WHAT THE CATECHISM SAYS.
By H. W.
The following questions and answers are taken from “The Larger Catechism,” prepared by William Nast, with the “Official Sanction of the General Conference” of the Methodist Episcopal Church, of the German Edition. The work is written also in English, published by the “Book Concern” of the M. E. church, and highly recommended to the denomination by the official papers. 349. Will, then, the wicked be raised up again as well as the righteous? Yes, verily; for there shall be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and the unjust. 350. When shall the dead arise? When Jesus, who was seen of his disciples ascending into heaven, shall again be seen by all eyes, descending from heaven in glory to complete his work of redemption. 351. Has God revealed to us in his word the day of the second coming of Christ? No; although various signs will precede his second advent, yet his day will come as a thief in the night. 352. Who will rise from the dead first? 353. But how will it be with those who shall then be alive? They shall not die, but their bodies shall be changed. 354. What will take place after the resurrection of the dead? The last and general Judgment upon all apostate angels and unrenewed men by the Lord Jesus Christ, who having come in the flesh to save the world, is ordained by the Father to judge the same. 355. Shall they that are Christ’s appear with the ungodly before the bar of God? No; at their glorious resurrection, which precedes that of the wicked, they will be acknowledged by their Lord as his own, and themselves take a part in the Judgment. 356. Whom will the Lord use as ministers to execute judgment? 361. What will be the closing act of the Judgment? God will destroy with fire the world, polluted by the fall of men and angels, and create a new earth and a new heaven. The author then quotes Peter, and John in Revelation, to show that the renewed earth will become “the eternal abode of redeemed and glorified humanity.” Following each answer as given above are the scriptures from which the answers are deduced, but I have omitted them. H. W.