The Last Days
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Lesson 79 | 09/06/26
Revelation 20:4 | Millennium: Intro to the Sheep and Goat Judgement
As we continue chapter 20, we see the events and process of Jesus setting up His Kingdom begin to unfold. Today we continue looking at these events by focusing on one verse, (really only the first half of this one verse), Revelation 20:4. It is at this time in the chronological order of Revelation that the Sheep and Goat Judgement will take place. The book of Revelation doesn’t spend much time on this subject, but we know from many other parts of Scripture, this is a Judgement that will take place immediately after the Messiah comes back to reign on the earth.
Righteous Judgement is the main thrust of the book of Revelation, and it is a major theme throughout the Bible. We as Christians are judged or declared Righteous by the precious blood of Jesus because we believe in Him, Romans 3:21-26; Gal 2:16. But there is also Righteous Judgement that will come upon His enemies. The 7-Year Tribulation has had waves of wrathful Judgement on unbelievers. David says much about this in the Psalms. One example is Psalm 96-97. Notice the clear distinction between light and darkness; the True God and false gods; the saints of God and the enemies of God, and the distinction comes as a result of the Righteous Judgement of God. Before Jesus sets up His Kingdom, He must make a distinction between those who are His and those who are His enemies.
Let’s set the stage at this point in Revelation 20:4 as Jesus sets up His earthly Kingdom:
This is the dispensation of the fullness of the times, Ephesians 1:10
This is the setting of the Sheep and Goat Judgement...
Where is this Judgement taking place?
Joel answers this question, Joel 3:1-17. The Valley of Jehoshaphat is the Kidron Valley. It is the valley just below the Mount of Olives east of Jerusalem. The Valley Slaughter was to the south, so now the Judgement takes place around the corner. As we just read in Joel, this Judgement is focused on how the nations (that is anyone who has merged with the nations including unbelieving Jewish leaders) how they treated His people and divided His land among the nations for their own pride and glory and wealth, Joel 3:2.
What is the Purpose of this Judgement?
Jeremiah helps answer this question, Jeremiah 23:1-8. It is a Judgement to make a distinction between His people and His enemies; a Judgement to reveal to the world those who are His; a Judgement to punish those foolish shepherds who scattered His flock and a Judgement to gather His sheep back to their folds to feed them and take care of them, Hosea 5:14-15; 6:1-3. Jesus is gathering His flock to Himself and healing the Jews and the nation of Israel.
Who is doing the Judging?
Of course, Jesus is the Righteous Judge. This is His inheritance given to Him by the Father, to execute Judgement... because He is the Son of Man, John 5:24-30. But there is a surprising detail in verse 4...
20:4) And I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was committed to them.
Who is them? Remember the vast multitudes of people around the throne that I mentioned earlier. From that group, John begins by specifically pointing out those who are seated on thrones whom this judgement was given, ἐδόθη to them. Who could this be? It is the Bride, represented by the 24 Elders as we saw in chapters 4 and 5. These are the overcomers of chapters 2-3. Remember the promises to the Church...
Revelation 2:25–26-25 But hold fast what you have till I come. 26 And he who overcomes, and keeps My works until the end, to him I will give power (ἐξουσία authority) over the nations—
Revelation 3:21- To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.
What an amazing thought, that we will be given the authority to act in judgement with Jesus. He alone is the Righteous Judge, but in some capacity He is inviting us to join with Him in His inheritance.
This idea of participating in Judgement with Jesus is in many places throughout the Bible, Old and New Testament...
Matthew 19:28–30-28 So Jesus said to them, “Assuredly I say to you, that in the regeneration, when the Son of Man sits on the throne of His glory, you who have followed Me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. 29 And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My name’s sake, shall receive a hundredfold, and inherit eternal life. 30 But many who are first will be last, and the last first.
Luke 22:28–30-28 “But you are those who have continued with Me in My trials. 29 And I bestow upon you a kingdom, just as My Father bestowed one upon Me, 30 that you may eat and drink at My table in My kingdom, and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.”
1 Corinthians 6:2- Do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world will be judged by you, are you unworthy to judge the smallest matters?
Psalm 149:5–9-5 Let the saints be joyful in glory; Let them sing aloud on their beds. 6 Let the high praises of God be in their mouth, And a two-edged sword in their hand, 7 To execute vengeance on the nations, And punishments on the peoples; 8 To bind their kings with chains, And their nobles with fetters of iron; 9 To execute on them the written judgment— This honor have all His saints. Praise the Lord!
Daniel saw a vision of Christ in His glory and the Judgement and dominion that was given to the saints, Daniel 7:17-27. It is very clear that Jesus is the King, it is His Kingdom, His dominion, His Glory, and yet we will participate in this glory in and through Him.
Notice the timing of this Judgement. It takes place after the 7- Year Tribulation, after the last 3-1/2 years (Daniel 7:25- time, times, and half a time), but Daniel is given the exact length of days of this Judgement, Daniel 12:1-13. Throughout the book of Revelation, we have seen this duration of 42 months, 1,260 days, 3-1/2 years, time, times, and half a time. But here, Daniel gives us an extended duration of 1,290 days from the time of the abomination of desolation (the middle of the week) until the end of these things. This “end” includes the latter half of the Tribulation, but also includes the additional time Jesus is taking to Judge evil and set up His Kingdom. These additional 30 days is the time immediately after the Tribulation and after the Valley of Slaughter victory, in which Jesus is Judging His enemies, including the Judgement of the Antichrist, Satan, and His enemies who remain to be Judged at the Sheep and Goat Judgement.
So what about the additional 45 days after that, the 1,335? Notice verse 12 again... Blessed is he who waits, ὁ ἐμμένων... Blessed is the abiding one in the midst, he will be gathered together into the 1,335 days. This is the time of the “regeneration” as Jesus describes. The time of the resurrection of the Tribulation Martyrs and all those righteous who have not yet received their glorified bodies. This is like another Bema Seat Judgement as it were for the remainder of the saints. We will talk much more about this next week. Going back to the Sheep and Goat Judgement...
What is the basis for this Judgement?
All Judgement has one main objective, “Did you keep the commandment of God?” Not the Ten Commandments, but as it is stated in 1 John 3:23- And this is His commandment: that we should believe on the name of His Son Jesus Christ and love one another, as He gave us commandment.
This distinction is based on this one commandment in two parts... Believe in Jesus and love the brethren. If you believe in Jesus, then you will love the brethren, 1 John 5:1- Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves Him who begot also loves him who is begotten of Him.
This is the basis of the Sheep and Goat Judgement. Who has kept the commandment of God? If they believe in Jesus and love the brethren, then they are His sheep. But if not, then they are judged on the rejection of Jesus and the mistreatment of God’s people. As a result, there is Vengeance on those who did not love the brethren and worse, those who deceived them and swept them away from the Truth. Again, this Judgement is primarily focused on the Jews and the nation of Israel during the 7-Year Tribulation period, but I believe it also includes the mistreatment of the Tribulation Martyrs. Which most of the Martyrs in the last half of the Tribulation were probably Jewish converts.
There are two main accounts that speak directly to the Sheep and Goat Judgement, Ezekiel 34 and Matthew 25. Next week will look at both accounts as we continue our discussion about this important Judgement...
PREVIOUS LESSON 78 ← GO TO → NEXT LESSON 80
Righteous Judgement is the main thrust of the book of Revelation, and it is a major theme throughout the Bible. We as Christians are judged or declared Righteous by the precious blood of Jesus because we believe in Him, Romans 3:21-26; Gal 2:16. But there is also Righteous Judgement that will come upon His enemies. The 7-Year Tribulation has had waves of wrathful Judgement on unbelievers. David says much about this in the Psalms. One example is Psalm 96-97. Notice the clear distinction between light and darkness; the True God and false gods; the saints of God and the enemies of God, and the distinction comes as a result of the Righteous Judgement of God. Before Jesus sets up His Kingdom, He must make a distinction between those who are His and those who are His enemies.
Let’s set the stage at this point in Revelation 20:4 as Jesus sets up His earthly Kingdom:
- The King is on His throne
- The Bride, represented by the 24 Elders, are seated on thrones around Him
- Multitudes of angels are circling the throne
- The souls of the Tribulation martyrs are “standing” near by
- The souls of the remainder of the saints that have not yet received their glorified body are also there
- Mortal people, mostly the remnant of believing Jews that never died are there
- Those who were held captive in Jerusalem
- Those who fled to the mountains of Edom
- Those who were scattered throughout the rest of the nations
This is the dispensation of the fullness of the times, Ephesians 1:10
- Finally, there is another group that the King commands to be brought before Him...
This is the setting of the Sheep and Goat Judgement...
Where is this Judgement taking place?
Joel answers this question, Joel 3:1-17. The Valley of Jehoshaphat is the Kidron Valley. It is the valley just below the Mount of Olives east of Jerusalem. The Valley Slaughter was to the south, so now the Judgement takes place around the corner. As we just read in Joel, this Judgement is focused on how the nations (that is anyone who has merged with the nations including unbelieving Jewish leaders) how they treated His people and divided His land among the nations for their own pride and glory and wealth, Joel 3:2.
What is the Purpose of this Judgement?
Jeremiah helps answer this question, Jeremiah 23:1-8. It is a Judgement to make a distinction between His people and His enemies; a Judgement to reveal to the world those who are His; a Judgement to punish those foolish shepherds who scattered His flock and a Judgement to gather His sheep back to their folds to feed them and take care of them, Hosea 5:14-15; 6:1-3. Jesus is gathering His flock to Himself and healing the Jews and the nation of Israel.
Who is doing the Judging?
Of course, Jesus is the Righteous Judge. This is His inheritance given to Him by the Father, to execute Judgement... because He is the Son of Man, John 5:24-30. But there is a surprising detail in verse 4...
20:4) And I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was committed to them.
Who is them? Remember the vast multitudes of people around the throne that I mentioned earlier. From that group, John begins by specifically pointing out those who are seated on thrones whom this judgement was given, ἐδόθη to them. Who could this be? It is the Bride, represented by the 24 Elders as we saw in chapters 4 and 5. These are the overcomers of chapters 2-3. Remember the promises to the Church...
Revelation 2:25–26-25 But hold fast what you have till I come. 26 And he who overcomes, and keeps My works until the end, to him I will give power (ἐξουσία authority) over the nations—
Revelation 3:21- To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.
What an amazing thought, that we will be given the authority to act in judgement with Jesus. He alone is the Righteous Judge, but in some capacity He is inviting us to join with Him in His inheritance.
This idea of participating in Judgement with Jesus is in many places throughout the Bible, Old and New Testament...
Matthew 19:28–30-28 So Jesus said to them, “Assuredly I say to you, that in the regeneration, when the Son of Man sits on the throne of His glory, you who have followed Me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. 29 And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My name’s sake, shall receive a hundredfold, and inherit eternal life. 30 But many who are first will be last, and the last first.
Luke 22:28–30-28 “But you are those who have continued with Me in My trials. 29 And I bestow upon you a kingdom, just as My Father bestowed one upon Me, 30 that you may eat and drink at My table in My kingdom, and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.”
1 Corinthians 6:2- Do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world will be judged by you, are you unworthy to judge the smallest matters?
Psalm 149:5–9-5 Let the saints be joyful in glory; Let them sing aloud on their beds. 6 Let the high praises of God be in their mouth, And a two-edged sword in their hand, 7 To execute vengeance on the nations, And punishments on the peoples; 8 To bind their kings with chains, And their nobles with fetters of iron; 9 To execute on them the written judgment— This honor have all His saints. Praise the Lord!
Daniel saw a vision of Christ in His glory and the Judgement and dominion that was given to the saints, Daniel 7:17-27. It is very clear that Jesus is the King, it is His Kingdom, His dominion, His Glory, and yet we will participate in this glory in and through Him.
Notice the timing of this Judgement. It takes place after the 7- Year Tribulation, after the last 3-1/2 years (Daniel 7:25- time, times, and half a time), but Daniel is given the exact length of days of this Judgement, Daniel 12:1-13. Throughout the book of Revelation, we have seen this duration of 42 months, 1,260 days, 3-1/2 years, time, times, and half a time. But here, Daniel gives us an extended duration of 1,290 days from the time of the abomination of desolation (the middle of the week) until the end of these things. This “end” includes the latter half of the Tribulation, but also includes the additional time Jesus is taking to Judge evil and set up His Kingdom. These additional 30 days is the time immediately after the Tribulation and after the Valley of Slaughter victory, in which Jesus is Judging His enemies, including the Judgement of the Antichrist, Satan, and His enemies who remain to be Judged at the Sheep and Goat Judgement.
So what about the additional 45 days after that, the 1,335? Notice verse 12 again... Blessed is he who waits, ὁ ἐμμένων... Blessed is the abiding one in the midst, he will be gathered together into the 1,335 days. This is the time of the “regeneration” as Jesus describes. The time of the resurrection of the Tribulation Martyrs and all those righteous who have not yet received their glorified bodies. This is like another Bema Seat Judgement as it were for the remainder of the saints. We will talk much more about this next week. Going back to the Sheep and Goat Judgement...
What is the basis for this Judgement?
All Judgement has one main objective, “Did you keep the commandment of God?” Not the Ten Commandments, but as it is stated in 1 John 3:23- And this is His commandment: that we should believe on the name of His Son Jesus Christ and love one another, as He gave us commandment.
This distinction is based on this one commandment in two parts... Believe in Jesus and love the brethren. If you believe in Jesus, then you will love the brethren, 1 John 5:1- Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves Him who begot also loves him who is begotten of Him.
This is the basis of the Sheep and Goat Judgement. Who has kept the commandment of God? If they believe in Jesus and love the brethren, then they are His sheep. But if not, then they are judged on the rejection of Jesus and the mistreatment of God’s people. As a result, there is Vengeance on those who did not love the brethren and worse, those who deceived them and swept them away from the Truth. Again, this Judgement is primarily focused on the Jews and the nation of Israel during the 7-Year Tribulation period, but I believe it also includes the mistreatment of the Tribulation Martyrs. Which most of the Martyrs in the last half of the Tribulation were probably Jewish converts.
There are two main accounts that speak directly to the Sheep and Goat Judgement, Ezekiel 34 and Matthew 25. Next week will look at both accounts as we continue our discussion about this important Judgement...
PREVIOUS LESSON 78 ← GO TO → NEXT LESSON 80