“Particular,” because one particular person is judged.

410 Q. What is the judgment called which all men have to undergo on the last day?  A. The judgment which all men have to undergo on the last day is called the General Judgment.

“General,” because every creature gifted with intelligence will be judged on that day—­the angels of Heaven, the devils of Hell, and all men, women, and children that have ever lived upon the earth.  The Holy Scripture gives us a terrible account of that awful day. (Matt. 24-25).  On some day—­we know not when, it might be tomorrow for all we know—­the world will be going on as usual, some going to school, others to business; some seeking pleasure, others suffering pain; some in health, others in sickness, etc.  Suddenly they will feel the earth beginning to quake and tremble; they will see the ocean in great fury, and will be terrified at its roar as, surging and foaming, it throws its mighty waves high in the air.  Then the sun will grow red and begin to darken; a horrid glare will spread over the earth, beginning to burn up.  Then, says the Holy Scripture, men will wither away for fear of what is coming; they will call upon the mountains to fall and hide them; they will be rushing here and there, not knowing what to do.  Money will be of no value then; dress, wealth, fame, power, learning, and all else will be useless, for at that moment all men will be equal.  Then shall be heard the sound of the angel’s great trumpet calling all to judgment.  The dead shall come forth from their graves, and the demons rush from Hell.  Then all shall see our Blessed Lord coming in the clouds of Heaven in great power and majesty surrounded by countless angels bearing His shining Cross before Him.  He will separate the good from the wicked; He will welcome the good to Heaven and condemn the wicked to Hell.  The sins committed shall be made public before all present.  Imagine your feelings while you are standing in that great multitude, waiting for the separation of the good from the bad.  To which side will you be sent?  Our Lord is coming, not with the mild countenance of a saviour, but with the severe look of a judge.  As He draws nearer and nearer to you, you see some of your dear friends, whom you thought good enough upon earth, sent over to the side of the wicked; you see others that you deemed foolish sent with the good, and you become more anxious every instant about the uncertainty of your own fate.  You see fathers and mothers sent to opposite sides, brothers and sisters, parents and children, separated forever.  Oh, what a terrible moment of suspense!  How you will wish you had been better and always lived a friend of God!  The side you will be on depends upon what you do now, and you can be on the better side if you wish.  Do, then, in your life what you would wish to have done at that terrible moment.  Learn to judge yourself frequently.  Say this, or something similar, to yourself.  “Now