The Last Judgment
Concerning His fearful last judgment over all people at the time of His second coming, Jesus Christ taught the following.
When the Son of man comes in His glory, and all the angels are with Him, then He will sit as King on the throne of His glory. Before Him, will be gathered all the nations, and He will separate one from another: the faithful and good from the godless and evil, — as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will place the sheep, the righteous, at His right hand, but the goats or sinners — at the left.
Then, the King will say to those at his right hand, “Come, O blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the creation of the world. For I was hungry, and you gave Me food. I was thirsty, and you gave Me drink. I was a stranger, and you welcomed Me. I was naked, and you clothed Me. I was sick, and you visited Me. I was in prison, and you came to Me.”
Then, the righteous will answer Him, “Lord! When did we see Thee hungry and feed Thee or thirsty and gave Thee drink? And when did we see Thee a stranger and welcome Thee or naked and clothe Thee? And when did we see Thee sick or in prison and visit Thee?”
The King will answer them, “Truly, I say to you: as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren (for needy people), you did it to Me.”
Then, He will say to those at His left hand, “Depart from Me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the Devil and his angels. For I was hungry, and you gave Me no food. I was thirsty, and you gave Me no drink. I was a stranger, and you did not welcome Me; naked, and you did not clothe Me; sick and in prison, and you did not visit Me.”
Then, they also will answer, “Lord, when did we see Thee hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison and did not minister to Thee?”
But the King will answer them, “Truly, I say to you: as you did not do it for one of the least of these, you did not do it for Me.” And they will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous — into eternal life.
Great and terrifying will be that day for all of us. Therefore, this judgment is called terrible, for our deeds, words, and our most secret thoughts and desires will be revealed to all. Then, there will be no one to help us, for the judgment of God is just, and each will be judged according to his deeds.
Note: See the Gospel of Matthew 25:31-46.
by Fr. Seraphim Slobodskoy)