The Last Judgment

Michelangelo Buonarroti (1475–1564) — 1536–1541 · Fresco · Sistine Chapel, Vatican

“When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory:” — Matthew 25:31 (KJV)

About

Twenty-five years after the ceiling, Michelangelo covered the Sistine altar wall with the Last Judgment (1536–1541): Christ at the centre, beardless and mighty, arm raised; the saved spiral up at His right, the damned are dragged down at His left; saints display the instruments of their martyrdoms like evidence.

The Meaning

Matthew 25 without decoration: one Judge, two directions, no third door. Terror for the proud, hope for the lowly who rise on Christ's right hand by His own pull.

For Us Today

Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling (Philippians 2:12) is not a metaphor before this wall. Michelangelo put his own face on the flayed skin Saint Bartholomew holds — the painter stood inside his own sermon. Stand inside it honestly, and flee to Christ now.

Image: Public domain · via Wikimedia Commons — the file’s page. Tap the picture to open the full-size original there.