The liturgical year is drawing to a close. And the divine services in November reflect this and explore “the last things”. But it is not the end that we will be talking about, but the beginning of something completely new.
“Eschatology” is the technical term used to describe the doctrine of the last things. This concerns both every human being individually regarding the question of life after death and humanity in general with the completion of salvation history. Either way, it is all about hopes for the future.
With Christ into the beyond
God wants all people to be saved. This is what it says in 1 Timothy 2: 4. Even the dead can receive the gospel, as 1 Peter 4: 6 says. And sacraments can be administered to the dead by proxy. This is shown by 1 Corinthians 15: 29. These are the biblical foundations of a peculiarity in the New Apostolic Church.
On the first Sunday in November all the congregations will once again celebrate the divine service for the departed. This time the sermon will focus on Christ’s activity in the beyond. This is not only mentioned in 1 Peter 3: 19 , but also in the Apostles’ Creed, which is recognised throughout Christendom and dates back to the fourth century: it was by the power of the Holy Spirit that Jesus Himself, after His death, went to the spirits in need of redemption and preached the gospelm to them.
Faith and love are the only things that count
Jesus Christ Himself speaks of His return in images. In Matthew 24: 40–41, for example, He speaks of two pairs of people: of two men who are out in the field and two women who are grinding at a mill, of whom one is accepted and the other not. On the second Sunday of October we will learn what this image has to tell us.
The Chief Apostle sees in this an image of our congregations at various stages of development on one hand, and people in different life situations on the other. Neither can prevent the believer from being accepted at the Lord’s return. Because it will be Jesus alone who will judge our faith and love..
Threefold judgement
Speaking of the day of the Lord: that too will be a day of judgement. How can that be? That is not supposed to happen until the Last Judgement, or not? These questions will be answered on the third Sunday.
The New Apostolic Church teaches that death is a first judgement: depending on the state of the soul, it separates between closeness to God and remoteness from God. The return of Christ is another judgement and decides on perfect fellowship with God already before the new creation. And the Last Judgement will pronounce the verdict on all others, namely that they may enter eternal glory.
In any case, each person must answer for her or his actions. The verdict will be passed by God, not a person, not a church. God is the just and merciful judge. Because for Him it is not about condemnation and punishment, but about the realisation that every person is dependent on God’s forgiveness.
An outlook on the new creation
And at the very end, there will be a new heaven and a new earth. The fourth Sunday in November will give us a glimpse of this future.
This much is clear from the Bible: the new creation will be completely different from the old one. It will be imperishable and indestructible, without death, suffering, or pain, without sin and guilt, without any evil. It will no longer be necessary for God to be represented through a ministry or the sacraments because He Himself will be present. And in this everlasting fellowship everyone can experience His love and justice.
Photo: Photocreo Bednarek – stock.adobe.com