1.

THE APOSTLES’ CREED: ARTICLE 7

The book is a complete explanation of
the 12 Articles of the Apostles’ Creed.

ARTICLE 7:
HE WILL COME TO JUDGE THE
LIVING AND THE DEAD

To purchase the Book, or for theological

inquiries (e-mails only), contact the author:
AUTHOR Rev. Fr. Paolo O. Pirlo, SHMI
EDITION 1st Edition, Manila, May 19, 2013
PUBLISHER Sons of Holy Mary Immaculate
Quality Catholic Publications
Isabella De Rosis St., Multinational
1708 Parañaque City, Philippines
Telefax (02) 828-2338
Tel. (02) 828-9509
sonsmaryphil@yahoo.com

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2. A CATECHIST’S PRAYER
Loving Father, giver of all that is,
help me to remember that every gift
I have comes from you. Expand my
vision so that I can appreciate your
goodness in the world around me.
Jesus, our Redeemer, you are
the path to the treasures of my
heart and soul. Strengthen my
commitment to be a catechist and
deepen my capacity to share your
truth with those in my care.
Holy Spirit, Love Divine, all life
and energy flows from you.
Illuminate my thoughts and
intensify my desire to grow ever
deeper in my faith.
I lift up my prayer to you, God—
Father, Son, and Spirit—in humility
and hope. Amen.
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 3. WHAT ARE THE
TWO PARTS OF THE
7TH ARTICLE?

The 7TH Article of the

Creed is divided into
two parts:

1. THE SECOND
COMING OF
CHRIST
2. THE JUDGMENT
DAY

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 4. THE SECOND COMING OF CHRIST:
What is the second coming of Christ?
 The first coming of Christ was 2,000 years ago, when he
was born of the Virgin Mary in Bethlehem; the second
coming is the return of our Lord at the end of times.
 The second coming is called parousia in Greek and
adventus in Latin, both words meaning “arrival,” hence,
the liturgical time in which we celebrate the first and
second coming of Christ is called Advent.

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 5. THE SECOND COMING OF CHRIST:
Do we know the time of the second coming of Christ?
 The time of Christ’s second coming is a secret reserved to
God alone, as Jesus declared: “No one knows about that day
or hour … but only the Father” (Mark 13:32).
 All the doomsday prophets who predicted a date for the end
of the world inevitably failed.
1) The Millenialists, expected the end of the world in the
year 1,000 AD, but nothing happened.
2) The Seventh-Day Adventists, founded by William Miller
in New York in 1840, calculated the end of the world in 1844,
but were disappointed.
3) The Mormons, founded by Joseph Smith in New York in
1820, announced that Jesus would return in the year 1891, to
no avail.
4) The Jehovah’s Witnesses, founded by Charles Taze
Russell in the United States in 1870, proclaimed that the end
of the world would be in 1914, then in 1925 and 1975: but
Jesus failed to appear!
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 6. THE SECOND COMING OF CHRIST:
Do we know the place of the Second Coming of Christ?

 Armageddon, in northern Israel, is the expected site of the

final battle between the army of Satan and that of Christ,
commanded by the Archangel Michael (Revelation 16:16).
 The Valley of Jehoshaphat, near Jerusalem, is supposed to
be the site of the final Judgment (Joel 3:2). This belief is
shared by Jews, Christians and Muslims alike.

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 7. THE SECOND COMING OF CHRIST:
How do we prepare for the Second Coming of Christ?
1) By repenting from 2) By obeying God’s 3) By doing
sins and believing Commandments, as works of eternal
the Gospel, as Jesus Christ said: “If you life, like giving
said: “Repent, and want to enter life, obey food to the hungry
believe in the Gospel” the commandments” and water to the
(Mark 1:15). (Matthew 19:17). thirsty

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 8. THE SECOND COMING OF CHRIST:
What is the meaning of the word Maranatha?
 Maranathà is an Aramaic
word which means “Come,
O Lord.” The early
Christians utilized this word
as a prayer for the early
return of Christ.
 The Bible, which is
composed of 72 books,
1,189 chapters, and 31,103
verses, ends with the
invocation of the
Maranatha: “Yes, I am
coming soon. Amen!
Come, Lord Jesus!”
(Revelation 22:20).
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9. THE JUDGMENT DAY:
What is the
Judgment Day?
 The Judgment Day is the
time when Christ will judge
the living (those who are
still alive at his coming)
and the dead (those who
died beforehand).
 As Jesus said: “Those who
have done good deeds will
rise to the resurrection
of life, those who have
done wicked deeds to the
resurrection of
condemnation” (John
5:28-29).

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 10. THE JUDGMENT DAY:
What is the difference between the
Particular and the Universal Judgment?
The Particular Judgment is The Universal Judgment is the
the personal reckoning that the reckoning that the souls united to the
souls undergo immediately resurrected bodies will undergo at the
after death, leading to end of times ending with eternal
Paradise, Purgatory or Hell. salvation or eternal damnation.

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 11. THE JUDGMENT DAY:
What are the six eschatological questions?
These are the criteria that Jesus will use in judging each person,
namely (Matthew 25:34-36):
1. Did you give food to the hungry?
2. Did you give water to the thirsty?
3. Did you clothe the naked?
4. Did you welcome the strangers?
5. Did you care for the sick?
6. Did you visit the prisoners?

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 12. THE JUDGMENT DAY:
Why does the Judgment’s coverage not
include religious practices?
 On the Judgment Day Christ will not ask about our gender,
nationality, or state in life; and not even about our
religious affiliation or practice; but exclusively about the
good deeds we have done to our neighbor (Matthew
25:40).
 The question may be asked: “What is the purpose of being
a practicing Catholic, if at the judgment we will be asked
only about the love for our neighbor?”
 And we answer: “Can a practicing Catholic do anything else
but loving God who does not see in the neighbor that he
sees?” As St. John said: “If anyone says, ‘I love God,’ yet
hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not
love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love
God, whom he has not seen” (1 John 4:20).

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13. THE JUDGMENT DAY:
What is Michelangelo’s
Last judgment?
 The Last Judgment is a
fresco executed on the
altar wall of the Sistine
Chapel in Vatican City
by Michelangelo
Buonarroti between
1536 and 1541.
 It was commissioned by
Pope Clement VII after
the Sack of Rome in
1527 by German
mercenaries, which
inspired the Church
to conversion and
repentance.

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 14. MICHELANGELO’S LAST JUDGMENT:
The Nude Controversy
 The Pope’s Master of
Ceremonies, Biagio da
Cesena, accused
Michelangelo of obscenity
for representing most of
the figures naked. In
retaliation, Michelangelo
represented Minos with
the face of Cesena.
 After the fresco was
unveiled, on the vigil of All
Saints of 1541, Cesena
complained with Paul III,
but the Pope joked that
his jurisdiction did not
extend to Hell, so his
portrait would have to
remain.

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15. MICHELANGELO’S LAST
JUDGMENT:
Christ the Judge
 Christ is portrayed at the
center, as the universal
judge.
 He is beardless and
surrounded by light,
represented as the sun
at the center of the
solar system.
 Christ is not seated but
advancing
triumphantly, signifying
his second coming in
glory; and with the right
arms raised, sign of his
absolute power.
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 16. MICHELANGELO’S LAST JUDGMENT:
The End of Times & the Resurrection of the Dead
 Seven angels blow the  The dead rise from their
trumpets to announce the end sepulchers and rejoin their
of the world; two other angels souls. Some of the bodies are
read the Book of Life, which disputed between angels and
records the deeds and demons, referring to the last
misdeeds of each man and our desperate attempt of Satan to
eternal destiny. keep hold of the dead.

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 17. MICHELANGELO’S LAST JUDGMENT:
The Ascension of the Saints & the Descent of the Damned
 The saints ascend towards  The lost souls are brought into
Paradise, some on their own; Hell in the boat of Caron, and
others, assisted by the angels. scrutinized by Minos. The one
Three bodies are brought up to covering his eye is the symbol of
Heaven by means of their the total desperation of the
rosaries. damned.

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18. MICHELANGELO’S LAST JUDGMENT:
The Virgin Mary
 The Virgin Mary is seated
beside Christ interceding on
behalf of her devotees.
 They are rescued from falling
into Hell by means of their
rosaries, symbol of their
Marian devotion.
 For this reasons we bury the
dead with clasped hands
holding a rosary.
 At every Hail Mary we say:
“Pray for us sinners now and
at the hour of our death.”

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