Westminster Larger Catechism (1647), Westminster Assembly

Question 90

What shall be done to the righteous at the day of judgment?

At the day of judgment, the righteous, being caught up to Christ in the clouds,a shall be set on his right hand, and there openly acknowledged and acquitted,b shall join with him in the judging of reprobate angels and men,c and shall be received into heaven,d where they shall be fully and forever freed from all sin and misery;e filled with inconceivable joys,f made perfectly holy and happy both in body and soul, in the company of innumerable saints and holy angels,g but especially in the immediate vision and fruition of God the Father, of our Lord Jesus Christ, and of the Holy Spirit, to all eternity.h And this is the perfect and full communion, which the members of the invisible church shall enjoy with Christ in glory, at the resurrection and day of judgment.

What shall be done to the righteous at the day of judgment?

At the day of judgment, the righteous, being caught up to Christ in the clouds,a shall be set on his right hand, and there openly acknowledged and acquitted,b shall join with him in the judging of reprobate angels and men,c and shall be received into heaven,d where they shall be fully and forever freed from all sin and misery;e filled with inconceivable joys,f made perfectly holy and happy both in body and soul, in the company of innumerable saints and holy angels,g but especially in the immediate vision and fruition of God the Father, of our Lord Jesus Christ, and of the Holy Spirit, to all eternity.h And this is the perfect and full communion, which the members of the invisible church shall enjoy with Christ in glory, at the resurrection and day of judgment.

  1. a. 1 Thessalonians 4:17

    1 Thessalonians 4:17

    4:17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

    4:17 After that, we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will always be with the Lord.

    King James VersionBerean Standard Bible

  2. b. Matthew 25:33; 10:32

    Matthew 25:33

    25:33 And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.

    25:33 He will place the sheep on His right and the goats on His left.

    Matthew 10:32

    10:32 Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven.

    10:32 Therefore everyone who confesses Me before men, I will also confess him before My Father in heaven.

    King James VersionBerean Standard Bible

  3. c. 1 Corinthians 6:2–3

    1 Corinthians 6:2–3

    6:2 Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? and if the world shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters? 6:3 Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life?

    6:2 Do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if you are to judge the world, are you not competent to judge trivial cases? 6:3 Do you not know that we will judge angels? How much more the things of this life!

    King James VersionBerean Standard Bible

  4. d. Matthew 25:34, 46

    Matthew 25:34; Matthew 25:46

    25:34 Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: 25:46 And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.

    25:34 Then the King will say to those on His right, 'Come, you who are blessed by My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. 25:46 And they will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life."

    King James VersionBerean Standard Bible

  5. e. Ephesians 5:27; Revelation 14:13

    Ephesians 5:27

    5:27 That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.

    5:27 and to present her to Himself as a glorious church, without stain or wrinkle or any such blemish, but holy and blameless.

    Revelation 14:13

    14:13 And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them.

    14:13 And I heard a voice from heaven telling me to write, "Blessed are the dead-those who die in the Lord from this moment on." "Yes," says the Spirit, "they will rest from their labors, for their deeds will follow them."

    King James VersionBerean Standard Bible

  6. f. Psalm 16:11

    Psalm 16:11

    16:11 Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.

    16:11 You have made known to me the path of life; You will fill me with joy in Your presence, with eternal pleasures at Your right hand.

    King James VersionBerean Standard Bible

  7. g. Hebrews 12:22–23

    Hebrews 12:22–23

    12:22 But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels, 12:23 To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect,

    12:22 Instead, you have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem. You have come to myriads of angels 12:23 in joyful assembly, to the congregation of the firstborn, enrolled in heaven. You have come to God the Judge of all, to the spirits of the righteous made perfect,

    King James VersionBerean Standard Bible

  8. h. 1 John 3:2; 1 Corinthians 13:12; 1 Thessalonians 4:17–18

    1 John 3:2

    3:2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.

    3:2 Beloved, we are now children of God, and what we will be has not yet been revealed. We know that when Christ appears, we will be like Him, for we will see Him as He is.

    1 Corinthians 13:12

    13:12 For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.

    13:12 Now we see but a dim reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.

    1 Thessalonians 4:17–18

    4:17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. 4:18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

    4:17 After that, we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will always be with the Lord. 4:18 Therefore encourage one another with these words.

    King James VersionBerean Standard Bible

Related (2)

The Baptist Catechism (1695), parallel to this question

Question 41

What benefits do believers receive from Christ at the resurrection?

At the resurrection believers, being raised up in glory, shall be openly acknowledged, and acquitted in the day of judgment, and made perfectly blessed, both in soul and body, in the full enjoyment of God to all eternity.

Westminster Shorter Catechism (1647), parallel to this question

Question 38

What benefits do believers receive from Christ at the resurrection?

At the resurrection, believers being raised up in glory shall be openly acknowledged and acquitted in the day of judgment and made perfectly blessed in the full enjoying of God to all eternity.

Commentaries (9)