A. Introduction:
1. It is remarkable that the Confession devotes only one article to the doctrine of the last things. Most probably, if the Confession were written in our day, when there is much emphasis on eschatology, more articles would be written on this subject. Yet all the important elements are briefly mentioned.
2. The article is one of the most beautiful of all the confession, no doubt due in large part to the fact that it was written during a time of severe persecution.
B. The article speaks first of all of Christ’s return.
1. The elements in this return are:
a. The time of Christ’s return is appointed by God but unknown to His creatures.
b. It is only when the number of the elect is complete that the Lord returns.
c. He will come visibly and corporally, as He ascended.
d. He will come with great glory and majesty.
e. He will come as Judge.
2. This return of the Lord is ever the object of the hope of the faithful. That hope no doubt burns with increasing intensity as the end draws near.
C. Secondly, the article speaks of the judgment.
1. The return of Christ in judgement is accompanied by:
a. The destruction of the old creation.
b. The resurrection of the bodies of all that died when the souls of men shall be joined and united with their proper bodies.
c. The change of those who are still living at the return of Christ, a change from corruption to incorruption which shall not take place through death.
2. The judgment itself is emphasized.
a. All men shall be judged according to their works; “all men shall give an account of every idle word they have spoken, which the world only counts amusement and jest: and then the secrets and hypocrisies of men shall be disclosed and laid open before all.”
b. Rather startlingly, the books are here called men’s consciences. Evidently the idea is that all men shall be judged in their consciences; i.e., all men shall be subjectively convinced of the justice of God’s judgment.
c. The righteous shall be judged in their relation to Christ. Their cause, as the cause of Christ shall be perfectly vindicated because they were mocked and scorned on earth. They look forward to the judgement therefore with hope.
D. Finally, the article speaks of rewards and punishments.
1. The wicked, in harmony with their base godlessness, shall be burned in everlasting fire in the sight of the righteous and the angels. Their judgement shall be most terrible.
2. The reward of the righteous shall be exceedingly glorious. They shall be crowned with glory and honor; Christ will confess their names before His Father; all tears shall be wiped away from their eyes; their cause shall be known as the cause of the Son of God; they shall possess glory such as never entered into the heart of man to conceive. They therefore look forward to this day with a most ardent desire to enjoy the perfect fulfillment of all the promises of their God.
E. Beautifully, the confession ends with the prayer in the hearts and on the lips of the faithful: “Even so, come, Lord Jesus!”