# Book XX: The Last Judgment and the Resurrection explained — The City of God

> Chapter companion for The City of God by Augustine of Hippo.

## What happens

Augustine discusses the final judgment, distinguishing between the first resurrection (spiritual, occurring now through faith) and the second resurrection (bodily, at the end of time). He interprets scriptural passages from Matthew, John, and Peter to explain the separation of the righteous and the wicked, the eternal punishment of the latter, and the eternal life of the former. He emphasizes that the saints will not experience tears or pain until the new heaven and earth are established, and he refutes millenarian interpretations that place the reign of saints in the present age.

## Themes in this chapter

### Eschatology and the Last Things

The chapter focuses on the final judgment, the two resurrections, and the eternal destinies of the righteous and the wicked.

### Sin, Grace, and Redemption

The first resurrection is a spiritual renewal from the death of sin, leading to eternal life through faith in Christ.

## Character check-ins

### Augustine

Author and interpreter of scripture, explaining the two resurrections and the final judgment.

### Jesus Christ

The Son of Man who will come in glory to judge the living and the dead, separating the righteous from the wicked.

### John

Evangelist whose Gospel and Apocalypse are cited to describe the resurrection and the new Jerusalem.

### Paul

Apostle cited regarding the death of sin and the hope of the resurrection.

### Peter

Apostle whose prophecy about the last days and the new heavens and earth is referenced.

## Key lines

> When the Son of man shall come in His glory, ... then shall He say also unto them on His left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels.

At Christ's glorious return, He will condemn the wicked to eternal fire, which was originally prepared for the devil and his angels.

_Augustine cites Matthew's Gospel to describe the final separation of the righteous and the wicked._

> Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God; and they that hear shall live.

The present time is the hour of spiritual resurrection, when those dead in sin hear Christ's voice and come to life through faith.

_Augustine distinguishes this first resurrection of the soul from the future bodily resurrection._

> God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, but there shall be no more pain.

In the eternal state, God will remove all suffering and death, bringing complete joy and peace.

_Augustine argues this promise refers to the future world, not the present life of the saints._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_city_of_god_se/chapters/part-ii-book-xx
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_city_of_god_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_city_of_god_se/chapters