How will the world end?
The Catholic Church warns believers to avoid futile speculation on the matter.
What, then, can we know for certain about the end of the world?
Here s a summary of the essentials of Church teaching from the Catechism:
Jesus will return to earth in glory (see Mt 24:27)
First, however, the Anti-Christ will appear to deceive the world and persecute
the Church (see 2 Thes 2:3-12)
The Church will suffer the great tribulation prophesied by the Lord. (see Mt
24:3-14).
The final victory of Christ on earth will not come through a gradual improvement
in the world s spiritual condition, nor by a special period of His earthly reign
before Judgment Day. It will take place not within history, but beyond it,
after Christ has brought an end to history by His glorious Second Coming (see 1
Cor 15:22-28).
The Jewish people will come to recognize Jesus Christ as their Messiah before He
returns (see Rom 11:25-29)
The dead will be raised bodily (see 1 Cor 15:20-58).
Christ will judge the living and the dead, and the devil and his allies will at
last be utterly overthrown (see Jn 5:26-29; Rev. 20:10-15).
At the end of time, God s Kingdom will come to its fullness, and all things
will be renewed, perfected, and consummated (see Rev. 21:22-25)
References:
Dn 12:2-3; 12:13; Jb 19:25-26, Mt. 24:3-14; 27:30-31; 26:64; Lk 18:8; 21:27; Jn
5: 26-29; 6:39-40; 44; 11:21-27, 15:19-21; 25:29, Rom 8:11; 11:25-29, Cor 6:4;
Thes 2:3-12; 4:13-18; 5:2-3; Phil 3: 21. Col 2:12-13; 4:13-18; 5:2-3; Rev 20:10-
15; 21: 1; 22:20
Catechism of the Catholic Church 668-682. 972, 988, 1004
- Gene C. Alberto
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