|
After we die, depending on
our actions hear on earth, our souls go to one of three places, heaven, hell
or purgatory. I understand that all souls in purgatory (after cleansing)
will eventually arrive in heaven. This confuses me, as when Jesus comes
again for the second coming to judge the living and the dead, how will the
dead be judged? |
| Not an easy
straightforward question. If I understand the questioner correctly, the question centres upon how the dead will be judged at the end of time. For some background, firstly maybe, we might look again at the scripture that provides the basis for theological reflection and understanding about what happens at death. The classic texts might be Matthew 25:31-46; 2 Corinthians 5:10; 2 Peter 3: 3-14; Romans 8: 14-25; 2 Thessalonians 1: 7-12; there are many more…] References in the New Testament generally speak about the encounter with Christ at his second coming at the end of time. Yet we also understand that each will be rewarded after death in accordance with our works and faith during life. Thus the Catechism of the Catholic Church [Second Edition © 1994,1997 Libreria Vaticana] says: ‘Death puts an end to human life as the time open to either accepting or rejecting divine grace manifested in Christ (2 Tim 1: 9-10). The New Testament speaks of judgment primarily in its aspect of the final encounter with Christ in his second coming, but also repeatedly affirms that each will be rewarded immediately after death in accordance with his works and faith.’ [para 1021] The teaching of the Church distinguishes the ‘particular’ judgement of the individual and the ‘final’, or general judgement. [Mat 16: 26-28]. This text also seems to refer to the idea that some will be alive at the time of the final coming of Christ, for some ‘will not taste death before they see the Son of Man coming’. The typical Last Judgment scene as depicted in art and literature based maybe upon the text in Matthew 25: 31-42, has everyone assembled before the judgement seat and those on the right hand are invited into ‘the kingdom prepared for you since the foundation of the world’, while those on the left hand ‘will go away to eternal punishment.’ The scene opens: ‘When the Son of Man comes in his glory… all the nations will be assembled…’ What is presupposed in this text is that the those who have died will now be raised again, so it is the living who will be judged finally. The ‘living’ being those who have been resurrected and those who were still alive at the time of the coming of the Son of Man. So in attempt to summarise and answer to the question put: ‘when Jesus comes again for the second coming to judge the living and the dead, how will the dead be judged?’ I would suggest at death we each face our individual and personal judgement for our own conduct, faith and deeds, and then at the final judgement in the clarity of knowledge before the seat of judgement, sentence may be passed on the living and dead (dead being those who have been raised to life for this final judgement). I hope that clarifies some of the points for the questioner. Peter J Harrison |