“From thence He shall come to judge the living and the dead.”
It is of the office of the King and Lord to pronounce judgment: “The king that sitteth on the throne of judgment scattereth away all evil with His look.”[1] Since Christ, therefore, ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God as Lord of all, it is clear that His is the office of Judge. For this reason we say in the rule of Catholic faith that “He shall
come to judge the living and the dead.” Indeed the Angels have said that: “This Jesus who is taken up from you into heaven shall so come as you have seen Him going into heaven.”[2]
We shall consider three facts about the judgment: (1) the form of the judgment; (2) the fear of the judgment; (3) our preparation for the judgment.
THE FORM OF THE JUDGMENT
Now, concerning the form of the judgment there is a threefold question. Who is the judge, who are to be judged, and upon what will they be judged? Christ is the Judge: “It is He who is appointed by God to be judge of the living and of the dead.”[3] We may here interpret “the dead” to mean sinners and “the living” to mean the just; or “the living” to refer to those who at that time were living and “the dead” to mean those who had died. Christ of a certain is Judge, not only in that He is God, but also in that He is man. The first reason for this is because it is necessary that they who are to be judged may see the Judge. But the Godhead is so wholly delightful that no one could behold it without great enjoyment; and hence the damned are not permitted to see the Judge, nor in consequence to enjoy anything. Christ, therefore, of necessity will appear in the form of man so that He may be seen by all: “And He hath given Him power to do judgment, because He is the Son of man.”[4] Again Christ deserved this office as Man, for as Man He was unjustly judged, and therefore God constitutes Him Judge of the entire world: “Thy cause hath been judged as that of the wicked. Cause and judgment Thou shalt recover.”[5] And, lastly, if God alone should judge men, they, being terrified, would despair; but this despair disappears from men if they are to be judged by a Man: “And then they shall see the Son of man coming in a cloud.”[6]
WHO ARE TO BE JUDGED?
All are to be judged–those who are, who were, and who will be: “We must all be manifested before the judgment seat of Christ, that every one may receive the proper things of the body, according as he hath done, whether it be good or evil.”[7] There are, says St. Gregory, four different classes of people to be judged. The chief difference is between the good and the wicked.
Of the wicked, some will be condemned but not judged. They are the infidels whose works are not to be discussed because, as St. John says: “He that doth not believe is already judged.”[8] Others will be both condemned and judged. They are those possessing the faith who departed this life in mortal sin: “For the wages of sin is death.”[9] They shall not be excluded from the judgment because of the faith which they possessed.
Of the good also, some will be saved and shall not be judged. they are the poor in spirit for God’s sake who rather shall judge others: “Amen, I say to you that you, who have followed Me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit on the seat of His majesty, you also shall sit on twelve seats judging the twelve tribes of Israel.”[10] Now, this is not to be understood only of the disciples, but of all those who are poor in spirit; for otherwise Paul, who labored more than others, would not be among this number. These words, therefore, must refer also to all the followers of the apostles and to all apostolic men: “Know you not
that we shall judge Angels?[11] “The Lord will enter into judgment with the ancients of His people and its princes.”[12]
Others shall both be saved and judged, that is, they who die in a state of righteousness. For although they departed this life in justice, nevertheless they fell somewhat amiss in the business of temporal matters, and hence shall be judged but saved. The judgment will be upon all their deeds good and bad: “Walk in the ways of thy heart, . . . and know that for all these God will bring thee into judgment.”[13] “And all things that are done, God will bring into judgment for every error, whether it be good or evil.”[14] Even idle words shall be judged: “But I say to you that every idle word hat men shall speak, they shall render an account for it in the day of judgment.”[15] And thoughts also: “For inquisition shall be made into the thought of the ungodly.”[16] Thus, the form of the judgment is clear.
THE FEAR OF THE JUDGMENT
The judgment ought indeed to be feared. (a) Because of the wisdom of the Judge. God knows all things, our thoughts, words and deeds, and “all things are naked and open to his eyes.[17] “All the ways of men are open to His eyes.”[18] He knows our words: “The ear of jealousy heareth all things.”[19] Also our thoughts: “The heart is perverse above all things and unsearchable. Who can know it? I am the Lord, who search the heart and prove the reins; who give to every one according to his way and according to the fruit of his devices.”[20] There will be infallible witnesses– men’s own consciences: “Who show the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience bearing witness to them; and their thoughts between themselves accusing or also defending one another, in the day when God shall judge the secrets of men.”[21]
(b) Because of the power of the Judge, who is almighty in Himself: “Behold, the Lord God will come with strength.”[22] And also almighty in others: “The whole world shall fight with Him against the unwise.”[23] Hence, Job says: “Whereas there is no man that can deliver out of Thy hand.”[24] “If I ascend into heaven, Thou art there; if I descend into hell, Thou art present,” says the Psalmist.[25]
(c) Because of the inflexible justice of the Judge. The present is the time for mercy; but the future is the time solely for justice; and so the present is our time, but the future is God’s time: “When I shall take a time, I shall judge justices.”[26] “The jealousy and rage of the husband will not spare in the day of revenge. Nor will he yield to any man’s prayers; nor will he accept for satisfaction ever so many gifts.”[27]
(d) Because of the anger of the Judge. He shall appear in different ways to the just and to the wicked. To the just, He will be pleasant and gracious: “They will behold the King of beauty.”[28] To the wicked He will be angry and pitiless, so that they may say to the mountains: “Fall upon us and hide us from the wrath of the Lamb.”[29] But this anger of God does not bespeak in Him any perturbation of soul, but rather the effect of His anger which is the eternal punishment inflicted upon sinners.
OUR PREPARATION FOR THE JUDGMENT
Now, against this fear of the judgment we ought to have four remedies. The first is good works: “Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? Do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise from the same.”[30] The second is confession and repentance for sins committed; and this ought to include sorrow in thinking of hem, feeling of shame in confessing them, and all severity in making satisfaction for them. And these will take away the eternal punishment. The third is giving of alms, which makes all things clean: “Make unto you friends of the mammon of iniquity; that when you shall fail, they may receive you into everlasting dwellings.”[31] The fourth is charity, viz., the love of God and our neighbor, for “charity covereth a multitude of sins.”[32]
(For “Questions for Discussion” see Chapter 6.)
ENDNOTES
1. Prov., xx. 8.
2. Acts, i. 11.
3. Acts, x. 42.
4. John, v. 27.
5. Job, xxxvi. 17.
6. Luke, xxi. 27.
7. II Cor., v. 10.
8. John, iii. 18.
9. Rom., vi. 23.
10. Matt., xix. 28.
11. I Cor., vi. 3.
12. Isa., iii. 14.
13. Eccles., xi. 9.
14. “Ibid.,” xii. 14.
15. Matt., xii. 36.
16. Wis., i. 9.
17. Heb., iv. 13.
18 Prov., xvi. 2.
19. Wis., i. 10.
20. Jerem. xvii. 9-10.
21. Rom., ii. 15-16.
22. Isa., xl. 10.
23. Wis., v. 21.
24. Job, x. 7.
25. Ps., cxxxviii. 8.
26. Ps., lxxiv. 3.
27. Prov., vi. 34-35.
28. Isa., xxxiii. 17.
29. Apoc., vi. 16.
30. Rom., xiii. 3.
31. Luke, xvi. 9.
32. I Peter, iv. 8.