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Objection 1: It would seem that the judgment will not take place in
the valley of Josaphat or in the surrounding locality. For at least
it will be necessary for those to be judged to stand on the ground, and
those alone to be raised aloft whose business it will be to judge. But
the whole land of promise would not be able to contain the multitude of
those who are to be judged. Therefore it is impossible for the
judgment to take place in the neighborhood of that valley.
Objection 2: Further, to Christ in His human form judgment is
given that He may judge justly, since He was judged unjustly in the
court of Pilate, and bore the sentence of an unjust judgment on
Golgotha. Therefore these places would be more suitably appointed for
the judgment.
Objection 3: Further, clouds result from the exhalation of vapors.
But then there will be no evaporation or exhalation. Therefore it
will be impossible for the just to be "taken up . . . in the clouds
to meet Christ, into the air": and consequently it will be necessary
for both good and wicked to be on the earth, so that a much larger
place than this valley will be required.
On the contrary, It is written (Joel 3:2): "I will gather
together all nations and will bring them down into the valley of
Josaphat, and I will plead with them there."
Further, it is written (Acts 1:11): "(This Jesus) . .
. shall so come as you have seen Him going into heaven." Now He
ascended into heaven from Mount Olivet which overlooks the valley of
Josaphat. Therefore He will come to judge in the neighborhood of
that place.
I answer that, We cannot know with any great certainty the manner in
which this judgment will take place, nor how men will gather together
to the place of judgment; but it may be gathered from Scripture that
in all probability He will descend in the neighborhood of Mount
Olivet, even as He ascended from there, so as to show that He who
descends is the same as He who ascended.
Reply to Objection 1: A great multitude can be enclosed in a small
space. And all that is required is that in the neighborhood of that
locality there be a space, however great, to contain the multitude of
those who are to be judged, provided that Christ can be seen thence
since being raised in the air, and shining with exceeding glory, He
will be visible from a great distance.
Reply to Objection 2: Although through being sentenced unjustly
Christ merited His judiciary power, He will not judge with the
appearance of infirmity wherein He was judged unjustly, but under the
appearance of glory wherein He ascended to the Father. Hence the
place of His ascension is more suitable to the judgment than the place
where He was condemned.
Reply to Objection 3: In the opinion of some the name of clouds is
here given to certain condensations of the light shining from the bodies
of the saints, and not to evaporations from earth and water. Or we
may say that those clouds will be produced by Divine power in order to
show the parallel between His coming to judge and His ascension; so
that He Who ascended in a cloud may come to judgment in a cloud.
Again the cloud on account of its refreshing influence indicates the
mercy of the Judge.
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