Death and the Final Judgment

What is death?
For most people it is the end of life. For Orthodox Christians it is the beginning of a new life. In spiritual terms, death is the separation of the soul from the body. Paul says it is the “deliverance of the soul from prison” (2 Cor 5:1-4), or a “departure” (2Timothy 4:6). Peter says it is “putting off the body” (2Peter 1:14) and in Acts it is referred to as “sleep” (Acts 13:36).

Paul tells us that there is a judgment after death; “it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment” (Heb 9:27). This is called the particular judgement. After the body give up it physical life, the soul leave it and go to a state of blessedness or torment according to its deeds. But this is not the final state so it is one where the full blessedness or torment is not felt. This come with the final judgement when the body and soul are reunited.

There will be a second coming of our Lord Jesus Christ we are told in Scripture (Matt 25:31-46). On this day there will be accomplished the universal resurrection of the dead in a transfigured appearance. It will be universal and simultaneous. It will solemn and open, strict and terrible, final and definitive, determining for all eternity our fate.

Paul reasons that the resurrection of the dead is what makes us Christian. Christ showed us the way through death to a new transfigured life. If we do not believe in this we cannot believe in the Resurrection of Christ.

If there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ is not risen. And if Christ is not risen, then our preaching is empty and your faith is also empty. Yes, and we are found false witnesses of God, because we have testified of God that He raised up Christ, whom He did not raise up—if in fact the dead do not rise... But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep... For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive. (1 Cor 15:13-15, 20, 22)
...all who are in the graves will hear His voice and come forth—those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation. (John 5:28-29)

What will our new bodies be like after our resurrection? We know from the transfigured presence of Christ what they will be like. They will essentially the same in appearance. But they will be transfigured. The bodies of the righteous will be incorrupt and immortal. They will be free from infirmities and weaknesses, and will not have bodily needs. The new life will be like the angels.

The world as we know it is not eternal. Only our souls are eternal. Peter writes, The heavens and the earth which are now preserved by the same word, are reserved for fire until the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men... the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up... Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells. (2Peter 3:7, 10, 13)

The end of the world will not end in total destruction but in a complete change and renewal.

The heavens and the earth which are now preserved by the same word, are reserved for fire until the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men... the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up... Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells. (2Peter 3:7, 10, 13)

Next

Return to "How to Live the Orthodox Way of Life" Page