John William Baier's _Compendium of Positive Theology_ Edited by C. F. W. Walther Published by: St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1877 [Translator's Preface. These are the major loci or topics of John William Baier's _Compendium of Positive Theology_ as edited by Dr. C. F. W. Walther. These should be seen as the broad outline of Baier-Walther's dogmatics, but please don't assume that this is all. Each locus usually includes copious explanatory notes and citations from patristics and other Lutheran dogmaticians. Chapter Ten On the last judgment and the end of the world. 1. Since the universal resurrection of the dead has this goal, that humans carry off either rewards or punishments, now further it is to be discussed about that judgment, by which rewards and punishments happen to humans. 2. That the future judgement is a certain solemn event is most clear from Scripture. Also it is certain, that on one and the same day at the same time both the last judgment and the resurrection of the dead will take place. However when that day will come, God clearly does not wish us to know beforehand. 3. Meanwhile there are many signs by which God shows the coming judgment in a certain way of knowing, which signs are for the most part divided into common signs, or such signs that are of such quality that they do not apply to one age, but they often reoccur, or they are continued throughout different ages, e.g., heresies, wars and similar public calamities, the security of humans; and special signs, which signs are proper exclusively for the quickly following judgment, though they are not equally perceived within earlier ages, e.g., the revealing of the anti-Christ, the singular eclipses of stars and their falling to the earth, and other things as they happen. 4. At the time of that special judgment itself a sign is seen, a sign called the Son of Man. However of what sort of person he will be is difficult to set forth. 5. The judge will be Christ himself, who in the assumed humanity, appearing gloriously and seated at the tribunal, conspicuously seen by all, with divine authority he will pass sentence. 6. The impulsive internal cause is the justice of God, partly rewarding, partly punishing. 7. The impulsive external cause is partly the merits of Christ apprehended by faith, partly sin, and especially their final impenitence, by which they ought to be judged. 8. However Christ will have partly assistants, partly servants of justice, holy humans and good angels. 9. And indeed the burden of the angels will be, not only to follow Christ to the coming judgment and by a vast loud sound to manifest his coming, but truly also to gather from all parts of the whole world humans, first those brought back to life from the dead, then those living being surprised, and then to separate the pious from the impious, the former to the right, the latter gathered to the left, and then to thrust the damned down to hell. 10. Truly sanctified humans will be witnesses and approvers of the judgment of Christ. 11. The object of the last judgment is double; the material object, which are the persons being judged, and the formal object, or that, according to which any persons comes to be judged. 12. All humans pertain to the material object, both pious and impious; both those whom that day finds living, and dead, those being raised before the judgment; however besides humans also evil angels are the objects of judgment. 13. The formal object on the part of the pious is faith, on the part of the impious unbelief, in so far as indeed both are known from works. 14. This judgment of Christ is usually distinguished in a judgement of examination and retribution. 15. The judgment of examination is said to be that by which all works, both hidden and manifest, are drawn forth into the light; especially they see those works which apply to themselves and their salvation or damnation and understand them thoroughly. 16. The judgment of retribution consists in the pronouncing of the sentence, which is agreeable to the cause, and through which some will be sent away into life, others into eternal damnation; from where at once the execution of the broad sentence takes place. 17. The goal of the final judgment is the glory of the wisdom, power, goodness and punishing justice of God. 18. The final judgement is able to be described as a solemn act of Christ appearing in the assumed human nature, by which he, by divine authority and power and according to divine justice, both rewarding and punishing justice, collects all humans and evil angels, by the mediating work of the good angles, to the tribunal and, having seen every examined and habitual cause by reason of final faith and of sins, especially finally unbelief, visible from their own works, he will assign and transfer the fullness of blessedness to the pious and faithful, but perfect misery to unbelieving and impious men and demons, with the approving of sanctified men, to the glory of wisdom, power, goodness, and his justice. 19. The judgment being completed, at once the consummation of the world follows, by which heaven and earth, and likewise other elements and bodies composed from elements, as far as their substance, by the medium of fire, will perish. -------------------------------------------------------------- This text was translated by Rev. Theodore Mayes and is copy- righted material, (c)1996, but is free for non-commercial use or distribution, and especially for use on Project Wittenberg. Please direct any comments or suggestions to: Rev. Robert E. Smith of the Walther Library at Concordia Theological Seminary. E-mail: smithre@mail.ctsfw.edu Surface Mail: 66000 N. Clinton St., Ft. Wayne, IN 46825 USA Phone: (260) 452-3149 Fax: (260) 452-2126 --------------------------------------------------------------