“THE DEPRIVATION OF THE KINGDOM OF GOD” ACCORDING TO SAINT JOHN CHRYSOSTOM IS A TORMENT GREATER THAN GEHENNA.

It is not for us to define the boundaries between the unutterable mercy of God and His justice or righteousness. We know that the Lord "WILL HAVE ALL MEN TO BE SAVED, AND TO COME UNTO THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE TRUTH" [1 Timothy 2:4]; but man is capable, through his own evil will, OF REJECTING THE MERCY OF GOD AND THE MEANS OF SALVATION. Saint John Chrysostom, in interpreting the depiction of the Last Judgment, remarks: "When He [the Lord spoke about the Kingdom, after saying, "COME, YE BLESSED OF MY FATHER, INHERIT THE KINGDOM."  He added: which "IS PREPARED FOR YOU FROM THE FOUNDATION OF THE WORLD" [Matthew 25:34]; but when speaking about the fire, He did not speak thus, but He added: which "IS PREPARED FOR THE DEVIL AND HIS ANGELS" [Matthew 25:41]. For I have prepared for you a Kingdom, but the fire I have prepared NOT for you but for THE DEVIL AND HIS ANGELS. But since YOU HAVE CAST YOUR OWN SELVES INTO THE FIRE. THEREFORE ACCUSE YOURSELF FOR THIS" [Homily 70 on Matthew].

We have no right to understand the words of the Lord only conditionally, as a threat or a certain pedagogical means applied by the Savior. If we understand it this way we err, since the Savior DOES NOT instill in us any such understanding, and we subject ourselves to God’s wrath according to the word of the Psalmist: "Why hath the ungodly one provoked God? For he hath said in his heart: He will not make enquiry" [Psalms 9:34].

Moreover, the very concept of "anger in relation to God is conditional and anthropomorphic, as we learn from the teaching of Saint Anthony the Great, who says: "GOD IS GOOD, DISPASSIONATE AND IMMUTABLE. Now someone who thinks it reasonable and true to affirm that God DOES NOT CHANGE, may well ask how, in that case, it is possible to speak of God as rejoicing over those who are good and showing mercy to those who honor Him, while turning away from the wicked and being angry with sinners. To this it must be answered that God NEITHER REJOICES NOR GROWS ANGRY, for to rejoice and to be offended ARE PASSIONS; nor He won over by the gifts of those who honor Him, for tha would mean He is swayed by pleasure… He is good, and He only bestows blessings and never does harm, REMAINING ALWAYS THE SAME. We men, on, the other hand, if we remain good through resembling God, ARE UNITED WITH HIM; but IF WE BECOME EVIL THROUGH RESEMBLING GOD, WE ARE SEPARATED FROM HIM. By LIVING HOLINESS, WE CLEAVE TO GOD; BUT BY BECOMING WICKED WE MAKE HIM OUR ENEMY. IT IS NOT THAT HE GROWS ANGRY WITH US IN AN ARBITRARY WAY, BUT IT IS OUR OWN SINS THAT PREVENT GOD FROM SHINING WITHIN US, AND EXPOSE US TO THE DEMONS WHO PUNISH US. And if through prayer and acts of compassion we gain release from our sins, this does not mean that we have won God over and made Him change, but THAT THROUGH OUR ACTIONS AND OUR TURNING TO GOD WE HAVE CURED OUR WICKEDNESS AND SO ONCE MORE HAVE ENJOYMENT OF GOD’S GOODNESS. Thus to say that God turns away from the wicked is like saying that the sun hides itself from the blind." [Philokalia, vol. 1, page 352].

Worthy of attention likewise is the simple comment in this regard of Saint Theophan the Recluse: "The righteous will go into Eternal Life, but the satanized into Eternal torments, in communion with demons. Will these torments end? If Satanism and becoming like Satan should end, then the torments also can end. But is there an end to Satanism and becoming like Satan? We will behold beyond and see this then. But until then we shall believe THAT JUST AS ETERNAL LIFE WILL HAVE NO END, SO ALSO THE ETERNAL TORMENT THAT THREATENS SINNERS WILL HAVE NO END. No conjecture can show the possibility of the end of Satanism. What did Satan not see after the fall? How much of the powers of God were revealed! How he himself was struck by the power of the Lord’s Cross! How up to now all his cunningness and malice are defeated by this power! But still he is incorrigible, he constantly opposes; and the farther he goes, the more stubborn he becomes. NO, THERE IS NO HOPE AT ALL FROM HIM TO BE CORRECTED! And if there is no hope for him, THEN THERE IS NO HOPE EITHER FOR MEN WHO BECOME SATANIZED BY HIS INFLUENCE. THIS MEANS THAT THERE MUST HELL WITH ETERNAL TORMENTS."

The writings of the holy Christian ascetics indicate that the higher one’s moral awareness is raised,the more acute become the feeling of moral responsibility, THE FEAR OF OFFENDING GOD, and the awareness of the unavoidability of punishment of deviating from the Commandment of God. But to just the same degree does hope in God’s mercy grow. TO HOPE IN IT AND ASK FOR IT FROM THE LORD IS FOR EACH OF US A DUTY AND A CONSOLATION. [Source: Orthodox Dogmatic Theology]

PRAYER OF SAINT EPHRAIM

Lord and Master of my life, cast away
from me the spirit of laziness, idle
curiosity, love of power and vain talk.

But grant me, Your servant, the spirit of
moderation, humility, patience and love.

Yes, Lord and King, grant me to see my
own faults and not to judge my brothers
and sisters.

For You are Blessed forever. Amen.

________
"Glory Be To GOD
For
All Things!"
– Saint John Chrysostomos
+ + +
With sincere agape in His Divine and Glorious Diakonia [Ministry],
The sinner and unworthy servant of God
+ Father George