How does the Judgment of the Nations Differ from Other Judgments?
Matthew 11:20-24
20: Then he to upbraid the cities wherein most of his mighty works had been done because they repented not 21: Woe unto you Chorazin! Woe unto you Bethsaida! For if the mighty works which were done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes 22: But I say to you It shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the day of judgment [Judgment of the Nations] than for you 23: And you Capernaum which are exalted to the heavens shall be brought down to hades for if the mighty works which have been done in you had been done in Sodom it would have remained until this day 24: But I say to you that it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment than for you
Comments Matthew 11:20-24 Jesus rebuked specific locations. After the resurrection and harpazo (rapture), at the Judgment Seat of Christ, individual people [believers] will be Judged. This will take place before Jesus returns to earth with all the righteous ones to defeat his enemies at the Battle of Armageddon. At the Great White Throne Judgment individual people [unbelievers] will be Judged. This will take place at the end of the first 1000 years of his earthly kingdom.
The judgment referenced in this passage is the Judgment of the Nations, which is described in Matthew chapter 25. This will take place on earth after he returns visibly and physically to earth with the armies of Heaven to defeat his enemies and establish his kingdom. At that time, there will be individual judgments of survivors of The Great Tribulation, concerning who will or will not be granted entrance to the first 1000 years of his kingdom, but there will also be the Judgment of the Nations, which will determine whether or not a city or nation continues to exist as individual cities or nations in the Kingdom of God. The world map will change dramatically at the Judgment of the Nations, which will be based on how cities or nations treated God’s persecuted people during the Time of Jacob’s Trouble Matthew 25.
Jocelyn Andersen is the author of several non-fiction books, including, Redemption: Bible Prophecy Simplified, a Study of HOPE.
Note from the editor: I read my Bible every day, always picking up today where I left off yesterday. I call this my “on-track” Bible reading. I have been doing this for over 44 years. It was the best advice I was ever given, and it changed my life. If you are not presently doing the same, I invite you to join me. How much you read on a daily basis isn’t important. It only matters that you read, feeding your spirit with a prayerful daily dose of the Alive and Powerful Word of God.
Click HERE to subscribe to my newsletter and for links to all my Substack columns.
Connect with me on Facebook, Goodreads and LinkedIn.
Read more about this commentary HERE.
Thank you for reading these notes from my Bible. Comments and questions are welcome.