It is believed that every bad deed of a person is taken into account and he will certainly incur punishment for it. Believers believe that only a righteous life will help to avoid punishment and be in Paradise. Decide the fate of people will be at the Last Judgment, but when it will be - it is unknown.
What does this mean the Last Judgment?
The court that touches all people (living and dead) is called "terrible". It will happen before Jesus Christ comes to earth for the second time. It is believed that the dead souls will be resurrected, and the living ones will be changed. Everyone will receive eternal fate for their deeds, and sins in the Last Judgment will come to the fore. Many people mistakenly believe that the soul appears before the Lord on the fortieth day after his death, when a decision is made about where she will go to Heaven or Hell . This is not a trial, but simply the distribution of the dead who will wait for "X-time."
The Last Judgment in Christianity
In the Old Testament the idea of the Last Judgment is presented as "the day of Yahweh" (one of the names of God in Judaism and Christianity). On this day, there will be a celebration of victory over the earthly enemies. After the belief began spreading that the dead could be resurrected, "the day of Yahweh" began to be perceived as the Last Judgment. In the New Testament it is stated that the Last Judgment is an event when the Son of God descends to the earth, sits on the throne, and before him all the nations appear. All people will be divided, and the justified will stand on the right hand, and the convicted on the left.
- Part of his authority Jesus will entrust the righteous, for example, the apostles.
- People will be judged not only for good and evil deeds, but for every idle word.
- The Holy Fathers of the Last Judgment said that there is a "memory of the heart" in which all life is imprinted, not only external, but also internal.
Why do Christians call God's judgment "terrible"?
There are several names for this event, for example, the great Lord's day or the day of God's wrath. The terrible judgment after death is called so not because God will appear before people in horrifying guise, he, on the contrary, will be surrounded by the glitter of his glory and greatness, which many will cause fear.
- The name "terrible" is connected with the fact that on this day the sinners will tremble because all their sins will be made public and they will have to be answered for.
- It is also frightening that everyone will be judged publicly in the face of the whole world, so it will not be possible to escape from the truth.
- Fear also arises from the fact that the sinner will receive his punishment not for a while, but for eternity.
Where are the souls of the dead before the Last Judgment?
Since no one has ever been able to return from the other world, all information concerning the afterlife is an assumption. The posthumous tribulations of the soul, and the Last Judgment of God are represented in many church writings. It is believed that within 40 days after death the soul is on the earth, living different periods, thus preparing to meet with the Lord. Finding out where the souls are before the Last Judgment, it is worth saying that God, viewing the past life of every deceased person, determines where he will be in Paradise or in Hell.
What does the Last Judgment look like?
The Holy, who wrote the sacred books from the words of the Lord, did not provide detailed information about the Last Judgment. God showed only the essence of what will happen. Description of the Last Judgment can be obtained from the icon of the same name. The image was formed in Byzantium in the eighth century and it was recognized as canonical. The plot was taken from the Gospel, the Apocalypse and various ancient books. Of great importance were the revelations of John the Theologian and the prophet Daniel. The icon "The Last Judgment" has three registers and each has its own place.
- Traditionally, the upper part of the image is represented by Jesus, who is surrounded on both sides by the apostles and takes direct part in the process.
- Under it is the throne - the judicial throne, on which there is a spear, cane, sponge and the Gospel.
- Below there are trumpeting angels, who so call everyone for an event.
- The lower part of the icon shows what will happen to people who were righteous and sinners.
- On the right side are people who have done good deeds and they will go to Paradise, and also the Virgin, the angels and Paradise.
- In the other side, Hell is represented with sinners, demons and Satan .
In different sources, other details of the Last Judgment are described. Each person will see his life in the smallest detail, not only from his own side, but also from the eyes of the surrounding people. He will understand what actions were good and which were bad. Evaluation will take place with the help of scales, so good deeds will be put on one cup, and evil ones on the other.
Who is present at the Last Judgment?
At the time of making a decision, a person will not be alone with the Lord, as the action will be open and global. The Last Judgment will be conducted by the entire Holy Trinity, but it will be unfolded only by the hypostasis of God's Son in the person of Christ. As for the Father and the Holy Spirit, they will take part in the process, but from the passive side. When the day of the Last Judgment of God comes, everyone will be responsible together with their guardian angels and close dead and living relatives.
What will happen to sinners after the Last Judgment?
The Word of God depicts several kinds of anguish to which people who lead a sinful life will be exposed.
- Sinners will be removed from the Lord and cursed by them, which will be a terrible punishment. As a result, they will suffer from the thirst of their soul to approach God.
- Finding out what awaits the people after the Last Judgment, it is worth pointing out that sinners will be deprived of all the blessings of the kingdom of heaven.
- People who have committed bad deeds will be sent to the abyss - a place that demons are afraid of.
- Sinners will be constantly tormented by memories of their lives, which they have destroyed in their own words. They will be tormented by conscience and regret that nothing can be changed.
- In the Holy Scriptures there are descriptions of external torment in the form of a worm that does not die, and a never-ending fire. Sinner waiting for crying, gnashing of teeth and despair.
The Parable of the Last Judgment
Jesus Christ told believers about the Last Judgment so that they would know what to expect if they departed from the righteous path.
- When the Son of God comes to earth with holy angels, he sits on the throne of his own glory. All nations will gather before him and Jesus will lead the separation of good people from bad people.
- On the night of the Last Judgment the Son of God will ask for every deed, claiming that all the bad acts committed against other people were made to him.
- After this, the judge will ask why they did not help the needy, when those who demanded support, and the sinners will be punished.
- Good people who lead a righteous life will be sent to Paradise.