Do the Sheep and Goats Include Non-Christians?
“When the Son of man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit down on his glorious throne. All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate people one from another, just as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. And he will put the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on his left. “Then the King will say to those on his right: ‘Come, you who have been blessed by my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the founding of the world. For I became hungry and you gave me something to eat; I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink. I was a stranger and you received me hospitably; naked and you clothed me. I fell sick and you looked after me. I was in prison and you visited me.’ Then the righteous ones will answer him with the words: ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and receive you hospitably, or naked and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ In reply the King will say to them, ‘Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’ “Then he will say to those on his left: ‘Go away from me, you who have been cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the Devil and his angels. For I became hungry, but you gave me nothing to eat; and I was thirsty, but you gave me nothing to drink. I was a stranger, but you did not receive me hospitably; naked, but you did not clothe me; sick and in prison, but you did not look after me.’ Then they too will answer with the words: ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison and did not minister to you?’ Then he will answer them, saying: ‘Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did not do it to one of these least ones, you did not do it to me.’ These will depart into everlasting cutting-off, but the righteous ones into everlasting life.” Matthew 25:31-46
Jehovah’s Witnesses believe that only baptized members of their organization have any hope of surviving the end of this system of things at Armageddon. For example note what is stated in the October 2019 Watchtower:
“As we conduct Bible studies, we have to try our best to “make disciples . . . , teaching them to observe all the things [Jesus has] commanded.” We need to help people understand how important it is for them to take their stand for Jehovah and his Kingdom. This means trying to motivate people to make the truth their own by applying what they learn, dedicating their life to Jehovah, and getting baptized. Only then will they survive Jehovah’s day.—1 Pet. 3:21.
As mentioned earlier, there is very little time between now and the end of this system of things. For this reason, we cannot afford to keep studying the Bible with people who have no clear intention of becoming Christ’s disciples. (1 Cor. 9:26) Our work is urgent! There are many people who have yet to hear the Kingdom message before it is too late. (The Watchtower October 2019 pgs. 11-12 pars. 14-15)
This obviously gives a sense of urgency to their preaching work, since the survival of billions of persons depends on their responding to the message that Jehovah’s Witnesses bring from door to door and various other methods. They compare their assignment to preach to that of Noah in the days before the flood when survival depended upon listening to Noah and boarding the ark. How do they interpret this parable of Jesus?
The March 15, 2015 Watchtower explains how their understanding has developed over the years:
“To understand the illustration of the sheep and the goats correctly, we need to grasp three key elements of the account: the identity of those mentioned, the timing of the judgment, and the reason for being classified as either a sheep or a goat.
In 1881, Zion’s Watch Tower identified “the Son of man,” also called “the King,” as Jesus. The early Bible Students understood the expression rendered in the King James Version “my brethren” to refer to those who would rule with Christ as well as to all of mankind after they are restored to earthly perfection. They felt that the separating of the sheep from the goats would take place during the Thousand Year Reign of Christ. And they believed that people would be classed as sheep because they lived by God’s law of love.
In the early 1920’s, Jehovah helped his people refine their understanding of this illustration. The Watch Tower of October 15, 1923, affirmed that “the Son of man” is Jesus. However, it presented sound Scriptural arguments that limited the identity of Christ’s brothers to those who would rule with him in heaven, and it described the sheep as those who hope to live on earth under the rule of Christ’s Kingdom. What of the timing of the separating of the sheep from the goats? The article stated that Christ’s brothers would be ruling with him from heaven during the Millennial Reign, so they could not be helped or neglected by an earthly class. Therefore, the separating of the sheep from the goats would have to take place before the Millennial Rule begins. As for the reason why a person is identified as a sheep, the article concluded that people would be judged as such because they acknowledged Jesus as their Lord and looked to the Kingdom to bring better conditions.
As a result of that adjusted understanding, Jehovah’s people felt that individuals were being judged as sheep or goats throughout the conclusion of the system of things, depending on how they responded to the Kingdom message. However, in the mid-1990’s, our viewpoint was clarified. Two articles in the October 15, 1995, issue of The Watchtower noted the similarities between Jesus’ words as recorded at Matthew 24:29-31 (read) and those at Matthew 25:31, 32. (Read.) The conclusion? The lead article stated: “The rendering of judgment on the sheep and the goats is future.” When, exactly? “It will take place after ‘the tribulation’ mentioned at Matthew 24:29, 30 breaks out and the Son of man ‘arrives in his glory.’ . . . Then, with the entire wicked system at its end, Jesus will hold court and render and execute judgment.”
Today, we have a clear understanding of the illustration of the sheep and the goats. Regarding the identity of those mentioned, Jesus is “the Son of man,” the King. Those referred to as “my brothers” are spirit-anointed men and women, who will rule with Christ from heaven. (Rom. 8:16, 17) “The sheep” and “the goats” represent individuals from all nations. These ones are not anointed by holy spirit. What about the timing of the judgment? This judgment will occur toward the end of the great tribulation just ahead. And what of the reason why people will be judged as either sheep or goats? The outcome hinges on how they have treated the remaining ones of Christ’s spirit-anointed brothers on earth. With the end of this system so close at hand, how grateful we are that Jehovah has progressively shed light on this illustration and on the related illustrations recorded in Matthew chapters 24 and 25! (The Watchtower March 15, 2015 pgs. 26-27 pars. 3-7)
Understandably this teaching is troubling to many genuinely compassionate Witnesses. What of the many lands where the preaching work is banned? Millions of people on earth have never heard or come in contact with Jehovah’s Witnesses. Not only that, but even in lands where the majority of the public has been reached, how many are really aware that refusal of an offer of literature or acceptance of a Bible study with Jehovah’s Witnesses is of life or death importance? What of non-Witness relatives? Is Jesus really describing a judgement of all people of the earth in this illustration? What about babies, young children or the mentally handicapped? Or is he only describing a separating of genuine and imitation adult Christians out of all nations? Are non-Christians that have come in contact with Christians to be judged on the basis of whether or not they supported a small segment of specially anointed Christians? If so, would this not mean that Christianity would have to spread to all nations so that all persons could have the opportunity to hear the message or at least to come in contact with Christians in order to either support them or refuse to do so? (Matt. 24:14) Or will God at Armageddon simply declare that the time is up, that it is just too late for all those that did not respond favorably or receive a witness?
The aim of this article is to provide a scriptural answer to all of these questions.
As seen in the March 2015 Watchtower article, Jehovah’s Witnesses are taught to believe that Christ’s brothers are actually sheep who would rule with him in heaven according to Luke 12:32 and John 10:11-15, and the sheep of Jesus parable are those who hope to live on earth under the rule of Christ’s Kingdom. So, there are supposedly two classes of sheep. It further stated that the October 15, 1923 issue of the Watchtower presented sound scriptural arguments that support that conclusion.
It is important to note that, in 1923, contrary to the present Watchtower teaching, those of the other sheep were not considered to be part of the Bible Student movement (now known as Jehovah’s Witnesses). They were members of Christendom.
Under the subtitle “Not a Judgment of the Church” the 1923 Watchtower article states:
It can hardly be said that this parable has any reference to the judgment of the church of Christ: (1) Because the Lord’s spirit-begotten ones are not distinguished as sheep and goats, but the Lord speaks of them all as sheep (John 10:11-16); and (2) because the judgment of the little flock and the great company does not take place publicly before the nations of earth. (The Watchtower October 15, 1923 pg. 308 par. 15)
Under the subtitle “To Whom Applied”, that article states:
“To whom, then, do the symbols sheep and goats apply? We answer: Sheep represent all the peoples of the nations, not spirit-begotten but disposed toward righteousness, who mentally acknowledge Jesus Christ as the Lord and who are looking for and hoping for a better time under his reign. Goats represent all that class who claim to be Christians, but who do not acknowledge Christ as the great Redeemer and King of Mankind, but claim that the present evil order of things on this earth constitutes Christ’s kingdom.” (The Watchtower October 15, 1923 pg. 309 par. 24)
As can be seen the article presents no scriptural arguments, sound or otherwise! Furthermore, the article defines the sheep as representing all the peoples of the nations who mentally acknowledge Jesus Christ as Lord. So, in 1923 they saw this parable as describing a separating only of those in Christendom. In fact, paragraph 25 of the 1923 Watchtower goes on to say:
The Lord shows his reckoning with his servants and the judgment of his house. Is it not reasonable, then, to conclude that he would likewise picture some judgment of the church nominal; that is to say, those nations and the peoples composing the nations claiming to be Christian, who make an outward profession of acknowledging Christ Jesus? These draw nigh unto the Lord with their mouth and make much pretense of being Christians. Why should they not be judged, and why would we not expect particularly some pointed judgment of this class before the individual judgment of the world of mankind begins? (The Watchtower October 15, 1923 pg. 309 par. 25)
Obviously, at that time they viewed the judgment of the sheep and goats not as the judgment of the entire world of mankind but as something that precedes it, for the purpose of determining true Christians from false. At that time, these were identified as the other sheep. But it is important to note that, in 1923, contrary to the present Watchtower teaching, those of the other sheep were not considered to be part of the Bible Student movement (now known as Jehovah’s Witnesses). They were members of Christendom.
As for whether the Bible supports the concept of two classes of Christians some who would rule with him in heaven and others that hope to live on earth under the rule of that kingdom, see the article “When Does the Calling of the Chosen Ones Cease?” A very sound scriptural statement provided in that article that all Witnesses should consider carefully is found in the book of Ephesians:
One body there is, and one spirit, just as you were called to the one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. Ephesians 4:4-6
In any event, this two tier Christianity taught by the organization would divide all people living on earth aside from those designated for rulership with Christ as his brothers in heaven at the time of Armageddon into two classes. The sheep are those that support those brothers. They do this by becoming a baptized member of the organization and sharing in the all important preaching work, while the goats would be all people that do not.
From the immediate context it is difficult to tell whether Jesus words “all the nations will be gathered before him” mean that all people of the earth, meaning Christians and non-Christians, will be judged. Or whether Jesus is speaking of a separating of true and false Christians gathered from all the nations. (Matt. 24:31) So we will compare other parables of Jesus to see if they can shed any light on the matter.
In the thirteenth chapter of Matthew, Jesus gives two illustrations that appear to have a bearing.
The Dragnet
“Again the Kingdom of the heavens is like a dragnet let down into the sea and gathering fish of every kind. When it was full, they hauled it up onto the beach, and sitting down, they collected the fine ones into containers, but the unsuitable they threw away. That is how it will be in the conclusion of the system of things. The angels will go out and separate the wicked from among the righteous and will cast them into the fiery furnace. There is where their weeping and the gnashing of their teeth will be. Matthew 13:47-50
Notice that this illustration, like the sheep and goats parable, is about the conclusion of the system of things and also describes the angels involved in a separating work. This illustration appears to represent only Christians since the dragnet is directly related to Jesus instruction to his disciples to go and make disciples, teaching them to observe all the things he commanded them. The separating therefore would be between genuine and imitation Christians.
The Wheat and the Weeds
“the field is the world. As for the fine seed, these are the sons of the Kingdom, but the weeds are the sons of the wicked one, and the enemy who sowed them is the Devil. The harvest is a conclusion of a system of things, and the reapers are angels. Therefore, just as the weeds are collected and burned with fire, so it will be in the conclusion of the system of things. The Son of man will send his angels, and they will collect out from his Kingdom all things that cause stumbling and people who practice lawlessness, Matthew 13:38-41
Here we see a similarity with the sheep and goats illustration of the Son of man coming with his angels to do a separating work. Clearly, in this illustration the wheat and weeds are only Christians. Jesus tells his disciples that the wheat are the sons of the kingdom. (Matt. 13:38) When does the Son of Man come in his glory? Earlier in chapter 24 Jesus gave his disciples this sign:.
“Immediately after the tribulation of those days, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. Then the sign of the Son of man will appear in heaven, and all the tribes of the earth will beat themselves in grief, and they will see the Son of man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And he will send out his angels with a great trumpet sound, and they will gather his chosen ones together from the four winds, from one extremity of the heavens to their other extremity. Matthew 24:29-31
If this is describing the same event, then the separating occurs “immediately after the tribulation of those days”. Interestingly, we find a scene in Revelation chapter 7 in which angels are told to hold back destructive winds until the slaves of the living God were sealed:
After this I saw four angels standing on the four corners of the earth, holding tight the four winds of the earth, so that no wind could blow on the earth or on the sea or on any tree. And I saw another angel ascending from the sunrise, having a seal of the living God; and he called with a loud voice to the four angels to whom it was granted to harm the earth and the sea, saying: “Do not harm the earth or the sea or the trees, until after we have sealed the slaves of our God in their foreheads.” And I heard the number of those who were sealed, 144,000, sealed out of every tribe of the sons of Israel: Revelation 7:1-4
Also a great crowd that comes out of the tribulation:
After this I saw, and look! a great crowd, which no man was able to number, out of all nations and tribes and peoples and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, dressed in white robes; and there were palm branches in their hands. And they keep shouting with a loud voice, saying: “Salvation we owe to our God, who is seated on the throne, and to the Lamb.” All the angels were standing around the throne and the elders and the four living creatures, and they fell facedown before the throne and worshipped God, saying: “Amen! Let the praise and the glory and the wisdom and the thanksgiving and the honor and the power and the strength be to our God forever and ever. Amen.” In response one of the elders said to me: “These who are dressed in the white robes, who are they and where did they come from?” So right away I said to him: “My lord, you are the one who knows.” And he said to me: “These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation, and they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. That is why they are before the throne of God, and they are rendering him sacred service day and night in his temple; and the One seated on the throne will spread his tent over them. Revelation 7:9-15
For a discussion of just what is represented by these two groups, I encourage you to consider the article “Is the 144,000 a Literal Number?” I believe there are indications that the 144,000, the great crowd of Revelation chapter 7 and these chosen ones Jesus speaks about are all one and the same, since it is said that they come out of the tribulation. (Rev. 7:14) Here Jesus speaks of gathering his chosen ones, but there are scriptures that indicate this would be preceded by or involve a separating.
Many will say to me in that day: ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and expel demons in your name, and perform many powerful works in your name?’ And then I will declare to them: ‘I never knew you! Get away from me, you workers of lawlessness!’ Matthew 7:22, 23
Then two men will be in the field; one will be taken along and the other abandoned. Two women will be grinding at the hand mill; one will be taken along and the other abandoned. Matthew 24:40, 41
Whether this is referring to a rapture of Christians and abandoning of non-Christians or judging between true and false Christians is difficult to determine. However, we do find indication of a separating of true and false Christians in the parable of the virgins, the talents and the faithful slave. (Matt. 24:45-47; 25:1-13; 14-30)
So, two other parables Jesus gave on another occasion about angels separating people in the conclusion of the system of things, namely the dragnet and the wheat and the weeds, have to do with separating, not all people, but Christians. Not only that but in the same chapter as the parable of the sheep and the goats three other parables have to do with separating Christians with a special warning to Christians to keep on the watch because they do not know on what day their Lord is coming. Is it likely that Jesus concludes with an illustration that teaches a different lesson?
Furthermore, it is important to remember the purpose of Jesus ministry was to gather those that would become the children of God. (John 1:12)
He as the Son of God would consider all of them, from the least to the greatest, his brothers. (Heb. 2:10-13)
The apostle Peter indicated that the judgment would begin with the house of God:
For it is the appointed time for the judgment to start with the house of God. Now if it starts first with us, what will the outcome be for those who are not obedient to the good news of God? “And if the righteous man is being saved with difficulty, what will happen to the ungodly man and the sinner?” 1 Peter 4:17, 18
Good question. On this verse the Cambridge Bible Commentary states:
For the time is come that judgment must begin] Literally, It is the season of the beginning of the judgment. The words of the Apostle stand in close connexion with his belief that he was living in the last age of the world, that “the end of all things was at hand.” (See note on 1Pe 4:7.) He saw in the persecutions and sufferings that fell on the Church, beginning “from the house of God,” the opening of that judgment. It was not necessarily a work of condemnation. Those on whom it fell might be judged in order that they might not be condemned (comp. 1Co 11:32). But it was a time which, like the final judgment, was one of separation. It was trying the reality of the faith of those who professed to believe in Christ, and dividing the true disciples from the hypocrites and half-hearted. The “house of God” is His family, His Ecclesia, as in 1Ti 3:15, and the “spiritual house” of chap. 1Pe 2:5.
what shall the end be of them that obey not] The à fortiori argument reminds us in some measure of that of St Paul, “If God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest He also spare not thee” (Rom 11:21). There, however, the contrast lay between Israel after the flesh that was rejected for its unfaithfulness and the new Israel after the spirit if it too should prove unfaithful. Here it lies between the true Israel of God and the outlying heathen world. With a question which is more awful than any assertion, he asks, as to those that obey not, What shall be their end? The thought was natural enough to have been quite spontaneous, but it may also have been the echo of like thoughts that had passed through the minds of the older prophets. “I begin to bring evil upon the city which is called by my Name, and shall ye”—the nations of the heathen—“be utterly unpunished?” Jer 25:29. Comp. also Jer 49:12; Eze 9:6. (Cambridge Bible Commentary)
Notice, however, that the emphasis in Peters words are not on condemnation but rather on salvation, even if this is accomplished with difficulty. This reminds us of Peter’s words in his second letter:
Jehovah is not slow concerning his promise, as some people consider slowness, but he is patient with you because he does not desire anyone to be destroyed but desires all to attain to repentance. 2 Peter 3:9
Paul in 1Thessalonians also presents a picture of Christ’s coming:
Moreover, brothers, we do not want you to be ignorant about those who are sleeping in death, so that you may not sorrow as the rest do who have no hope. For if we have faith that Jesus died and rose again, so too God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep in death through Jesus. For this is what we tell you by Jehovah’s word, that we the living who survive to the presence of the Lord will in no way precede those who have fallen asleep in death; because the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a commanding call, with an archangel’s voice and with God’s trumpet, and those who are dead in union with Christ will rise first. Afterward we the living who are surviving will, together with them, be caught away in clouds to meet the Lord in the air; and thus we will always be with the Lord. So keep comforting one another with these words. 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18
On these verses R.C.H. Lenski comments:
“As to the last day all that we can do is to combine what the Scriptures say regarding it and to remember that all of it is beyond human imagination. This record is intended for our hope and our comfort and not for speculation and rationalization. It is folly to introduce our conceptions of time and of space; for then time shall cease (Rev. 10:6), a thought no human mind can conceive, and we may add that the same will be true regarding space as we know it (the two always go together). Here the writers are concerned only with what shall occur with regard to the dead and the living saints at the Parousia for the hope and the comfort of the Thessalonians. Nothing is, therefore said about the wicked, about the judgment, or about other details that some of us would like to know.” (R.C.H. Lenski Interpretation of First Thessalonians pg. 335)
It seems clear that these verses are speaking about the same gathering of the chosen ones described in the gospels. (Matt. 24:30,31) That this gathering also involves a separating is illustrated in the Sermon on the Mount. (Matt. 7:21-23) This same separating is described in the parable of the sheep and goats, the wheat and the weeds, the dragnet, the virgins, the talents and the faithful slave.
Hence the weight of the scriptural evidence points to the sheep and goats as an illustration of the separating of genuine and imitation Christians. Those unworthy of becoming co-rulers in the kingdom at the time of Christ’s coming are seen to be wicked imposters fit for destruction. (Matt. 7:21-23) The reference to “the least of these my brothers” denotes members of Jesus disciples such as children (Matt. 18:5) and others that fall into needing assistance. (Matt. 10:40-42; 11:11; 26:11; Luke 14:13; Rom. 15:26; Jas. 2:3)
“Whoever receives you receives me also, and whoever receives me receives also the One who sent me. 41 Whoever receives a prophet because he is a prophet will get a prophet’s reward, and whoever receives a righteous man because he is a righteous man will get a righteous man’s reward. 42 And whoever gives one of these little ones only a cup of cold water to drink because he is a disciple, I tell you truly, he will by no means lose his reward.” (Matthew 10:40-42) Truly I say to you, among those born of women, there has not been raised up anyone greater than John the Baptist, but a lesser person in the Kingdom of the heavens is greater than he is. (Matthew 11:11) For you always have the poor with you, but you will not always have me. (Matthew 26:11) But when you spread a feast, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind; (Luke 14:13) For those in Mac·e·doʹni·a and A·chaʹia have been pleased to share their things by a contribution to the poor among the holy ones in Jerusalem. (Romans 15:26) do you look with favor on the one wearing the splendid clothing and say, “You take this seat here in a fine place,” and do you say to the poor one, “You keep standing” or, “Take that seat there under my footstool”? (James 2:3)
The Watchtower society places the emphasis on Christ’s brothers and interprets support for them to be assisting the anointed with the all important preaching work. Yet in the parable, Jesus says nothing about preaching. Jesus places the emphasis on helping the less fortunate. (Matt. 25:35,36)
One final and rather strong indication that the sheep and the goats are Christians can be seen in the declaration made by the Son of Man:
“Then the King will say to those on his right: ‘Come, you who have been blessed by my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the founding of the world. (Matthew 25:34)
These words were spoken by Jesus to people he gave authority to become sons of God. (John 1:12) According to the Bible it is the sons that inherit. (Matt. 5:5,9; 8:11,12; 17:25,26; Romans 8:17) They can also lose their inheritance. (Matt. 8:11,12; Luke 13:28)
According to Jesus, these will inherit the earth. (Matt. 5:5)
The Watchtower society claims that two different groups can inherit the earth:
In what sense do the mild-tempered “inherit the earth”? Jesus’ spirit-anointed disciples inherit the earth when they rule over it as kings and priests. (Rev. 20:6) Millions of others who do not have the heavenly calling, however, will inherit the earth in the sense that they will be allowed to live here forever in perfection, peace, and happiness. (The Watchtower September 2018 pg. 19 par. 9)
However, there is no biblical statement indicating that there would be millions of Christians who do not have the heavenly hope. Revelation 20:6 says of those in the first resurrection “over these the second death has no authority”. Just prior to that, verse 5 says: “the rest of the dead do not come to life until the thousand years were ended”.
According to the Watchtower society those numbered among “the rest of the dead” include not only those that will receive an earthly resurrection during the thousand years but the great crowd of Armageddon survivors as well.
Similarly, pre-Christian witnesses of Jehovah were declared righteous as to friendship with God; and Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob were spoken of as “living” even though they were physically dead. (Matthew 22:31, 32; James 2:21, 23) However, they and all others who are resurrected, as well as the great crowd of faithful other sheep who survive Armageddon and any children that may be born to these in the new world, must yet be raised to human perfection. This will be accomplished by Christ and his associate kings and priests during the thousand-year Judgment Day, on the basis of Jesus’ ransom sacrifice. By the end of that Day, “the rest of the dead” will have “come to life” in the sense that they will be perfect humans. As we shall see, they must then pass a final test, but they will face that test as perfected humans. When they pass the test, God will declare them worthy of living forever, righteous in the fullest sense. They will experience the complete fulfillment of the promise: “The righteous themselves will possess the earth, and they will reside forever upon it.” (Psalm 37:29) What a delightful future is in store for obedient mankind! (Revelation It’s Grand Climax at Hand pg. 290 par. 15)
Since, they do not initially receive everlasting life but must pass a final test at the end of the thousand years, this contradicts Jesus pronouncement to the sheep:
These will depart into everlasting cutting-off, but the righteous ones into everlasting life.” (Matthew 25:46)
In Jesus parable of the sheep and goats, the fate of non-Christians at the time of his coming is simply not addressed. As Peter says: “What will happen to the ungodly man and the sinner?” This means, we will simply have to wait until then to see how Christ will deal with them. To say that all those that are not chosen as sheep also include persons that have not, either heard and responded favorably to the Christian message, or come in contact with Christians so as to render them aid, will face everlasting destruction would be to go beyond the things that have been written.