CHAPTER 33
Of the Last Judgment.
I. God hath appointed a day
wherein he will judge the world in righteousness by Jesus Christ,a
to whom all power and judgment is given of the Father.b
In which day, not only the apostate angels shall be judged,c
but likewise all persons that have lived upon earth shall appear
before the tribunal of Christ, to give an account of their
thoughts, words, and deeds, and to receive according to what they have done in
the body, whether good or evil.d
a Acts 17:31.
b John 5:22,27.
c 1 Cor. 6:3; Jude
ver. 6; 2 Pet. 2:4.
d 2 Cor. 5:10; Eccl.
12:14
; Rom.
2:16
; Rom.
14:10
,12; Matt. 12:36,37.
II. The end of
God’s appointing this day is for the manifestation of the glory of his mercy
in the eternal salvation of the elect, and of his justice in the
damnation of the reprobate, who are wicked and disobedient. For then
shall the righteous go into everlasting life, and receive that fulness of joy
and refreshing which shall come from the presence of the Lord; but
the wicked, who know not God, and obey not the gospel of Jesus Christ, shall
be cast into eternal torments, and be punished with everlasting destruction
from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power.e
e Matt. 25:31 to the
end; Rom. 2:5,6; Rom. 9:22,23; Matt. 25:21; Acts 3:19; 2 Thess. 1:7-10.
III. As Christ would have us to
be certainly persuaded that there shall be a day of judgment, both to deter
all men from sin, and for the greater consolation of the godly in their
adversity;f so will
he have that day unknown to men, that they may shake off all carnal
security, and be always watchful, because they know not at what
hour the Lord will come; and may be ever prepared to say, Come, Lord Jesus,
come quickly. Amen.g
f 2 Pet. 3:11,14; 2
Cor. 5:10,11; 2 Thess. 1:5-7; Luke 21:27,28; Rom. 8:23-25.
g Matt. 24:36,42-44;
Mark 13:35-37; Luke 12:35,36; Rev. 22:20.
THE
END
Westminster
Confession of Faith (index)
