the death, resurrection, and second coming of Jesus and their significance

from the beginning reading and review

Lucifer:

• An angel created by God; originally filled with strength, beauty and light

• “The light bearer; the bright shining one”

• Pinnacle of spiritual creation and created for greatness

• Grew jealous of God, wanting to be the source, the center and worshipped himself by the world

• Lucifer rebelled, cutting himself off from the light (turning away from God)

• As a result he was marred, became a creature of darkness, hatred and pride

• New name: Satan, the accuser, the destroyer, the devil, lord of the flies

Humanity:

• Created by God; originally filled with His strength, beauty and light

• Created in the image and likeness of God and for greatness

• Pinnacle of material creation

• Tempted by the devil and became jealous of God, wanting to be the source, the center and worshipped himself by the world

• Humanity rebelled, cutting himself off from the light (turning away from God)

• As a result marred, disordered and struggle to live in the light

• Continue on a journey (destination: back to the Father) in order to reach our ultimate end or purpose (lasting greatness and joy only possible through communion with God)

Jesus:

• The Healer, Redeemer, Messiah, Teacher

• Fully divine and fully human

• Perfect, just sacrifice

• Proclaimed the Good News

• Died on the cross and rose again on the third day

• The effects of this action (the paschal mystery) fulfills divine justice through an act of great divine mercy which means we can obtain our ultimate end

eschatology

• eschatology: the part of theology concerned with death, judgement, and the final destiny of the soul and of humankind

the taboo topic of death

• We live in a state in which all people will eventually die yet our culture is fixated on youth, looking young and desires to live forever often avoiding the reality for each of us.

  • Why is death so difficult to talk about?

  • Why does it seem so difficult for people to accept?

judgement

• Individual/Particular Judgment: divine judgment of the moral character of a soul immediately after death

  • At the end of each of our lives, we will be held accountable for who we are and what we have done with our lives.

  • We will be judged according to our faith and how we have lived our life

• Final Judgment: the pronouncement of the divine judgment regarding moral character upon each soul at Jesus’ second coming

  • The secret character of each person will be revealed

heaven

• Restoration to our original creation

  • Perfect communion with God/the Holy Trinity

  • Perfect communion with our brothers and sisters and with ourselves

• Deeper, fuller, sustaining peace and happiness

  • Exactly what we look for on earth but often fall short as we look for it in things of this world instead of in heavenly things

  • A happiness and peace inarticulate in human language because it is fully divine

  • The satisfaction of every deep desire and longing

• Destruction of Time

• Our ultimate end

  • Created in the image and likeness of God and for greatness, our bodies and souls are transformed and partake in God’s divinity

hell

• A place of eternal punishment

• The pain and suffering experienced are a spiritual agony characterized by despair, restlessness, and torment.  It is constant.

• Hell is a choice against God.  A turning away from Him (just like the fall) chosen by an individual.

• Hell is complete separation from God and thus from light, peace, love and joy since he is the source of all that is good.

• While we don’t know entirely who goes to heaven and who goes to hell, Jesus revealed that those who sin without repentance, especially mortal sins, and those who don’t believe in Him go to hell.

purgatory

• Many of those who are judged worthy of Heaven, will first go to purgatory

• It is here that we are held accountable for the sins we have committed so that we can be made perfect and suitable for Heaven

• It is painful because one isn’t where they truly long to be, however they have the hope and excitement of being there someday

• Purgatory, just as heaven and hell, is also outside of earthly time

• “But nothing unclean will enter heaven.” (Revelation 21:27)