THE LAST JUDGMENT (a must-read for all who are taking part in it)
the New Testament
IX. THE LAST JUDGMENT
"In the apocalyptic thinking the event toward which everything else
points is the last judgment. At the heart of apocalyptic thinking is
the problem of theodicy. How can the all-powerful and just God allow
righteous people to suffer? Apocalyptic solves the problems by
deferring the full manifestation of God's power and righteousness to
the last judgment. Then the righteous will be vindicated and the
wicked punished.8
According to LAB 3,10 at the time determined by God, all the dead —
righteous and wicked alike—will be raised and will come before the
judgment seat of God. The purpose of the last judgment is that
God 'may render to each according to his works and according to the
fruits of his own devices'. The criterion for the last judgment is
fidelity to the Torah. God tells Moses as he gives him the Law on
Mount Sinai: 'I have given an everlasting law in your hands, and by
this I will judge the whole world' (LAB 11,2).
In the last judgment scene in 4 Ezra 7,33-43 the judge is God: 'And
the Most High shall be revealed upon the seat of judgment' (7,33). At
the last judgment—where the justice of God is also on trial—there
can be no more room for compassion or patience on God's part.
Rather, 'judgment alone shall remain, truth shall stand, and
faithlessness shall grow strong' (7,34). The judgment will
include 'the nations', and they will be convicted for their lack of
faith and wicked behaviour: 'Look now, and understand whom you have
denied, whom you have not served, whose commandments you have
despised!' (7,37).
The author of 2 Baruch contrasts the delight with which the souls of
the righteous approach the last judgment and the fear with which the
souls of the wicked approach it (see 30,2). At the last judgment the
Most High 'will truly inquire into everything with regard to all
their works which were sins... and make them manifest in the presence
of everyone with blame' (83,2-3). In the final substantive message in
the concluding letter (chaps. 78-87), Baruch affirms that 'there is
one Law by One, one world and an end for all those who exists'
(85,14). And he ends with a reference to the last judgment: "Then he
will make alive those whom he has found, and he will purge them from
sins, and at the same time he will destroy those who are polluted
with sins" (85,15).
The judgment scenes in these three first-century Palestine Jewish
works provide the master narrative for the parables of judgment in
the Synoptic Gospels. In Mt 18,23-35, the king first shows mercy to
his servant but then exacts strict justice from the unforgiving
servant. In the parables of the talents (Mt 25,14-30) and the pounds
(Lk. 19,11-27), the master judges the third servant harshly but
justly because he failed to increase the master's assets beyond what
had been given to him. And the great judgment scene in Mt 25,31-46
gives the role of the judge to the Son of Man, involves"All the
nations"' and rewards those who have done acts of kindness for those
in need and punishes those who have not.
X. REWARDS AND PUNISHMENTS
The last judgment according to LAB 3,10 is to be followed by dramatic
changes: "And the world will cease, and death will be abolished and
hell will shut its mouth... and there will be another earth and another
heaven, an everlasting dwelling place.” Whereas for the righteous the
last judgment will mean"life eternal" (23,13), for the wicked it
means annihilation or eternal punishment...
After the last judgment that is to be illumined solely by"The
splendour of the glory of the Most High"And will last"About a week
of years", the eschatological scenario in 4 Ezra 7,33-43 describes
two places where those who have been judged will experience their
versions of eternal life: "Then the pit of torment shall appear, and
opposite it shall be the place of rest, and the furnace of Hell
(lit., Gehenna) shall be disclosed, and opposite it the Paradise of
delight" (7,36). When Ezra expresses his disturbance that so few
humans will be saved, his angelic interpreter instructs him that"The
Most High made this world for the sake of many, but the world to come
for the sake of the few" (8,1). He goes on to state that"many have
been created, but few will be saved" (8,3). As Ezra continues to
obsess over the"more who perished than those will be saved" (9,15),
he is advised that God is more interested in"The righteous, their
pilgrimage also, and their salvation, and their receiving their
reward" (8,39) and in saving"one grape out of a cluster, one plant
out of great forest" (9,21).
In 2 Baruch a major concern is the eternal happiness that the
righteous will enjoy. Those who have acted righteously in this world
possess"A store of good works which is preserved in treasuries"
(14,12) and so they"Are confident of the world which you have
promised to them with an expectation full of joy" (14,13). While the
righteous may have experienced this world as"struggle and an effort
with much trouble", for them the world to come will be"A crown with
great glory" (15,8). The coming world will be given to those
who"have preserved the truth of the Law" (44,14), while
the"habitations of the many others will be in the fire" (44,15). In
the present time of suffering the righteous are exhorted to"make
ready your souls for the reward which is preserved for you" (52,7).
The eternal reign of God according to 2 Bar 73,1-7 will be a time for
perfect joy and rest in which all that makes human existence
difficult (illness, fear, untimely death, pain in childbearing, etc.)
will cease, and the"peaceable kingdom"of Isa 11,6-9 will become a
reality...
In their statements about rewards and punishments after the last
judgment, these three first-century Palestinian Jewish works manifest
common perspectives on many issues. They also raise questions that
are debated among biblical and systematic theologians today. For
example, LAB envisions two possible punishments for the wicked —
annihilation in the case of Korah, and eternal torment in
inextinguishable fire in the case of Doeg. 4 Ezra with its special
concern for the very small number of those who will be saved provides
a stark contrast to the position of those who look for what
approaches universal salvation or who see no need for salvation at
all. And the vision of the world to come for the righteous in 2
Baruch offers striking parallels to the depiction of the New
Jerusalem in Rev 21,1-22,5. It also prompts questions about the nature
of eternal life with God: Is it a better form of human existence as
we know (life in the"new earth"), or an entirely different kind of
existence (life in the"new heaven")?
Daniel J. Harrington
Weston Jesuit School of Theology
3 Phillips Place
Cambridge, MA 02138
U.S.A.
Festschrift J. Lambrecht, Resurrection in the New Testament,
page 32-34
Hardcover: 549 pages
Publisher: Peeters (October 2002)
8. D.J. Harrington, Why do we suffer? A Scriptural Approach to the
Human Condition, WI, Sheed & Ward, 2000, pp. 71-86.
According to Jack Wilson Stallings' and Robert E. Picirilli's book, The Randall House Bible Commentary: The Gospel of John:
"Jesus solemnly assures the disciples that they will, in the future, perform even greater miracles than He. By this He means to say that through the power of the Holy Spirit, they will bring about the greatest miracle of all—the salvation of lost souls. He promises them that whatever they ask for, in connection with their ministry of bringing the miracle of salvation to lost men, will be granted them.
The theme of this section is reassurance and encouragement. Jesus gives the disciples three basic reasons they should cease being troubled in their spirits. First, He tells them that, although He is going away, He will return for them so that they may ultimately join Him where He is going (vv. 1-3). Second, He tells them that, though He is going away, He will be the only means by which men may come to God and go to Heaven (vv. 4-11). Third, He tells them that, though He is going away, their ministries are not finished. In fact, the best is still ahead. They are going, by the Holy Spirit's power, to be part of the greatest miracle of all, bringing men to salvation (vv. 12-14).”...
25 These things have I spoken unto you, being yet present with you.
26. But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have told unto you.
Jesus now summarizes all that He has been saying in this section. Referring to the many things which He has taught them while He has been present with them in the flesh, He tell the disciples that the Comforter not only is going to remind them of these things, but also will go to teach them all things necessary to their understanding and happiness. The Comforter will recall to their minds Jesus' teachings, will enable them to understand truly and completely, and will develop and expand them into new and wonderful truths.
Jesus has referred to the coming Comforter as the Spirit of Truth (v. 17)...[whose] primary function is the work of making men holy. This is the work we call sanctification.
In v. 16 Jesus has said that the Comforter is going to be provided to the disciples by the Father on the basis of His (Jesus') prayer that He should do so. Now He says that the Father is going to send the Comforter in His (Christ's) name. These statements are essentially identical and imply a joint action involving both Father and Son. [1]
Jack Wilson Stallings and Robert E. Picirilli,
The Randall House Bible Commentary: The Gospel of John,
Randall House Publications, 1989, page 205
ISBN 9780892659524
“In between Jesus Christ and His destroying Incarnation of Mahavishnu called as Kalki there is a time given to human beings to rectify themselves, for them to enter into the Kingdom of God, which in the Bible is called as Last Judgment.
The population of the Earth is at the maximum these days because all those - practically all those who had aspirations to enter into the Kingdom of God - are born in modern times and are going to be born very soon. This is the most important times because Sahaja Yoga is the Last Judgment. It is fantastic to hear this but that's the fact. It's the Truth!
Though you can understand that Mother's Love makes it very easy for you to get to your Realization and that the whole story of Last Judgment - which looks such a horrifying experience - has been made very beautiful, and very tender, and delicate, and does not disturb you.”
The Messiah-Paraclete-Ruh-Devi
Kundalini And Kalki Shakti, Bombay, India - September 28, 1979
“But they should also understand that this is the Golden Age of Emancipation, Resurrection and Last Judgment; if we can achieve it, all of us, including them also, will have the blessings of the Divine love which has been promised a long time back.”
The Messiah-Paraclete-Ruh-Devi
"Of course there are some absurd things which grew with misinterpretation and interference from unholy people, which are common in these religions. For example, Jews, Christian and Muslims believe that when they die their bodies will come out of their graves and they will all be resurrected at the Time of Resurrection, at the Time of Last Judgment, at the Time of Qiyamah. It is illogical to think what will remain inside those graves after five hundred years. Nobody wants to think and understand that it is not the body but the soul that will come out of these bodies, be born again as human beings and be saved through Qiyamah and Resurrection.”
The Messiah-Paraclete-Ruh-Devi
"This is the Last Judgment time, and everyone can judge him or herself through the light of the Spirit.”
The Messiah-Paraclete-Ruh-Devi
"The Last Judgment is done by the Kundalini. On the fingertips one can feel oneself and can judge oneself.”
The Messiah-Paraclete-Ruh-Devi
"These are the times described in the Holy Bible as the Last Judgment and in the Koran as Qiyamah, the Resurrection Time. Astrologically it is also called the Age of Aquarius, the time of rebirth and of great spiritual development on the Earth.”
The Messiah-Paraclete-Ruh-Devi
"And in this great happening of the Last Judgment and the Resurrection Time, one need not, and should not, believe blindfolded in whatever is said about ascent or salvation, but should treat it like a hypothesis, and observe the facts with an open mind like a, scientist.”
The Messiah-Paraclete-Ruh-Devi
"In my opinion, every Westerner has, as a matter of urgency, to understand the vital role he has to play in this great Age of Transformation and of the Last Judgment.”
The Messiah-Paraclete-Ruh-Devi
"Thus, the establishment of global peace can only come through people who have achieved this state in modern times which is very special and I call it a Blossom Time. In the Bible, it is described as the Last Judgment, also in the Koran it is called as Qiyamah (the Resurrection time).”
The Messiah-Paraclete-Ruh-Devi
"This is the Last Judgment. Either you will go to heaven or you will go to hell. It's already working out like that. So let's see. Where are you? So I have to again and again tell you as your mother, I have to correct you and tell you that remember this is the Last Judgment and please, don't take anymore to the activities which are antichrist.”
Shri Mataji Nirmala Devi
"Now this is the Last Judgment and those who miss will miss in any case. Christ has said, "You will be calling Me Christ, Christ, but I will not recognize you.” "
Shri Mataji Nirmala Devi
"So in this Last Judgment a new race, new race of great people is created. It is your own. It is your own power. Only to know how glorious you are. How great you are. Absolutely free because you get that superior intelligence. In the light of Spirit you know what is constructive for you. You know absolute knowledge.”
Shri Mataji Nirmala Devi
"So, as it is, you are already marked, you have already been chosen by Christ in his Last Judgment, and you are there. But still one should know that there is also the possibility that you are hypocrites, that you are playing with only words. Could be that we still have to cleanse ourselves, so just put your mind into yourself, and just see for yourself that where have I gone wrong.”
Shri Mataji Nirmala Devi
"People do not know what time has come. It is the last chance. You won't get any more chance. In Bible it has been described as the Last Judgment. Your Last Judgment is in Sahaja Yoga and how it will be done can be judged by yourself.”
Shri Mataji Nirmala Devi
"This is the Last Judgment. Let us see what happens. Whatever people come is alright for me. Even if they do not come, it's still alright. Remember, God will not bow before you.”
Shri Mataji Nirmala Devi
"For us, in between Christ and this destroying incarnation of Mahavishnu called as Kalki, there is a time given to human beings to rectify themselves, for them to enter in the Kingdom of God, which in the Bible is called as the Last Judgment. That you will be judged, all of you will be judged on this earth.”
The Messiah-Paraclete-Ruh-Devi
"I have to warn all the Sahaja Yogis who are here because Sahaja Yoga is the Last Judgment; not only that you will be judged, that you are entering into the Kingdom of God, but you become the citizens of God is correct.”
The Messiah-Paraclete-Ruh-Devi
"I am here to work for you day and night. You know that I work very hard for you. I spare no efforts, to help you, and do everything that is possible to make you all right; to make you pass this examination of Last Judgment; but you have to cooperate with me, and you have to go headlong about it, and devote most of your time for Sahaja Yoga and for imbibing all that is great and noble.”
Shri Mataji Nirmala Devi
"This is the greatest of the greatest things which can happen to anyone that you know. Also you know, this is the greatest happening, which was prophesied long time back as the Last Judgment. You know that this is the way, you are going to be judged. So we have to work very hard. We have to work. It is effortlessly given to you, alright. But to maintain it, keep it up to go high, we have to religiously work it out.”
Shri Mataji Nirmala Devi
"And that your Last Judgment is also now. Only through Kundalini awakening God is going to judge you. How is he going to judge you otherwise? You think of somebody now, a person comes in now. Here is somebody sitting to judge you. How? By how many hair-dressers you have been to? Or how many suits you have stitched for Christmas? Or what presents you have bought or how many cards you have sent? and to how many people you have sent some other things which may not be very palatable. That's not the way.”
Shri Mataji Nirmala Devi
"This is the most important time because Sahaja Yoga is the Last Judgment. It is fantastic to have this but that's a fact & is the truth. Though you can understand, that Mother's love makes it very easy for you to get through your realization and that the whole story of the Last Judgment looks such as horrifying experience has been made very beautiful and very tender and delicate and does not disturb you. But this is the Last Judgment I tell you, and you all are going to be judged through Sahaja Yoga, whether, you can enter into the kingdom of God or not.”
Shri Mataji Nirmala Devi
"The Last Judgment has started. We are facing the Last Judgment today. We are not aware of it. And all the satanic forces have come out like the wolves in sheep's clothes. And they are trying to attract you and you do not judge them. You only sit down and judge the Reality. It has started, it is a fact. It has started.”
Shri Mataji Nirmala Devi
"That Krishna has said once you get your realisation your problems are solved, physical, emotional, mental, all problems are solved and you become absolutely relaxed. That goes without saying. But I'm not here to sort of cure people and go to hospitals. Nothing of the kind. It's just who are the seekers will be blessed because this is the reward of this Last Judgment.”
The Messiah-Paraclete-Ruh-Devi
"Christ has said very clearly in the second chapter of Matthew 2nd verse"You'll be calling me Christ! Christ! I won't recognize you.” That's very true. It is not a question of who recognises Him, but He should recognize you because the advent of Christ is going to be absolutely terrible. He is not going to talk to you, convince you or comfort you or give you any council as I am trying my level best, but He will just come for the Last Sorting out because I declare that the Last Judgment has started. The Last Judgment takes place only through Kundalini awakening. There is no other way out. God is going to do it through living process.”
Shri Mataji Nirmala Devi
"But, logically, you must understand. Where should we reach? What should happen to us? As seekers, what are we expecting? This is a very, very precarious and important time is more to say. The Last Judgment has started. That has started. That's how you are all here and you are seeking. The way it will judge, is the Kundalini has to rise. Your have to become self realized. Then you start feeling your centers on your fingers.”
Shri Mataji Nirmala Devi
"Sahaja Yoga is for the emancipation of the whole world, at every level. Once we have people of a certain number in Sahaja Yoga, it will start triggering understanding of real righteousness, religiousness and our love for God, and enlightened faith in God. This is how the Resurrection time is going to be worked out. This is the Last Judgment time, and everyone can judge him or herself through the light of the Spirit.”
Shri Mataji Nirmala Devi
"If we have to change this world, and if we have to save our people from complete destruction, we have to take to wisdom, and that is only possible when the brain is enlightened by Kundalini. This is what is very important today, when we see that this world is on the verge of destruction. Of course, the Creator himself is very anxious to save us and that is why he has in these modern times which are called Kali Yuga, made the all-pervading power activated.
So, now a new age has started which is called the Age of Aquarius,
(Kumbha) meaning the pitcher carrier of spiritual holy water that is the work of Kundalini. The activity of the Kundalini is like the sap of the tree that rises and nourishes all parts of the tree and does not get stuck at one flower (centre). Moreover these are special times. This is the resurrection time. The Last Judgment is done by the Kundalini. On the fingertips one can feel oneself and can judge oneself.”
Shri Mataji Nirmala Devi
"Of course, this is also the age of science and technology in which human beings have progressed beyond the stage of blind faith. And in this great happening of the Last Judgment and the Resurrection Time, one need not, and should not, believe blindfolded in whatever is said about ascent or salvation, but should treat it like a hypothesis, and observe the facts with an open mind like a, scientist. Of course, if a hypothesis is proved, then any honest, scientifically minded modern person has to accept it.”
Shri Mataji Nirmala Devi
"Now this is the Last Judgment and those who miss will miss in any case. Christ has said," You will be calling Me Christ, Christ, but I will not recognize you.”So understand you have to become the Spirit as Christ has said," You are to be born again.”You may have faith in me or not - doesn't matter. You must have faith in yourself to begin with.”
Shri Mataji Nirmala Devi
"But in a way is good because this is Last Judgment. If by marriage, by temptations, by wrong doings, by conditionings if you have to go out, you have to go out.
I must tell you that also there's very little place in the Kingdom of God. Unless and until you prove to be good Sahaja Yogis, there is no place for you, for mediocre there is no place. You have to serious, deep, seeking, dedicated Sahaja Yogis otherwise you have no place.”
Shri Mataji Nirmala Devi
"So this is the Last Judgment and you will be judged for everything that you do for Sahaja Yoga. One has to be very careful as to how you behave, what is your attitude is and how you should change.”
Shri Mataji Nirmala Devi
"Shri Krishna, as I have told you, was the incarnation of diplomacy. So He plays around quite a lot and ultimately He brings forth the untruth and the falsehood. But in doing that He judges people so it's very important that Shri Krishna's powers of His diplomacy were to be manifesting at this time when it is the Last Judgment.”
Shri Mataji Nirmala Devi
“Have full confidence, if you want to have your realisation, yo all will get it
Ayez une confiance totale, si vous voulez votre réalisation du Soi, vous l'urez
I cannot force on you, because I respect your freedom
Et je ne peux pas forcer ce processus â l'intérieur de vous, parce que je respecte votre liberté
Immediately we'll know those who are not capable of knowing the Truth
Immédiatement nous verrons ceux qui ne sont pas capables de connaître la Vérité
All such people should leave the hall
Et tous ces gens devraient quitter la salle maintenant
It is not civil to disturb others if they want to have their ascent everybody has this right, legal right
Et il n'est pas poli du tout de déranger tous les gens qui veulent avoir cette ascension spirituelle, les gens qui ont le droit d'voir cette ascension spirituelle
If you want to miss your own ascent, you can go ahead, you can chose, the choice is yours, this is the Last Judgment
Si vous voulez passer â côté de votre ascension spirituelle, c'est votre choix, c'est maintenant le Jugement Dernier
And with this Last Judgment, you have to judge yourself
Et dans ce Jugement Dernier, vous devez vous juger vous-même
In the Koran it is very clearly said at the time of Resurrection, your hands will speak and will give witness against you
Dans le Coran il est dit très clairement que au jour du Jugement Dernier, vos mains parleront et témoigneront contre vous
There is a very big chapter on Resurrection, but the fundamentalists don't want to look at it
Il y a un grand chapître sur la Résurrection dans le Coran, mais les fondamentalistes ne veulent pas le regarder
They believe their religion is the best
Ils pensent que leur religion est la meilleure
But what would it has done to anyone?
Mais quels bienfaits a-t-elle apportés â qui que ce soit?
It is so much misinterpreted... so much misinterpreted
Cela a été tellement mal interprété...
Now the time has come, this is a special time which is the time of Resurrection, this is the Qiyamah
Et maintenant le temps est venu, c'est le temps de la résurrection, c'est le Qiyamah
It is the special time of Last Judgment
C'est le temps très spécial du Jugement Dernier
where you have to judge yourself
Où il vous faut vous juger vous-même
The Messiah-Paraclete-Ruh-Devi
“This is the most important time because Sahaja Yoga is the Last Judgment. It is fantastic to have this, but that's a fact and is the truth, though you can understand that Mother's Love makes it very easy for you to get through your realisation, and that the whole story of the Last Judgment looks such as horrifying experience, has been made very beautiful and very tender and delicate and does not disturb you.
But this is the Last Judgment, I tell you, and you are all going to be judged through Sahaja Yoga, whether you can enter into the Kingdom of God or not.”
The Messiah-Paraclete-Ruh-Devi
"Today, Sahaja Yoga has reached the state of Mahayoga, which is en- masse evolution manifested through it. It is this day's Yuga Dharma. It is the way the Last Judgment is taking place. Announce it to all the seekers of truth, to all the nations of the world, so that nobody misses the blessings of the Divine to achieve their meaning, their absolute, their spirit.”
The Messiah-Paraclete-Ruh-Devi
"The main thing that one has to understand is that the time has come for you to get all that is promised in the scriptures, not only in the Bible but all the scriptures of the world. The time has come today that you have to become a Christian, a Brahmin, a Pir, through your Kundalini awakening only. There is no other way. And that your Last Judgment is also now.”
The Messiah-Paraclete-Ruh-Devi
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