He will come again in glory
to judge the living and the dead
and his kingdom will have no end.
Throughout the New Testament, including the Gospels, we have references to Our Lord return at the end of time. Our Lord himself says it indirectly – when the son of man will come with the angels of his power – and most obviously St Paul reminds the Corinthians that at Mass they are proclaiming the Lord’s death and professing his resurrection until he comes. We have a rephrasing after the consecration: When we eat this bread….
Two things will occur at the end of time: the Lord will act as a judge, and his kingdom will be finally inaugurated and will last for ever.
Both the living at that moment, and the dead who will rise then, will be judged.
These phrases bring to an end the Creed’s description of the Lord’s mission and the next part moves on to the Holy Spirit.
