What will happen to us at the
Last Judgement? When will it take place? How will it happen? What will we be
judged on? These are merely some of the questions Christian have been asking
for centuries. The last book of the New Testament gives an interesting exegesis
of the last days; however, despite answering many questions, it seems that it
creates even more. A number of Church Fathers have endeavoured to answer these
questions. Below is an exegesis given to us by St Symeon, who explains that
there are two judgements, i.e. one in this life, also known as the judgement of
salvation, and the other will take place after the end of the world, the
judgement to condemnation.
‘In this present life, when by
repentance, we enter freely and of our own will into the divine light, we find
ourselves accused and under judgement; but, owing to the divine love and
compassion the accusation and judgement is made in secret, in the depths of our
soul, to purify us, that we may receive the pardon of our sins. It is only God
and ourselves who at that time will see the hidden depths of our hearts. Those
who in this life undergo such a judgement will have nothing to fear from
another tribunal. But for those who will not, in this life, enter into the
light, that they may be accused and judged, for those who hate the light, the
second coming of Christ will disclose the light which at present remains
hidden, and will make manifest everything which has been concealed. Everything
which today we hide, not wishing to reveal the depths of our hearts in
repentance, will then be made open in the light, before the face of God; and
the whole world, and what we really are will be made plain.’[1]
From the above text it is evident
that confession and the Last Judgement are related. This is also understood by
the late Metropolitan Anthony Bloom, who had said, ‘confession is the
anticipation of the terrible Last Judgement.’ It will be terrible because it
will show us who we really are. When we confess we don’t confess what we have
done, but who we are.
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