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64 Józef Niewiadomski end emphasizes conscious reconciliation over an apocalyptic separation into two, this hope has to create images that in turn motivate us towards a forgiving love and strengthen faith in the redefinition of judgment through the event of the cross. The ancient apocalyptic image of the final judgment now is to be purified in light of the thoughts above.20 In the end, reflection gives way to narration. In pedagogical terms, the greatest educational effect is still achieved by way of a narration that creates meaning. “THE LAST JUDGMENT” The Church believes in the resurrection of the dead. What does this mean concretely? Resurrection of the dead at first is the dream of the fulfillment of human desires as well as resentments. What does that mean? It is the chance, so important to all of us and often referred to on epitaphs, to encounter those who have been good to us, to meet with father and mother and all our loved ones. Resurrection of the dead is also the chance to encounter all of those who have done us harm, those we have cursed and on whom we wish vengeance. This, however, is where those human desires supported by the apocalyptic logic stop. But is resurrection of the dead not also a chance to encounter all those whom I have harmed? All those whom I have accused and all those whose space of life I have destroyed will also be confronted with me. Whenever the classic image of the Last Judgment spoke about a clear understanding of good and evil deeds, this clarity will in the first place relate to the relationship of victim and perpetrator within each individual human being. Let me put it in stark terms: when Hitler and his killers will be confronted with the victims of Auschwitz, and Stalin with those of the Gulag Archipelago, and the victims of Hiroshima with all the politicians and scientists who have caused their deaths; when we, the inhabitants of the developed world, will look the millions of children of the world’s poorest countries straight in the eyes; and when, finally, the unborn or those cheated out of their right to live will demand their right, this encounter becomes all the more unbearable, if the extent to which the perpetrators themselves were nothing but victims is also laid bare. What gigantesque scenario of excuses and new accusations is there being realized? There are two sides to this image. All those who have infringed my rights, who have done me wrong, whose victim I have become, stand before me as perpetrators. As their victim I will be able to adjudicate their righteousness. It is up to me. What will I demand? I will probably insist on my rights and demand retribution and vengeance. “Denial of the Apocalypse” versus “Fascination with the Final Days” 65 At the same time, however, I will be confronted with all the victims of my conduct, my lies, my accusations. They will be entitled to the same judgment in my regard. They too will likely insist on their rights and demand retribution and vengeance. Yet I will profess my innocence by accusing others and passing the retribution and vengeance intended for me on to them. This could indeed become one true dies irae, a day of wrath in the “best” of biblical traditions, if everything depended solely on us on that day and if this judgment was to be nothing more than our self-judgment. Without God’s interference , humans would mutually condemn one another to the hell of accusation, denial, and lies. Everyone would insist on victim status, demand retribution, and pass the retribution facing him or her on to others. But there will be yet another confrontation on that day of wrath that is of decisive importance, namely, the confrontation with the unfathomable goodness of God and His readiness to forgive. This goodness, revealed in the history of the Bible and culminating in the fate of Jesus Christ, will be decisive—this, at least, is what Christians hope for. The scenario of the Last Judgment includes facing the apocalyptic judge of the world. In order to gain a systematic perspective on that, we will have to view the image of two camps from Matthew 25 together with the image of the lamb who was slaughtered from the Book of the Revelation of John.21 In this context we have to carefully account for Christ’s divine and...

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