Two things need to be pointed out in the above passage. The first is that we are speaking of people who were gathered up in the Kingdom net. The second is that the separation is not between those who accepted Christ and those who did not but between the wicked and the righteous.

If there is any concept that needs to be emphasized in the present hour it is that the Bible, from Genesis to Revelation, speaks of the difference between the wicked and the righteous, not between Israel and the nations or between the churches and the world.

If our salvation in Christ does not remove us from wickedness and bring us into righteousness it has failed to do God's will and we are heading toward the fire.

There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth, not only on the part of the heathen but on the part of the Lord's elect—a weeping over opportunities forever lost; an agonizing because of people who remained ignorant of the Gospel, who could have been fine fruit for the Lord's table had it not been for the laziness, neglect, and disobedience of the Lord's servant.

Every believer shall be shown clearly and in detail the opportunities he had and the results of his choices. That shall be a time of the most extravagant rejoicing or the most piercing remorse and terror.

His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed: thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury. Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents. For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath. And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. (Matthew 25:26-30)

These words are not addressed to the unbelievers or the Jews but to the Lord's servants, the Christians.

If we repent and seek the Lord, He will come to us and help us get back on the path that leads to eternal life. But if we do not, and continue in our carefree, presumptuous, arrogant apathy, we are facing the terror of the Lord.

He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to practice righteousness, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God? (Micah 6:8)

Both the Judaic and Christian religions have preferred their religious beliefs and practices over the Lord's desire, which is that people behave righteously, love mercy, and walk humbly with God.

We do always err in our heart.

It is time for judgment to begin in the household of God. After the saints themselves have been judged they will judge the remainder of the creation of God.

Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? and if the world shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters? Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life? (I Corinthians 6:2,3)

To be continued.