Matthew 25:31- the sheep and the goats.

[brightmorningstar]

What I believe is based on a traditional view on this, not the common idea these days that I keep hearing now that Matthew 25:31- means this is how the Christian is to treat the poor or neighbour or those in need.
First the apologetic. Yes, Jesus is quite clear throughout the gospels and with the NT teaching that Christians have a mandate to have care and concern for the poor and those in need, but this surely cannot be what this specific Matthew 25:31- passage is saying. Also Matthew 25:31- is not undermining that mandate in any way.
So what do we make of Matthew 25:31-? Jesus comes in His glory and all the nations are gathered and He will separate all the people into sheep or goats. Jesus then addresses the sheep and then the goats about what they did or didn’t do for even the least of this other group of people, His brethren. To the sheep He says …
‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’
25:40 καὶ ἀποκριθεὶς ὁ βασιλεὺς ἐρεῖ αὐτοῖς ἀμὴν λέγω ὑμῖν ἐφ᾽ ὅσον ἐποιήσατε ἑνὶ τούτων τῶν ἀδελφῶν μου τῶν ἐλαχίστων ἐμοὶ ἐποιήσατε.
The word for His brothers and sisters is adelphos G80 - adelphos - Strong's Greek Lexicon (NIV)
Throughout the New Testament adelphos is almost exclusively a physical blood family member or a believer. So Jesus must be saying when the sheep or goats in the world did or didn’t help a believer who was hungry, thirsty, needing shelter of clothes, in prison or sick. Since we are in Christ Jesus through faith, this makes sense, it is how the world treats the believer. Otherwise its saying salvation isn’t ultimately based on faith at all, but based on works alone, or faith is just about helping others. Furthermore, if not His followers, who would His brothers and sisters be? Would it be the poor (ptōchos )? The text doesn’t say that. Would it be anyone in need? That would mean unbelievers who help unbelievers could be saved, without anything to do with belief in Jesus. The great commission is to make disciples teaching them everything Jesus taught and did.

Also consider John 5:24-
4 “Very truly I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life. 25 Very truly I tell you, a time is coming and has now come when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God and those who hear will live. 26 For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life in himself. 27 And he has given him authority to judge because he is the Son of Man.
28 “Do not be amazed at this, for a time is coming when all who are in their graves will hear his voice 29 and come out—those who have done what is good will rise to live, and those who have done what is evil will rise to be condemned. 30 By myself I can do nothing; I judge only as I hear, and my judgment is just, for I seek not to please myself but him who sent me.
So Jesus says those who believe in Him will not be judged because they have crossed over from death to life, but the dead will be judged on what they have done. The context here is the end time, indeed because even as believers we will all the same have a judgement as believer on what we have done, which will determine our reward, but as believers we wont be judged about life or condemnation.

Finally, Matthew 25:31- should be an encouragement for Christians that whilst vengeance and judgement belongs to God, God will deal with those who persecute Christians and God is looking favourably on those who help persecuted Christians .

 

[pwg_jonathan]

Interesting angle, and I think the care-for-believers reading makes sense given how much Jesus ties Himself to His people. Even so, I'd be careful about making it an either/or, since James 2:15-16 talks about meeting a brother or sister's physical needs and not just saying 'go in peace.' To me the passage still lands as: how we treat people shows where our heart actually is.

 

[brightmorningstar]

Interesting angle, and I think the care-for-believers reading makes sense given how much Jesus ties Himself to His people. Even so, I'd be careful about making it an either/or, since James 2:15-16 talks about meeting a brother or sister's physical needs and not just saying 'go in peace.' To me the passage still lands as: how we treat people shows where our heart actually is.

Thank you for your reply pwg_jonathan.

Yes, I think if we have the Spirit and the heart of God for people we will want to meet other's physical needs. I think there is plenty of teaching in addition to James 2:15-16 to support that, but James 2 is addressed to believers, brothers and sisters, whereas Matt 25:31- is surely what Jesus is saying to non-believers, otherwise it is a salvation based only on works. And we would be the sheep or goats and not these His brethren.

 

[marks]

Thank you for your reply pwg_jonathan.

Yes, I think if we have the Spirit and the heart of God for people we will want to meet other's physical needs. I think there is plenty of teaching in addition to James 2:15-16 to support that, but James 2 is addressed to believers, brothers and sisters, whereas Matt 25:31- is surely what Jesus is saying to non-believers, otherwise it is a salvation based only on works. And we would be the sheep or goats and not these His brethren.

I think this is a parallel passage to Joel 3,

Joel 3:1-2 (KJV)
1 For, behold, in those days, and in that time, when I shall bring again the captivity of Judah and Jerusalem,
2 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.

When Jesus returns, His angels will regather the Israelites to their promised land. After Jesus takes His throne, the gentiles will be gathered and judged according to how they treated Jesus' brothers, the Israelites, particularly when the Beast was persecuting them.

Much love!

 

[Randy Kluth]

What I believe is based on a traditional view on this, not the common idea these days that I keep hearing now that Matthew 25:31- means this is how the Christian is to treat the poor or neighbour or those in need.

My view of Matt 25 is questionable, but it is where I am right now as a Premillennialist. Jesus comes back and determines who were real Christians and who were not. The sheep are the real Christians and the goats are false Christians or perhaps the unbelieving world.

And yes, it is how Christians, real or strictly nominal, treat fellow believers who are genuine believers. The love we have for Christ must be shown in how we treat Christians.

When Jesus separates the true from the false I don't believe it is so much a physical separation on earth, but rather, a separation in terms of eternal placement. However, since I'm a premillennialist, I think that Jesus' Coming shows a separation between the wicked and the righteous in the present age, leading into another future age in the Millennial period.

In this Millennial Period there is no physical separation of believer from unbeliever except perhaps in the nations where they reside. Believers will likely congregate more in nations of faith than in nations that choose not to believe.

However, Matt 25 is focusing on Jesus' 2nd Coming and the judgment at that time. We know it will involved judgment in the sense that the forces of Antichrist will be defeated. But then, God will determine, at that point, who have been genuine believers and who are not of faith and choose to rebel.

So, this separation is in the mind of God, and will play out in eternity, whether in Paradise or in the Lake of Fire. In God's mind, only the righteous will inherit the earth ultimately, once the thousand year period is finished. My view only....

 

[brightmorningstar]

My view of Matt 25 is questionable, but it is where I am right now as a Premillennialist. Jesus comes back and determines who were real Christians and who were not. The sheep are the real Christians and the goats are false Christians or perhaps the unbelieving world.

And yes, it is how Christians, real or strictly nominal, treat fellow believers who are genuine believers. The love we have for Christ must be shown in how we treat Christians.

When Jesus separates the true from the false I don't believe it is so much a physical separation on earth, but rather, a separation in terms of eternal placement. However, since I'm a premillennialist, I think that Jesus' Coming shows a separation between the wicked and the righteous in the present age, leading into another future age in the Millennial period.

In this Millennial Period there is no physical separation of believer from unbeliever except perhaps in the nations where they reside. Believers will likely congregate more in nations of faith than in nations that choose not to believe.

However, Matt 25 is focusing on Jesus' 2nd Coming and the judgment at that time. We know it will involved judgment in the sense that the forces of Antichrist will be defeated. But then, God will determine, at that point, who have been genuine believers and who are not of faith and choose to rebel.

So, this separation is in the mind of God, and will play out in eternity, whether in Paradise or in the Lake of Fire. In God's mind, only the righteous will inherit the earth ultimately, once the thousand year period is finished. My view only....

But if the sheep are the real Christians, who are these brethren of Jesus that the sheep helped, and how come His brethren are disciples?

 

[Randy Kluth]

But if the sheep are the real Christians, who are these brethren of Jesus that the sheep helped, and how come His brethren are disciples?

I guess I don't understand the question. If you and I are real Christians, we will help fellow Christians in need. Then, we will be placed, in God's mind, on His right, and inherit His Kingdom. Those who are less than real Christians will neglect and perhaps even resist helping genuine Christians. They will be placed, in God's mind, on His left, and will not inherit Christ's Kingdom. What am I missing?

 

[brightmorningstar]

I guess I don't understand the question. If you and I are real Christians, we will help fellow Christians in need. Then, we will be placed, in God's mind, on His right, and inherit His Kingdom. Those who are less than real Christians will neglect and perhaps even resist helping genuine Christians. They will be placed, in God's mind, on His left, and will not inherit Christ's Kingdom. What am I missing?

That still doesn't quite work because:
Firstly Jesus has separated the nations and all the people. How can He have separated all the people when Jesus refers all these, both the people on His right, and then the people on His left, to another group of people, these brethren of His? These brethren of His, even the least are the ones that were or weren't helped.
Jesus has already described who His brethren are, His disciples (Matt 12, Mark 3, Luke 8)
To me (and many theologians through the ages) it suggests this is the world being judged to salvation on how they treated believers already not in the world. It fits John 5:24- that “Very truly I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life.
and
Do not be amazed at this, for a time is coming when all who are in their graves will hear his voice and come out—those who have done what is good will rise to live, and those who have done what is evil will rise to be condemned.

Otherwise its a salvation only on works, and who are the brethren of His if not us?

The issue for me is that this does not detract in any way from our salvation by faith which by its nature must include some works, there is plenty of NT teaching to support that.

 

[Davy]

I think this is a parallel passage to Joel 3,

Joel 3:1-2 (KJV)
1 For, behold, in those days, and in that time, when I shall bring again the captivity of Judah and Jerusalem,
2 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.

When Jesus returns, His angels will regather the Israelites to their promised land. After Jesus takes His throne, the gentiles will be gathered and judged according to how they treated Jesus' brothers, the Israelites, particularly when the Beast was persecuting them.

Much love!

That idea above actually is the promoting of the seed of Israel as having 'automatic' Salvation without Christ Jesus. The Old Testament prophets left room for those of the seed of Israel that fell away NOT being gathered back to the holy land by Jesus.

The following parable by Lord Jesus is about how the children of Israel have been bid to that symbolic wedding, but would not come. And instead they beat and tortured His sent ones (One of God's sent ones was actually cut in half. See Hebrews 11:37).

Matt 22:2-14
2 The kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain king, which made a marriage for his son,
3 And sent forth his servants to call them that were bidden to the wedding: and they would not come.
4 Again, he sent forth other servants, saying, Tell them which are bidden, Behold, I have prepared my dinner: my oxen and my fatlings are killed, and all things are ready: come unto the marriage.
5 But they made light of it, and went their ways, one to his farm, another to his merchandise:
6 And the remnant took his servants, and entreated them spitefully, and slew them.
7 But when the king heard thereof, he was wroth: and he sent forth his armies, and destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city.
8 Then saith he to his servants, The wedding is ready, but they which were bidden were not worthy.
9 Go ye therefore into the highways, and as many as ye shall find, bid to the marriage.
10 So those servants went out into the highways, and gathered together all as many as they found, both bad and good: and the wedding was furnished with guests.
11 And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment:
12 And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless.
13 Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
14 For many are called, but few are chosen.
KJV


Matthew 25:41-45 applies EQUALLY to both Israelite and Gentile that did NOT those things.

 

[Randy Kluth]

That still doesn't quite work because:
Firstly Jesus has separated the nations and all the people. How can He have separated all the people when Jesus refers all these, both the people on His right, and then the people on His left, to another group of people, these brethren of His? These brethren of His, even the least are the ones that were or weren't helped.

This sounds very convoluted to me, and I'm really trying to understand the argument. Again, there are sheep, ie genuine Christians who have been truly helping their fellow brethren, proving that they are genuine Christians. Others who are false Christians or non-Christians do not choose to help genuine Christians, showing that they are to be viewed as being in a non-sheep category.

Jesus has already described who His brethren are, His disciples (Matt 12, Mark 3, Luke 8)
To me (and many theologians through the ages) it suggests this is the world being judged to salvation on how they treated believers already not in the world. It fits John 5:24- that “Very truly I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life.
and
Do not be amazed at this, for a time is coming when all who are in their graves will hear his voice and come out—those who have done what is good will rise to live, and those who have done what is evil will rise to be condemned.

Otherwise its a salvation only on works, and who are the brethren of His if not us?

The issue for me is that this does not detract in any way from our salvation by faith which by its nature must include some works, there is plenty of NT teaching to support that.

I don't see how Salvation by Works plays in this at all. Faith expresses itself through works--Works, by record, will never Justify. Christ has to forgive, or show mercy. But true believers, to show faith, must demonstrate that faith by choosing Christ, who commands obedience to his righteousness. And if they choose Christ, true believers will also love those who belong to Christ. In other words, Christians will love one another.

 

[Episkopos]

This sounds very convoluted to me, and I'm really trying to understand the argument. Again, there are sheep, ie genuine Christians who have been truly helping their fellow brethren, proving that they are genuine Christians. Others who are false Christians or non-Christians do not choose to help genuine Christians, showing that they are to be viewed as being in a non-sheep category.

I don't see how Salvation by Works plays in this at all. Faith expresses itself through works--Works, by record, will never Justify. Christ has to forgive, or show mercy. But true believers, to show faith, must demonstrate that faith by choosing Christ, who commands obedience to his righteousness. And if they choose Christ, true believers will also love those who belong to Christ. In other words, Christians will love one another.

You can't fit Jesus teachings into a Western evangelical religious box without fully turning the teaching upside down..This is due to a lack of understanding of either righteousness or holiness.

The sheep and the goats are ALL non-believers or at least non-saints. The ones who showed mercy will be shown mercy. Jesus says MY brethren....those are the saints.

The sheep are the righteous...like the good Samaritan. These could be professing believers or not. Beliefs in this case are shown by actions. They are saved by their works...based on God's mercy. This is according to the righteousness of God...who looks for righteousness among men. Both in the church and outside of it.

The brethren of Jesus are the holy. So even here this is a small minority among present day believers. That gives the non-holy believers a chance to get in the kingdom. Receive a prophet and get the reward of a prophet....likewise a righteous man.

 

[rwb]

Throughout the New Testament adelphos is almost exclusively a physical blood family member or a believer. So Jesus must be saying when the sheep or goats in the world did or didn’t help a believer who was hungry, thirsty, needing shelter of clothes, in prison or sick. Since we are in Christ Jesus through faith, this makes sense, it is how the world treats the believer. Otherwise its saying salvation isn’t ultimately based on faith at all, but based on works alone, or faith is just about helping others. Furthermore, if not His followers, who would His brothers and sisters be? Would it be the poor (ptōchos )? The text doesn’t say that. Would it be anyone in need? That would mean unbelievers who help unbelievers could be saved, without anything to do with belief in Jesus. The great commission is to make disciples teaching them everything Jesus taught and did.

This is a good understanding brightmorniningstar. The sheep on Christ's right symbolize the body of Christ (church). The sheep are judged in life according to how they care for the body/church, "one of the least of these my brethren". Which is what Paul is saying when he writes we (the whole body/church) shall appear before the judgment seat of Christ, and in life judged through the Spirit of Christ within for doing good or bad. When the life of those belonging to the body of Christ is judged through the Spirit of Christ displays a reflection of Christ, we are blessed in life, and we will not be judged with the dead at the great white throne.

The goats on Christ's left, unbelievers, never belonging to the body of Christ/church/My brethren, being born again. They too are judged according to how they, in life treated the body of Christ/church, (brethren of Christ) but their judgment shall come "when the Son of man shall come in His glory", before the great white throne. Even the good the goats do in life will not save them, because works without faith God calls filthy rags. And without faith it is impossible to please God.

 

[marks]

That idea above actually is the promoting of the seed of Israel as having 'automatic' Salvation without Christ Jesus. The Old Testament prophets left room for those of the seed of Israel that fell away NOT being gathered back to the holy land by Jesus.

No, Scripture won't contradict itself.

Ezekiel 39:25-29 (KJV)
25 Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Now will I bring again the captivity of Jacob, and have mercy upon the whole house of Israel, and will be jealous for my holy name;
26 After that they have borne their shame, and all their trespasses whereby they have trespassed against me, when they dwelt safely in their land, and none made them afraid.
27 When I have brought them again from the people, and gathered them out of their enemies' lands, and am sanctified in them in the sight of many nations;
28 Then shall they know that I am the LORD their God, which caused them to be led into captivity among the heathen: but I have gathered them unto their own land, and have left none of them any more there.
29 Neither will I hide my face any more from them: for I have poured out my spirit upon the house of Israel, saith the Lord GOD.

While it may trouble your theology, the fact is that this is a plainly stated prophecy. Do you believe it will be fulfilled?

Much love!

 

[brightmorningstar]

This sounds very convoluted to me, and I'm really trying to understand the argument.

I appreciate that.

Again, there are sheep, ie genuine Christians who have been truly helping their fellow brethren, proving that they are genuine Christians.

You are assuming the sheep are Christians. If the sheep are Christians how come they aren't Jesus brethren that they helped? How come as Christians they didn't know they helped these brethren of Jesus? I suggest we as believers are surely His brethren. I suggest the sheep and goats are those in the world left apart from Jesus brethren

I don't see how Salvation by Works plays in this at all. Faith expresses itself through works--Works, by record, will never Justify. Christ has to forgive, or show mercy. But true believers, to show faith, must demonstrate that faith by choosing Christ, who commands obedience to his righteousness. And if they choose Christ, true believers will also love those who belong to Christ. In other words, Christians will love one another.

I agree, to have faith in Christ there must be some evidence of the faith in following what Jesus said and did, (ie James 2) but is this passage actually about that because it says nothing about faith at all, only the works, and works without Christ are dead works.

However, you have made a point I hadn't quite thought of. Jesus refers the sheep and refers the goats to what they did or didn't do for His brethren. It reads like these brethren are not of the sheep or goats being judged rather a separate group, but if the brethren are some of the sheep other sheep helped, then that might be it. In other words Jhn 13:35 By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

Any clearer?

 

[rebuilder 454]

That passage in matt is the GWTJ.
(WHO GETS THROWN IN THE LOF AND WHO IS NOT).

The Bible says "the sea gave up her dead" SPECIFICALLY TO ATTEND the GWTJ.
It is the "resurrection unto death"

" ....he will gather the nations"
Saved and unsaved.

 

[rwb]

You are assuming the sheep are Christians. If the sheep are Christians how come they aren't Jesus brethren that they helped?

They are.

How come as Christians they didn't know they helped these brethren of Jesus?

Because they heeded the voice of the Holy Spirit working in and through them. They worked together as one body, one spirit, one faith. We are not called to work FOR our salvation, but to work OUT our salvation, knowing our works will not save us, but deeds done in faith point to the Spirit of God sent from Christ working through us.

Php 2:12 ¶ Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.
Php 2:13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.

1Th 5:9 For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,
1Th 5:10 Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him.
1Th 5:11 ¶ Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do.
1Th 5:12 And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labour among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you;
1Th 5:13 And to esteem them very highly in love for their work's sake. And be at peace among yourselves.
1Th 5:14 Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all men.
1Th 5:15 See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men.
1Th 5:16 ¶ Rejoice evermore.
1Th 5:17 Pray without ceasing.
1Th 5:18 In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.
1Th 5:19 Quench not the Spirit.

We quench the Spirit in us when we do not do what we know we should, and when we do what we know we should not. It is in this manner the Holy Spirit is either grieved, or lifted up and glorified through us.

Eph 4:29 Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.
Eph 4:30 And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.
Eph 4:31 Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:
Eph 4:32 And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.

When a born-again Christian, moved by the Spirit in us, the good we do must always point to God and never to our good deeds as though we deserve rewards or blessing for do that which is our duty to do.

 

[brightmorningstar]

They are.


Because they heeded the voice of the Holy Spirit working in and through them. They worked together as one body, one spirit, one faith. We are not called to work FOR our salvation, but to work OUT our salvation, knowing our works will not save us, but deeds done in faith point to the Spirit of God sent from Christ working through us.

Php 2:12 ¶ Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.
Php 2:13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.

1Th 5:9 For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,
1Th 5:10 Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him.
1Th 5:11 ¶ Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do.
1Th 5:12 And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labour among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you;
1Th 5:13 And to esteem them very highly in love for their work's sake. And be at peace among yourselves.
1Th 5:14 Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all men.
1Th 5:15 See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men.
1Th 5:16 ¶ Rejoice evermore.
1Th 5:17 Pray without ceasing.
1Th 5:18 In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.
1Th 5:19 Quench not the Spirit.

We quench the Spirit in us when we do not do what we know we should, and when we do what we know we should not. It is in this manner the Holy Spirit is either grieved, or lifted up and glorified through us.

Eph 4:29 Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.
Eph 4:30 And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.
Eph 4:31 Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:
Eph 4:32 And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.

When a born-again Christian, moved by the Spirit in us, the good we do must always point to God and never to our good deeds as though we deserve rewards or blessing for do that which is our duty to do.

So that means the passage is how the believers took care of each other? The goats being those who never helped a believer?

 

[rwb]

So that means the passage is how the believers took care of each other? The goats being those who never helped a believer?

Yes, but all unbelievers throughout the ages are counted as goats. But remember the goats on Christ's left will be those who claim they belong to the body of Christ/church, and have done deeds worthy of salvation but, "Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?" (Mt 7:21-22)

The goats bragging about all the good things they did in life are claiming a goodness that comes from the flesh, and not from the Spirit of Christ in them.

 

[Davy]

No, Scripture won't contradict itself.

Ezekiel 39:25-29 (KJV)
25 Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Now will I bring again the captivity of Jacob, and have mercy upon the whole house of Israel, and will be jealous for my holy name;
26 After that they have borne their shame, and all their trespasses whereby they have trespassed against me, when they dwelt safely in their land, and none made them afraid.
27 When I have brought them again from the people, and gathered them out of their enemies' lands, and am sanctified in them in the sight of many nations;
28 Then shall they know that I am the LORD their God, which caused them to be led into captivity among the heathen: but I have gathered them unto their own land, and have left none of them any more there.
29 Neither will I hide my face any more from them: for I have poured out my spirit upon the house of Israel, saith the Lord GOD.

While it may trouble your theology, the fact is that this is a plainly stated prophecy. Do you believe it will be fulfilled?

Much love!

You might want to study your New Testament Scriptures a bit more...

Matt 8:11-12
11 And I say unto you, That many shall come from the east and west, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven.

12 But the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
KJV

Luke 13:24-30
24 Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able.
25 When once the master of the house is risen up, and hath shut to the door, and ye begin to stand without, and to knock at the door, saying, Lord, Lord, open unto us; and he shall answer and say unto you, I know you not whence ye are:
26 Then shall ye begin to say, We have eaten and drunk in thy presence, and thou hast taught in our streets.
27 But he shall say, I tell you, I know you not whence ye are; depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity.
28 There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when ye shall see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets, in the kingdom of God, and you yourselves thrust out.
29 And they shall come from the east, and from the west, and from the north, and from the south, and shall sit down in the kingdom of God.
30 And, behold, there are last which shall be first, and there are first which shall be last.
KJV

 

[marks]

You might want to study your New Testament Scriptures a bit more...

That's a good suggestion to avail yourself of . . . And do you agree that the Scriptures will not self contradict?