ESCHATOLOGY

Catechism # 946-1065

 

CPPoole, Jr., October 20, 1999, revised July 24, 2005

 

 Outline

 

  1.  Ending of the Apostles' Creed

  2.  The Four Last Things    

  3.  Death 

  4.  Particular Judgment

  5.  Branches of the Church

  6.  Purgatory           

  7.  State of Mortal Sin

  8.  Final (General or Last) Judgment

  9.  Resurrected Body  

10.  Additional Scripture Passages

 

 

1. Ending of the Apostles' Creed

 

The Apostles= Creed ends as follows:

He descended to the dead 

On the third day he rose again

He ascended into heaven

and is seated at the right hand of the Father

He will come again to judge the living and the dead

I believe in the Holy Spirit, 

the Holy Catholic Church, the communion of saints

the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body

and life everlasting.  Amen

 

2. The Four Last Things

 

Death,  judgment,  heaven,  hell

We all have to undergo these last things

It is appointed for all to die, 

after that comes the judgment   Heb. 9:27

Human death is a consequence of sin,

the sin of Adam, original sin

The Hail Mary ending is - pray for us sinners,

now and at the hour of our death

 

3. Death

 

The medical definition of death is:

the permanent end of integrated brain activity

The theological definition is: 

the departure of the soul from the body

The five Kubler-Ross stages are:

denial - anger - bargaining - depression - acceptance  

The sacrament of anointing, called the last rites, involves

anointing on the forehead and hands with blessed oil       

and saying the appropriate words

Confession sometimes precedes, and Holy Communion

is often received after the anointing

 

4. Particular Judgment

 

We are judged at the point of death

There are three possibilities:

1. Go immediately  to heaven

 with the continual presence of God,

the beatific vision

2. Spend time temporarily in purgatory

 atoning for the sins during our life

3. Permanent consignment to hell with

constant  pain and mental anguish

because of the loss of heaven

 Hell is - not to love any more - Georges Bernanos

 

 

5. Branches of the Church

 

Pilgrim Church here on earth

we struggle to live a good life

Suffering Church in purgatory

making atonement for sins during lifetime

Triumphant (Glorious) Church in heaven

enjoyment of eternal bliss 

Death is the end of our pilgrimage

the end of our period of trial

We must plan our life so we will attain heaven

We must be ready when we are called from this life

 

6. Purgatory 

 

Purgatory is a place or state of purification

where we atone for past sins

a preparation to enter heaven

We should repent and do penance now

and shorten our time in purgatory

We should pray for the poor souls in purgatory

to shorten their time there

We can do penance, pray, and have Masses

said for the poor souls in purgatory

 

7. State of Mortal Sin

 

Mortal sin has three characteristics:

1. Grievous matter, 

2. Sufficient reflection,

       3. Full consent of the will

It deprives the soul of sanctifying grace

Dying in the state of mortal sin means going to hell

An act of perfect contrition

sorrow out of a pure love of God

removes mortal sin from the soul, 

but the sins still must be confessed

An act of imperfect contrition

sorrow for a lesser motive

suffices for obtaining forgiveness in confession

 

8. Final (General or Last) Judgment

 

We will all be judged together at the end of time

Each person's relationship to God will be revealed

When the Son of Man comes in glory ..... all nations will 

       assemble before him, and he will separate people one

from another as a shepherd separates sheep from goats.

“I was hungry and you gave me food .....@  Mt 25:31-36

The second coming of Jesus will be at the end of the world 

everyone will recognize him as Lord of all

Each of us will be permanently in heaven or in hell

 

9. Resurrected Body                 

 

At death our souls separate from our bodies

and our bodies decay - they return to dust

We receive incorruptible bodies at the second coming

       The Creed says: I believe in "the resurrection

of the body, and life everlasting. Amen"

Attributes: imperishable, glorious, spiritual, .... 1Cor: 15

We should respect our own and the bodies of others

 

10. Additional Scripture Passages    

 

Whoever lives and believes in me will never die Jn 11:25-26

At the judgment seat of Christ we are all seen for what we are, ... 

       each receives what he has deserved 2 Cor 5:10 

Whoever listens to my words, and believes in him who     

sent me, has eternal life.  Jn 5:24

Stay awake as you know not the day nor the hour Mt 25:13

He who raised up the Lord Jesus will raise us up 2 Cor 4:14

There will be no more death, mourning, ... or pain Rev 21:4

Eye has not seen, ear has not heard ..... all that God has

       prepared for those who love him   1 Cor 2:9

 

CPPoole, Jr., October 20, 1999, revised July 24, 2005  

 

 

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