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The kingdom will be fulfilled, then, not
by a historic triumph of the Church through a progressive
2853 ascendancy, but only by God’s victory over the
final unleashing of evil, which will
cause his Bride to come down from heaven.579 God’s
triumph over the revolt of evil will take the form of the
Last Judgement after the final cosmic upheaval of this
passing world.~8°
678 Following in the steps of the
prophets and John the Baptist, Jesus announced the
judgement of the Last Day in his preaching.~8’ Then
will the conduct of each one and the secrets of hearts be
brought to light.582 Then will the culpable unbelief that
counted the offer of God’s grace as nothing be
condemned.~8~ Our attitude to our neighbour will disclose
acceptance or refusal of grace and divine love.~8~ On the
Last Day Jesus will say: ‘Truly I say to you, as you
did it to one of the least of these my brethren, you
did it to me.’~8~ 679 Christ is
Lord of eternal life. Full right to pass definitive
judgement on the works and hearts of men belongs to him as
redeemer of the world. He ‘acquired’ this right
by his cross. The Father has given ‘all judgement to
the Son’.~86 Yet the Son did not come to judge, but
to save and to give the life he has in himself.~8~ By
rejecting grace in this life, one already judges oneself,
receives
eternity by rejecting the Spirit of
love.~88 680 Christ the Lord already reigns through the Church, but all the things of this world are not yet subjected to him. The triumph of Christ’s kingdom will not come about without one last assault by the powers of evil. 681 OnJudgement Day at the end of the world, Christ
will come in glory to achieve the definitive triumph ofgood
over evil which, like the wheat and the tares, have grown up
together in the course of history. 682 When he comes at the end of time to judge the
living and the dead, the glorious Christ will reveal the
secret disposition of hearts and will render to each man
according to his works, and according to his acceptance or
refusal of grace. |
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