Chapter 33: Of Death, Resurrection of the Body, and the Last Judgment

Q What is to be believed concerning death?

A. It is now appointed of God, that Adam and all his children must die, except Enoch and Elias, and such as shall be found alive at the coming of Christ to judgement.

Q Why has God so appointed?

A. Because of sin, for if sin had not entered into the world, there had never been death.

Q. But why should believers die, seeing Christ has suffered death for them, and so has taken away all punishment of sin?

A. They die not now in way of punishment for their sin properly, but for other ends and respects.

Q. For what ends do they die?

A. That they may be freed from all the evils of this life, and be brought to rest and glory with Christ.

Q. What is the state of the godly immediately upon their death?

A. Their bodies do sleep in the grave, as in the bed of spices, and their souls which are immortal are made glorious in the presence of God in Heaven.

Q And what is the state of the wicked upon their death?

A. Their bodies lie rotting in the grave, through the heavy curse of God; and their souls are tormented in hell, in unspeakable woe and misery.

Q. Shall the bodies of men lie for ever in the grave, and never be united to their souls again?

A. Not so, for there will be a resurrection of the just and unjust, and all that are in the graves shall come forth.

Q. In what manner shall the bodies of the Saints arise?

A. For substance the same bodies that they were at death; but for quality greatly changed, insomuch that they shall be raised incorruptible, glorious, powerful, and spiritual.

Q. What great matter is it for godly men to rise again, seeing wicked men shall rise also?

A. They shall not rise by virtue of any union with Christ as their head, as the godly shall; but only by the power of Christ, as their Judge.

Q. Wherein else does the resurrection of the godly and wicked differ?

A. The wicked shall not rise in such a glorious and excellent manner, nor to the same end with the godly, but to the resurrection of damnation (John 5:29).

Q. What follows after the Resurrection?

A. The eternal judgement (Hebrews 6:2; 9:27).

Q. When will the day of judgement be?

A. It is certainly appointed and decreed of God when it shall be; but it is not known to us that we might always live in watchfulness.

Q. Who must be judge at that day?

A. Jesus Christ is appointed of God to be the Judge of quick and dead (Acts 10:42; 17:31; John 5:22, 27; 2 Timothy 4:1; 2 Corinthians 5:10).

Q. Who must be judged?

A. All the world, both living and dead; and this of all things done in this life, whether they be good or evil (Acts 17:31; 2 Corinthians 5:10; 2 Timothy 4:1; 1 Peter 4:5).

Q. In what manner will he come?

A. He will come suddenly, visibly, and in wonderful majesty and glory, in flaming fire, with the voice of the Archangel, and thousand thousands of Angels.

Q. What sentence will he give?

A. To them upon his right hand he will say, "Come you blessed of my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world" (Matthew 25:34).

Q. And what will be his sentence upon the wicked at his left hand?

A. To them upon his left hand he will say, "Go you cursed into everlasting fire, prepared for the Devil and his Angels" (Matthew 25:41).

Q. What shall follow the pronouncing of the sentence?

A. The sentence pronounced shall presently be put in execution, so that every man shall receive according to his works (Matthew 25:46; 2 Corinthians 5:10; Matthew 16:27).

Q. What shall the wicked receive?

A. They shall be punished with everlasting perdition from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power, with the devil and his Angels, in the lake that burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.

Q. And what shall the godly receive?

A. They shall have redemption and deliverance from all kind of evil.

Q. And what good shall they enjoy?

A. Wonderful, unspeakable and unconceivable, and everlasting happiness and glory in the highest heavens, in the presence of God, in whose presence is fullness of joy, and at whose right hand are pleasures for evermore.