From this passage of Bergier we draw the following argument:
Since the Roman Catholic theologians were, and are, divided in regard to the meaning of the above texts, it follows that the Church of Rome did not rest her doctrine of a general judgment on the above text. Therefore the Church of Rome did not understand the above texts, namely, the 24th chapter of Matthew, and the last sixteen verses of the 25th:—the 24th, 25th, 26th, and 27th verses of the 13th chapter in Mark; and also the 25th, 26th, 27th, and 28th verses of the 21st chapter in Luke, as meaning a general judgment.
2d. We prove that nearly all the Christian sects, or denominations, of the first and of the second centuries, did not believe the doctrine of a general judgment.
The Basilidians, the Valentinians, the Marcionites, the Marcosians, the Theodotians, the Carpocratians, the Docetes, the Tatianists, the Apellites, the Montanists, the Artotyrites, the Ascites, the Ascodrutes, the Ophites, the Cainites, and the Hermogenians believed in Metempsychosis, and denied the resurrection of the body. From the fact that these sects believed in Metempsychosis, and denied the resurrection of the body, we argue:
The doctrine of a general judgment supposes the resurrection of all the dead; but the above sects denied the resurrection of the dead. Therefore they denied also the doctrine of a general judgment. Therefore nearly all the Christian sects, or denominations, of the first and of the second centuries, did not believe the doctrine of a general judgment.
More, we might say all the Christian sects of the first two centuries; for, it was only at the end of the second century, that the sect of the Millenaries, who believed in a general judgment, sprung up; and, besides, history is silent about the belief of the Church of Rome (which then was confined within the boundaries of the Province of Rome,) in regard to the doctrine of a general judgment.
3d. The doctrine of a general judgment is irrational, because a first judgment, by Jesus Christ, having taken place, a second one would be useless.
4th. We prove that the Church of Rome did not hold the doctrine of a general judgment from the Jews.
The Roman Catholic authors never pretended, and still now do not pretend, that the Jews believed the doctrine of a general judgment.