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Objection 1: It would seem that the resurrection will not happen
suddenly but by degrees. For the resurrection of the dead is foretold
(Ezech. 37:7,8) where it is written: "The bones came
together . . . and I saw and behold the sinews and the flesh came up
upon them, and the skin was stretched out over them, but there was no
spirit in them." Therefore the restoration of the bodies will precede
in time their reunion with the souls, and thus the resurrection will
not be sudden.
Objection 2: Further, a thing does not happen suddenly if it
require several actions following one another. Now the resurrection
requires several actions following one another, namely the gathering of
the ashes, the refashioning of the body, the infusion of the soul.
Therefore the resurrection will not be sudden.
Objection 3: Further, all sound is measured by time. Now the
sound of the trumpet will be the cause of the resurrection, as stated
above (Question 76, Article 2). Therefore the resurrection
will take time and will not happen suddenly.
Objection 4: Further, no local movement can be sudden as stated in
De Sensu et Sensato vii. Now the resurrection requires local
movement in the gathering of the ashes. Therefore it will not happen
suddenly.
On the contrary, It is written (1 Cor. 15:51,52): "We
shall all indeed rise again . . . in a moment, in the twinkling of
an eye." Therefore the resurrection will be sudden.
Further, infinite power works suddenly. But the Damascene says
(De Fide Orth. iv): "Thou shalt believe in the resurrection to
be wrought by the power of God," and it is evident that this is
infinite. Therefore the resurrection will be sudden.
I answer that, At the resurrection something will be done by the
ministry of the angels, and something immediately by the power of
God, as stated above (Question 76, Article 3). Accordingly
that which is done by the ministry of the angels, will not be
instantaneous, if by instant we mean an indivisible point of time, but
it will be instantaneous if by instant we mean an imperceptible time.
But that which will be done immediately by God's power will happen
suddenly, namely at the end of the time wherein the work of the angels
will be done, because the higher power brings the lower to perfection.
Reply to Objection 1: Ezechiel spoke, like Moses to a rough
people, and therefore, just as Moses divided the works of the six
days into days, in order that the uncultured people might be able to
understand, although all things were made together according to
Augustine (Gen. ad lit. iv), so Ezechiel expressed the various
things that will happen in the resurrection, although they will all
happen together in an instant.
Reply to Objection 2: Although these actions follow one another in
nature, they are all together in time: because either they are
together in the same instant, or one is in the instant that terminates
the other.
Objection 3: The same would seem to apply to that sound as to the
forms of the sacraments, namely that the sound will produce its effect
in its last instant.
Reply to Objection 4: The gathering of the ashes which cannot be
without local movement will be done by the ministry of the angels.
Hence it will be in time though imperceptible on account of the
facility of operation which is competent to the angels.
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