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BC 9.2 Civil Government and Last Things
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The Last Judgement

Section 9.2

Finally we believe, according to God's Word, that when the time appointed by the Lord is come (which is unknown to all creatures) and the number of the elect is complete, our Lord Jesus Christ will come from heaven, bodily and visibly, as he ascended, with great glory and majesty, to declare himself the judge of the living and the dead. He will burn this old world, in fire and flame, in order to cleanse it. 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. They will be summoned there "with the archangel's call and with the sound of God's trumpet." (1 Thess. 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 perishable to imperishable. (1 Cor. 15:51-53) Then the books (that is, the consciences) will be opened, and the dead will be judged according to the things they did in the world, (Rev. 20:12) whether good or evil. Indeed, all people will give account of all the idle words they have spoken, (Matt. 12:36) which the world regards as only playing games. And then the secrets and hypocrisies of all people will be publicly uncovered in the sight of all. Therefore, with good reason the thought of this judgment is horrible and dreadful to wicked and evil people. 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; 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. 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 eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels." (Matt. 25:41) In contrast, the faithful and elect will be crowned with glory and honor. The Son of God will profess their names (Matt. 10:32) before God his Father and the holy and elect angels; all tears will be wiped from their eyes; (Rev. 7:17) 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. So we look forward to that great day with longing in order to enjoy fully the promises of God in Christ Jesus, our Lord.

See also in WCF: 22.1, 22.2, 22.3, 22.4, 22.5, 22.6, 22.7, 23.1 See also in WLC: Q82, Q83, Q84, Q85, Q86, Q87, Q88, Q89 See also in WSC: Q37, Q38
Acts 1:11
[11] and said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.”
1 Thess. 4:16
[16] For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first.
Rev. 20:12
[12] And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done.
2 Cor. 5:10
[10] For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.
Matt. 12:36
[36] I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak,
Matt. 25:41
[41] “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.
1 Cor. 15:51-52
[51] Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, [52] in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed.
1 Thess. 4:16
[16] For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first.
John 5:28-29
[28] Do not marvel at this, for an hour is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear his voice [29] and come out, those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment.
2 Cor. 5:10
[10] For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.
Rev. 20:11-15
[11] Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. From his presence earth and sky fled away, and no place was found for them. [12] And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done. [13] And the sea gave up the dead who were in it, Death and Hades gave up the dead who were in them, and they were judged, each one of them, according to what they had done. [14] Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. [15] And if anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.
Matt. 16:27
[27] For the Son of Man is going to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will repay each person according to what he has done.
2 Tim. 2:12
[12] if we endure, we will also reign with him; if we deny him, he also will deny us;
Rev. 22:12
[12] “Behold, I am coming soon, bringing my recompense with me, to repay each one for what he has done.
See also in WCF
22.1 22.2 22.3 22.4 22.5 22.6 22.7 23.1
See also in WLC
Q82 Q83 Q84 Q85 Q86 Q87 Q88 Q89
See also in WSC
Q37 Q38

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9.1

Chapter 9: Civil Government and Last Things

The civil magistrate and the last judgment

The Civil Government

Section 9.1

We believe that because of the depravity of the human race, our good God has ordained kings, princes, and civil officers. God wants the world to be governed by laws and policies so that human lawlessness may be restrained and that everything may be conducted in good order among human beings. For that purpose God has placed the sword in the hands of the government, to punish evil people and protect the good.

The Last Judgement

Section 9.2

Finally we believe, according to God's Word, that when the time appointed by the Lord is come (which is unknown to all creatures) and the number of the elect is complete, our Lord Jesus Christ will come from heaven, bodily and visibly, as he ascended, with great glory and majesty, to declare himself the judge of the living and the dead. He will burn this old world, in fire and flame, in order to cleanse it. 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. They will be summoned there "with the archangel's call and with the sound of God's trumpet." (1 Thess. 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 perishable to imperishable. (1 Cor. 15:51-53) Then the books (that is, the consciences) will be opened, and the dead will be judged according to the things they did in the world, (Rev. 20:12) whether good or evil. Indeed, all people will give account of all the idle words they have spoken, (Matt. 12:36) which the world regards as only playing games. And then the secrets and hypocrisies of all people will be publicly uncovered in the sight of all. Therefore, with good reason the thought of this judgment is horrible and dreadful to wicked and evil people. 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; 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. 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 eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels." (Matt. 25:41) In contrast, the faithful and elect will be crowned with glory and honor. The Son of God will profess their names (Matt. 10:32) before God his Father and the holy and elect angels; all tears will be wiped from their eyes; (Rev. 7:17) 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. So we look forward to that great day with longing in order to enjoy fully the promises of God in Christ Jesus, our Lord.