On the Sole Government of God
Chapter 3: Evidence of a Future Judgment
Regarding Him further, that He alone is powerful, both to judge the deeds done in life and the ignorance of the Deity displayed by people, I can bring forward witnesses from your own ranks. First, Sophocles speaks as follows: "That time of times shall come, it shall surely come, When from the golden sky down shall fall The abundant treasure of fire, and in burning flames All things of earth and heaven shall be consumed; And then, when all creation is dissolved, The sea's last wave shall die upon the shore, The barren earth stripped of trees, the burning air No winged creature shall carry. There are two roads to Hades, well we know; By this the righteous, and by that the wicked, On to their separate fates shall tend; and He, Who has destroyed all things, shall save all things."
And Philemon again:—“Do you think, Nicostratus, that the dead, who here enjoyed whatever good life offers man, escape the notice of Divinity, as if they might be forgotten by Him? No, there’s an eye of Justice watching all; for if the good and bad find the same end, then go, rob, steal, plunder, as you will, do all the evil that seems good to you. Yet do not be deceived; for beneath there is a throne and place of judgment set, which God the Lord of all shall occupy; whose name is terrible, nor shall I dare to speak it in feeble human speech.”
And Euripides:—"God does not grudgingly give us a lease on life, so that we, the holders, may be fairly judged. If a mortal man thinks he can hide his daily guilt from the keen eye of God, it is an evil thought. If he happens to encounter Justice taking her time, she demands him as her lawful prisoner. But many of you quickly commit a twofold sin and claim there is no God. But, ah! there is; there is. Understand that the wicked who prospers should make the most of this precious time to redeem himself, or else he will face the due reward of punishment later on."