Peter, Sandy: thanks for the posts. Very helpful.

Peter: Just a question about the scene of the sheep and the goats at the end of Matthew 25. I’m just trying to see how this fits into the framework in this post. You wrote:

The separation process that was attached to the final judgement is now operating in human history as the messengers of the Messiah bring the gospel to the world; this is the judgement that Matthew 13 and 25 were looking towards—the sending out of the angels into the world, etc. (see Matt 28:18).

The text says,

When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. (v. 31)

Then the nations are judged, and the reward/punishment is eternal.

Correct me if I’m misunderstanding: does your perspective then mean that the separation of the sheep and the goats (the nations) is the ministry of the gospel following the ascension/resurrection (coming of the Son of Man), culminating in eternal life/punishment respectively?

In other words, is this a compressed picture of the age of the ministry of the gospel?

There’s various theories about the “abomination.” Apparently, the OT pattern is that “desecrations” were committed by the corrupted priesthood (such as idols in the Temple), but “abominations” were committed in the Land (like child sacrifice). Jesus refers to the former. They slew Adam, but He forgave them. Then they slew Eve, massacring Christians once the “restraint” of Rome (which we see all through Acts) was taken away. And again from the OT we know that the shedding of innocent blood calls up the destroyer. This is the desecration that brought desolation. The destruction of the Temple was not the crime but the punishment. Only God’s priests, the Adams, can commit “desecration” in the Garden.