I do not agree.
IMO There will be one resurrection and one judgement.
I believe basing a second judgment on an ecstatic, apocalyptic vision which John has does his best to describe in human language is an example of a foundational hermeneutical error on much of popular theology is based. It is, IMO, highly problematic to base doctrine on ecstatic, apocalyptic visions which are subject to extremely wide variations in interpretation. Such visions are, by definition, not able to be precisely understood and that renders them inappropriate material on which to found doctrine.
It is my opinion that the judgment described in Mat 25 and the so-called "White Throne Judgment" of Rev 20 are the same judgment.
Note that, at Rev 20:13, John reports, "all were judged by what they had done." That is the same as what John reported that Jesus has said at John 5:28-29 (NKJV)… the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice and come forth—those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation. It is also the same as what was reported at Mat 25; the saved and the condemned were judged by what they had done or had not done.
Also not that at verse 20:12, the "book of life" was opened and examined to see if any person's name was in it. That would be unnecessary if every one of the people being judged was not a believer.
jim
Can you start with addressing what I have already stated about
His "servants" being the context of His teaching in the Olivet Discourse, starting at Matthew 24:45 about "His servants" and the judgement He will judge them by when He returns.
45
“Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his master made ruler over his household, to give them food in due season? 46 Blessed
is that servant whom his master, when he comes, will find so doing.47
Assuredly, I say to you that he will make him ruler over all his goods. 48 But if that
evil servant says in his heart,
‘My master is delaying his coming,’49 and begins to beat
his fellow servants, and to eat and drink with the drunkards, 50 the master of that servant will come on a day when he is not looking for
him and at an hour that he is not aware of,51 and
will cut him in two and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites. There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Matthew 24:45-51
Notice the language of the servant who became evil, after he had been given to be as a ruler over the house of the king:
My master is delaying his coming,’49 and begins to beat
his fellow servants, and to eat and drink with the drunkards, 50
the master of that servant will come on a day when he is not looking for
him and at an hour that he is not aware of,51 and
will cut him in two and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites.
Chapter 25 -
14 “For
the kingdom of heaven is like a man traveling to a far country,
who called
his own servants and delivered his goods to them. 15 And to one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one, to each according to his own ability; and immediately he went on a journey.16 Then he who had received the five talents went and traded with them, and made another five talents. 17 And likewise he who
had received two gained two more also. 18 But he who had received one went and dug in the ground, and hid his lord’s money. 19 After a long time the lord of those servants came and settled accounts with them.
20 “So he who had received five talents came and brought five other talents, saying, ‘Lord, you delivered to me five talents; look, I have gained five more talents besides them.’ 21 His lord said to him, ‘Well
done,good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’22 He also who had received two talents came and said, ‘Lord, you delivered to me two talents; look, I have gained two more talents besides them.’ 23 His lord said to him, ‘Well
done,good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things.
Enter into the joy of your lord.’
24 “Then he who had received the one talent came and said, ‘Lord, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you have not sown, and gathering where you have not scattered seed. 25 And I was afraid, and went and hid your talent in the ground. Look,
there you have
what is yours.’ 26 “But his lord answered and said to him,
‘You wicked and lazy servant, you knew that I reap where I have not sown, and gather where I have not scattered seed. 27 So you ought to have deposited my money with the bankers, and at my coming I would have received back my own with interest. 28 Therefore take the talent from him, and give
it to him who has ten talents.
29 ‘For to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have abundance; but from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away. 30
And cast the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’
31 “When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory. 32
All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats. 33 And He will set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left. 34 Then the King will say to those on His right hand, ‘Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:
Matthew 25:14-34
The context of the Lord's Discourse is about His servants that will be judged when He returns.
Both the sheep and goats and His sheep and goats, which is to say His servants, some of which were obedient and some of which were disobedient, just like all the examples Jesus gave in the preceding teachings, starting back in Matthew 24:45.
Please examine the language that is exchanged between the goats and Jesus:
“Then they also will answer Him, saying, ‘
Lord, when did we see You hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to You?’ 45 Then He will answer them, saying,
‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.’ 46 And these will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”
Matthew 25:44-46
- The goats knew Him to be Lord.
- Jesus expected them to serve Him, by serving His people.
The Point: Both the sheep and the goats were His servants, and not the world of unbelievers.
JLB