Eschatology

• Eschatology


  The study of what will happen at the end of time. Originates from the greek word eskhatos meaning last
• Judgement


  The belief that God will judge humanity on their beliefs and actions
• Death


  When the brain and body stop functioning permanently and you go to heaven,hell or purgatory
• Cosmic Reconciliation


  At the end of time, the whole of creation will be reconciled (brought together in harmony) with God
• Anointing the Sick


  A sacrament that helps them to endure their suffering by strengthening their faith, as well as joining their suffering to that of Christ
• Sanctity of Life


  Christians believe that all life is sacred (special) as it was created by God
• Heaven


  Heaven is where God lives and is a place of eternal happiness
• Hell


  Where the devil rules and is a place of eternal punishment
• Purgatory


  A State of cleansing to remove the effect of sin, to help a person acept the full presence of God
• Last Rites


  Where the priest visits the dying. They will pray with the dying, hear their last confession and anoint them with oil
• Funerals


  To provide rituals and liturgies to support the grieving
• Euthanasia


  The painless killing of a patient suffering from a terminal illness
• What does Mark 13:24-25 say about the end of time?


  The Bible suggests the end of time will be signalled by cosmic disasters - frightening, large-scale events such as the sun darkening or the stars falling from heaven
• What will happen after the end of time?

  - The Son of Man (Jesus) will come to judge the whole of creation

  - The end of the current world order will lead to the creation of a new one

  - The Reign of God will be established
• What did Jesus' resurrection teach Christians?

  Jesus' resurrection taught Christians that life continues after death in the presence of God
• What are the differences between resurrection now and then?

  Beliefs about resurrection used to be the world will end shortly and all people would be taken into the presence of God. However this has changed and Christians have to live the life of resurrection while they are alive on Earth resisting sin to prepare them for judgement after death
• St Paul's Letter about resurrection

  (1 Corinthian 15) So it is with the resurrection of the dead. What is sown is perishable, what is raised is imperishable. It is sown in dishonour, it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness, it is raised in power. It is sown a physical body, it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a physical body, there is also a spiritual body
• What does St Paul say about the afterlife?

  Here Paul compares the relationship between the earthly body and the resurrected body to the relationship between a seed and the plant that grows from it. In some ways they are the same thing, but they are also different from each other (1 Corinthian 15)
• What is Purgatory?

  Purgatory is a cleansing process, rather than a place where the effects of sins are removed so that the person can feel happy in the full presence of God. All those who are in purgatory are on their way to heaven

  
  

  The sense of pain in purgatory is from the removal of sins and hope comes from the fact heaven awaits when the purifying is finished

  
  

  Those in purgatory need the support and the prayers of other people so that the cleansing process might be completed quickly
• What are the four last things?

  - Death

  - Judgement

  - Heaven

  - Hell
• What do Catholics believe about Death?

  • For Christians, death is a transition to a new phase of life

  • Death is not something to fear, because it is the start of eternal life without the limitations of the earthly body

  • While the body dies, the soul continues to live on

  • The soul is judged by God and sent to heaven or hell (Catholics believe souls might also be sent to purgatory)

  • At the end of time, at the final judgement, the body and soul will be reunited in a perfect form
• What do Catholics believe about Judgement?

  • Catholics believe that after they die they will be judged by God

  • God will consider everything a person has done during their lifetime

  • This is the moment of truth when people have to accept responsibility for all of their actions

  • Some Catholics believe that while God judges them, they also judge themselves in the light of his love

  • Because Jesus died so all people could be saved, Christians believe God's judgement will be merciful
• What do Catholics believe about heaven?

  • If people are judged favourably, they will enter heaven

  • Heaven is the state of eternal happiness in the presence of God

  • In heaven, God's love removes all cares and worries

  • God wants all people to join him in heaven, but he also respects people's free will. This means people have to choose to accept God in order to enter heaven
• What do Catholics believe about Hell?

  • If people are judged unfavourably, they will enter hell

  • Hell is the state of eternal separation from God

  • Christians believe God doesn't send people to hell; people send themselves by not accepting God

  • People in hell are aware of what they have thrown away, and exist in a state of frustration and anger at themselves
• What are the different types of judgement?

  - Particular judgement

  - Final judgement
• What is Particular Judgement?

  When God judges you based on your personality, and your personal basis and your response will be the deciding factor whether you go to heaven,hell or purgatory
• What is Final Judgement?

  When Christ will come in glory and the whole of creation will be judged. The reign of God will be established and will be the completion of the new creation, when God will make everything perfect
• How does Michaelangelo's "The Last Judgement" depict The Last Judgement?

  • All charaters in michelangelo's orginial painting are naked. This shows that in last judgement all people are equal

  • The river is the one crossed by those who are to be sent to hell and Charon is the ferryman who takes people to hell

  • Angels blowing trumpets. This refers to the angels in the book of revelation
• Why does the Anointing of the Sick take place?

  The anointing of the sick is a sacrament centred around the action of anointing a sick person with holy oil
• What happens during the Sacrament of the Annointing of the Sick?

  • The sacrament begins with the priest sprinkling the room and patient with holy water

  • The priest lays their hands on the head of the sick person, calling down the power and strength of the Holy Spirit

  • The priest blesses a small amount of oil (the oil of the sick), then he anoints the forehead and hands of the sick person with this oil

  • The sick person confesses their sins to the priest, who forgives them

  • Holy Communion is given to the sick person
• What is the Viaticum?


  The commendation of the dying is a short service centred around the dying person receiving their last Holy Communion
• What happens in the Sacrament of the Commendation of the Dead?

  • The dying person may hold a crucifix

  • The dying person may repeat the promises that were made at their baptism

  • A Bible reading and prayers are given, including a Liturgy of the Saints

  • The dying person receives their last Holy Communion

  • At the moment of death a prayer might be said which includes the words, 'go forth, Christian soul ... May you live in peace this day…’
• What are the 4 things that Happen in the Funeral Rite?

  - Reception of the Body

  - Funeral Mass

  - The Committal

  - At the Grave or In the Crematorium
• What happens in the Reception of the Body in the Funeral Rite?

  • The body is taken to church in its coffin

  • At the church doors, the coffin is sprinkled with holy water (the water that is blessed and used in baptism)

  • The coffin is placed beside the lit Paschal candle
• What is the symbolism of what happens in the Reception of the Body in the Funeral Rite?

  - This represents the deceased person being taken back to God

  
  

  - This is a reminder of baptism

  - The person was baptised into Christ's death and now joins in Christ's resurrection

  
  

  - This shows the light of the Risen Christ is shining on the person
• What happens in the Funeral Mass in the Funeral Rite?

  - The priest holds a Mass

  - This funeral Mass is often called a requiem, which is a Latin word meaning 'rest'

  
  

  - The readings of the Mass focus on the effects of Christ's resurrection

  - John 11:25-26 is often used as a reading, which includes the line l am the resurrection and the life... everyone who lives and believes in me will never die
• What is the symbolism of what happens in the Reception of the Body in the Funeral Rite?

  • The whole Mass is centred around praying that the deceased person is now resting in the presence of God in heaven, with all their sins forgiven

  • This reflects the belief that Christ's death and resurrection made life after death possible, by opening up heaven to those who accept God
• What happens in the Committal in the Funeral Rite?

  - Holy water is sprinkled over the coffin

  
  

  - The priest waves smoke from burning incense over the coffin

  
  

  - As the coffin is blessed, the congregation says or sings, 'May angels lead to paradise and with ... Lazarus ... may you enjoy eternal life'

  
  

  - A prayer is said for the mourners
• What is the symbolism of what happens in the Committal?

  - A reminder of baptism

  
  

  - God gave the dead person to the community for a time and not the family is returning the person to God

  - The rising smoke of the incense represents people's prayers being offered up to God on behalf of the deceased

  
  

  - This expresses the hope the deceased will spend eternity in heaven

  - The mention of Lazarus is a reference to the parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus

  
  

  • This reflects the hope they will meet the deceased person again in heaven
• What happens at the Grave or in the Crematorium in the Funeral Rite?

  - At the burial or cremation, the Lord's Prayer is said

  - The coffin is sprinkled with holy water

  - There are prayers for the person's eternal happiness with God