What the Last Judgment will be like, when Christ Returns

Icon of the Last Judgment

Our Lord Jesus Christ who is God's only begotten Son,  lived, died,  and was risen from the dead for the total healing of man (not just so that man could escape death and hell). He was not trying to appease an angry Father. God the Father was never our enemy. It was us who were in enmity with Him.

The Grace of God is experienced by the righteous and the sinners in a different way, even in this life! As we can read in the Book of Daniel, there flows a river of Fire from the throne of God. At the last judgment all mankind will experience God in this Fire. In the Gospel of St Mark 9:49, we read, "For everyone shall be salted with fire.. ", "that is,  shall be tested. Paul also says that all things shall be tried by fire, 1 Corinthians 3:13." (Blessed Theophylact of Bulgaria in The Explanation of the Gospel of St Mark p. 80).

The righteous, the saved,  that is,  those who love God and want to be united to Him; will see the Fire as light and blessedness. The sinners and lost,  that is, those who love their sin and refuse to repent will experience Fire, Darkness and Torment.

Ultimately Heaven and Gehenna are the same Reality,  the Uncreated  Energy of God; the Grace and Glory of God in Uncreated Light,  which will be blessedness for the saved and torment for the lost.

Today is the day of salvation. We must repent from our sins, and purify our hearts so that on the day of judgment we may experience God as Light and not as Fire.

The biblical basis for this truth is found in the book of Daniel. The Prophet writes in Daniel 7:9-10,

"I beheld till the thrones were cast down, and the Ancient of days did sit, whose garment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like the pure wool: his throne was like the fiery flame, and his wheels as burning fire.

10 A fiery stream issued and came forth from before him: thousand of thousands ministered unto him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him: the judgment was set, and the books were opened."

St Basil the Great (see Note)  explains, "the nature of the fire will be divided, and the light will be assigned for the pleasure of the just, but also for the painful burning of those punished"

This is what the Psalms mean when we read, Psalm 29:7 "The voice of the Lord divideth the flames of fire."

Lord have mercy! We must be prepared, before the Lord comes in His Glory.

For more on this subject please read,  The River of Fire by Dr Alexander Kalomiros

Note
St Mark of Ephesus in Oratio Altera page 59, quotes St Basil's Hexaemeron, 6,"the nature of the fire will be divided, and the light will be assigned for the pleasure of the just, but also for the painful burning of those punished"

If Sin is swelling up in You, Turn to the Eucharist, by St Cyril of Alexandria

Icon of St John of Kronstadt
Available from Uncut Mountain Orthodox Store

The Eucharist is the fountain of Eternal Life. If we approach it in Faith and Love,  it will become for us forgiveness of sins,  healing of soul and body, and it will unite us to our Lord Jesus Christ.

St Cyril of Alejandría,  who is one of the greatest Church Fathers affirms;

“If the poison of pride is swelling up in you, turn to the Eucharist; and that Bread, Which is your God humbling and disguising Himself, will teach you humility.

If the fever of selfish greed rages in you, feed on this Bread; and you will learn generosity.

 If the cold wind of coveting withers you, hasten to the Bread of Angels; and charity will come to blossom in your heart.

If you feel the itch of intemperance, nourish yourself with the Flesh and Blood of Christ, Who practiced heroic self-control during His earthly life; and you will become temperate.

 If you are lazy and sluggish about spiritual things, strengthen yourself with this heavenly Food; and you will grow fervent.

Lastly, if you feel scorched by the fever of impurity, go to the banquet of the Angels; and the spotless Flesh of Christ will make you pure and chaste.” St Cyril of Alexandria Source

I Know a Man in Christ by Metropolitan Hierotheos Vlachos

This book is available from Amazon, as well as other Orthodox bookstores.

Finally, I've been longing for this book to appear in English for a long time. Metropolitan Hierotheos, shares with us what he received during the seventeen years of his relationship with Elder Sophrony of Essex.


"Metropolitan Hierotheos of Nafpaktos wrote this book about Elder Sophrony as an expression of gratitude for his long association (17 years) with the Elder and "to share with readers the spiritual wealth that I unworthily received".

 The first part of the book is a spiritual portrait of Elder Sophrony. After a brief survey of his theology, the author examines the Elder's writings in the light of the experience of saints of the Church, particularly St Paul, St Symeon the New Theologian and St Gregory Palamas, thus placing his teaching in a wider context.

There is a careful analysis of the Elder's correspondence with David Balfour, which reveals "many subtle details of the spiritual life" but also how "a genuine spiritual father guides those entrusted to him".

The second part of the book records what the author learnt and experienced during visits to the Monastery of St John the Baptist in meetings and informal conversations with the Elder and as a concelebrant at the Divine Liturgy.

Over the years he carefully recorded the Elder's words and amassed an archive of notes that he publishes here. The subjects covered reflect both Father Sophrony's and the author's personal and pastoral concerns and include prayer (particularly the Jesus Prayer); monasticism and obedience; priesthood and the temptations it brings; giving spiritual guidance; the problems facing those who become Orthodox; and family life. The discussions also shed light on theological issues close to the Elder's heart.

The book shows us a "great hesychast and theologian, but also a wise, discerning and prophetic spiritual father" and brings us closer to the man in Christ." from the Amazon website.

Love your Enemies by Hieromonk Gregorios

 This book is available from Amazon

Hieromonk Gregorio is a Priest-monk from the Holy Monastery of Koutloumousiou, Mount Athos, Greece.

The Lord Jesus Christ commands what only He is in the position to ask of us. We could not possibly accept this Word from anyone else.
He speaks to us saying,

"But I say to you who hear, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.

Whoever hits you on the cheek, offer him the other also; and whoever takes away your coat, do not withhold your shirt from him either. Give to everyone who asks of you, and whoever takes away what is yours, do not demand it back.

Treat others the same way you want them to treat you. If you love those who love you, what
credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. If you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same.If you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners in order to receive back the same amount.

But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High; for He Himself is kind to ungrateful and evil men. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful."Luke 6:27-36 NASB

Hard words indeed! But if we obey the commandment,  the doors of eternal life will be open to us,  we will become like unto God Himself and His very Life and nature will be communicated to us,  because we would have learned to love the way He loves.

Can you imagine? To be forgiven everything, even our most serious offenses,  because we strive to show kindness to the one who is unpleasant to us,  the one who is trying to hurt us.

Hieromonk Gregorios writes,  "St John Chrysostom appeals to each of us, saying,
'He (God) has made you the judge of the forgiveness of your own sins: if you forgive only a few sins,  only a few will be forgiven you: if you forgive many,  then many will be forgiven you. If you forgive sincerely from the heart, that is how God will forgive you. And if after forgiving your enemy you make him your friend, God will do the same for you. " page 15,
quoting St John Chrysostom's Homilies on the Statues,  20, 6, PG 49, 206 (Note)

I do not yet possess this kind of love but I am determined to behave as if I had it. This is a struggle which is froth with difficulty, but in the end,  if we persevere,  it will leads us into
eternal life!

For more on the love of enemies please read my post,  The Foolishness of the Cross: Love your Enemies.

Note:
from 'Love your Enemies' page 15, by Hieromonk Gregorios, published by the Cell of St John the Theologian, Holy Monastery of Koutloumousiou, Karyes, Mount Athos, Greece
2008

The Fruit of Humility

Christ On the Way to Golgotha
Icon in the Church of Panagia Dexia
Thessaloniki, Greece

"Abba John the Short asked the monks: "Who sold Joseph?" One monk replied: "His brothers." To that, the elder replied: "No brethren, rather his humility. Joseph could have said that he is their brother and could have protested to being sold but he remained silent. His humility, therefore, sold him. Afterward, this same humility made him master over Egypt."

In surrendering ourselves to the will of God, we defend ourselves too much from external unpleasantness, that is why we lose the good fruits which is harvested at the end of unpleasantness endured with humility.

Abba Pimen wisely spoke: "We have abandoned the easy yoke, i.e., self-reproach and we have burdened ourselves with a heavy yoke, i.e., self-justification."

The Christian accepts every unpleasantness as deserving of their present or their past sins; seeking in all, the will of God with faith and awaiting the end with hope."Reading from the Prologue of Ochrid for May 3rd by St Nikolai Velimirovich