Johannes Maccovius, Theological Distinctions XX.
James Dodson
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Chapter XX
Of the Renewal of the World
I. The world will perish, not according to substance, but according to accidents.
Just as the world was thoroughly purged by water in the flood, so also it will be thoroughly purged by fire in the last judgment. 2 Peter 3:11–13.
II. That fire will not be ordinary, but extraordinary.
We have two kinds of fire in the Holy Scriptures: extraordinary fire, such as that fire by which the bush burned, or that which even consumed the stones in Elijah’s sacrifice; and ordinary fire, which we use in daily life. But this fire, by which all things will be dissolved, will be extraordinary, for it will act upon the elements.
III. Something is said to perish not only when the substance perishes, but also when the accidents perish.
This is clear both from other things and from that verse: “The form perishes in wine, and the wine is corrupted,” etc.
IV. To create something is said not—
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—only according to substance, but also according to accidents.
Thus Psalm 51: “Create in me a clean heart, O Lord.” And hence also it is that the regenerate are called a new creature.
V. The judgment of God is either of condemnation or of absolution.
When it is said concerning believers that they will not come into judgment, then the judgment of condemnation is meant. In this way also that text in Psalm 143 is to be understood: “Lord, enter not into judgment with Thy servant.”
VI. One judgment is universal; another particular.
The universal judgment will be the last. The particular judgment occurs daily in the departure of the soul from the body.
VII. All souls return to God, either to the Judge or to the Father.
Ecclesiastes 12:9. Socinus wished to conclude from this that the souls of the wicked will not rise again, because all souls are to return to God. But the consequence is nothing: those return as to the Judge; these, as to the Father.
VIII. Christ will judge, not excluding the Father or the Holy Ghost.
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The Socinians also press this, that the Father will not judge. John 5: “The Father judgeth no man.” Response. They take this wrongly if they understand it absolutely. For the Father judges no one apart from the Son; otherwise it is clear that He Himself judges. Romans 2:16: “In that day when God shall judge the secrets of men according to my Gospel by Jesus Christ.”
IX. Christ will judge according to both natures, divine and human.
According to the divine nature, by knowing sins, inflicting punishments, and conferring life; according to the human nature, by pronouncing sentence and approving the judgments of the divine sentence. In such a way even we are said to judge. 1 Corinthians 6:8.
X. This judgment will not be carried out only in some portion of the earth, but also over the whole earth and in the air.
The Papists want it to be in the valley of Jehoshaphat, and this from Joel 3:2. But this is inept, for there the matter concerns a particular judgment on this earth, concerning the nations which were to be brought for punishment. As to the latter point, this has been sufficiently proved by us in the commonplaces.
XI. This judgment will be carried out most swiftly.
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There are some who think it will last for six thousand years, but ineptly; for it will be carried out in a moment, as is clear from those whom the day of the Lord will find alive, for in a moment they will be changed and caught up to meet Him.
XII. The living and the dead are said to be judged.
The sense here is not that the dead will be judged while dead, but that those who had been dead, after they have risen again, will be judged. Thus “the living” here are those who have not died. Socinus says that to judge the dead is to cause the dead to remain in death, so that they will not rise again; and therefore this will be their punishment, namely, that they must remain in death. But this is inept. The contrary is found in John 5:28.
XIII. The future judgment will be according to the law, not according to the Gospel.
For by the law is the knowledge of sin. Yet there are some who think that judgment will be from the Gospel and according to the Gospel, from Romans 2, where it is said that God will judge according to the Gospel. Response. “Gospel” there signifies nothing other than Paul’s announcement and proclamation. But Paul preached not only the doctrine of the Gospel, but also that of the law.
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XIV. Some reprobates will be justified in part.
That is, they will be absolved from punishment, not indeed absolutely, for all reprobates are to be condemned, but as to degree. Accordingly, the condition of the Sodomites is said to be more tolerable than theirs in the day of judgment. Matthew 11.