163. The Last Judgment

The Last Judgment

YOUCAT Catechism + Catechism of the Catholic Church Lesson 163

Ave Maria series

163  What is the Last Judgment?

The Last Judgment will take place at the end of the world, at the second coming of Christ.  “All who are in the tombs will hear his voice and come forth, those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of judgment”  (John 5:29).  [1038-1041, 1058-1059]

The Last Judgment by Fra Angelico. ….. The artwork is dated between 1425 and 1430. …..163

When Christ comes again in glory, his full splendor will shine upon us.  The truth will come plainly to light: our thoughts, our deeds, or relationship to God and to other men—nothing will remain hidden.  We will recognize the ultimate meaning of creation, comprehend God’s marvelous ways for the sake of our salvation, and finally receive also an answer to the question of why evil can be so powerful if God is in fact the Almighty.  The Last Judgment is also our day in court.  Here it is decided whether we will rise to eternal life or be separated from God forever.  Toward those who have chosen life, God will act creatively once again.  In a “new body” (see 2 Corinthians 5) they will live forever in God’s glory and praise him with body and soul.  110-112, 157

“When the Son of man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne.  Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate them one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats, and he will place the sheep at his right hand, but the goats at the left…And they will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”  Matthew 25:31-33, 46

According to his promise we wait for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.  2 Peter 3:13

[1038-1041, 1058-1059]

THE LAST JUDGMENT

1038 The resurrection of all the dead, "of both the just and the unjust," ( Acts of the Apostles 24:15)⁶²³ will precede the Last Judgment. This will be "the hour when all who are in the tombs will hear [the Son of man's] voice and come forth, those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of judgment."( John 5:28-29)⁶²⁴  Then Christ will come "in his glory, and all the angels with him. . . . Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate them one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats, and he will place the sheep at his right hand, but the goats at the left. . . . And they will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life."( Matthew 25:31,32,46)⁶²⁵ –Catechism of the Catholic Church, Second Edition

1039 In the presence of Christ, who is Truth itself, the truth of each man's relationship with God will be laid bare.( compare John 12:49)⁶²⁶ The Last Judgment will reveal even to its furthest consequences the good each person has done or failed to do during his earthly life: --CCC

All that the wicked do is recorded, and they do not know. When "our God comes, he does not keep silence.". . . he will turn towards those at his left hand: . . . "I placed my poor little ones on earth for you. I as their head was seated in heaven at the right hand of my Father - but on earth my members were suffering, my members on earth were in need. If you gave anything to my members, what you gave would reach their Head. Would that you had known that my little ones were in need when I placed them on earth for you and appointed them your stewards to bring your good works into my treasury. But you have placed nothing in their hands; therefore you have found nothing in my presence."( St. Augustine, Sermo 18, 4:Patrologia Latina 38,130-131;compare Psalm 50:3)⁶²⁷ –CCC

1040 The Last Judgment will come when Christ returns in glory. Only the Father knows the day and the hour; only he determines the moment of its coming. Then through his Son Jesus Christ he will pronounce the final word on all history. We shall know the ultimate meaning of the whole work of creation and of the entire economy of salvation and understand the marvelous ways by which his Providence led everything towards its final end. The Last Judgment will reveal that God's justice triumphs over all the injustices committed by his creatures and that God's love is stronger than death.(compare Song of Solomon 8:6)⁶²⁸ –CCC

1041 The message of the Last Judgment calls men to conversion while God is still giving them "the acceptable time, . . . the day of salvation."( 2 Corinthians 6:2)⁶²⁹  It inspires a holy fear of God and commits them to the justice of the Kingdom of God. It proclaims the "blessed hope" of the Lord's return, when he will come "to be glorified in his saints, and to be marveled at in all who have believed."(Titus 2:13; 2 Thessalonians 1:10)⁶³⁰ –CCC

IN BRIEF

1058 The Church prays that no one should be lost: "Lord, let me never be parted from you." If it is true that no one can save himself, it is also true that God "desires all men to be saved" (1 Timothy 2:4), and that for him "all things are possible" (Matthew 19:26). –CCC

1059 "The holy Roman Church firmly believes and confesses that on the Day of Judgment all men will appear in their own bodies before Christ's tribunal to render an account of their own deeds" (Council of Lyons II [1274]:Denzinger-Schönmetzer 859; compare DS 1549). –CCC

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