ARTICLE
37

The Last Judgment

Finally we believe, according to God's Word, that when the time appointed by the Lord is come (which is unknown to all creatures)1 and the number of the elect is complete, our Lord Jesus Christ will come from heaven, bodily and visibly, as he ascended,2 with great glory and majesty,3 to declare himself the judge of the living and the dead.4 He will burn this old world, in fire and flame, in order to cleanse it.5 Then all human creatures will appear in person before the great judge—men, women, and children, who have lived from the beginning until the end of the world.6 They will be summoned there by the voice of the archangel and by the sound of the divine trumpet.7

1Matthew 24:36; Matthew 25:13; 1 Thessalonians 5:1-22Acts 1:113Matthew 24:30; Matthew 25:314Matthew 25:31-46; 2 Timothy 4:1; 2 Thessalonians 1:7-852 Peter 3:10-136Revelation 20:12-13; Acts 17:31; Heb. 6:2; Acts 9:27; 2 Corinthians 5:10; Romans 14:1071 Thessalonians 4:16

For all those who died before that time will be raised from the earth, their spirits being joined and united with their own bodies in which they lived. And as for those who are still alive, they will not die like the others but will be changed "in the twinkling of an eye" from corruptible to incorruptible.8 Then the books will be opened, and the dead will be judged9 according to the things they did in the world,10 whether good or evil. Indeed, all people will give account of all the idle words they have spoken,11 which the world regards as only playing games. And then the secrets and hypocrisies of men will be publicly uncovered in the sight of all.

81 Corinthians 15:51-53; Philippians 3:219Revelation 20:12101 Corinthians 4:5; Romans 2:1-3,16; Matthew 12:36-37; 1 Corinthians 4:5; Romans 14:10-1211Matthew 12:36

Therefore, with good reason the thought of this judgment is horrible and dreadful to wicked and evil people.12 But it is very pleasant and a great comfort to the righteous and elect, since their total redemption will then be accomplished. They will then receive the fruits of their labor and of the trouble they have suffered;13 their innocence will be openly recognized by all; and they will see the terrible vengeance that God will bring on the evil ones who tyrannized, oppressed, and tormented them in this world.14 The evil ones will be convicted by the witness of their own consciences, and shall be made immortal—but only to be tormented in the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels.15

12Revelation 6:15-1713Luke 14:14; 2 Thessalonians 1:5-7; Revelation 14:7; Revelation 21:4142 Thessalonians 1:6-1015Matthew 25:41; Revelation 20:14-15

In contrast, the faithful and elect will be crowned with glory and honor. The Son of God will "confess their names"16 before God his Father and the holy and elect angels; all tears will be "wiped from their eyes";17 and their cause—at present condemned as heretical and evil by many judges and civil officers—will be acknowledged as the cause of the Son of God. And as a gracious reward the Lord will make them possess a glory such as the human heart could never imagine.18

16Matthew 10:3217Revelation 7:17; Revelation 21:4181 Corinthians 2:9

So we wait for that great day with longing in order to enjoy fully the promises of God in Christ Jesus, our Lord.