The Judgment of God and the reception of God’s presence by the human soul

 

The Judgment of God and the reception of God’s presence by the human soul

While describing the Eastern Orthodox view of Judgement, eastern Presbyter George Metallinos wrote that:

“Paradise and hell are not two different places. (This version is an idolatrous concept.) They signify two different situations (ways), which originate from the same uncreated source, and are perceived by man as two, different experiences. Or, more precisely, they are the same experience, except that they are perceived differently by man, depending on man's internal state. This experience is: the sight of Christ inside the uncreated light of His divinity, of His "glory". From the moment of His Second Coming, through to all eternity, all people will be seeing Christ in His uncreated light. That is when "those who worked good deeds in their lifetime will go towards the resurrection of their life, while those who worked evil in their lifetime will go towards the resurrection of judgment" (John 5, 29). In the presence of Christ, mankind will be separated ("sheep" and "goats", to His right and His left). In other words, they will be discerned in two separate groups: those who will be looking upon Christ as paradise (the "exceeding good, the radiant") and those who will be looking upon Christ as hell ("the all- consuming fire", Hebrews 12,29). Paradise and hell are the same reality. This is what is depicted in the portrayal of the Second Coming. From Christ a river flows forth: it is radiant like a golden light at the upper end of it, where the saints are. At its lower end, the same river is fiery, and it is in that part of the river that the demons and the unrepentant ("the never repentant" according to a hymn) are depicted.” (‘Paradise and Hell According to Orthodox Tradition’, Metallinos, source: https://stjamesorthodox.org/paradiseandhell )

Interestingly, the idea that the blessed and the damned will experience God in two radically different ways has a long story.

An interesting simile used by Greek Church fathers to describe why someone’s heart can be hardened by the presence of God is the simile of the clay. A vessel of clay if exposed to the light of the sun becomes harder. So, for instance, Maximus the Confessor (fl. 7th century) wrote:

“God, it is said, is the Sun of righteousness (cf. Mai. 4:2), and the rays of His supernal goodness shine down on all men alike. The soul is wax if it cleaves to God, but clay if it cleaves to matter. Which it does depends upon its own will and purpose. Clay hardens in the sun, while wax grows soft. Similarly, every soul that, despite God's admonitions, deliberately cleaves to the material world, hardens like clay and drives itself to destruction, just as Pharaoh did (cf. Exod. 7:13). But every soul that cleaves to God is softened like wax and, receiving the impress and stamp of divine realities, it becomes 'in spirit the dwelling-place of God' (Eph. 2:22).” (First Century of Sayings, 12, source: https://orthodoxchurchfathers.com/fathers/philokalia/maximus-the-confessor-two-hundred-texts-on-theology-and-the-incarnate-dispensati.html )

Earlier, even the controversial Origen of Alexandria (fl. 3rd century) said something similar:

“But, to establish the point more clearly, it will not be superfluous to employ another illustration, as if, e.g., one were to say that it is the sun which hardens and liquefies, although liquefying and hardening are things of an opposite nature. Now it is not incorrect to say that the sun, by one and the same power of its heat, melts wax indeed, but dries up and hardens mud: not that its power operates one way upon mud, and in another way upon wax; but that the qualities of mud and wax are different, although according to nature they are one thing, both being from the earth. In this way, then, one and the same working upon the part of God, which was administered by Moses in signs and wonders, made manifest the hardness of Pharaoh, which he had conceived in the intensity of his wickedness but exhibited the obedience of those other Egyptians who were intermingled with the Israelites, and who are recorded to have quitted Egypt at the same time with the Hebrews.” (‘On First Principles’, 3.1.11, source: https://www.newadvent.org/fathers/04123.htm )

Interestingly, John Chrysostom (also quoted by Metallinos), while interpreting St. Paul’s passage in 1 Corinthians 3:10-15, wrote:

“Now his meaning is this: If any man have an ill life with a right faith, his faith shall not shelter him from punishment, his work being burnt up. The phrase, shall be burned up, means, shall not endure the violence of the fire. But just as if a man having golden armor on were to pass through a river of fire, he comes from crossing it all the brighter; but if he were to pass through it with hay, so far from profiting, he destroys himself besides; so also is the case in regard of men's works. For he does not say this as if he were discoursing of material things being burnt up, but with a view of making their fear more intense, and of showing how naked of all defense he is who abides in wickedness. Wherefore he said, ‘he shall suffer loss’: lo, here is one punishment: ‘but he himself shall be saved’, but so as by fire; lo, again, here is a second. And his meaning is, He himself shall not perish in the same way as his works, passing into nought, but he shall abide in the fire.

He calls it, however, Salvation, you will say; why, that is the cause of his adding, so as by fire: since we also used to say, It is preserved in the fire, when we speak of those substances which do not immediately burn up and become ashes.” (9th homily 1 Corinthians, John Chrysostom, source: https://www.newadvent.org/fathers/220109.htm )

While John Chrysostom doesn’t use the idea of wax and clay, he suggests that the encounter with the ‘fire/light’ will have two contrasting effects depending on the ‘works’ of people. Interestingly, John here interprets the word ‘salvation’ as a mere ontological ‘preservation’.

Metallinos also quotes other important figures of the Eastern Orthodox tradition:

“Saint John of Sinai (of the Ladder) says that the uncreated light of Christ is "an all-consuming fire and an illuminating light". Saint Gregory Palamas (E.P.E. II, 498) observes: "Thus, it is said, He will baptize you by the Holy Spirit and by fire: in other words, by illumination and punishment, depending on each person's predisposition, which will bring upon him that which he deserves." Elsewhere, (Essays, P. Christou Publications, vol.2, page 145): The light of Christ, "albeit one and accessible to all, is not partaken of uniformly, but differently".

…

Saint Gregory Palamas (4th Homily on the Second Coming) says that the pre-eternal will of God for man is "to find a place in the majesty of the divine kingdom"- to reach theosis. That was the purpose of creation. And he continues: "But even His divine and secret kenosis, His god-human conduct, His redemptory passions, and every single mystery (in other words, all of Christ's opus on earth) were all providentially and omnisciently pre- determined for this very end (purpose).

The important thing, however, is that not all people respond to this invitation of Christ, and that is why not everyone partakes in the same way of His uncreated glory. 

…

God "never bears enmity", the blessed Chrysostom observes; it is we who become His enemies; we are the ones who reject Him. The unrepentant man becomes demonized, because he has chosen to. God doesn't want this. Saint Gregory Palamas says: "…for this was not My pre-existing will; I did not create you for this purpose; I did not prepare the pyre for you. This undying pyre was pre-fired for the demons who bear the unchanging trait of evil, to whom your own unrepentant opinion attracted you." "The co-habitation with mischievous angels is arbitrary (voluntary)." (same as prev.) In other words, it is something that is freely chosen by man.

…

 Efthimios Zigavinos (12th century) observes in this respect: "God as fire that illuminates and brightens the pure, and burns and obscures the unclean." ” (‘Paradise and Hell According to Orthodox Tradition’’, Metallinos, source: https://stjamesorthodox.org/paradiseandhell )

Interestingly enough, Metallinos didn’t quote John of Damascus, who seems to have a rather similar view of God’s will of save all and the torments of Gehenna due to the sinners inability to properly partake the divine life. See the quotes of John Damascus reported here: https://ancientafterlifebelifs.blogspot.com/2026/06/the-allowance-of-damnation-irenaeus-of.html

 

 

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