Jesus concluded the Olivet Discourse with further revelation about the judgment that will take place at the end of the present age when He returns. He had referred to it often in the discourse, but now He made it a special subject of explanation. This judgment will occur when the King returns to earth at the end of the Tribulation to set up His kingdom. [1][source]
As we have seen, Matthew stressed judgment in his Gospel ( Matthew 3:12; Matthew 6:2; Matthew 6:5; Matthew 6:16; Matthew 7:24-27; Matthew 13:30; Matthew 13:48-49; Matthew 18:23-34; Matthew 20:1-16; Matthew 21:33-41; Matthew 22:1-14; Matthew 24:45-51; Matthew 25:1-12; Matthew 25:14-30). This is not unusual since the Old Testament predicted that judgment would precede the messianic kingdom, and Matthew emphasized the kingdom. It is not surprising, therefore, that Jesus concluded this discourse that reveals events leading up to the inauguration of the kingdom by explaining the judgment that will precede it. [source][source][source]
The New Testament teaches that there will be two distinct judgments relative to the kingdom. Many scholars believe there will only be one general judgment at the end. [2] Most of these are amillenarians, but some premillenarians believe this as well. [3] One of these judgments will occur just before the messianic kingdom begins and another will follow at its end. The one at the end is the great white throne judgment when God will send all unbelievers to hell ( Revelation 20:11-15). [source][source][source]
Some differences between these two judgments indicate their distinctness. First, the first judgment will not involve a resurrection of unbelievers but will deal with unbelievers alive then on the earth. The word "nations" (i.e, Gentiles, Gr. ethne) never refers to the dead elsewhere in Scripture. [4] The second judgment will involve a resurrection of unbelievers. Second, the first judgment will involve three different kinds of people: the sheep, the goats, and Jesus" brethren. The second will involve the wicked ( Revelation 20:13-15) and possibly the righteous who have died during the Millennium. Third, the first will result in some inheriting the kingdom and others getting eternal punishment, but the second will result in the wicked judged going into the lake of fire. Fourth, the first happens at the beginning of the messianic (millennial) kingdom, but the second happens at its end. [5][source]
This pericope rounds off Jesus" instructions about the future in a way similar to how Matthew 10:40-42 completes Jesus" charge concerning His apostles" mission in Israel ( Matthew 10:5-42). It is the parable of the sheep and the goats. Some writers have argued that this is not a parable. [6] However most have dealt with this section as a parable in the looser sense of a lesson. [source][source][source]