Signs Preceding General Resurrection and Judgement

When our Lord comes in glory to judge the world at theend of time, certain signs shall herald his coming. These signs will be such as to forewarn all people and bring them into reverentsubjection to God’s will if they will heed. Just what the signs of Christ’s second coming will be, we do not know. Those signs mentioned in scripture refer not only to his coming to judge mankind, but to his coming continually to visit his Church; some ofthem refer to the coming of divine justice upon unfaithful Jerusalem.

The actual darkening of the sun and moon may precedethe coming of the Judge, and may stir sinners to fear and repentance. But it is not likely that the Day of Judgment will be dark. Our Lord will come in glory as scripture says (Isa. 30:26):“The light of the moon shall be as the light of the sun, andthe light of the sun shall be sevenfold.”

“The virtues of heaven shall be moved,” says scripture, referring to the day of general judgment (Matt. 24:29).This prediction probably refers to the angels, either in general,or to the particular order of angels called Virtues. Theend of time means a change in the temporal assignment of angels who have charge of earthly things.