Page:Hermetic and Alchemical Writings of Paracelsus Vol I (IA cu31924092287121).djvu/192

 Here it is only necessary to write down that which we have not mentioned elsewhere.

But at last, at the end of all earthly things, will be brought about the final separation, in the third generation, on that great day whereon the Son of God shall come in His majesty and glory, and before Him shall be borne, not swords, chains, diadems, sceptres, and treasures, or other royal jewels, with which princes, kings, and Caesars bear themselves pompously, but His Cross, and crown of thorns, and nails piercing His hands and feet, and the spear with which His side was wounded, and the reed and sponge on which they stretched out that which they gave Him to drink, and the rods with which He was scourged and beaten. No crowd of horsemen with far sounding drums shall accompany Him; but the four trumpets shall be blown by the angels towards the four parts of the earth, and at their tremendous sound all who are among the living shall be slain, and these together with the buried dead shall immediately rise again.

For a voice shall be heard, "Rise, ye dead, and come to judgment!" Hereupon the Twelve Apostles shall sit down on thrones prepared from the clouds, and shall judge the twelve families of Israel. In that place the Holy Angels shall separate the bad from the good, the cursed from the blessed, the goats from the sheep. Then the cursed shall be thrown down like stones and like lead; but the blessed shall fly like eagles. Then from the tribunal of God shall issue forth a voice to those standing on the left hand, "Go away, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared from eternity for Satan and the devils. For I was hungry and you did not feed Me; I was thirsty and you gave Me no drink; I was sick, and a prisoner, and naked, but you did not visit Me, did not set Me free, did not clothe Me. In a word, you were not touched with pity for Me. Therefore, here you shall meet with no pity!" Contrariwise to those standing on the right side it shall say thus: "Come, ye blessed and elect, into the Kingdom of My Father, which has from the beginning been prepared for you and for all the angels. For I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave me to drink; I was a stranger and you received Me; I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me. So will I receive you also into My Father's house, in which are the many mansions of the saints. You pitied Me; and so I will pity you!"

When all these things are finished and done, all the elementary subjects shall return to the first matter of the elements, and shall be turned about for eternity, yet never consumed. On the contrary, all sacramental creatures shall return to the primal matter of the sacraments, that is, they shall be glorified, and in eternal joy they shall worship God their Creator, from universe to universe, from eternity to eternity. Amen.