Then follows the message to those on the left--"Depart from me ye cursed (condemned)"--condemned, as unfit vessels for the glory and honor of life, which chose not to yield to the molding and shaping influences of divine love. When these my brethren (the world of mankind then raised) were hungry, and thirsty, naked, sick, and in prison, ye ministered not to their necessities (failed to perform the necessary “works”, acts of benevolence, love then prerequisite for those being fitted for the everlasting kingdom), thus continually proving yourselves out of harmony with the heavenly city (kingdom) for "there shall in no case enter into it anything that defiles."
The decision and sentence regarding this class is, "Depart from me into everlasting fire [symbol of destruction] prepared for the devil and his angels." Elsewhere (Heb 2:14) we read in plain language that Christ "will destroy...him that has the power of death that is the devil." And the lake of fire is defined to be the second death (Rev 20:14).
"And these" [the goats] "go away into everlasting punishment" [cutting off--Diaglott--cutting off from life] "but the righteous into life eternal." The punishment is as lasting as the reward. The reward is everlasting life; the punishment is to be forever cut off from life-- everlasting death; a death from which there will be no redemption, no resurrection.
To the sheep it is said, "Inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world." But though God give it to man at first, and designs restoring it to him when he has prepared him for the great trust, we are not to suppose that God intends man to rule it except as under or in harmony with his supreme law. "Thy will be done in earth as it is done in heaven," must forever be the rule. Man henceforth will rule his dominion in harmony with the law of heaven--delighting continually to do his will "in whose favor is life, and at whose right hand [condition of favor] there are pleasures forevermore." (Psa 16:11) Oh who would not say, "Haste thee along ages of glory," and give glory and honor to him whose loving plans are blossoming into such fullness of blessing.
“Keep in mind that this is a parable. The parable shows both classes (sheep and goats) inquiring as to when they did or did not do the deeds that qualified them for everlasting life or Second Death, respectively. No doubt those who get life will later ask and consider how they inherited everlasting life. In the illimitable future it would be only natural for them to look back and reflect many times. However, those who go into Second Death will not have an opportunity in future ages to so reflect, for they will be nonexistent, blotted out of existence.
Each one who goes into oblivion will not be given a personal reprimand and made cognizant of the reasons for his Second Death destiny. Remember, a parable is not an exact statement of all facts. However, a parable always has a central theme, a very important lesson. In this parable the lesson consists of what determines the inheritance of life and what determines the inheritance of death. In the Kingdom the rendering from the heart of kind, ordinary deeds and courtesies will be the determining factor for a favorable judgment.” The Gospel of Matthew, Page 81
