). God in His mercy gave them water from the rock, and for forty years He gave them bread from heaven. Instead of praising the Lord for providing for them, they complained about the menu and accused God and Moses of bringing them there to die.

Many of the Israelites were dying prematurely because they had sinned unto death. The people came to Moses believing, repenting, and confessing, "We have sinned." Then they named their sin: "For we have spoken against the LORD and against you" (v. 7; d. 1 John 1 :9, page 1278). God made the people taste the bitter fruits of their sin. Then they begged Moses to pray that God would take the serpents away. Moses prayed and God answered his prayer, but not according to the wishes of the people. They begged God to take the serpents away. The Lord told Moses to make a serpent of bronze and put it on a pole, so that all who were bitten would live when they looked at it. By faith they must go to the bronze serpent and look at it, believing that God would heal them. This was an act of faith; only those who thus exercised faith lived.

"As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up" (John 3:14-18, page 1052). As we look to Jesus, placing our faith in Him, we can be saved from the fires of eternal hell (John 3:36, page 1053) and live with Him forever and ever (see Master Outline 17, "Heaven and Hell," page 35).

16-D. Consequences of Sin Committed by Nadab and Abihu (Leviticus 10:1-10)- The sin unto death committed by Nadab and Abihu is difficult to define because there is so much involved. Their sin was so heinous that the fire of God fell upon them and they died instantly, yet their bodies and clothing were not consumed. The fire that fell upon them was God's holiness manifested in judgment on two of His carnal servants (Heb. 12:29, page 1251). They were:

(1) Privileged young priests. What an honor to be called of God to the priesthood, to be a mediator between God and men! In this they were a type of Christ (1 Tim. 2:5, page 1219). Aaron, the high priest, was their father; they were in line for the office of the high priest. Moses, one of the truly great men of all times, was their uncle. Yet, privileged as they were, God judged them severely.

(2) Presumptuous young priests. They were unstable in spiritual things. They may have acted in ignorance, and under the influence of wine or strong drink (v. 9). Yet they were without excuse (Rom. 1:20, page 1128). The sin of Nadab and Abihu was committed when they performed a holy act of worship in the energy of the flesh. They offered profane fire before the Lord in the Most Holy Place, as a substitute for the fire on the brazen altar (Lev. 6:12, 13, page 111; 16:12, page 124). It was "will worship," by carnal means, in the presence of almighty God in His shekinah glory (Ex. 40:34-38, page 103). It is possible that when they entered the Holy Place to worship, they were carried away with a combination of religious enthusiasm and jealousy against Moses and Aaron. Whatever their reasons, they did the right thing (worship) the wrong way-in the wrong spirit, using the wrong method, at the wrong time, moved by the wrong motive. They broke God's commandments and offered the wrong fire before the Lord.

(3) Perishable young priests. They may have thought themselves immune to the judgments of God because of who they were. If so, they soon learned that "God shows no partiality" (Acts 10:34, page 1103). "Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall" (1 Cor. 10:12, 13, page 1155). We are all perishable as long as we are in this body of flesh. The great apostle Paul knew that he was perishable, and he feared, lest he should become unfit for the ministry, becoming one of God's rejects (1 Cor. 9:25-27, page 1154).

We have often heard it said that "the end justifies the means." The judgment of Nadab and Abihu brands this notion as a big lie. The truth is, the right end is never reached by the wrong means. The wrong means will always bring you to the wrong end.

16 E. Consequences of sin committed by Moses and Aaron, Numbers 20:1-13. For forty years Moses was a tower of spiritual strength to the nation Israel, as he led them through the wilderness. The world has yet to see his equal as a leader and statesman. No servant of God endured more unjust criticism from his congregation than Moses. However, not even Moses and Aaron were exempted from a premature end of life here on earth; each committed a “sin unto death”. During their wanderings, the Israelites went into the desert of Zin where “there was no water for the congregation....they gathered together against Moses and Aaron”. Then Moses and Aaron left that angry rebellious congregation and “fell on their faces” in the doorway of the tabernacle. Then “the glory of the LORD appeared to them”, v. 6.

(1) The Lord instructed Moses to

(a) "Take the rod";

(b) "Gather the congregation together";

(c) "Speak to the rock."

"Thus [the promised result] you shall bring water for them out of the rock" (v. 8).

Moses and Aaron obeyed the Lord in all that He had commanded, until Moses stood before the people.

Then he lost his temper and called them rebels. This was not the sin unto death; it was the truth.

(2) The sin unto death committed by Moses and Aaron was:

(a) Presumptuousness. Moses took liberties and overstepped divine boundaries when he said, "Must we [Moses and Aaron] bring water for you out of this rock?" (v. 10). Moses, in the energy of the flesh, took all the credit for Aaron and himself for the miracle of bringing water from the rock. Aaron's sin was in concurring with Moses. He did not speak, or strike the rock; he stood by Moses and gave silent consent to all that Moses said and did.

(b) Disobedience. God said, "Speak to the rock" (v. 8), but Moses took his rod and "struck the rock twice ... and water came out abundantly" (v. 11). This is a great lesson; even though Moses and Aaron failed the Lord, their disobedience did not alter the faithfulness of the Lord (2 Tim. 2:13, page 1225). Moses and Aaron failed God, but God did not fail the people.

(c) Unbelief. The Lord said to Moses and Aaron, "Because you did not believe Me ... therefore you shall not bring this assembly into the land" (v. 12). God told Moses to speak to the rock, but in unbelief Moses struck it instead, giving the appearance that he and Aaron (not God) had the power to bring forth water miraculously.

For the account of Aaron's premature death, see verses 23-29. For the account of Moses' premature death, see Deuteronomy 34:1-12 (page 213).

16-F. Consequences of Sin Committed by Ananias and Sapphira (Acts 5:1-11)- The fourth chapter of Acts closes with a beautiful picture of the young Jerusalem church. It was pure and powerful. "They had all things in common" (Acts 4:32-37). They had great power to witness and great grace to share in spiritual and material things.

The first word in the fifth chapter of Acts is "But," which suggests a contrast-a change within the congregation. Up to this chapter there was no major sin in the church. Barnabas owned some land, and out of love for Christ and His church he sold it and gave all the profits to the church. It must have been the talk of the congregation.

Ananias and Sapphira sold a possession and brought part of the profits to the Lord, pretending to bring all. This sin led to their premature deaths.

(1) The origin of their sin was Satan. Peter asked Ananias, "Why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit?" (v. 3). This was Satan's first opportunity to bring sin into the church (but not his last). It is not sin in the world that defeats the church, but sin within the congregation. Before the church can clean up the world, it must first repent, confess, and forsake the sins within the assembly. See Revelation 3:14-22 (page 1296) for a true description of today's common local church. No wonder so many local churches are powerless!

(2) A sin within the fellowship of believers led to the death of Ananias and Sapphira. It consisted of:

(a) Deception. They pretended to give all when they gave only a part. They did not have to give any; they could have given any amount and pleased the Lord, had they been honest (Gal. 6:7, 8, page 1184). (b) Covetousness. They wanted the glory that was showered upon Barnabas and others in the church, but they did not believe that God could take care of them.

(c) Double-mindedness. They had no stability (James 1 :5-8, page 1255). They tried to get the best of two kingdoms-the kingdom of Satan (2 Cor. 4:4, page 1167) and the kingdom of God (Rom. 14:17, page 1144).

(d) Hypocrisy (Matt. 23:13-15, page 971). It has been said, "A hypocrite is a person who pretends outwardly to be what he never intends to be inwardly."

(e) Lying. They lied to God the Holy Spirit (vv. 3,4).

The amazing part of this Scripture is that it shows us that the church was so pure that sin could not live in its holy atmosphere.

16-G. Consequences of Sin in the Corinthian Church (1 Corinthians 11:17-34)-ln this portion of Scripture the apostle Paul is correcting one of the errors of the Corinthian church-the manner in which they were observing the Lord's Supper. Some of the members had sinned, resulting in death. Paul warned the church, saying, "For this reason many are weak and sick among you, and many sleep," Le., many sleep in death (vv. 30, 32). The sins that led to weakness, sickness, and death were

(1) Division. They were divided over personalities (1 Cor. 1:11-13, page 1148).

(2) Dissension. They tolerated heresies-wrong doctrine (vv. 18, 19) which caused divisions among the people. We are not told what the heresies were, but it is clear that there were factions and cliques held together by social function, or some theory or doctrine.

(3) Drunkenness. Some became drunk (v. 21).

(4) Discrimination. They shamed the poor among them, and showed no-respect for the Lord and His Church (v. 22).

(5) Departure. They left the proper observance of the Lord's Supper by failing to "proclaim the Lord's death till He comes" (vv. 26-30). The Lord's Supper is an illustrated sermon in two parts:

(a) It looks back to His vicarious death on the cross for our sins (1 Pet. 1 :18,19, page 1263).

(b) It looks forward to His Second Coming as King of kings and Lord of lords (Rev. 19:16, page 1313), when He will establish His kingdom on this earth and reign upon His kingdom throne (Matt. 25:31-46, page 976).

(6) Defective Partaking. They ate the bread and drank the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner (v. 27).

They must have thought themselves worthy to take the Lord's Supper; the only ones truly worthy to take the Lord's Supper are those who recognize their total unworthiness. It is the honest recognition of one's unworthiness that makes one worthy. If you fee/worthy to partake, you are unworthy.

(These studies will continue)

The Judgments, chapter XIII

From the book by Clarence Larkin “Rightly Dividing The Word”

The common opinion that the Millennium is to be Ushered in by the preaching of the Gospel, and that after the Millennium there is to be a "General Resurrection" fol1owed by a "General Judgment," and then the earth is to be destroyed by fire, is not scriptural.

There can be no "General" Judgment because the Scriptures speak of one Judgment as being in the "Air" ( 1 Thess. 4: 16, 17; 2 Cor. 5: 6-10) ; another on the "Earth" (Matt. 25: 31-46); and a third in "Heaven," the surface of the earth and its atmosphere having fled away. Rev. 20: 11-15. And to make sure that these three separate Judgments could not be combined in one General Judgment scene, three different Thrones are mentioned.

The "Judgment Seat of Christ." 2 Cor. 5: 10. "In the Air." For "Believers" only.

The "Throne of Glory." Matt. 25: 31,32. "On the Earth." For "The Nations."

The "Great White Throne." Rev. 20: 11, 12. "In Heaven." For the "Wicked Dead."

The Scriptures speak of Five Separate Judgments.

They differ in five general aspects. As to "Subject~," "Time," "Place," "Basis of Judgment" and "Results.

JUDGMENT NO. l

1. Subjects-Believers as to SIN."

2. Time-A. D. 30.

3. Place-Calvary.

4. Basis of Judgment. Christ's "FINISHED WORK.''' ,.

5. Result-

1. Death as to. Christ.

2. Justification as to the Believer-.

This Judgment is PAST. The Bible proofs of the results of this Judgment are Rom. 10: 4.

"For Christ is the END OF THE LAW for righteousness to one that Be1ieveth,"

"There is therefore NOW no condemnation (Judgment) to them which are in CHRIST JESUS, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For the Law of the 'SPIRIT OF LIFE' in Christ Jesus hath made me FREE From the Law of 'Sin and Death.''' Rom. 8: 1,2.

"Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on Him that sent me, HATH EVERLASTING LIFE and shall not come into condemnation (Judgment) but IS PASSED From Death Unto Life." John 5:24.

The "Believer's" Judgment for Sin then is PAST. and was settled at the Cross. But we must not forget that the Judgment of the Believer is threefold.

1. As a "Sinner."

2. As a "Son."

3. As a "Servant."

As we have already seen his Judgment as a "Sinner" is Past. Let us look at his judgment

As a "Son." As soon as the sinner accepts Christ as his personal Savior that settles the "Sin" question for him. For if our iniquities are laid on Him (Jesus), then they are not on us. Isa. 53: 5, 6. But the "Sin" question, and the "Sins" question are two different things. Christ died on the Cross to atone for "sin," to pay the penalty of Adam's disobedience in the Garden of Eden. "Sin" is that tendency in mankind to do wrong which we call "Natural Depravity." We do not get rid of this "tendency" by the "New Birth," but we get a "counteracting force" called the "New Nature." We become a "dual personality," composed of the "Old" and "New Natures," and which shall predominate depends on which we feed and which we starve. This explains the "warfare" that Paul prescribes as his experience, after his conversion, in Rom. 7: 1-25. This warfare will continue until the "Old" nature is eradicated at death. "Sins" are the outward acts of wrongdoing that we commit as the result of our tendency to sin.

These sins must be put away daily by "confession." "My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an 'Advocate' with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous." 1 John 2: 1.

"If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." 1 John 1: 9.

Our Judgment as "Sons" is for "unconfessed sins."

The punishment is chastisement. This explains much of the chastisement of Christians, and should show them that they are "Sons" and not "Bastards." Heb. 12: 5-11. Paul says- "If we would 'judge ourselves' we should not be judged. But when we are judged we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned (Judged) with the world." 1 Cor. 11 : 31, 32.

Our duty then as "Sons" is to "self-judge" ourselves daily, "confess our sins," and so avert the chastisement of our Heavenly Father.

As a Servant. This leads us to-

JUDGMENT NO. 2

Subjects-Believers as to "WORKS."

Time-After The Redeemed ares caught out.

Place--"Judgment Seat of Christ" (in the Air).

Basis of Judgment-Their "WORKS."

Result-Reward or Loss.

This Judgment is FUTURE. "We must all appear before the 'Judgment Seat of Christ,' that everyone may receive the things 'done in the body' according to that he hath done, whether it be 'good' or 'bad' (worthless)." 2 Cor. 5: 10. The pronoun "We" occurs 26 times in the chapter, and in every instance it means the Believer, and the Epistle is addressed to the "Church" and "Saints" at Corinth, so the Judgment here spoken of is for Believers "only." The "Time" of the Judgment is when the Lord comes (1 Cor. 4: 5), and the "Place" is "in the air" (1 Thess. 4: 17) and before the Judgment Seat Qf Christ.

It will not be a Judgment in the sense af a "trial" to see whether the judged are innocent (saved) or guilty (lost), for it is a Judgment of the "saved only." It will be like the Judges' stand at a Fair, or Race Track, where rewards are distributed to the successful contestants. Paul describes such a scene in 1 Cor. 9: 24-27.

It is not a Judgment for sin, but for "works." This Judgment is described in 1 Cor. 3: 11-15.

"Other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones (valuable building stones, as marble, etc.), wood, hay, stubble; every man's 'Work' shall be made manifest; for the 'Day' (Judgment Day) shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by 'fire,' and the fire shall try every man's 'work' of what sort it is. If any man's work 'abide' which he hath built there upon he shall receive a 'reward.' If any man's work shall be 'burned' he shall suffer 'loss;' but 'he himself shall be saved;' yet so as by fire."

The result of this Judgment is "reward" or "loss."

All our "bad" and "dead works," represented by the wood, hay and stubble, will be consumed, and only our "good works" shall remain. There is much which passes for Christian service which is merely human and secular, and does not count in our eternal reward. For those who deserve a "reward" it will be

The Crowning Day.

After the Grecian games were all over the runners, wrestlers, and successful contestants assembled before the "Bema," or Judges' stand, which was an elevated seat on which the Umpire sat, and the winners received a "corruptible crown" of "laurel leaves." Some had no reward, they had lost the "Victor's Crown." But while there was no reward there was 110 punishment, they were not cast out.

The New Testament speaks of Five Crowns. See Chart.

1. The Crown of "LIFE." This is the "Martyr's" crown, and is mentioned twice. James 1:12; Rev. 2:10. Notice it does not say “until death”, but “unto” death. They were not to recant but to remain faithful until a martyr’s death. To recant was to lose the crown. This refers to the martyrs of the Tribulation Period.

2. The Crown of “Glory”. This is the “Elder´s” or “Pastor´s” crown, given by the Chief Shepherd when He shall appear. But it is not for those who serve for “filthy lucre” or “lord it over God´s heritage”, 1 Peter 5: 2-4.

3. The Crown of “Rejoicing”. This is the “Soul Winner´s” Crown. Those brought to Jesus by us will be our “crown of rejoicing” at His Coming, 1 Thes. 2:19, 20; Phil. 4:1.

4. The Crown of “Righteousness”. This is the crown of those who “love His appearing” and will be given in “that day”, the Day of His Appearing, 2 Tim. 4:8.

5. The Crown “Incorruptible”. This is the “Victor´s” crown, and is for those who “keep under their body”, 1 Cor. 9:25-27; who do not yield to their fleshly lusts; who do not permit themselves to be diverted from the Master´s work by worldly amusements and pleasure, nor saturate their body with drugs. If we do not want to be “ashamed at His Coming” 1 John 2:28, let us see to it that we keep our body “under”

JUDGMENT NO. 3

1. Subjects: the Jews

2. Time: The Great Tribulation

3. Place: Jerusalem and Vicinity

4. Basis of Judgment: Rejection of the Godhead

5. Result: Their Conversion and Reception of Christ as their Messiah.

This Judgment is future. While the redeemed are being judged at the Judgment Seat of Christ, the Jews will be judged under Antichrist on the earth. The Jews are an “earthly” people; and as all t he promises to them are “earthly”, it follows that their Judgment must be of an “earthly” character. The basis of their Judgment is their “rejection of the Godhead”. In the days of Samuel they rejected God the Father, 1 Sam. 8:7. In the days of Jesus, they rejected Him as God the Son, Luke 23:18. In the days of Stephen they rejected God the Holy Spirit, Acts, 7:51, 54-60. For their sin they have been scattered among the nations until the “Times of the Gentiles” are fulfilled. When the “Times of the Gentiles” are about to end the Jews will be gathered back to the Holy Land “uncovered” and caused to “pass under the rod”, Ex. 20:34-38. They will be cast into God´s “Melting Pot”, Ez. 22:19-22, and pass through an experience spoken of by Jeremiah and Daniel as the “Time of Jacob´s Trouble”, Jere. 30:4-7; Dan. 12:1. Jesus called it “The Great Tribulation”, and He and Zechariah the Prophet associate it with the “Return of the Lord”, Matt. 24:21-31; Zech. 14:1-11. The human agent the Lord will use will be Antichrist, the awfulness of whose rule will be supplemented by the pouring out of the “Vials of God´s Wrath” upon the earth, Rev. 15:1, 5 to 8; 16:1-21.

The result of these terrible Judgments will be that the Jews will call in their misery upon the Lord, Zech. 12:10. The Jesus will come back to the Mt. of Olives, Zech. 14:4, and the Jews will look upon Him whom they “pierced”, Zech. 12:10, and a nation, the Jewish Nation, shall be “born---converted---in a day, Isa. 66:8. This will complete the Judgment of the Jews.

JUDGMENT NO.4

1. Subjects-The NATIONS (Gentiles).

2. Time-The "Revelation of Christ."

3. Place-The "Throne of His Glory." On the Earth -"Valley of Jehoshaphat."

4. Basis of Judgment-Their Treatment of Christ's Brethren-The Jews.

5. Result-Some Nations "SAVED," Others "DESTROYED."

This Judgment is FUTURE.

The account of this Judgment is given in Matt. 25: 31-46. The description of this Judgment, and of the one given in Rev. 20:11-15 are combined by many, and taken to teach the doctrine of a general Judgment. But when we compare them they differ so widely that it is evident that they do not describe the same event. What God has put asunder let no man join together. The following comparison will show the difference in the two accounts: Matt. 25: 31-46.

No Resurrection.

Living Nations Judged.

On the Earth. Joel 3: 2.

No Books Mentioned.

5. Three Classes Named. "Sheep," "Goats," "Brethren. "

6. Time-Before the Millennium.

Rev. 20: 11-15.

A Resurrection.

Dead Judged.

Heaven and Earth Gone.

Books Opened.

One Class Named. "The Dead."

Time-After the Millennium.

This comparison reveals the fact that one of these Judgments is "on the earth," the other in the "heavens," and that they are separated by 1000 years.

The Greek word "ethnos" here translated "Nations" occurs 158 times in the New Testament. It is translated "Gentiles" 92 times, "Nation" or "Nations" 61 times, and "The Heathen" 5 times, but it is never in any instance unless it be this) applied either to the "dead" or the " resurrected."

As this is a Judgment of nations only, the Jews cannot be in it, for they are not reckoned among the nations. Num. 23: 9. And as the redeemed will be associated with Christ in this Judgment, for the "Saints" (the redeemed) shall judge the "World" (the Nations) (I Cor. 6: 2), the redeemed cannot be in this Judgment either. As we have seen the Church and the Jews have been already judged, the "Judgment of the Nations" cannot be a general judgment. Who then, is asked, are meant by the Sheep? Do they not represent the Righteous, and all the Righteous from the beginning of the world to the end of Time? And do not the Goats in like manner represent all the Wicked?

If the Sheep are the Righteous, and the Goats the Wicked, then who are the Brethren? If they are the “followers of Christ," as some claim, they should be classed with the Sheep. The Scriptures teach that the Righteous are saved by "faith," and the Wicked are lost because they "reject Christ," but in this Judgment scene the Sheep inherit a "Kingdom" and the Goats are commanded to "depart," because of their treatment of the Brethren.

All the confusion is caused by trying to make a Judgment of "nations" mean a Judgment of "individuals”. The Sheep represent one class of Nations, and the Goats" another class. while the Brethren represent the Jews (Christ's brethren). We must bear in mind the time and place of this Judgment. The time is at the "Revelation of Christ" when He comes to set up His "Millennial Kingdom" on the earth. The place is the "Val1ey of Jehoshaphat" in the vicinity of Jerusalem .

"For, behold, in those days, and in that time, when I shall bring again the captivity of Judah and Jerusalem, I will also gather ALL NATIONS, and will bring them down into the 'Valley of Jehoshaphat,' and will plead with them there for MY PEOPLE and for my heritage ISRAEL, whom they have scattered among the Nations, and parted my land." Joel 3: 1. 2.

This prophecy clearly states that there is to be a "Judgment of Nations" on the earth in the "Valley of Jehoshaphat" at the time of the restoration of the Jews to their own land, and that the basis of Judgment is the treatment by the nations of Christ's brethren-The Jews.

During the "Tribulation Period" the Nations that treat the Jewish People kindly, feeding and clothing them, and visiting them in prison, will be the "Sheep Nations," while those who neglect to do so will be the "Goat Nations." At the "Judgment of Nations" the King (Christ) will say to the "Sheep Nations," inasmuch as ye have been kind to My brethren (the Jews), "Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world." This Kingdom is the "Millennial Kingdom" that the "Sheep Nations" as Nations will "inherit" and possess during the Millennium. And as they are to be among the "saved nations" of the New Earth (Rev. 21: 24) it can be said of them that they, or at least the righteous individuals of them, shall enter into life eternal. Matt. 25: 46. Christ's sentence upon the "Goat Nations" will be-"Depart from Me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the Devil and his angels," and "these shall go away into everlasting punishment." The "Goat Nations" will at once be destroyed as Nations, not one of them shall get into the Millennium, and the wicked individuals that compose them will perish and be eternally lost.

JUDGMENT NO. 5

1. Subjects-The WICKED DEAD.

2. Time-During the Renovation of the Earth by Fire.

3. Place-Before "The Great White Throne."

4.Basis of Judgment-Their "Works."

5. Results---Cast Into the "Lake of Fire."

This Judgment is FUTURE.

The account of it is given in Rev. 20: 11-15. It will take place at the close of the Millennium a 1000 years after the Judgment of the Nations, and before the "Great White Throne." The "Great White Throne" will not be on the earth, for the "Great White Throne Judgment" will take place during the renovation of the earth by fire, for the "renovation" of this Earth is reserved or kept until the time of that Judgment, which Peter calls "The Day of Judgment and Perdition of Ungodly Men" (2 Pet. 3: 7), because the Judgment of the "Great White Throne' is the Judgment of the wicked dead.

All the Righteous dead will arise at the First Resurrection. If any Righteous die between the First Resurrection and the Resurrection of the "wicked" or Second Resurrection, they will rise with the wicked dead at that Resurrection. The words-"Whosoever was not found written in the Book of Life" (vs. 15), imply that there will be "some," probably very few, Righteous at the Second Resurrection.

At the close of the Millennium and just before the renovation of the earth by fire, the living Righteous will probably be translated, and the living Wicked or Ungodly will be destroyed in the flames that will consume the earth's atmosphere and exterior surface.

The Wicked or Ungodly will not be judged to see whether they are entitled to Eternal Life, but to ascertain the "degree" of their punishment. The sad feature of this Judgment will be that there will be many kind and lovable people there who were not saved, and who will be classed among the "ungodly" because they rejected Christ as a Saviour. The "Books" will be opened in which the "Recording Angel" has kept a record of every person's life, and they will be judged every man according to his "works." Some will be sentenced to a more severe puniSl1ment than others, but none will escape. The worst of all is, that those who were not so bad must spend eternity with the ungodly, and that in the "Lake of Fire." Their punishment includes the second death, which means that they shall lose their resurrection bodies, in which they were judged, and become "disembodied spirits" again, and so exist in the "Lake of Fire" FOREVER.

The "Fallen Angels" (not the Devil's angels), who are "reserved in everlasting chains under darkness, will be judged at this time, which Jude calls the Judgment of the "Great Day." Jude 6.

(These studies will continue)

The “Leaves of Gold” is published each month by James A. Nelson. jan@twinvalley.net He and his wife Janet are members of the Village Bible Assembly, Salina, Kansas, whose pastor is Bob Manning. manningadventure@yahoo.com

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