Why do we fear the last judgement, even the angels tremble?

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When the last judgement happens you will probably be in Heaven or Hell as Purgatory will be closed for good. For those in Heaven surely the last judgment wouldn’t bother them because they are already with God and their sins are forgiven. Those that are in Hell are doomed already so the last judgement shouldn’t really change anything for them? Why do the angels tremble, they have nothing to fear from it?

Also everybody knowing everything that everyone has done, nobody in Heaven would be sad that everyone else knows what they did wrong on Earth surely?

Am I missing something?
 
I don’t fear it. Many don’t fear it. Jesus told us to stand up tall and look with expectation and joy, because our vindication is coming. I look forward to it.
 
I’m not particularly scared of the Last Judgment either.

It may be that we will tremble a bit seeing the awesome power of God revealed. Also, don’t forget that a whole lot of people who don’t believe in God or dismissed all the God stuff as some fairy tale are going to be very shocked and surprised to see God actually exists and is judging them.
 
Tis_Bearself said:
Also, don’t forget that a whole lot of people who don’t believe in God or dismissed all the God stuff as some fairy tale are going to be very shocked and surprised to see God actually exists and is judging them.
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I will be making myself popcorn for this
 
You are all far too cheerful. Here is what I fear, even if I am saved: At the Last Judgment we will see, in full, the consequences of our sins, consequences of which we are largely unaware in this life.

Perhaps you’re thinking: “I know what I did, and I know how I hurt others, and I’m sorry for it. Anyway, I confessed that, and received absolution, and here I am in heaven, so what’s the big deal?”

The thing is, we don’t truly know what we did. We cannot comprehend the consequences of consequences, the ripple effect, the interconnectedness of all people. We sin against someone, causing that person a loss, an injury, or a temptation to sin. This in turn leads him or her into sin or error, causing loss or injury to others, and so on to others still. Pretty soon our little sin has harmed or killed or damned people all over the world, and for generations to come. At the Last Judgment it will be revealed, and I will weep.
 
I’ll probably weep too, but as you said, we can’t comprehend it now, so it doesn’t do me any good to worry about it now.

We pray a lot of prayers asking Jesus to be merciful and comfort us when we die and our soul will be in agony, perhaps over this very thing. For example, the St. Bridget prayers for 1-year return to this theme in detail.

It’s not a matter of being cheerful, it’s a matter of seeing the Last Judgment, or one’s own individual judgment at death - which is much more likely to happen to us - as a practical matter to be addressed now, as in avoid sin, try daily to be closer to God even when that’s difficult - rather than let’s all sit around and be gloom and doom about it, which solves nothing.
 
If you were outside and saw a wing of a plane on fire, coming down at great speed, about to hit a tall building, you would be screaming. We understand that there are people who lived there lives and today the day of judgement is here. It would be terrifying.

…16 And they said to the mountains and the rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of the One seated on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb. 17 For the great day of Their wrath has come, and who is able to withstand it?”
 
Tis_Bearself said:
rather than let’s all sit around and be gloom and doom about it
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A good point. I didn’t want to make my post too long — Then nobody at all would read it! ---- but I intended to follow up later about God’s mercy and our joy:

At the Last Judgment, we will see more than our sins. We will also see God’s salvation plan. For us on that day, it is necessary to see the full burden of our sins, so that we may fully appreciate the great gift of our salvation.

On that day, we may be able to fathom Jesus’ Passion and the depth of his suffering. We will recognize the action of the Holy Spirit throughout our lives and throughout history. We will see the generosity of the Father who creates, sustains, and provides.

In short, we will see God’s love. Not only that; if we are among the saved, we will eternally be in God’s love. Oh Happy Day!
 
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Gripper said:
Why do the angels tremble, they have nothing to fear from it?
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If they tremble it is probably because of the immensity of the occasion. I was afraid on my wedding day not because of the wedding, but because of how big a deal it was and the fact that it meant a profound and permanent change in my life.

There is no more profound change in history than the end of history and the final judgment. It is a change not only for us humans, who will go through the general judgment and attain the fullness of our reward / punishment, but also for the angels, who will enter into a new kind of relationship with the newly-reembodied humanity.
 
I fear it the way I used to fear speaking in public. For much the same reasons really. And like speaking in public, I’m betting it will go far better and far different from how I imagine it.
 
Beryllos said:
At the Last Judgment, we will see more than our sins. We will also see God’s salvation plan. For us on that day, it is necessary to see the full burden of our sins, so that we may fully appreciate the great gift of our salvation.

On that day, we may be able to fathom Jesus’ Passion and the depth of his suffering. We will recognize the action of the Holy Spirit throughout our lives and throughout history. We will see the generosity of the Father who creates, sustains, and provides.
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I’ve heard the Last Judgment (and, to a much smaller degree, our particular judgement at death) as the full revelation of God’s justice and God’s mercy at the same time.

God’s perfect justice will show us the horror of our sins. God’s perfect mercy will show us, as you stated, the unfathomable gift of salvation.

It’s up to us to choose that gift.
 
Beryllos said:
The thing is, we don’t truly know what we did. We cannot comprehend the consequences of consequences, the ripple effect, the interconnectedness of all people. We sin against someone, causing that person a loss, an injury, or a temptation to sin. This in turn leads him or her into sin or error, causing loss or injury to others, and so on to others still. Pretty soon our little sin has harmed or killed or damned people all over the world, and for generations to come. At the Last Judgment it will be revealed, and I will weep.
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That’s deep.
 
I wonder if you have been to confession, gained a plenary indulgence and then died; would God tell people about your sins or are they gone forever?
 
Truth is, any one of us can die at any time, and I don’t see the Last Judgement as much different than the judgement we will all get when we appear before God.
 
Yeah, the one thing that confuses me about the Last Judgment is that it seems like God is not going to just judge whoever happens to be on earth or just died at that moment, but also going to judge everybody who is already in Heaven (or Purgatory on the way to Heaven) and Hell.

Not sure what’s the point of re-judging everybody already in Heaven or Hell. It’s not like they’re going to be leaving either place.

I suppose the people in Purgatory could get a judgment that says “you’re ready for Heaven now” since Purgatory goes away at the time of the Last Judgment and everyone in Purgatory is saved.
 
I worry about my brother - the only unbaptised member of my family and a total atheist 😦
 
Will Earth remain after the Last Judgement or will eceryone be in either heaven or hell by then?
 
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