The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-05-21

1NTRODUCTION.-'rh Tuesday pre-
ceeding His crucitixion was an eventtul
day in the life of Christ. The earlier part
of it was passed in Jerusalem in the tenn
pie where He was engaged in teaching. a
portion of one of Ills disCourscs forming
our lesson for the Sth inst. Leaving the
temple lie predicted its overthrow. Re-
firing to the Mount of Olives lie ox-
planned several matters to His disciples
and eNhorted them to watchtulness,
about which we studied last Sunday.
Afterward, the holy city still in view, as
the evening shades coming on, lie uni Old
ed to His followers the scenes of the
Judgment Day about which we are now
to study. 1t is a singular fact that we
are indebted to Matthew alone for what
Jesus said on that occasion, the other
three historians having passed by the &C.
currencc in profound silence. This fact
has caused some to infer, without good
reason, that, as Matthew wrote his Cos
pei for Jewish Christians, the Judgment
here described referred only to the de-
struction of that nation. The error Will
readily appear as we examine the mar
ratve and see that a wider application
alone makes it Ineligible.
ASSEMBLY.-All nations shall he gath
cred before Jesus Cvcrse 32). 1t does not
though the general line OF thought would
so indicate. Indeed, any other inference
will cmbarrass the narrative. This, there
fore gives finality to the whole account,
places it at a distant future time, when
human history will be complete, for i'm
no other way would such assembly be
possible CRCv. Xxx, 12). The place of this
aSsCmblage is not stated, but it is pre-
sumcd to be on the earth, for it will be
81. That coming. which will be in great
glory, was anticipated by the prophet
Czech xiv 81, and frequently mentioned
by the apostles U Thcs. iv, 16), as an
event of utmost importance (Rev. i, y.
This assembly Will be for judgment (Rev.
xiv. 1Ol, for that is the purpose of Christ $
second coming I'll Cor. V, 100, when even
those of other dispensations shall be
judged dude g.. We are then to picture
to our minds vast col course of people,
gathered out of all lands, summoned be-
fore our LORD for the purpose of answer
ing for the deeds of this life. lie who
once came to save will then sit to judge
SEPARA1 ION.-Throughou this life
men minElC on terms of intimacy without
regard to character Matt, xiii, 3O). They
contract alliances of various kinds, So
cial. domestic and political, and form So
CictleS regardless of their relation to God
and His cause. But I'm the great day of
Judgment markind will be divided into
two Wcll-dCnncd classes (Ezck XXiv, 10.
| This description cannot be rccOnCiled
with the thought that the other world
will be one simply of development, into
which all men will enter at the stage OF
progress reached here, to pass by a pro-
cess of education into the next higher
| class. There are but two classes. though
| there may be grades of character and
| condition in each. And there will be a
separation between these classes (verses
| % and 33). the one being placed on the
right hand, the other on the left hand
CHeb. i. -. These classes will bear dlf-
| terent names, styled here the sheep and
the goats. Thus two communities will
be formed, the righteous and the wicked
All this will be done i'm the presence ui
assembled intelligences of all the ages.
INVITATION.-T The separation being
completed, Christ, as Judge will give
the sentence, fixing the destiny of the
two classes oversees 81 to 36). Those on
the right hand will be invited to Him
and will be with Him John Xvii, "a, as
members of the kingdom prepared 70,
them from the foundation of the worC
| (Rom. viii 10, an inheritance, incOrrupt'
ible, eternal in heaven or Tim iv, s.