The Last Judgment

The Last Judgment — also called the General Judgment — is God's definitive judgment of all humanity at the end of time. Preceded by the resurrection of the dead, it will coincide with the Second Coming of Christ and reveal the full meaning of salvation history (CCC 677–679, 1038).

Particular vs. General Judgment

At the moment of death, each soul faces the particular judgment — a personal and immediate reckoning before God. The Last Judgment is distinct: universal and public, made before all of creation. The particular judgment determines each soul's eternal destiny; the Last Judgment makes that destiny manifest before all (CCC 1021–1022, 1038–1041).

What Will Be Revealed

At the Last Judgment, the truth about every human life will be disclosed — not only actions but intentions, not only deeds but the secrets of every heart. God's justice and mercy will be vindicated before all creation (CCC 1039–1040).

The Criterion of Judgment

"Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me" (Matthew 25:40). Love shown or withheld to those in need was love shown or withheld to Christ himself (CCC 1038).

Frequently Asked Questions

If we are already judged at death, why is there a Last Judgment? The particular judgment determines the individual's destiny; the Last Judgment has a cosmic dimension — manifesting God's justice in the full context of history, before the entire community of creation (CCC 1038–1041).