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I am interested in the following question: after the Last Judgment, will there remain such a thing as "time"?

Hieromonk Job (Gumerov) answers:

Scripture begins and ends with indications related to time: In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth(Gen. 1: 1) - time will be gone(Rev. 10: 6). Biblical at the beginning indicates that time is God's creation. It is a fundamental property of the created world. God enclosed His creation in time. Time is a measure of earthly duration. It has a beginning and an end. The Creator set certain rhythms to which the entire world created by Him obeys: the movement of the heavenly bodies and the associated alternation of day and night, the cycle of the seasons, the change of generations of people. There is a time for everything, and a time for every thing under the sky: a time to be born, and a time to die(Eccl. 3: 1-2). In relation to the temporal existence of the world, God remains transcendent. Man lives in time, and God lives in eternity: My days are as if the shade has evaded…. But you, Lord, abide forever(Psalm 101: 12-13). Time inevitably flows towards its end.

There is cosmic time and historical time. The first is cyclical, the second is progressive. There is no progress, no social evolution, but only an eschatological perspective determined by Divine Providence. History does not obey the law of circulation, as the ancient Greeks believed. She goes to the end events. This goal determines the meaning of the story. History time sinful world will end with the last Judgment: When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the holy Angels are with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory, and all nations will be gathered before Him.(Matt. 25: 31-32). When the Judgment ends, then time will end. Then people will enter into God's eternity.

“And the locusts were ordered not to kill them,

and torment with pain for five months.

And that pain was like pain

inflicted by a scorpion when it stings a person.

And all this time people will be looking for death

but they cannot find it.

They will wish for death, but it will not come to them. "

(Rev. 9: 5.6)

The last judgment awaits us at least half of the world ... Threatening to others that they will be punished at this judgment by both evil and good forces. But that punishment will affect everyone - both those who want the wrath of heaven to others and those to whom they wish - those who believe in the Last Judgment as the most powerful system of punishment think little about this, everyone wants only punishment for others, but not for themselves.

Of course, there are versions that there will be no doomsday, and our world is just some random ordered system in a series of derivatives of chaos, and the End of the World will come in 4.5 billion years when the solar cycle ends, or from the fall of a meteorite ... But we are still Let us suppose, at least in this article, that the result of earthly life is the Last Judgment. More precisely, not the result - after all, life after the Judgment will not end, especially for the righteous, but a certain border for the transition to another world and to another state for all life on Earth, which no one will pass.

In short, the Last Judgment will judge everyone according to the laws of God, who, like fulfilling the commandments, there are versions that those who were not closely familiar with the commandments will be judged according to the laws of conscience, which is the voice of God in each of us.

The prototype of the Last Judgment exists on earth: our judicial system, albeit corrupt, albeit imperfect and based exclusively on earthly laws, where the head of the court is a judge who has power over other people's destinies, independent in decision-making, subject to the highest legislative acts, is primitive an example of the justice that awaits us on the Day of Judgment.

Failure to comply with laws, or their cardinal violation, the commission of murder, a series of murders and other serious crimes entails, according to world codes, different countries punishment from imprisonment for several decades, life imprisonment to death. And although for the court these are letters, the correspondence of the committed acts to the articles of the criminal codes, and for the employees of the court the most sophisticated crimes very soon become commonplace - nevertheless, our justice system is the strongest restraining animal aggression and others. negative traits people are the power in the world.

There is a system of justice on earth, and from the powers of heaven there is the Supreme Court.

Many are afraid of going to prison after doing something terrible, but the Supreme Court is much less ... But in vain.

So, we need to answer two main questions that worries everyone who hears and takes seriously the reality of the Last Judgment - what is it, how it will take place, and when it will be. Let's try to answer.

It is interesting that the paintings of the Last Judgment, frescoes, wall paintings, rock paintings with prototypes last day earthlings were created by people even before the coming of Christ and even in the period before our era. Either this mechanism is embedded in our subconscious, or the very idea of ​​the Last Judgment, embodied in the Scriptures, is already a consequence of the desire for some kind of omnipotent punishment and the expectation of retribution for all wrongdoings.

The question "which was born before: an egg or a chicken" is rhetorical, philosophical and eternal ... The Last Judgment is a prototype of our expectations or intuitively, anticipating such an outcome, which will be in reality, the subconscious mind "blinded" the picture of the Court - it is not known, it is like with faith - then whether the subconscious has created God, or whether God is the reason people have the instinct of faith, because this is inherent in them from the beginning by God.

The Last Judgment, the Day of Judgment - in the eschatology of the Abrahamic religions - is the last judgment performed by God over people in order to identify the righteous and sinners and determine the first reward and punishment for the last.

The Last Judgment is both the result of the earthly in Christianity and in Judaism and Islam. The scenarios are approximately similar, the essence of all of them is reward to all according to their deeds, and one, the righteous, will inherit Eternal Life, and the sinners will go to destruction. We will dwell on Christianity in more detail.

And even the dead will be resurrected for the Judgment: “And many who sleep in the dust of the earth will awaken, some for eternal life, others for eternal reproach and shame” (Dan 12: 2). It is noteworthy that "many" - which does not mean EVERYTHING. Why some wake up from the dream of death, while others do not - is a mystery.

It is no exaggeration to say that the Last Judgment, the expectation of it as a reward for all for their deeds: believers for good deeds, transgressors of the commandments for evil, is the basis of Christianity and other religions. Since if it were not for the result of this Judgment, then there would be no reward for good deeds by which believers are saved, there would be no fate of being with the saints, consolation, salvation of Eternal Life and there would be no hope warming many who had to endure grief , the tragedy that their offenders, the murderers of their relatives, just evil people waiting for the most terrible punishment- Hell.

According to the Gospel, God (the father) gave all the Judgment to Christ (the son), therefore this very Last Judgment will be performed from the hand of Christ during the second coming, when he appears on earth with the holy Angels. Christ, as the son of man and of God, simultaneously has the power to execute judgment, besides himself as the head of heavenly justice, Christ will give the power to judge the world to the righteous, the apostles, who will be seated on 12 thrones to judge the 12 tribes of Israel.

“The Apostle Paul was convinced that all the saints (Christians) would judge the world:“ Don't you know that the saints will judge the world? But if the world is judged by you, are you unworthy to judge unimportant matters? Do you not know that we will judge the angels, much less the deeds of life? " (1 Cor. 6: 2-3) ".

However, the choice of who will be holy and worthy to judge the world is again a mystery, since we know the situation from the New Testament, when Christ answered the request to put certain people next to him in the Other World, that it does not depend on him, but on the purposes of God. , His Father.

However, there are such misconceptions among believers (I am not talking about obvious sects) that saints are not only those who are on the list. Orthodox Church, but also those who are willfully included in it. Whether someone will be there from the lists of the Orthodox Church or another is not for us to know, but it is still obvious that sinful people the world will definitely not be judged, for this they definitely need holiness, for earthly people a priori alien. The same apostle Paul, perhaps, meant just the apostles.

But an interesting moment with the judgment of the Son: that God seemed to have withdrawn and gave all the Judgment to Christ ... At the same time, God himself is love, but heavenly punishment, if something is on the Son ... These are the most difficult moments in Christianity: the ambivalence of love and goodness with a terrible retribution for evil, which themselves higher power and allowed to produce through people.

According to the Christian concept, the Day of Judgment will begin with the fact that “The angels at the end of the age will gather the elect from the four winds from the end of heaven to the end of them (Matt. 24:31), and they will also gather from His kingdom all temptations and those who do lawlessness (Matt. 13:41) and separate the wicked from among the righteous (Matt. . 13:49). According to the teaching of the apostles, “we all must appear before the Judgment Seat of Christ” (2 Cor. 5:10), “we all will stand before the Judgment Seat of Christ” (Rom. 14:10).

God the Father through God the Son will judge Jews and Gentiles (Rom. 2: 9), the living and the dead (Acts 10:42; 2 Tim. 4: 1), that is, those who have to rise from the dead and those who remain until the resurrection alive, but, like those resurrected, they will change (1 Cor. 15: 51-52), as well as, apart from people, and evil angels (Jude 6; 2 Pet. 2: 4).

Not only will the deeds of people, both good and bad, be judged (Matt. 25: 35-36, 2 Cor. 5:10), but also their every idle word (Matt. 12:36). To the righteous, the Judge will say: “Come, blessed of My Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world” (Matt. 25:34), while sinners will hear the following sentence: “Depart from Me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels ”(Matt. 25:41).

Judgment is possible not only for committed deeds, but for thoughts and wishes. For example, someone could not kill the enemy, but wish him death, evil all his life, which inevitably affects the personality, the state of the ill-natured person. This poisons his essence, making it black ... depriving him of light deeds, thoughts. Therefore, forgiveness is so important in Christianity, forgiveness first of all cleanses the forgiving one, even if this does not affect the enemy in any way, and the enemy will stand up with an answer at the Judgment, but the selfishness of a true Christian is that he does not care what will happen to the enemies and cares first. everything about your soul, forgiving others as well.

Some Christian denominations Protestants, in particular, believe that there will be two judgments: for believers and for non-believers. The first will be "dismantled" by the bones regarding compliance with Christian dogmas, and the unworthy may even go to hell (after all, it is more dangerous to know and not fulfill, or commit blasphemy, trample the blood of Christ with neglect and constant sins than not knowing and judging by the laws of conscience), and unbelievers will be judged by their deeds, and presumably, if they are saved, it will be a "brand of fire".

And regarding believers, it is possible for them to receive salvation already on earth, resurrection from the dead into Eternal Life: “he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has eternal life, and does not come to judgment, but has passed from death to life” (Jn . 5:24).

The criteria for “listening to the Word” are reflected in the parables of Christ from the Gospel, the hearer is the one who receives the Word, who does it, who brings it to life. Therefore, “listening” in this context is not at all the same as simply understanding what is revered, heard, but a much broader and more active concept - the embodiment of the Word in Life, a believer (a process that means constant movement towards comprehending faith, not just a believer, but a believer ).

But the main condition for the transition to the camp of the saved according to Christian standards is the recognition of the Son (Christ) as the son of God, his messenger, and faith in both the Father and the Son. Why is this? Because before the coming of Christ, there was a vicious circle, because of which all people after death went to hell, because they were sinners a priori.

And through Christ, God gave people the opportunity of salvation not through works, but through faith, and Christ took upon himself all sins and everyone who turns to Him has the opportunity to pass on their sins on Him and receive salvation, but for this one must firmly believe that Christ is sent God and His Son. not easy good man, the messenger of distant planets or missionary of obscure forces, but the Son of God.

Here are those who believed in the Son, received salvation from Him, underwent a revival (accordingly, their deeds changed as a result of faith), one might say that they were raised alive, and they will be raptured with the church before the second coming of Christ (and the second coming presupposes the Judgment Day), having escaped the Court, they will immediately go to the so-called "Paradise".

Doomsday in the New Testament is dedicated to the book - "The Revelation of John the Theologian", about the Apocalypse. 4 horsemen, 7 seals, 7 bowls of God's wrath, the fall of the great harlot Babylon ...

This book is the most difficult of all the messages of the Bible, and those who say that they understood it - most likely simply did not read it, or did not even try to understand its essence. The book itself is like an encrypted message, as a sign, symbolic and, possibly, allegorical. That is, the very 4 horsemen who bring death - perhaps not at all horsemen, but for example a series of events at the beginning of the Apocalypse, natural disasters, wars. Between them, perhaps, not a couple of hours, days, but several years, centuries ... But it may also be that the horsemen are the forces of evil, with which the devil was given to poison the earth: hunger, death, war and ... Antichrist?

There are opinions that the rider on the white horse is the Antichrist. Victorious, with a crown on his head, capturing the pure white horse, with a bow in hand. There are opinions that this rider is evil, which manifests itself with false prophecies, deception, which is characteristic of the devil - to deceive and kill. Evil will triumph on earth, along with hunger, war and death, but it will be powerless in the domain of God. Antichrist will be overthrown during the Last Judgment.

Bowls of anger will be poured on the ground, which will cause terrible torment to unrepentant people ... the earth will turn black, darkness will come everywhere, some will die from floods, some from fire, but no one will die without suffering. And physical death is still half the trouble - then the judgment of the soul awaits everyone.

There are assumptions that the Antichrist will not be immediately killed, but imprisoned for 3 thousand years, in which the saints will reign on earth, and then released to fight in the battle and have already been killed and cast into the sea of ​​fire forever.

Everything will be so scary for those who have not submitted to the will of salvation that the phrase “the living will envy the dead, and the dead will rise from hell out of fear” will do.

When it will be? Of course, there is no exact answer, even the angels do not know about it. But there are signs of the last times, although believers have been observing them for several centuries ... Lawlessness, darkness, false prophets, cataclysms ... all this has been happening for many centuries. And just as many years ago everyone said that tomorrow the End would come, so they say the same today. But there is good advice to all waiting: stay awake! There are parables in the New Testament, the essence of which is: you cannot relax, the last day can come like a thief at night. And one more thing (even though this is from the samurai code): live every day like the last, as if you would die tomorrow. But much more real for each of us has its own own death, because not everyone will live to see the Apocalypse. However, according to the scriptures, even the dead will be reborn for the Judgment.

But it may well be that the Court will be held in the form of a trial of who will go where, without any special effects ...

The Apocalypse is a punishment for the sins of humanity. Change and repentance to mankind have been talked about for many centuries, millennia, and the Day of Judgment is the result for those who heard it or not.

Someone may say that they were not warned, did not hear ..

No, everyone has heard it many times, only perceived it as a fantasy, a joke, a fiction, a legend, considering themselves the kings of the world, of life (but to admit - and we do not know whether this is true or not). For example, once again everyone heard about the Day of Judgment through this article. Believe it or not? And then later it will be too late ...

“… Let the unrighteous still do the wrong; let the unclean be filthy still; let the righteous do righteousness still, and the saint still be sanctified. Behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to reward each one according to his deeds. "(Revelation 22: 11-13)

The Last Judgment of God and When Will It Come?

Another one live theme and a question that worries many Christians, and not only Christians. I think it is important to understand this issue without fanaticism, taking into account the realities modern world... So, if you look at the lives of millions and billions of people living today, we can conclude that the Last Judgment is already underway.

But let's talk about everything in order.

What is the Last Judgment of God and when will it be?

The second part of the question from our regular visitor Igor is about the Last Judgment. The first part - "Will there be a second coming of Christ?" I hope you read. The question I answer in this article is: will there be a final judgment? Will the dead rise? and when will all this happen?

There are many different prophecies on this topic. Again, let's try to answer these questions, first of all, from the point of view of esotericism, but in the most accessible language. I hope everyone, and even those who are not deeply familiar with esotericism, will understand what this article is about :)

What is the Last Judgment of God? In fact, this is the time when all people and creatures of this world, by the Will of God, pay their bills for all their good and evil deeds committed during the entire period of their existence. It's time to summarize!

And those who have not betrayed God, Light, Good, their Soul - will be inscribed in the book of life and only they will enter the era of spiritual rebirth (after the Last Judgment), and then into the Golden Age (7th race) in the ranks of God's army into the Hierarchy Sveta.

And those who do not get into the book of life will be inscribed in the book of the dead, and after summing up all the results in Heaven, they will be destroyed or sent to the worlds of hell forever (to other planets and even to other Universes).

Who will get into the Book of the Dead? Those human souls and creatures thin world for whom the cup of Evil outweighs, that is, it is filled with their evil deeds more than the cup of Good.

Why will a person, his soul be inscribed in the book of the dead? For the betrayal of God, for evil deeds and thoughts, for the destruction of his soul by vices, bad habits, unbelief, for renouncing God and not believing in Him, for venality and trading in your Soul and body, for serving mammon (money), for the lack of development of your soul, etc.

Who and for what will be included in the Book of Life, and therefore saved? Those souls (people) who in fact and with their whole life have made the choice of the Light Path, those who fight for Good against Evil, who constantly work on themselves and develop: they destroy vice, weakness, negative qualities and emotions, and forms strong and worthy qualities and virtues.

When will the Last Judgment begin? The Last Judgment is already underway and will continue. Each person, each soul over the past couple of decades and the next couple of decades - has made, is making or will make his choice, confirming with his life which side it takes: on the side of Good or on the path of Evil. No one will be left without attention and choice!

Of course, all this time on Earth is a time of cataclysms, wars, many deaths, etc. Because, there is a big battle between Good and Evil for human Souls. And each person must decide on whose side and for whom he fights. Once again, no one can stay out of this battle! I suggest you answer for yourself to the question - on whose side, for whom and for what are you fighting?

The main battle, of course, is not fought in the physical (material) world, but in the Subtle world, in the world of God, Angels and Souls. This battle is hidden from most human eyes, although the souls of many take a direct part in it.

Many of those who have already irrevocably entered the book of the dead live last life on Earth, and then will be called to account (destroyed or sent to the dark worlds). Such people, black souls, are marked on energy level the sign of the skull. Psychics and Healers possess psychic abilities these condemned souls can see by the seal of the skull, which stands on their energy systems, attributes, and even on someone's forehead.

Are there many such condemned souls? Yes, a lot, a lot!

Will the dead rise? Well, no one will get up from the graves, on the physical level :) But you need to understand that in human bodies, not only divine human souls now live on Earth, but also dark beings (asuras), and even the souls of animals embodied in the human body (the so-called werewolves). And there are a lot of the latter.

Probably the fact that many incarnated dark beings, asuras, now live in the image of a man on Earth, is called the uprising of the dead. They are the most active and launch destructive and criminal processes on our planet, in society.

Best regards, Vasily Vasilenko

Dear Olga!

Christ is Risen!

We offer you a presentation Orthodox teaching about the resurrection and life of the next century according to the Orthodox catechism of St. Philaret (Drozdov). But first, we should recall the words of the Savior about the resurrection of the dead in the Gospel of Matthew: "You are mistaken, not knowing the Scriptures, nor the power of God, for in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but abide like the Angels of God in heaven" (Matt. 22, 29 -thirty).

"375. Question: What is the life of the century to come?
Answer: This is the life that will be after the resurrection of the dead and the universal Judgment of Christ.

376. Q. What will this life be like?
A. This life will be for believers, loving God and those who do good, is so blissful that now we cannot even imagine this bliss. “If we do not appear (it has not yet been revealed), what we will be” (1 John 3.2). “We (know) a person about Christ,” says the Apostle Paul, who was caught up to paradise, and hearing unspeakable verbs, they also do not fly for a person to speak verbs (which a person cannot retell ”(2 Cor. 12,2,4).

377. Q. Where does such bliss come from?
A. Such bliss will follow from the contemplation of God in light and glory and from union with Him. “We see it now as a mirror in fortune-telling (as if through a dim glass, fortuitously), then face to face: now I understand from a part, then I know, as if I were known” (1 Cor. 13.12). "Then the righteous women will be enlightened, like the sun, in the Kingdom of their Father" (Matt. 13:43). “God will be all in all (all in all)” (1 Cor. 15:28).

378. Q. Will the body also participate in the bliss of the soul?
A. The body will be glorified by the light of God, like the body of Jesus Christ during His Transfiguration on Tabor. "It is not sown in honor, it is raised in glory" (1 Cor. 15.43). “As if we put on the image of the earthy one (and as we wear the image of the earthly) (ie, Adam), let us also clothe ourselves in the image of Heaven alone (ie, our Lord Jesus Christ)” (1 Cor. 15.49).

379. Q. Will everyone be equally blessed?
Oh no. There will be different degrees of bliss, depending on how someone fought in faith, love and good deeds... “Ina glory to the sun, and ina glory to the moon, and ina glory to the stars: a star from a star differs in glory. Likewise resurrection of the dead"(1 Cor. 15.41-42).

380. Q. And what will happen to the unbelievers and the wicked?
A. The unbelievers and the wicked will be put to eternal death, or, in other words, to eternal fire, eternal torment along with the devil. “Those who are not found in the bottom of animals (in the book of life) are written, they will be thrown into the lake of fire” (Apoc. 20:15). “And this (this) is the second death” (Apoc. 20:14). "Depart from Me the curse into eternal fire, prepared for the devil and his angel" (Matthew 25: 41). “And these go into everlasting torment, but the righteous into everlasting belly” (Matthew 25: 46). "Goodness is with one eye to instill (it is better for you to enter with one eye) into the Kingdom of God, I have at least two eyes (rather than with two eyes) I have been thrown into a fiery hell, where their worm does not die and the fire does not go out" (Mk. 9.47-48).

381. Q. Why is this harsh treatment of sinners?
A. They will do this not because God would like them to perish, but because they themselves perish, “because (because) love does not accept the truth, the hedgehog will be saved them (for their own salvation) ”(2 Thess. 2.10).

382. Q. What benefit can meditation on death, on the Resurrection, on the last Judgment, on eternal bliss and eternal torment be?
A. These reflections help us to refrain from sins and free ourselves from addiction to earthly things; comfort when deprived of earthly goods; encourage to keep the soul and body clean, to live for God and for eternity and thus achieve eternal salvation ”(Extensive Orthodox Catechism. Moscow 1998).

Peace be upon you and God's blessing.

“When the Son of Man comes in His glory and all the holy angels are with Him, then He, as King, will sit on the throne of His glory. And all nations will gather before Him, and He will separate some people from others (the faithful and the good from the ungodly and the wicked), just as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats; And he will set the sheep (righteous) on His right hand, and the goats (sinners) on His left.

Then the King will say to those who stand on His right side: “Come, blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. and you received 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 ask Him with humility: "Lord, when did we see you hungry, and fed you? Or thirsty, and gave you drink? When did we see you a stranger, and took you in? Or naked, and clothed you? When did we see you sick, or in prison and have come to you? "

The King will answer them: "Truly I say to you, since you did it to one of the least of these My brethren (that is, for people in need), you did it to Me."

Then the Tsar will say to those who left side: "Depart from Me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his aggels. For I was hungry, and you did not give me food; I was thirsty, and you did not give me drink; you did not clothe Me; I am sick and in prison, and you did not visit Me. "

Then they will answer Him in response: "Lord, when did we see You hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not serve You?"

But the King will say to them: "Truly I say to you, because you did not do this to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me."

And they will go into eternal torment, and the righteous into eternal life.».

“The soul, which understands that there is peace and wants to be saved, has an urgent law every hour to think in itself that now is a feat (mortal) and torture (deeds), on which you cannot endure (the gaze) of the Judge,” he said Rev. Anthony the Great.

St. John Chrysostom:

Do we often dare to die rather than reveal our secret crime before our venerable friends? How will we feel when will our sins be revealed before all Angels, all people and will appear before our eyes?

Rev. Ephraim Sirin:

Even the Angels shudder when the Judge speaks, and the armies of the fiery spirits stand in awe. What answer will I give when they ask me about the secret affairs that will be discovered there for everyone?

Then (at the Judgment) we will see countless angelic forces standing around (the throne of Christ). Then the deeds of each in order will be read and announced before Angels and people. Then the prophecy of Daniel will be fulfilled: “Thousands of thousands served Him, and thus darkness stood before Him; the judges sat down, and the books were opened ”(Dan. 7:10). There will be great fear, brothers, in the hour when these terrible books will be opened, where our deeds and our words are written, and what we have done in this life, and what we thought to hide from God, who tests the heart and womb! There are written every act and every human thought, everything good and bad ... Then everyone, bowing their heads, will see those standing in front of the court and being interrogated, especially those who lived in negligence. And seeing this, they will lower their heads even lower and begin to reflect on their deeds; and each one will see before him his own deeds - both good and bad, which he had done before.

St. Gregory of Nyssa:

In the human body itself there is a secret that comes out in due time: in infancy - teeth, with maturity - a beard and in old age - gray hair. So it is on the last day of the Judgment: everything will be revealed before the eyes of everyone, not only deeds and words, but all thoughts that are now hidden from others. There is no secret that would not be revealed, according to the word of Jesus Christ. Since it is known that everything secret will be laid bare at the Coming of Christ, let us cleanse ourselves from all defilement of the flesh and spirit, creating holiness in the fear of God, so that our deeds revealed to all will bring us honor and glory, and not shame.

“However, another will say:“ It is written: “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved” (Joel 2:32), therefore, one calling on the name of the Lord is enough to save the one calling. ” But let this one also listen to what the apostle says: "how to call on the one in whom they did not believe?" (Rom. 10:14). And if you don’t believe, listen to the Lord, Who says: “Not everyone who says to Me:“ Lord! Lord! ", Will enter the Kingdom of Heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in Heaven" (Matthew 7:21). Even those who do the will of the Lord, but not as God wants it and not because of the feeling of love for God, does it, diligence in work is useless, according to the saying of our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, Who says: because they do it “to appear before people. Truly I tell you that they are already receiving their reward ”(Matthew 6: 5). Shem and the Apostle Paul were taught to say: “And if I distribute all my possessions and give my body to be burned, but I have no love, there is no benefit to me” (1 Cor. 13: 3).

In general, I see the following three different dispositions, in which the need for obedience is inevitable: either, fearing punishment, we shy away from evil and are in a state of slavery, or, in pursuit of the benefits of a reward, we fulfill our command for our own benefit and thus become like mercenaries, or we do this for our own sake. goodness and out of love for the One who gave us the law, rejoicing that we were worthy to serve such a glorious and good God - and in this case we are in the state of sons.

He who, out of fear, fulfills the commandments and is incessantly afraid of the punishment for laziness, will not do one of the prescribed things, and neglect the other, but will be affirmed in the idea that the punishment for disobedience is equally terrible for him. And therefore “blessed is the man who always abides in reverence” (Proverbs 28:14), but he who can say: “I have always seen the Lord before me, for He is at my right hand; I will not hesitate "(Psalm 15: 8), because he does not want to overlook anything that should be taken into account. And: "Blessed is the man who fears the Lord ..." Why? Because he “deeply” loves “His commandments” (Psalm 111: 1). Therefore, it is not common for those who are afraid to leave any order unfulfilled or do it carelessly.

But the mercenary will not want to transgress any command. For how will he receive payment for the work in the vineyard, if he does not fulfill everything according to the condition? For if even one of the necessary things is lacking, then the vineyard makes it useless to the owner. Who, therefore, will pay for the damage to the one who caused the harm?

The third case is service out of love. What son, with the goal of pleasing his father and making him happy in the most important things, would want to offend for the sake of little things, especially if he remembers what the apostle says: “And do not offend the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you are sealed” (Eph. 4:30).

Therefore, transgressors most commandments, where do they want to be numbered when they do not serve God as a Father, do not obey Him as one who has given great promises, do not work as a Master? For He says: “If I am a father, where is the reverence for Me? And if I am the Lord, where is the reverence for Me ”(Mal. 1, 6)? How “blessed is the man who fears the Lord ... and strong loving commandments His "(Psalm 111: 1), so" by the transgression of the law, "it is said," you dishonor God "(Rom. 2:23).

How then, having preferred a voluptuous life to a life according to the commandment, can we promise ourselves a blessed life, a wealth of wealth with the saints and fun with angels before the face of Christ? Such dreams are characteristic of a truly childish mind. How will I be with Job, when I have not received even the most ordinary sorrow with thanksgiving? How will I deal with David when I have not dealt generously with the enemy? How will I be with Daniel when I have not sought God with unceasing abstinence and unrelenting prayer? How will I be with each of the saints, when I did not follow in their footsteps? What heroic hero is not so judicious that he will deserve equal crowns for both the victor and the one who has not entered into the heroic deed? What military leader ever called for an equal division of the spoils of those who won and those who did not come to battle?

God is good, but also just. And it is common for the just to give in dignity, as it is written: “Do good, O Lord, to the good and upright in your hearts; but let the Lord leave them that turn into crooked ways to walk with those who practice iniquity ”(Psalm 124: 4-5). God is merciful, but also a Judge, for it is said: "He loves righteousness and judgment" (Psalm 32: 5). Therefore, he says: “Mercy and judgment I will sing; To you, Lord, I will sing ”(Psalm 100: 1). We have been taught to whom there is "mercy", for it is said: "Blessed are the merciful, for they will have mercy" (Matthew 5: 7). Do you see how he uses grace judiciously? He has mercy not without judgment and judges not without mercy. For "The Lord is merciful and righteous" (Psalm 114: 5). Therefore, let us not know God by half and turn His love for mankind into an excuse for laziness. For this is thunder, for lightning, so that goodness is not despised. He who orders the sun to shine, He punishes with blindness, He who gives rain, He rains with fire. One shows goodness, the other shows severity; either for the first we will love, or for the last we will be afraid, so that we will not be told: “Or do you neglect the riches of God's goodness, meekness and longsuffering, not realizing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance? But, according to your stubbornness and unrepentant heart, you are collecting wrath for yourself for the day of wrath ”(Rom. 2: 4-5).

So ... it is impossible to be saved without doing deeds in accordance with the commandment of God, and it is not safe to neglect anything from the commandment (for it is awful to exalt yourself to be judges of the Lawgiver, and to choose some of His laws, and reject others) ... "
(St. Basil the Great. Creations. Rules, expounded in questions and answers. (Big Asceticon))

St. Basil the Great explains the righteous action of the Judgment of God - the reward of the righteous and the final abandonment by the Holy Spirit of those who have left God with the choice of their lives:

"And during the expected manifestation of the Lord from heaven, the Holy Spirit will not be inactive, as others think, but will appear together on the day of the Lord's revelation, on which the Blessed and One Strong One will judge the universe in truth.

Who knows so little about the blessings that God has prepared for the worthy, so as not to know that there is also a crown of the righteous the grace of the Spirit, which will be communicated more abundantly and more fully, when will spiritual glory be divided to each according to the measure of his valiant deeds? For in the Lordships of the saints the Father has many abodes (John 14: 2), that is, many differences of merit. As “star differs from star in glory, so is the resurrection of the dead” (1 Cor. 15, 41-42). Therefore, those who were sealed by the Holy Spirit on the day of deliverance and kept the firstfruits of the Spirit clean and whole, they will only hear: "Good, good and faithful servant, you were faithful about the little one, I will set you over many" (Matthew 25, 21).

And similarly, those who grieve the Holy Spirit by the cunning of their undertakings or who have not gained anything for the given will be deprived of what they received, and grace will be given to others. Or, as one of the Evangelists says, they will be "completely cut apart" (Luke 12, 46), by cutting, meaning the ultimate alienation from the Spirit. For it is not the body that is divided into parts, so that one part is delivered to punishment, and the other is freed, because it looks like a fable and is not worthy of a righteous Judge to assume that it is punished by one half, who have sinned all. Likewise, it is not the soul that is cut in half, because it has completely and completely accepted the sinful wisdom and helped the body in evil. On the contrary, this dislodging, as I said, is the alienation of the soul from the Spirit forever. For now the Spirit, although it has no communion with the unworthy, nevertheless, apparently, coexists in some way with those who were once sealed, waiting for their salvation upon their conversion.

And then it will be completely cut off from the soul that scolded His grace... Therefore, “there is one who confesses in hell, and remember God in death” (cf. Psalm 6: 6), because the help of the Spirit no longer abides there.

How can one imagine that judgment would take place without the Holy Spirit, while the Word shows that He is also the reward of the righteous, when instead of the pledge, the perfect will be given, and that the first condemnation of sinners will consist in taking away from them everything that they venerate having themselves? " (About the Holy Spirit. To Amphilochius, Bishop of Iconium)

Condemnation at the Universal Court is named in the Revelation of St. John the Evangelist "by the second death" (20, 14).

The desire to understand the torment of hell in a relative sense - eternity, as a kind of "century, period", maybe long, but finite, or even a denial of the reality of these torments in general - is encountered today, as in antiquity. Considerations of a logical nature are given, it is pointed out that torment does not correspond with the goodness of God, that it does not correspond to temporary crimes and the eternity of punishment, that it does not correspond to the ultimate goal of human creation, which is bliss in God. But it is not for us to determine the boundaries between the ineffable mercy of God and the truth - His justice. We know that the Lord wants everyone to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. But man is capable of pushing away the mercy of God and the means of salvation by his own evil will.

St. John Chrysostom, speaking of the Last Judgment, notes:

"When the Lord spoke of the kingdom, then he said: come, blessed ones, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world, but speaking of fire, he did not say so, but added: prepared for the devil and his angels. For I prepared the kingdom for you, but fire not to you, but to the devil and his angels. But since you yourself have cast yourself into the fire, you blame yourself for this. "

We have no right to understand the words of the Lord only conditionally, as a threat, as a kind of pedagogical measure used by the Savior. If we understand this, then we will sin, because the Savior did not inspire us with such an understanding, and we will expose ourselves to the wrath of God, according to the psalmist: Why does the wicked neglect God, saying in his heart: "You will not seek" (Psalm 9, 34).
(Archpriest Mikhail Pomazansky).

Noteworthy is also a simple reasoning on this matter. St. Theophan the Recluse:

"The righteous will go into eternal life, and the devastated sinners will go into eternal torment, into communion with demons. Will these torments end? If Satan's malice and devastation end, then the torment will end. But will Satan's wickedness and devastation end? Let's see and see then. .. And until then, let us believe that as eternal life has no end, so eternal torment that threatens sinners will have no end. No fortune-telling proves the possibility of ending Satanism. What Satan did not see after his fall! How much the powers of God have been manifested! How he himself is amazed by the power of the Cross of the Lord! How hitherto all his cunning and malice are amazed by this power! And everything hesitates, everything goes against: and the further he goes, the more he persists. No, there is no hope of reforming him! And if he has no hope , then there is no hope for people who have become rabid by its action. It means that hell cannot help but be with eternal torment".

“You forget that there will be eternity, not time; so that's all there will be forever rather than temporarily. You consider the torment to be hundreds, thousands and millions of years, and then the first minute will begin, and there will be no end to it, for there will be an eternal minute. The score will not go further, but will be in the first minute, and it will stand like that. "

4. There is no repentance after death

If you do not repent, all will also perish (Luke 13: 3).

Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for, I tell you, many will seek to enter, and will not be able to. When the owner of the house gets up and closes the doors, then you, standing outside, will knock on the doors and say: Lord! God! open for us; but He will answer you: I do not know where you are from.
(Luke 13, 24-25)

Do not be deceived: God is not mocked. What a man sows, that he will also reap:
He who sows to his flesh from the flesh will reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit from the Spirit will reap eternal life.
(Gal. 6, 7, 8)

We, as henchmen, implore you so that the grace of God will not be vainly received by you.
For it is said: in a favorable time I heard you and in the day of salvation I helped you. Now, now is the favorable time, now, now is the day of salvation.
(2 Cor. 6: 1-2)

And we know that truly there is God's judgment on those who do such things.
Do you really think, man, that you will escape the judgment of God by condemning those who do such things and (yourself) doing the same?
Or do you neglect the riches of God's goodness, meekness and longsuffering, not realizing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance?
But, according to your stubbornness and unrepentant heart, you yourself collect wrath for the day of wrath and revelation of righteous judgment from God,
Who will reward everyone according to his deeds:
to those who by perseverance in a good deed seek glory, honor and immortality - eternal life;
but to those who persist and do not submit to the truth, but indulge in unrighteousness, fury and anger.
(Rom. 2, 2-8)

That repentance in this life is necessary for justification at the Last Judgment, for salvation in the future life, The holy fathers teach unanimously:

"This is the law of life," says Saint Theophan the Recluse- that as soon as someone puts here is the seed of repentance, at least with last gasp, then it will not perish. This seed will grow and bear fruit - eternal salvation. And if someone here does not put the seed of repentance and go there with the spirit of unrepentant stubbornness in sins, then there will remain forever with the same spirit, and the fruit from it will reap forever after his kind, God's eternal rejection. "

“Do you not cherish such an aspiration,” St. Theophan writes in another letter, “that God would forgive sinners by sovereign power and bring them into paradise. there is something external, but internal and passing in. When someone sins, sin distorts, defiles and darkens his entire composition. all filthy and gloomy will remain. Such will be the one whom God would forgive by His sovereign power, without his inner purification. Imagine that such an unclean and gloomy one enters into paradise. What will it be? Ethiopian among the whitened. Is it stuck? "

Rev. John Damascene writes that there is no repentance for people beyond the border of death:

“You need to know that falling for angels is the same as death for people. For after the fall, there is no repentance for them, as well as for people it is impossible after death».

Saint John (Maximovich) this is how he depicts what will happen at the Last Judgment:

"The Prophet Daniel, speaking about the Last Judgment, narrates that the Elder is the Judge on the throne, and in front of him is a fiery river. Fire is a purifying element. Fire scorches sin, burns it, and grief, if sin is natural to man himself, then he burns himself person.

That fire will kindle inside a person: seeing the Cross, some will rejoice, while others will come to despair, confusion, horror. So people will immediately be divided: in the Gospel narrative, before the Judge, some stand to the right, others to the left - they were divided by their inner consciousness.

The very state of a person's soul throws him in one direction or another, to the right or to the left. The more consciously and persistently a person aspired to God in his life, the greater his joy will be when he hears the word "come to Me, blessed ones," and vice versa, the same words will cause a fire of horror and torment among those who did not want Him, avoided or fought and blasphemed during his lifetime.

The Last Judgment does not know witnesses or minutes. Everything is written in the souls of men, and these records, these "books" are being revealed. Everything becomes apparent to everyone and to himself, and the state of a person's soul determines it to the right or to the left. Some go to joy, others to horror.

When the "books" are opened, it will become clear to everyone that the roots of all vices are in the human soul. Here is a drunkard, a fornicator - when the body died, someone would think - sin also died. No, there was an inclination in my soul, and sin was sweet to my soul.

And if she has not repented of that sin, has not freed herself from it, she will come to the Last Judgment with the same desire for the sweetness of sin and will never satisfy her desire. There will be suffering of hatred and anger in it. This is a hellish state. "

Saints Barsanuphius and John:

As for the knowledge of the future, make no mistake: what you sow here, you reap there (Gal. 6: 7). From here, no one can succeed anymore.
Brother, here is work, - there is reward, here is a feat, - there are crowns. Brother, if you want to be saved, do not go into this (teaching), for I testify to you before God that you have fallen into the devil's den and into extreme destruction. So depart from this and follow the Holy Fathers. Acquire for yourself: humility and obedience, crying, selflessness.
(Answer to question 606).

But the words: will not go out from there, until the last kodrant will pay back (Matthew 5:26), said the Lord, meaning that their torment will be eternal: for how can a man repay there?... Do not be deluded like a madman. Nobody succeeds there; but what any one has, he has from here: whether it be good, or rotten, or delightful. Finally, leave idle talk and do not follow the demons and their teachings. For they suddenly catch and suddenly depose. So, humble yourself before God, weeping for your sins and weeping for your passions. And pay attention to yourself (1 Timothy 4:16) and look ahead, where your heart deviates through such research. God forgive you.
(Answer to question 613)

Reverend Theodore the Studite:

"And again, who will not resist such feats, he is deprived of not something small, insignificant and human, but the most Divine and Heavenly things. For reaching the desired many with patience, everlasting patience and keeping the commandments inherit Heavenly kingdom and immortality, eternal life and ineffable and inscrutable repose with eternal blessings; and those who sin through negligence, laziness, addiction and love for this world and for deadly and pernicious pleasures, inherit eternal torment, endless shame and standing oshuyu, having heard the terrible voice of the Judge of all and the Lord of God: move away from Me the curse into eternal fire, prepared for the devil and agglomerate him. (Matthew 25, 41).
But so that we may never hear this, my children and brothers, and not be excommunicated from the Saints and the Righteous by a pitiful and inexpressible excommunication. When they are received into joy unspeakable and incomprehensible, and insatiable pleasure, as Divine Scripture says about this, they will lie down with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob (Matt. 8, 11). We will have to go with the demons to the place where the fire is inextinguishable, the worm is indefatigable, the gnashing of teeth, the great abyss, the unbearable tartar, the unsolvable bonds, the darkest hell, and not for a few times or for a year, and not for a hundred or a thousand years: for torment will have no end, as Origen thinks, but forever and forever, as the Lord said (Matt. 25, 46). Where then, the brethren, according to the Saints, are the father or mother for deliverance? - Brother, it is said, will not deliver: will a man deliver? He will not give God treason for that, and the price of the deliverance of his soul (Psalm 48, 8, 9) ".

St. John Chrysostom:

“A terrible, truly terrible report lies ahead of us, and we must show love for mankind so as not to hear the terrible words:“ Depart from Me, ”I don’t know you,“ those who practice lawlessness ”(Matthew 7:23), so as not to hear again the terrible words: "Depart from Me, cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels" (Matthew 25:41), so as not to hear: "a great gulf has been established between us and you" (Luke 16:26) - so as not to hear with trepidation: "take him and cast him into the outer darkness" (Matthew 22:13), - so that with great fear not to hear: "the wicked servant and lazy" (Matthew 25:26). Terrible, very terrible and terrible is this judgment seat, although God is good, although He is merciful. He is called the God of bounty and the God of comfort (2 Cor. 1: 3); He is good as no one else, indulgent, generous and merciful; He does not want the death of the sinner, but that he be converted and live (Ezek. 33:11). Why, why will this day be filled with such horror? A river of fire will flow before his face, the books of our deeds will be opened, the very day will be like a burning cave, angels will rush around, and many fires will be made. How, you say, is God loving mankind, how merciful, how good? So, with all this He is philanthropic, and here the greatness of his philanthropy is especially revealed. For this, after all, He instills in us such fear that, although in this way we awaken and begin to strive for the kingdom of heaven. "

Rev. Abba Dorotheos:

Believe me, brethren, that if someone has at least one passion turned into a skill, then he is subject to torment, and it happens that another does ten good deeds and has one evil skill, and this one, which comes from the evil skill, overcomes ten good (deeds). The eagle, if everything is out of the net, but gets entangled in it with one claw, then through this smallness all his strength is overthrown; for is he not already in the net, although he is all out of it, when he is held in it by one claw? Can't the catcher catch him as soon as he wants? So is the soul: if at least one passion turns into a habit for itself, then the enemy, whenever he thinks, dethrones it, for it is in his hands, because of that passion.

Blessed. Augustine:

There should be no doubt that the prayers of St. Churches, saving sacrifice and alms are beneficial to the dead - but only to those who before death lived in such a way that after death all this could be useful to them. For those who have departed without faith, promoted by love, and without communion in the sacraments, the deeds of that piety are done in vain by their neighbors, which they did not have in themselves when they were here, not accepting, or in vain accepting the grace of God, and treasuring themselves not mercy, but anger. So, not new merits are acquired for the dead when good friends do something for them, but only the consequences are derived from the principles they had previously laid.

NS. Ephraim Sirin:

If you want to inherit the future Kingdom, then find the favor of the Tsar here.... And to the extent that you honor Him, to the extent that He will erect you; how much you serve Him here, so much will He honor you there, according to the written: "I will glorify those who glorify Me, but those who dishonor Me will be put to shame" (1 Samuel 2:30). Honor Him with all your soul, so that He may honor you as saints. To the question: "How can one obtain His favor?" - I will answer: Bring him gold and silver by helping those in need. If you have nothing to give, then give Him as a gift faith, love, abstinence, patience, generosity, humility ... bad way; comfort the faint-hearted, be compassionate to the weak, give the thirsty one a cup of water, feed the hungry. In a word, all that you have and with what God has endowed you, then bring it to Him, for Christ did not despise even two mites of a widow.

St. Simeon New Theologian says that at the trial it will not be reckoned with a person what he does, but who he is: whether he is like Jesus Christ, our Lord, or completely different from Him. He says: “In future life a Christian will not be tested on the subject of whether he renounced the whole world for the love of Christ, or whether he distributed his property to the poor, whether he abstained and observed fasting on the eve of the holidays, or whether he prayed, whether he was distressed and mourned for his sins, or whether he has done anything else good in his life, but he will be carefully tested, whether he has a resemblance to Christ as a son is to his father. "

Blessed Theophylact(Archbishop of Bulgaria) in the interpretation of the words of Holy Scripture:

“The king came in to look at the guests, and saw there a man who was not dressed in a wedding garment, and he said to him: Friend! how did you come in here not wearing a wedding garment? He was silent. Then the king said to the servants: Having bound his hands and feet, take him and throw him into the outer darkness: there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth; for many are called, but few are chosen ”writes:

Login to wedding feast happens without distinction: all of us, good and bad, are called only by grace. But then life is subjected to a test, which the king carefully performs, and the lives of many are defiled. Let us shudder, brothers, thinking that whoever has an unclean life, for that, faith is useless. Such is not only ejected from the bridal chamber, but also sent into the fire. Who is this one who wears the defiled garments? This is the one who did not put on the clothes of mercy, kindness and brotherly love. There are many who, deluding themselves with vain hopes, think to receive the Kingdom of Heaven and, thinking highly of themselves, rank themselves among the elect. By interrogating the unworthy, the Lord shows, firstly, that he is humane and just, and secondly, that we should not condemn anyone, even who, obviously, has sinned, if such is not openly exposed in court. Further, the Lord says to the servants who punish the angels: "bind his hands and feet," that is, the ability of the soul to act. In the present century, we can act and act in one way or another, but in the future, spiritual forces will be tied up, and we will not be able to create any good to atone for sins; "then there will be gnashing of teeth" - this is fruitless repentance. "Many are called", that is, God calls many, more precisely, all, but "a few chosen", a few who are saved, worthy of being chosen from God. Election depends on God, but to become elected or not is our business. With these words, the Lord lets the Jews know that a parable has been told about them: they were called, but not chosen as disobedient.

Blessed Theophylact of Bulgaria also says:

“The sinner, having retired by his sins from the light of righteousness, is already in darkness in real life, but since there is still hope for conversion, this darkness is not pitch darkness. And after death there will be a consideration of his affairs, and if he has not repented here, then there he is surrounded by pitch darkness. For there is no hope of conversion then, and a complete deprivation of Divine grace sets in. While the sinner is here, even though he receives a little Divine benefits - I am talking about sensual benefits - he is still a servant of God, because he lives in the house of God, that is, between the creations of God, and God nourishes and preserves him. And then he will be completely separated from God, no longer participating in any good things: this is the darkness, called pitch, as opposed to the present, not pitch-black, when the sinner still has the hope of repentance. "

St. Gregory Palamas:

Although in the future pakibenie, when the bodies of the righteous are resurrected, the bodies of the wicked and sinners will be resurrected with them, but they will be resurrected only in order to undergo a second death: eternal torment, an unceasing worm, gnashing of teeth, pitch and impenetrable darkness, gloomy and inextinguishable fiery hell. The Prophet says: transgressions and sinners together will be crushed, and those who forsake the Lord will die (Isa. 1:28). This is the second death, as John teaches us in his Revelation. Hear also the great Paul: if you live according to the flesh, he says, you will die, if you put to death by the spirit of deeds, you will live (Rom. 8:13). He speaks here of life and death as belonging to the age to come. This life is enjoyment in the everlasting Kingdom; death is surrender to eternal torment. The transgression of the commandment of God is the cause of all death, mental and physical, and the one that we will undergo in the age to come, eternal torment. Death actually consists in the separation of the soul from Divine grace and in copulation with sin.

Saint Irenaeus of Lyons:

“To all who observe love for Him, He gives His fellowship. Communion with God is life and light and the enjoyment of all the blessings that He has. And those who, according to their own will, depart from Him, He exposes them to separation from Himself, which they themselves have chosen. Separation from God is death, and separation from light is darkness, and alienation from God is the deprivation of all the good things that He has. Therefore, those who, through their apostasy, have lost the aforementioned as being deprived of all blessings, are in all kinds of torment, not because God Himself has punished them in advance, but punishment befalls them as a result of their deprivation of all blessings. But the blessings of God are eternal and without end, therefore their deprivation is eternal and endless, just as in relation to the immeasurable light, those who have blinded themselves or blinded by others are always deprived of the sweetness of light, not because the light causes them the torment of blindness, but blindness itself gives them misery ".

St. Tikhon Zadonsky:

Consider this, sinful soul, and listen to what the Forerunner said: the ax is already at the root of the tree: any tree that does not produce the fruit of good, it can be cut and thrown into the fire (Matt. 3:10). You see where sinners who do not produce the fruits of repentance are determined: they are cut down like barren trees with the ax of God's judgment and are thrown into eternal fire like wood. "

St. Macarius, Met. Moskovsky:

Grant us, Lord, - to all always - the living and unceasing memory of Your future glorious coming. Your last, terrible judgment on us, Your most righteous and eternal reward to the righteous and sinners, yes, in her light and Yours blessed help lived chastely and righteously and godly in the present age (Titus 2:12); and in this way we will finally reach the eternal-blessed life in heaven, in order to glorify Thee with all our being, with Thy beginningless Father and Thy most holy and good and life-giving Spirit, forever and ever.

St. Ignatius (Brianchaninov):

Christians, some Orthodox Christians, and, moreover, earthly life piously or who have cleansed themselves from sins by sincere repentance, by spiritual confession before their father and by correcting themselves, inherit together with bright angels eternal bliss. On the contrary, the wicked, i.e. unbelievers in Christ, evil-minded, i.e. heretics, and those Orthodox Christians who spent their lives in sins or fell into some mortal sin and did not heal themselves with repentance, inherit eternal torment along with the fallen angels.

St. Theophan the Recluse:

"Let the judgment not be soon, but if it is possible to extract any indulgence from here, then this is only the one who can be sure that the hour of their death coincides with the hour of the distant judgment: what of that? Now or tomorrow death will come, and will put an end to all ours and mark our fate forever, for there is no repentance after death. In what death will find us, in that we will also appear for judgment. "

"The Last Judgment! The judge comes on the clouds, surrounded by a myriad of heavenly forces non-dense. Trumpets blast to all ends of the earth and raise the dead. The rebellious regiments are flowing in regiments to a certain place, to the throne of the Judge, already anticipating in advance what their sentence will sound in their ears. For the deeds of each will be written on the forehead of their nature, and their very appearance will correspond to their deeds and morals. The separation of the gums and shuiiih will be accomplished by itself. Finally, everything was already decided. There was a deep silence. Another moment - and the Judge's decisive verdict is heard - by one: "Come," to others: "Depart." - Have mercy on us, Lord, have mercy on us! May Your mercy, Lord, be upon us! - but then it will be too late to cry so. Now we must take care to wash away the signs written on it that are unfavorable for us from our nature. Then we would have been ready to emit rivers of tears in order to wash ourselves; but that won't do anything. Let us cry now, if not with rivers of tears, then at least with streams; if not by streams, even by raindrops; if we do not find this either, let us be contrite in our hearts and, having confessed our sins to the Lord, we beg Him to forgive them to us, vowing not to offend Him any more by breaking His commandments - and then being jealous then faithfully fulfill such a vow. "

St. right. John of Kronstadt:

Many live outside of grace, not realizing its importance and necessity for themselves and not looking for it, according to the word of the Lord: "Seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness" (Matthew 6, 33). Many live in all abundance and contentment, enjoy flourishing health, enjoy eating, drinking, walking, having fun, composing, working in various industries human activity, but they do not have the grace of God in their hearts, this priceless Christian treasure, without which a Christian cannot be true christian and heir to the kingdom of heaven.

The fact that a person who has not repented during his lifetime will not be able to enter the Kingdom of God is also written in agreement with the holy fathers by modern theologians:

Arch. Raphael (Karelin):

"1. Impossible immortal life in paradise for those who do not have an inner paradise in their hearts (the grace of the Holy Spirit), because paradise is union with God.

2. A sinner who has not been redeemed by the Blood of Christ has an unhealed sin (ancestral and personal) in his heart, which prevents union with God.

Bottom line: A sinner cannot be in paradise, since he is deprived of the ability to communicate with God, which is carried out through the grace of the Holy Spirit.

The Orthodox teaching is different: unrepentant sin is the sparks of hell in a person's soul, and after death not only the sinner will be in hell, but hell will be in it. Hell is not the wages of sin, but the tragic consequence of sin. "

Alexander Kalomiros:

"No, brothers, we must wake up so as not to be lost to the Kingdom of Heaven. Our eternal salvation or our eternal death does not depend on the will and desire of God, but on our own determination, on the choice of our free will, which God infinitely appreciates. Convinced of the strength divine love, however, let us not be fooled. Danger does not come from God, it comes from ourselves.

As St. Basil the Great, “the torments of hell do not have God as their cause, but ourselves”
The Holy Scriptures and the Fathers always speak of God as a great Judge, Who, on the day of the Last Judgment, will reward those who obey His will and punish those who disobeyed it (see 2 Tim. 4, 8).

What kind of judgment is this, if you understand it not in a human, but in a divine sense? What is the judgment of God? God is Truth and Light. God's judgment- nothing else but our connection with Truth and Light. The “books” will be opened (cf. Rev. 20, 12). What are these “books”? These are our hearts. Our hearts will be permeated with the all-pervading Light emanating from God, and then everything that is hidden in them will be exposed. Those hearts in which love for God will be hidden after seeing divine Light, will rejoice. Those hearts that, on the contrary, harbored hatred for God, will, receiving this penetrating Light of Truth, suffer and torment, because they hated it all their lives.

So it is not God's decision that will determine the eternal destiny of people, not God's reward or punishment, but what was hidden in every heart; what has been in our hearts throughout our lives will be laid bare on the day of judgment. This naked state - call it a reward or punishment - does not depend on God, it depends on the love or hate that reigns in our hearts. In love is bliss, in hatred - despair, bitterness, torment, sadness, anger, anxiety, confusion, darkness and all the rest internal states that make up hell. "

So, the holy fathers warn that to justify us at the Last Judgment, we need to repent already in this life that after death, repentance is impossible for someone who did not know him during his lifetime, but there is only reward for what was done. Entering the realm of eternity, resurrecting in another, spiritual body, a person reaps the fruits of earthly life. You can read about why it is impossible to find repentance at the Last Judgment in the articles.