Early Christian Quotes on the Judgment

The Christian Sibylline Oracles 

(2nd Century)

Book 2:280-315:

 

And then Uriel, mighty angel of repentance,

Will break the bolts of stern and lasting adamant

Which, monstrous, bold the brazen gates of Hades,

Straight cast them down, and to judgment lead

All forms that have endured much suffering,

Chiefly the shapes of Titans born of old,

And giants, and all whom the Flood overran,

And all that perished in the surging seas,

And all that provided a banquet for the beasts

And creeping things and fowls.

These in a mass, Uriel shall summon to the judgment-seat;

And also those whom flesh-devouring fire

Destroyed in flame, even these he will collect

And place before the judgment-seat of God.

And when the high-thundering Lord of Sabaoth

Making an end of fate will raise the dead,

Sit on His heavenly throne and firmly fix

The mighty pillar, then among the clouds

Christ, who Himself is incorruptible,

Shall come to the Incorruptible

In glory with pure angel, and will sit

At the right hand on the great judgment-seat

To judge the life of the godly and the way

Of sinful men. And Moses, the great friend

Of the Most High, will come dressed in flesh.

Also great Abraham himself will come,

Isaac and Jacob, Joshua, Daniel,

Elijah, Habakkuk, and Jonah, and

Those whom the Hebrews slew. But He'll destroy

The Hebrews after Jeremiah, all

Who are to be judged at the judgment-seat,

That they may receive worthy compensation

And pay for all each did in mortal life.

And then all will pass through the burning stream

Of flame unquenchable; but all the just

Will be saved.

 

 

2 Clement

(Early to Mid-2nd Century)

Chapter 17:

 

For the Lord said, "I come to gather all nations and tongues." This refers to the day of His appearing, when He will come and redeem us--each one according to his works. And the unbelievers will see His glory and might, and, when they see the empire of the world in Jesus, they will be surprised. They will say, "Woe to us, because You are, and we did not believe or obey the elders who showed us plainly the way to our salvation."

 

And "their worm will not die, neither will their fire be quenched; and they will be a spectacle to all people." He speaks of the great day of judgment when they will see those among us who were guilty of ungodliness and did not respect Jesus Christ’s commands.

 

The righteous succeeded in enduring the trials of the world and hating the indulgences of the soul. Whenever they witness how those who have swerved and denied Jesus in words or deeds are punished with grievous torments in unquenchable fire, they will give glory to their God and say, "There will be hope for him who has served God with his whole heart."

 

 

The Epistle of the Apostles

(Mid-2nd Century)

Chapter 26:

 

Jesus said, “Truly, I say to you, the flesh will arise, and the soul will live, so that they can defend themselves on that day regarding what they have done, whether it be good or evil and so that there may be a choosing-out of the faithful who have kept the commandments of My Father who sent Me. And the judgement will be strict. For My Father said to Me, ‘My Son, in the day of judgement You will have no respect for the rich, neither pity for the poor, but according to the sins of every man will You deliver him to everlasting torment.’ But to My beloved who have kept the commandments of My Father who sent Me, I will give the rest of life in the kingdom of My Father, which is in heaven, and they will see what He has given to Me. And He has given Me the authority to do give what I have promised to whoever I want.”

 

 

Justin Martyr’s Dialog with Trypho

(Mid-2nd Century)

Chapter 5:

 

I do not say that all souls die; for would be truly good fortune to the evil. What am I saying, then? The souls of the devout remain in a better place, while those of the unjust and wicked are in a worse place, waiting for the time of judgment. So, some who are deemed worthy of God never die, but others are punished as long as God allows them to exist and be punished.

 

 

Justin Martyr’s Dialog with Trypho

(Mid-2nd Century)

Chapter 120:

 

He has said that He will raise those worthy of the honor to the everlasting kingdom, along with the holy patriarchs and prophets, but condemn others to the unquenchable fire, along with disobedient and unrepentant men from all the nations.