On the Seventh Article

226. How does holy Scripture speak of Christ's coming again? This Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven. Acts i. 11. This was said to the Apostles by angels at the very time of our Lord's ascension. 227. How does it speak of his future judgment? The hour is coming, in which all that are in the graves shall hear the voice of the Son of God, and shall come forth: they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation. John v. 28, 29. These are the words of Christ himself. 228. How does it speak of his kingdom which is to have no end? He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David; and he shall reign over the house of Jacob forever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end. Luke i. 32, 33. These are the words of the angel to the Mother of God 229. Will the second coming of Christ be like his first? No; very different. He came to suffer for us in great humility, but he shall come to judge us in his glory, and all the holy angels with him. Matt. xxv. 31. 230. Will he judge all men? Yes. All, without exception. 231. How will he judge them? The conscience of every man shall be laid open before all, and not only all deeds which he has ever done in his whole life upon earth be revealed, but also all the words he has spoken, and all his secret wishes and thoughts. The Lord shall come, who will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the heart: and then shall every man have praise of God. 1 Cor. iv. 5. 232. Will he then condemn us even for evil words or thoughts? Without doubt he will, unless we efface them by repentance, faith, and amendment of life. I say unto you, that every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. Matt. xii. 36. 233. Will Jesus Christ soon come to judgment? We know not. Therefore we should live so as to be always ready. The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is long-suffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night. 2 Pet. iii. 9, 10. Watch, therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh. Matt. xxv. 13. 234. Are there not, however, revealed to us some signs of the nearer approach of Christ's coming? In the Word of God certain signs are revealed, as the decrease of faith and love among men, the abounding of iniquity and calamities, the preaching of the Gospel to all nations, and the coming of Antichrist. Matt. xxiv. 235. What is Antichrist? An adversary of Christ, who will strive to overthrow Christianity, but instead of doing so shall himself come to a fearful end. 2 Thess. ii. 8. 236. What is Christ's kingdom? Christ's kingdom is, first, the whole world; secondly, all believers upon earth; thirdly, all the blessed in heaven. The first is called the kingdom of nature; the second, the kingdom of grace; the third, the kingdom of glory. 237. Which of these is meant when it is said in the Creed that of Christ's kingdom there shall be no end? The kingdom of glory.