25. The            250 future of the world, Judgment  and the Resurrection

The Kingdom of God develops in the world the work of God as yeast (Mt 13:33) capable of transforming and saving it (Jn 3:16). Yet, this world is in the power of the evil one (see com. Jn 3:11 and Jn 5:19) due to Adam’s fall which is alienated human freedom (Jn 8:34; Rom 8:18). In His death, Jesus somehow deprived the evil one of His power (Mt 12:29; Jn 12:31). Yet, if we judge according to appearances, he (the evil one) continues to have much influence (Mt 16:18) and moves a powerful current opposed to truth and justice (Jn 3:19) and he hates, above all, the witnesses of Christ (Jn 15:18; Mt 10:16; Rev 12:17) and of His Church (Rev 12:13). This hostile current is at all times called “the world” (Jn 16:33). At times “world” refers to those who do not know their vocation as sons and daughters of God (Jn 14:19; 16:20; 17:23; 1 Cor 5:10). See also 1 Jn 2:15.

251

Believers are in the world without being of the world (Jn 17:15). The Church is at the service of the world to bring it to its true goal (Mk 16:15; Col 1:20). It is not at the service of the world’s designs (James 4:4) nor of human ideals of happiness, justice and peace, which are always limited (Lk 12:13.51), and which forget the real situation of sinful humanity (Mt 4:1) and do not understand salvation through the cross (Mt 16:23; Lk 24:26; 1 Cor 1:20).

252

Yet, if we pay attention to the Old Testament, we discover a divine pedagogy. In order for human beings to understand their divine vocation, they need to taste the goods of the earth and to struggles for human ideals (see com. on Gen 13:7; Ex 3:16; Introduction to 1 K; com. on Mt 5:1), limited ideals which God will gradually help to purify, bringing people to understand the mystery of the cross (see com. on Lk 24:13).

253

For his own growth as well as for the good of the world, the believers involve themselves in the tasks of the world (Mt 25:14; 2 Thes 3:10; 1 Tim 4:3; Tit 3:8; com. on Mk 3:33) and in so doing they cooperate with God the Creator who continue to act and to create (com. of on Gen 1:28; Jn 5:7).

The Church can hope for a time of peace and the spread of the Gospel (Rev 20:1). Its influence will be manifest (com. on Mt 13:31) and all kinds of human institutions will be under its protection (Mt 13:32). Yet, there will be persecutions (see 251) as well as scandals within the Church (Mt 13:47). In opposition to the Church, the devil will favor false religions (Rev 13:11) and a totalitarian regimes (Rev 13:2) and at times, will give the impression that he has won (Rev 11:7 13:14-17).

254

After many crisis, the time of final confrontation will come (see 124) and the time of the Antichrist (2 Thes 2:3-9; 1 Jn 2:18) as the prelude to the coming of Christ (Mk 13:26) and to the Resurrection (1 Thes 4:15; 1 Cor 15).

255

What is our destiny after death? We live only once (Heb 9:27; 6:4-8; Lk 16:27) and our eternity is determined in this one life. Some books of the Old Testament already spoke about life beyond death: 83 and 90-93.

256

Our destiny is to be resurrected when Christ comes to judge the living and the dead. How shall we be after the resurrection? What kind of body and existence shall we have? See Lk 20:27; 1 Cor 15 especially.

The existence above all will be sharing in the Glory of God, seeing Him, loving Him, being transformed into His likeness and make one spirit with Him: 1 Cor 6:17; 13:12; 1 Jn 3:2.

257

Will those who die not live at all until the last day of Resurrection? This was a difficult question before Jesus came when the Jews had just come to believe in the resurrection of the dead: Dn 12:1-5 and 12:13. But the teaching of the New Testament is clear: Lk 23:43; 2 Cor 5:8; Phil 1:23; 1 P 4:6; Rev 14:3.

258

Scripture speaks in a figurative way of those who have definitely rejected God’s love. We are used to speak of hell, something as final as heaven will be for the elect: Mt 13:42; Mk 9:43; Lk 16:23; Rev 21:5.

259

No one can approach God without having been purified of all sin and impurity. What happens to all the believers who die in the grace of God but are also filled with imperfections and human desires? It has been a constant teaching of the Church that purification takes place during or after death: 2 Mac 12:43; 1 Cor 3:15.