Nine Books on the Nature of Things

For a voice will be heard: “Rise, you dead, and come to judgement.” Then the twelve apostles will sit on seats prepared from clouds and judge the twelve families of Israel. There the holy angels will separate the wicked from the good, the cursed from the blessed, and the goats from the sheep. The cursed will be hurled down like stones and lead; the blessed will fly upwards like eagles. From God’s tribunal a voice will address those standing on the left: “Depart, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared from eternity for Satan and the devils. For I was hungry and you did not feed me; I was thirsty and you offered me no drink. I was sick, captive and naked, and you did not visit, free or clothe me; in the end you felt no mercy towards me. Therefore here you too will experience no mercy.” To those standing on the right he will say: “Come, you blessed and chosen, into my Father’s kingdom, prepared from the beginning for you and all the angels. For I was hungry and you gave me food; thirsty and you gave me drink. I was a stranger and you took me in; naked and you covered me; sick and you visited me; in prison and you came to me. Therefore I shall now receive you into my Father’s house, in which are many dwellings of the saints. You had mercy on me; therefore I too shall have mercy on you.”