Theology

• Eschatology


  The study of the "last things" - death, heaven/hell/purgatory, judgment, eternal life, resurrection
• The "last things" emphasized in eschatology


  • Death
  • Heaven/Hell/Purgatory
  • Judgment
  • Eternal Life
  • Resurrection
• First Death


  Separation of the soul from the body (physical death)
• Second Death


  When one is separated from life (God). The "dreadful of all deaths" and the "worst loss".
• Jesus calls the first death "sleeping" and the second death the actual death
• Where does death come from?

  Death is the consequence of sin
• Two kinds of sin

  • Personal
  • Inherited (Original)
• Hamartia


  Greek term for sin, meaning failure to achieve one's true self expression, wounding oneself, hurting oneself
• Heaven


  A state of happiness, peace, fullness in life, being one with God, no death, no pain, no suffering
• Heaven is outside of the universe, not of this world
• The 9 Accidents or Categories of Substance in Heaven

  • Time
  • Place/Space
  • Quantity
  • Quality
  • Position
  • Possession
  • Passion
  • Action
  • Substance
• Time in Heaven


  Heaven has a different time (Kairos), eternally present, no one gets old, sick, or dies
• Place/Space in Heaven


  Heaven has no matter, angels and souls have no physical form
• Quantity in Heaven


  Only matter has/forms quantity, God and spirits have no form
• Quality in Heaven


  Quality is always fullness, unlike on earth
• Relationships in Heaven


  No need for sex or reproduction, same-sex relationships allowed only as friendships
• Kinds of Love


  • Eros (strong attraction)
  • Philia (friendship)
  • Ludus (addiction)
  • Storge (love for family)
  • Agape (love for God)
  • Philautia (love for self)
• The problems in love are summarized in LUST. Love is beautiful until it's destroyed by lust.
• Everlasting


  Has a beginning but no end
• Eternal


  Has no beginning nor end
• Contingent


  Existing in the past, present, and future
• Particular Judgment


  The final encounter with Christ, either blessedness in heaven, purification in purgatory, or damnation in hell
• One who unites his own death with Jesus


  Enters into everlasting life
• Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick

  • For healing
  • For pardon or forgiveness
  • For absolution - wash away of sins
• Viaticum


  Communion, the food to the way to heaven that strengthens the soul
• Judgment


  • The final encounter with Christ
  • Personal judgment - one by one
  • Final judgment - all people together
• Retribution in judgment


  • Blessedness in heaven
  • Purification in purgatory
  • Damnation in hell
• Heaven


  • Live with the Holy Trinity, Virgin Mary, angels and all the blessed
  • Ultimate end and fulfillment of deepest human longings
  • To be with Christ
• Heaven has never been seen nor heard for man to conceive
• Purgatory


  • Purification necessary to be blessed and entered into heaven
  • Place in between heaven and hell, not hell nor damnation
• Hell


  • Eternal separation from God
  • Punishment of "eternal fire"
• God predestines no one to go to hell, unless there's a willful turn away from God (mortal sin) against Him
• The Last Judgment


  1. Resurrection of all the dead

  2. All will adhere to Christ

  3. Separation of the good and evil

  4. Eternal life for the good, eternal punishment for the evil
• The last judgment will come when Christ returns to glory
• New heaven and earth

  • No more death, suffering, pain, or mourning
  • Beatific vision of God, an ever-flowing well-spring of happiness, peace, and mutual communion
• Amen


  • Means "believe"
  • God's faithfulness towards us and our trust in Him
• Christ himself is the Amen, the definitive amen of our Father's love towards us
• Qualities of the glorified body

  • Brightness
  • Agility
  • Subtlety
  • Impassibility
• Eschaton


  The "last things" - death, heaven, hell, purgatory, resurrection, eternal life, judgment, etc.
• Parousia


  The "Second Coming of Jesus"