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Hell
We cannot be united with God with his grace unless we freely choose to love him. But grace and our love for God are lost if we commit serious sin. �He who does not love remains in death. Anyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him� (Jn.3:14-15). Our Lord warns us that we shall be separated from him if we fail to meet the serious needs of the poor and little ones who are his brothers and sisters. To die in mortal sin without repenting and accepting God�s merciful love means we have chosen to remain separated from him forever. This state of definitive self-exclusion from eternal union with God is called hell,
Jesus often speaks of Gehenna, of the unquenchable fire reserved for those who refused to believe and be converted. Jesus solemnly proclaims that he will send his Angels, and they will gather all evil doers and throw them into the furnace of fire (Mt. 25:41).
The Church Affirms the Existence of Hell
The teaching of the Church affirms the existence of hell and its eternity. Immediately after death the souls of those who die turned away from God, in a state of mortal sin, begin to suffer the eternal punishments of hell. The chief punishment of hell is eternal separation from God, in whom alone we can possess the life and happiness for which we were created. The words in the Bible and the teachings of the Church on hell are a wake-up-call. With God�s grace we have to make good use of our freedom if we are to be saved. The words of Christ are an urgent call to conversion. Enter by the narrow gate: for the gate is wide and the way is easy, that leads to destruction, and those who enter it are many. But the gate is narrow and the way is hard, that leads to life, and those who find it are few (Mt.7:13-14).
Since we do not know the day or the hour, we should follow the advice of our Lord, and be on watch constantly. Then when the course of our earthly life is completed, we may be received by him into his marriage feast and be numbered among the blessed. We pray that we will not be like the wicked and slothful servants who were ordered to depart into the eternal fire, into the outer darkness where men will weep and gnash their teeth.
God predestines no one to hell. Those who are lost are those who deliberately turn away from God by mortal sin, and refuse to repent. In the Eucharistic liturgy and in the daily prayers of her faithful, the Church implores the mercy of God, who does not want anyone to perish, but wants all of us to come to repentance (2Pt. 3:4).
Father, accept this offering from your whole family. Grant us your peace in this life, save us from final damnation, and count us among those you have chosen. (From the Mass)
The Last Judgment
The resurrection of all the dead, both the just and the unjust (Acts 24:25), will precede the Last Judgment. This will be the hour when all who are in the tombs will hear the Son of man�s voice, and come forth. Those who have done good, will come to the resurrection of life. Those who have done evil, will come to the resurrection of judgment (Jn. 5:28-29). Then Christ will come in his glory, and all the Angels with him. Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate them one from another, as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will place the sheep at his right hand, but the goats at his left. These latter will go into eternal punishment, but the righteous will enter into eternal life (Mt 25:31,32,46).
In the presence of Christ, who is Truth itself, the truth of each man�s relationship with God is laid bare. The Last Judgment will reveal even to its furthest consequences the good each person has done or failed to do during his earthly life. The last Judgment will come when Christ returns in glory. Only the Father knows the day and the hour, only He determines the moment of its coming. Then, through his Son Jesus Christ he will pronounce the final word on all history. We shall know the ultimate meaning of the whole work of creation and of the entire economy of salvation. We shall understand the marvelous ways by which his providence has led everything towards its final end. The Last Judgment will reveal that God�s justice triumphs over all injustices, and that God�s love is stronger than death.
The message of the Last Judgment calls men to conversion while God is still giving us the chance. Now is the acceptable time, now is the day of salvation (2Cor.6:2). We have to work out our salvation in fear and trembling but we can be strengthened by the blessed hope that the Lord will return (Tit.2:13, Thes.1:10).
The New Heaven and the New Earth
At the end of time, the Kingdom of God will come in its fullness. After the universal judgment, the righteous will reign forever with Christ, glorified in body and soul. The universe itself will be renewed. The Church will receive her perfection only in the glory of heaven, when will come the time of the renewal of all things. At that time, together with the human race, the universe itself, which is so closely related to man, and which attains its destiny through him, will be perfectly reestablished in Christ.
Sacred Scripture calls this mysterious renewal, which will transform the whole world, �new heavens and new earth� (2Pt.3:13). It will be the definitive realization of God�s plan to bring under a single head all things in Christ, the things of heaven and the things of earth. In the new universe, the heavenly Jerusalem, God will have his dwelling among us. He will wipe away every tear from our eyes. Death shall be no more, neither shall their be mourning nor crying out in pain, for the former things will have passed away.
At the end of time, the kingdom of God, will come in its fullness. Then the just will reign with Christ forever, glorified in body and soul, and the material universe itself will be transformed. God will then be all in all (1Cor. 15:28).
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