The fact there will be a General Judgement is emphasized throughout the Sacred Scriptures. The Prophets of the Old Law call it the "Day of the Lord" (Joel ii, 31; Ezekiel xiii, 5; Isaias ii, 12). Our Lord describes it in minute detail (Matt. xxiv, 27; xxv, 31); and His Apostles mention it frequently (Acts x, 42; xvii, 31; Rom. Ii, 5; xiv, 10; 1 Cor. iv, 5; 2 Cor. v, 10; 2 Tim. iv, 1; 2 Thess. i, 5; James v, 7).

The General Judgement of mankind will take place at the end of the world. The bodies of all men will be reunited with their souls and every man will come before God for a second and final judgement. In the Particular Judgement only the soul appears before God. In the General Judgement the body as well as the soul of each individual will receive the reward or punishment that it justly deserves. At that time all the words and works of men, even their most secret thoughts, will be made manifest to the world. At that time the Mercy and Justice of God will be vindicated before all the world. At that time will take place the great and eternal segregation of the good from the wicked; the former to hear the welcoming words of Our Lord, "Come, ye blessed of My Father, possess you the Kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world" (Matt. xxv, 34); and the latter those terrifying words that will ring in their ears throughout eternity, "Depart from Me, you cursed, into everlasting fire, which was prepared for the devil and his angels." (Matt. xxv, 41.)

What an awakening that will be on Judgement Day! How different the sentiments that will well up in the souls of the just and the unjust on that day of days! What remorse and regret will haunt the heart of the impious, the ungodly, the scoffer at religion. What joy and peace and holy happiness will possess the soul of the saved! Banished from God eternally, yet beholding for one brief moment the glory and rich reward of those who in life served God sincerely, the lost will lament: "These are they whom we had some time in derision and for a parable of reproach. We fools esteemed their life madness and their end without honour. Behold how they are numbered among the children of God and their lot is among the saints. We wearied ourselves in the way of iniquity and destruction, and have walked through hard ways, but the way of the Lord we have not known. What hath pride profited us or what advantage hath the boasting of riches brought us! All those things have passed away like a shadow, and as a ship that passeth through the waves whereof, when it is gone by, the trace cannot be found, nor the path of its keel in the waters; so we also have been able to show no mark of virtue, but are consumed in our wickedness. Such things as these said the sinners in Hell. ... But the just shall live forever-more, and their reward is with the Lord, and the care of them with the Most High. They shall receive a Kingdom of glory and a crown of beauty at the hand of the Lord." (Wisdom v, 5.)