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Death, Judgment, Heaven, and Hell

Death, Judgment, Heaven, and Hell

Eschatology14 days~15 min a day

A 14-day introduction to the Church’s teaching on the last things: death, particular judgment, heaven, the beatific vision, purgatory, prayer for the departed, hell, bodily resurrection, the Last Judgment, and renewed creation. The learning destination is a clear understanding that strengthens Christian hope and responsible daily living. Each day includes Scripture, a substantial teaching, reflection, prayer, one practical response, a takeaway, and a quiz, with approximately 20 minutes for reading and prayer. Sources include Scripture, the Catechism, Vatican II’s Lumen Gentium 48–50 and Gaudium et Spes 18 and 39, Benedictus Deus (DS 1000–1002), Trent’s Session XXV decree on purgatory, doctrinal and papal teaching, Fathers and Doctors of the Church, and a carefully delimited Reformed comparison.

Day 1 is open to everyone. A free account unlocks every day, saves your progress and lets you open any lesson at your own pace.

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Eternal RestDyingHeavenHoly Souls in PurgatoryLast Judgment

What the journey covers

  1. 1
    Why Think About the Last Things? about 20 min
  2. 2
    Death in the Company of Christ about 20 min
  3. 3
    The Person Is Not Erased about 20 min
  4. 4
    A Life Brought Before Christ about 20 min
  5. 5
    Heaven Means Being with God about 20 min
  6. 6
    Seeing God as He Is about 20 min
  7. 7
    Purification on the Way to Heaven about 20 min
Show all 14 days
  1. 8
    Love Continues to Pray about 20 min
  2. 9
    The Seriousness of Final Separation about 20 min
  3. 10
    Mercy Calls Us to Turn and Live about 20 min
  4. 11
    The Body Will Rise about 20 min
  5. 12
    When the Truth of History Is Revealed about 20 min
  6. 13
    A Creation Made New about 20 min
  7. 14
    Keep the Lamp of Faith Alight about 20 min

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One short lesson a day is the suggested pace, but you can open any day whenever you like. Your account keeps your place.

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Artwork: Last Judgment triptych painted by Hans Memling between 1467 and 1471, and it is housed in the National Museum in Gdańsk, Poland.

SOURCES

  • Scripture: Holy Bible — Douay-Rheims 1899 American Edition, Day 1: Hebrews 9:27; Day 2: John 11:25-26; Day 3: Philippians 1:23; Day 4: 2 Corinthians 5:10; Day 5: John 14:2-3; Day 6: 1 John 3:2; Day 7: 1 Corinthians 3:13-15; Day 8: 2 Maccabees 12:46; Day 9: Matthew 25:46; Day 10: Ezekiel 33:11; Day 11: 1 Corinthians 15:42-44; Day 12: John 5:28-29; Day 13: Revelation 21:3-4; Day 14: Luke 12:35-36 (Exact book, chapter, and verse are given in each day’s Scripture field.) · 1899
  • Catechism: Catechism of the Catholic Church, Day 1: CCC 988, 1007, 1013, 1041; Day 2: CCC 1006, 1008, 1009, 1010; Day 3: CCC 362, 365, 366, 1013; Day 4: CCC 1021, 1022, 1039; Day 5: CCC 1023, 1024, 1025, 1027; Day 6: CCC 1023, 1028; Day 7: CCC 1030, 1031; Day 8: CCC 1032; Day 9: CCC 1033, 1034, 1035, 1036; Day 10: CCC 1037, 1857, 1858, 1859; Day 11: CCC 366, 990; Day 12: CCC 1038, 1039, 1040, 1041; Day 13: CCC 1042, 1043, 1044, 1048, 1049; Day 14: CCC 1014, 1020 (Paragraph numbers are identified in the daily lessons and source locators.) · Catholic Church
  • Magisterium: Lumen Gentium, Day 1: 48; Day 8: 50; Day 14: 48 (Specific sections and locators are listed in the journey’s citations.) · Second Vatican Council · 1964
  • Magisterium: Gaudium et Spes, Day 2: 18; Day 13: 39 (Specific sections and locators are listed in the journey’s citations.) · Second Vatican Council · 1965
  • Magisterium: Letter on Certain Questions Concerning Eschatology, Day 3: points 1–3; Day 9: point 7; Day 11: points 1–2 (Specific sections and locators are listed in the journey’s citations.) · Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith · 1979
  • Encyclical: Spe Salvi, Day 5: 12; Day 7: 47; theological explanation distinguished from defined doctrine; Day 8: 48; Day 10: 45 (Specific sections and locators are listed in the journey’s citations.) · Pope Benedict XVI · 2007
  • Magisterium: Benedictus Deus, Day 4: DS 1000–1002; Day 6: DS 1000–1001; Day 12: DS 1000–1002 (Specific sections and locators are listed in the journey’s citations.) · Pope Benedict XII · 1336
  • Magisterium: Decree Concerning Purgatory, Session XXV, Day 7: Session XXV, Decree Concerning Purgatory (Specific sections and locators are listed in the journey’s citations.) · Council of Trent · 1563
  • Church Father: The City of God, Book XXII, Day 5: XXII.30 (Specific sections and locators are listed in the journey’s citations.) · Saint Augustine
  • Source: Summa Theologiae, I–II, Question 3, Day 6: I–II, question 3, article 8 (Specific sections and locators are listed in the journey’s citations.) · Saint Thomas Aquinas
  • Church Father: An Exposition of the Orthodox Faith, Book IV, Day 11: IV.27 (Specific sections and locators are listed in the journey’s citations.) · Saint John of Damascus
  • Source: Westminster Confession of Faith, Day 3: 32.1; comparison limited to conscious survival after death (Specific sections and locators are listed in the journey’s citations.) · Westminster Assembly
  • Source: Code of Canon Law, Canons 1166–1190, Day 14: 1176 §§1–2 (Specific sections and locators are listed in the journey’s citations.) · Catholic Church · 1983
  • Church Father: Confessions, Book IX, Day 8: IX.11.27 (Specific sections and locators are listed in the journey’s citations.) · Saint Augustine