CHRIST JESUS AS JUDGE OF THE DEAD.
Project Gutenberg EPUB3 edition
Doane, T. W. (Thomas William)
According to Christian dogma, "God the Father" is not to be the judge at the last day, but this very important office is to be held by "God the Son." This is taught by the writer of "The Gospel according to St. John"—whoever he may have been—when he says:
"For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son."[244:1]
Paul also, in his "Epistle to the Romans" (or some other person who has interpolated the passage), tells us that:
"In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men," this judgment shall be done "by Jesus Christ," his son.[244:2]
Again, in his "Epistle to Timothy,"[244:3] he says:
"The Lord Jesus Christ shall judge the quick and the dead, at his appearing and his kingdom."[244:4]
The writer of the "Gospel according to St. Matthew," also describes Christ Jesus as judge at the last day.[244:5]
Now, the question arises, is this doctrine original with Christianity? To this we must answer no. It was taught, for ages before the time of Christ Jesus or Christianity, that the Supreme Being—whether "Brahmá," "Zeruâné Akeréné," "Jupiter," or "Yahweh,"[244:6]—was not to be the judge at the last day, but that their sons were to hold this position.
The sectarians of Buddha taught that he (who was the Son of God (Brahmá) and the Holy Virgin Maya), is to be the judge of the dead.[244:7]
According to the religion of the Hindoos, Crishna (who was the Son of God, and the Holy Virgin Devaki), is to be the judge at the last day.[245:1] And Yama is the god of the departed spirits, and the judge of the dead, according to the Vedas.[245:2]
Osiris, the Egyptian "Saviour" and son of the "Immaculate Virgin" Neith or Nout, was believed by the ancient Egyptians to be the judge of the dead.[245:3] He is represented on Egyptian monuments, seated on his throne of judgment, bearing a staff, and carrying the crux ansata, or cross with a handle.[245:4] St. Andrew's cross is upon his breast. His throne is in checkers, to denote the good and evil over which he presides, or to indicate the good and evil who appear before him as the judge.[245:5]
Among the many hieroglyphic titles which accompany his figure in these sculptures, and in many other places on the walls of temples and tombs, are "Lord of Life," "The Eternal Ruler," "Manifester of Good," "Revealer of Truth," "Full of Goodness and Truth," &c.[245:6]
Mr. Bonwick, speaking of the Egyptian belief in the last judgment, says:
"A perusal of the twenty-fifth chapter of Matthew will prepare the reader for the investigation of the Egyptian notion of the last judgment."[245:7]
Prof. Carpenter, referring to the Egyptian Bible—which is by far the most ancient of all holy books[245:8]—says:
"In the 'Book of the Dead,' there are used the very phrases we find in the New Testament, in connection with the day of judgment."[245:9]
According to the religion of the Persians, it is Ormuzd, "The First Born of the Eternal One," who is judge of the dead. He had the title of "The All-Seeing," and "The Just Judge."[245:10]
Zeruâné Akeréné is the name of him who corresponds to "God the Father" among other nations. He was the "One Supreme essence," the "Invisible and Incomprehensible."[245:11]
Among the ancient Greeks, it was Aeacus—Son of the Most High God—who was to be judge of the dead.[245:12]
The Christian Emperor Constantine, in his oration to the clergy, speaking of the ancient poets of Greece, says:
"They affirm that men who are the sons of the gods, do judge departed souls."[246:1]
Strange as it may seem, "there are no examples of Christ Jesus conceived as judge, or the last judgment, in the early art of Christianity."[246:2]
The author from whom we quote the above, says, "It would be difficult to define the cause of this, though many may be conjectured."[246:3]
Would it be unreasonable to "conjecture" that the early Christians did not teach this doctrine, but that it was imbibed, in after years, with many other heathen ideas?