WLC 90

Q90. What shall be done to the righteous at the day of judgment?

At the day of judgment, the righteous, being caught up to Christ in the clouds, shall be set on his right hand, and there openly acknowledged and acquitted, shall join with him in the judging of reprobate angels and men, and shall be received into heaven, where they shall be fully and forever freed from all sin and misery; filled with inconceivable joys, made perfectly holy and happy both in body and soul, in the company of innumerable saints and holy angels, but especially in the immediate vision and fruition of God the Father, of our Lord Jesus Christ, and of the Holy Spirit, to all eternity. And this is the perfect and full communion, which the members of the invisible church shall enjoy with Christ in glory, at the resurrection and day of judgment.

Proof texts

• 1 Thess. 4:17 — [17] Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord.
• Matt. 10:32 — [32] So everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven,
• Matt. 25:33 — [33] And he will place the sheep on his right, but the goats on the left.
• 1 Cor. 6:2-3 — [2] Or do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world is to be judged by you, are you incompetent to try trivial cases? [3] Do you not know that we are to judge angels? How much more, then, matters pertaining to this life!
• Matt. 25:34,46 — [34] Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. [46] And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”
• Eph. 5:27 — [27] so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish.
• Rev. 14:13 — [13] And I heard a voice from heaven saying, “Write this: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.” “Blessed indeed,” says the Spirit, “that they may rest from their labors, for their deeds follow them!”
• Ps. 16:11 — [11] You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.
• Heb. 12:22-23 — [22] But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable angels in festal gathering, [23] and to the assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect,
• 1 John 3:2 — [2] Beloved, we are God's children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is.
• 1 Cor. 13:12 — [12] For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known.
• 1 Thess. 4:17-18 — [17] Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. [18] Therefore encourage one another with these words.

For discussion

1. The Assembly cited 1 Thess. 4:17 in support of this answer. Read it in context — how does it bear on what is claimed here?
2. 12 passages are cited here. Which does the most work, and is anything claimed that the proofs do not obviously carry?
3. WSC Q37 treats the same ground. What does it add, and why might it put things differently?
4. WCF 32.1 treats the same ground. What does it add, and why might it put things differently?

Read alongside

WSC Q37 · WCF 32.1 · BC 9.1 · BC 9.2 · 1689 31.1