Hebrews 9:27 - Judgement

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Evening from Sydney Australia. I have been doing some study on the particular and general judgements. One bit of scripture I have in mind is,

Hebrews 9:27 (NRSVACE)

27 And just as it is appointed for mortals to die once, and after that the judgement,

So from this, I was wondering is there any Catholic theology relating to the people alive when Christ returns? Am I reading this verse too simply with no context of other scripture? Do the people alive when Christ returns die at a particular point? Or being that it is the end of this world they physically die from that?

Any insight would be appreciated.

God bless.
 
Dutch_H said:
Or being that it is the end of this world they physically die from that?
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It could be that they die at the end of the world. This is my personal opinion, because the wages of sin is death. However, it could be that the passage is making a generalization that is not meant to be taken universally.
 
Jesus Will Judge the Living and the Dead REV. KENNETH BAKER, S.J. " When the Creed says that Jesus will judge “the living and the dead”, it means that he will judge all men — past, present and future. No person will escape his judgment. Since all men are subject to sin (Rom 5), they are all likewise subject to death (Rom 6:23). Even Christ and Mary had to die. Some have interpreted “the living” in the Creed to mean those in a state of grace, and “the dead” to mean those in sin. However, “the living” can also mean those who are still on this earth at the time of the Second Coming. Since all men are subject to death, the most probable meaning is that they will die and be brought before the judgment seat of Christ in an instant."
 
Concerning the general judgement: ‘Those who have done right shall rise to life; the evildoers shall rise to be damned’ John 5:29.
Since all shall rise, seems to me no one will be alive at that point.
 
Thanks for your replies. I am of the same opinion. I was just wondering if any theologian throughout the history of the Church has wrote on this? About the people alive when Christ returns, what happens? By the taking of scripture it would seem they die and then are raised.
 
I suspect it will be the same as everyone who died before the second coming. Their physical bodies will die. Their souls will be immediately judged in a particular judgement. The saved will enter eternal heaven. Since Christ returns in this scenario the general judgement will take place and all the saved in heaven will be joined with their glorified bodies. The difference is those dying to the body at the second coming won’t have to wait for their glorified bodies to join their souls.

PS. I left out purgatory. Those going to purgatory will go to heaven and join their glorified bodies after being pured in purgatory.
 
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Dutch_H said:
Evening from Sydney Australia. I have been doing some study on the particular and general judgements. One bit of scripture I have in mind is,

Hebrews 9:27 (NRSVACE)

27 And just as it is appointed for mortals to die once, and after that the judgement,

So from this, I was wondering is there any Catholic theology relating to the people alive when Christ returns? Am I reading this verse too simply with no context of other scripture? Do the people alive when Christ returns die at a particular point? Or being that it is the end of this world they physically die from that?

Any insight would be appreciated.

God bless.
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Not all die.

Hebrews 11
5 By faith Enoch was taken up so that he should not see death, and “he was found no more because God had taken him.” Before he was taken up, he was attested to have pleased God.
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CRV said:
Mary had to die
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The Church has not issued a teaching on this. The dogma of the Assumption is worded precisely to keep the question open. “At the close of her earthly life” she was assumed into Heaven.
 
In 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, St Paul talks about how those who are living when Christ returns will be caught up in the clouds to meet him. In 1 Corinthians 15:51-55, St Paul talks about how those living when Christ returns will not die (“sleep”) but will be changed, will “put on immortality.”

So, those alive at Christ’s return will be exceptions to the general rule of Hebrews 9:27 concerning death.
 
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I’m aware of that. I reposted what was said by that priest in regards to whether people are alive when Christ returns, which was one question Dutch_H asked. If you have an issue with those 3 words, then I suggest taking the matter up with him.

However, in another thread here, you can read my quotes from two other sources/articles. The first of these also says “after her death”, the other not - to demonstrate it isn’t settled dogma.
 
Todd, this is a good point and reference. So whether the language of being caught up in the cloud and being changed implies a physical death to the mortal lives we know here on Earth. Obviously the ones caught up in the clouds will be judged as all are judged.
 
Thomas Aquinas:-
1 Cor 15:51-52 “51 Lo! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, 52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed.” The 10 paragraphs in this section are relevant.
 
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Not to hijack the thread, but here is an interesting theological dilemma within the same topic:

In regards to our glorified bodies that will be rejoined with our immortal souls at the general resurrection, will they be the glorified bodies at our moment of death, or glorified bodies in our adult prime?

So, fetuses dying in utero, will they be resurrected in glorified fetus bodies, or strapping 20 years old bodies?

So, adults dying in traumatic events, will their glorified bodies be disfigured (i.e., dismembered, decapitated, et al), or healthy perfect bodies.

Will those old people, with depleted bodies ravaged by cancer at their time of death, will their glorified body be the shell of a body they possessed at time of death.

Before answering to quickly, consider that the glorified body of Christ witnessed by the disciples and Apostles had the wounds from his passion.

Just some interesting thoughts.
 
As to the last days, pray for the Lord to call you before! A read of 2 Peter 3:7-11 is sobering.

Not gonna be pretty.
 
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