The Goats and the Sheep, and the Final Judgment

The Lord knows those who are His. In the mixed multitude of the church and also the world, there are goats and sheep. His disciples are sheep; disciples follow. Sheep are dependent on their shepherd, humble, trusting, and obedient. Goats are typically independent, self-willed, stubborn, and disobedient. Although they look very similar, goats and sheep are extremely different. I read somewhere that sheep are led, but goats lead their herder. It’s no wonder that Satan himself is usually pictured in goat form as well as goat demons (see Baphomet). There is a reference to goat demons in the Bible (Leviticus 17:7), but not to any sheep demons.

“Nevertheless, the solid foundation of God stands, having this seal: ‘The Lord knows those who are His,’ and ‘Let everyone who names the name of Christ DEPART FROM INIQUITY.’” 2 Timothy 2:19

The separation of the sheep from the goats.

The Lord Jesus explained in Matthew 25:31-46 (the parable of the final judgment) that on the day of the last judgment, he will separate the sheep from the goats as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats. We see here an intentional and individual separation. Jesus already knows his sheep, just as he says in John 10:27. The distinguishing characteristic is that his sheep HEAR HIS VOICE, and they FOLLOW him; they are obedient. Goats are rebellious and disobedient.

“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. 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. And He will set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left. 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 …” Then He will also say to those on the left hand, “DEPART from ME, YOU CURSED, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels.” Matthew 25:31-34, 41

Goats rebel; sheep obey.

It’s not our professing to be sheep that matters to Jesus. It is what we are that matters. A goat can pretend to be a sheep all day long and hide among the sheep, but it remains a goat by nature. The Lord Jesus knows our hearts. He said in John 14:15, “If you love me, keep my commandments.” If we truly are his sheep, we won’t argue with him and his Word; we will seek to obey him even when it is difficult and follow him until the end when we enter his kingdom. If we choose to follow our own opinions and wishes, we shall be separated and cast to the left side on the day of judgment.

“My sheep HEAR MY VOICE, and I KNOW THEM, and they FOLLOW ME. And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father’s hand.” John 10:27-29

Obedience is better than sacrifice.

A great day of separation is coming. To his sheep the Lord shall say, “Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world” (Matthew 25:34). To the goat, he shall say, “Depart from me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels” (Matthew 25:41). OBEDIENCE is what matters to the Lord Jesus, not what we say, what we think, which church we attend, or what we are doing for God.

“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice LAWLESSNESS!’” Matthew 7:21-23

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