Aquinas on the Four Last Things: Everything You Need To Know About Death, Judgment, Heaven, and Hell

by Kevin Vost

We often think of death as the end, but it's really just the beginning of eternal life. Death, judgment, heaven, and hell often called the Four Last Things are both awe-inspiring and fear-inducing, yet countless saints testify to the profound spiritual benefit of contemplating the awesome mysteries that await us in the afterlife. Few saints have thought more deeply about the Four Last Things than St. Thomas Aquinas history's greatest theologian. In these pages, Dr. Kevin Vost has made readable and accessible St. Thomas's core teachings and insights on the Four Last Things and the wondrous experiences God has in store for us. With St. Thomas as his guide, Dr. Vost explores the destination of our souls after death and uncovers the mysteries surrounding limbo and purgatory. He unveils what our bodies will look like at the resurrection and identifies the four special gifts that will perfect our bodies in heaven. You'll learn whether sinners will be left behind on earth and why we pray for the dead and to the saints. You won't find here any long, ponderous theological treatises, but rather rapid-fire summaries in simple, accessible language that answer for you a wide range of questions, including:

Genres: Catholic

288 pages, Paperback

Published January 21, 2021

About the author

Kevin Vost, Psy. D. (b. 1961) has taught psychology at the University of Illinois at Springfield, Lincoln Land Community College, and MacMurray College. He is a Research Review Committee Member for American Mensa, which promotes the scientific study of human intelligence.

He enjoys reading the Classics (especially Aristotle and the Stoics) and St. Thomas Aquinas in his spare time.

Reviews

[A.K. Frailey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Definitely a great resource for anyone interested in a comprehensive understanding of the teaching of Thomas Aquinas. Kevin Vost breaks the issues down into digestible pieces and surveys a vast field of serious topics. The whole concept of hell disturbs me profoundly, but as I pondered the reality of chosen evil and the rejection of God, I considered the thought that God does not send souls to hell, people choose it freely. The existence of choice suggests that some will do so. Aquinas on the Four Last Things is a very thoughtful study for anyone considering the trajectory of his or her life.

[Jeff Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good summary of Aquinas' writings on the four last things. So many interesting questions and answers.

[Mary Buck · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was very interested in the book. I found it maybe a little harder to absorb at times but at the same time I wanted to finish and it gave me so much to think about.

[Steven R. McEvoy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have been a fan do Dr. Vost’s writings since I first encountered them many years ago. Hos books tend top push me. They are books that make me think. That stretch me. That require some effort. And because of that they are excellent reads. I have benefited from every one of his books that I have read. And with each new book he releases, I am blessed yet again. That was the case with this volume as well. And as I have aged and grown over the years, I have been reading Dr. Vost’s books this one is an even more important read. I have read a few volumes on the Four Last Things, over the years, and this one examining them through the writings of Aquinas is by far one of the best. The description of this book is:

“We often think of death as the end, but it’s really just the beginning of eternal life. Death, judgment, heaven, and hell — often called the Four Last Things — are both awe-inspiring and fear-inducing, yet countless saints testify to the profound spiritual benefit of contemplating the awesome mysteries that await us in the afterlife.”

And the chapters are:

Introduction: The Most Important Things of All
Part 1 Matters of Death and Life
Where Our Souls Go When We Die
The State of Our Souls after Death
On the Nature and Purpose of Purgatory
On the State of the Souls in Purgatory
On God’s Love for Unbaptized Souls
Why We Should Pray for the Dead
Why We Should Pray to the Saints
Last Thoughts on the Last Things: Death

Part 2 Judgment Day
Signs That Will Precede the Last Judgment
On the Fire of the Final Conflagration
Of the Resurrection
The Cause of Our Resurrection
When and How All Will Arise
Ashes to Ashes, Dust to Dust: On Who and What Will Rise Again
How We Will Regain the Same Body
How Our Hair, Nails, and Bodily Fluids Arise!
What Our Bodies Will Be Like at the Resurrection
Ultimate Athletes for Christ: Impassible Glorified Bodies
The Subtlety of Our Glorified Bodies
Our Gloriously Agile New Bodies
Seeking Mental Clarity about Bodily Clarity
On the Sorry State of the Bodies of the Damned
How All Will Know Our Sins and Our Merits
The Time and Place of the General Judgment
Here Comes the Judge! On the Form in Which He Will Appear to Us
The Nature of the Universe after Judgment Day
Last Thoughts on the Last Things: Judgment

Part 3 To Heaven for Those Who Accept It
On the Beatific Vision Bestowed on the Blessed
Happy Saints in Their Heavenly Mansions
How the Saints Relate to the Damned
Additional Gifts for the Blessed
How Some Will Merit Another Golden Crown
Last Thoughts on the Last Things: Heaven

Part 4 To Hell for Those Who Choose It
On the Punishment of the Damned
Of the Will and Intellect of the Damned
On God’s Mercy and Justice toward the Damned
Last Thoughts on the Last Things: Hell
Faith, Hope, Love, and the Four Things That Last
About the Author

The introduction begins with:

“We tend to think of an end as something that comes last, and this is certainly correct in the case of the Four Last Things — death, judgment, heaven, and hell. They certainly do come last: at the end of our lives and the end of the world. Indeed, there is absolutely nothing of greater importance to each and every one of us than how and where we will spend eternity, enrapt in the unspeakable bliss of the Beatific Vision of God in heaven, or suffering unspeakable torments in the presence of Satan, within the depths of hell.”

This book answers 164 questions about things that occur before, during and after the resurrection. In each section Vost states that:

“Each chapter, I’ll begin by noting the amazing thoroughness with which Thomas addresses the question under review. Within each article, he first draws on Scripture and the works of Church Fathers to provide a series of realistic objections to his conclusions. Then, in an “On the contrary . . .” passage, he usually cites an authority in agreement with his conclusion. He then provides an “I answer that . . .” section in which he explains his own conclusion, and, to finish things off, he replies to each of the objections he identified.”

And further he states:

“Thomas has given us such a vast number of lasting thoughts about the Four Last Things that I hope and pray that you, dear reader, will be awed, amazed, and inspired as you discover what Thomas wrote about the wondrous things God has in store for us. Still, while Thomas gave us lasting words, he did not claim to give us the last word on the Four Last Things, since he knew God would continue to bless His Church with new saintly teachers until the end of time.”

And also:

“Therefore, while each of our chapters will stretch our understanding as we contemplate the awesome mysteries that St. Thomas illuminates, each of this book’s four parts will end with a “Last Thoughts” chapter, in which we will reflect on the spiritual lessons contained within the preceding chapters, sometimes with the help of the great saints who came after Thomas.”

And that quote sums up my response to this book, and to be honest most of Vost’s writings that I have read to date. This book has stretched my understanding. It has inspired me to contemplate and reflect on these mysteries. And it is a volume I know I will return to again, and benefit from even more on each subsequent reading.

This is a volume all of us would benefit from reading. But be warned you will not be the same when you put it down. You cannot read this book and com away unchanged. It is a book that all Catholics, nay all Christians would benefit from reading. So I challenge you give it a read, It is of upmost importance.

Read the review on my blog Book Reviews and More and reviews of other books by Dr. Vost. As well as author profile and interview with Kevin.

Note: This book is part of a series of reviews: 2021 Catholic Reading Plan!