Page:Complete Works of Count Tolstoy - 13.djvu/461

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CRITIQUE OF DOGMATIC THEOLOGY
425

itself, and in the mightiness of his soul, as in a mirror, will see the pictures of what he has done.” (p. 637.)

The Theology says that the judgment is not to be understood as local and carnal, but how is it to be understood? for it says that the judgment will be:

“(1) General. . . . The King comes down from his place in order to judge over the earth; his hosts accompany him in great terror and trepidation. These mortal members come to be witnesses of the terrible judgment; and all men, no matter how many there have been and are upon earth, come into the presence of the King. No matter how many have been born or will be born will all come to this spectacle, to see the judgment.” (p. 637.)

“(2) Solemn and open. . . . And he will call heaven and earth to be with him at the judgment; and those who are above and far away will appear with terror and trepidation. And the celestial hosts and the legions of hell will tremble before the Judge who knows no favours, and who will come accompanied by terror and by death.”

That is the way Christ will come!

“(3) Stern and terrible: because it will be done according to the whole divine righteousness, and according to nothing but righteousness; it will be a day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God (Rom. ii. 5.)

“(4) Decisive and the last: because it will unchangeably determine for eternity the fate of each of the defendants.”

That is, it will condemn the sinners to torments. Nothing can be added to that. The only feeling which I experienced in quoting these passages was that of terror and horror before that blasphemy which I was committing in copying and repeating them.

266. Concomitant circumstances of the general judgment: (a) the end of the world. “During that last day, in which the last judgment of God will take place over the whole world, there will also ensue the end of the