06_Catholic Eschatology Summary

I offered an update in the last segment of the last show summarizing our encore series on end times prophecy, and talked a little about the next series.  Public revelation in Christ (Apostolic Tradition and Scripture) ALWAYS takes primary place in discerning end times events and prophecies. Not Marian apparitions, contemporary prophets, or fascinating modern predictions.  Thank you to my newest Friends of the Show, Bridget B; Rodney H; Colleen W; Kathy Y; Amy W; Lynn T; Dianne P; and Cynthia C, for loving and lifting me! Friends of the Show get all Premium Content! She's here! Lent comes early this year! Get your 2021 LOVE the Word® Journal, available now. Preview the interior, get a free guide and journal page, and preorder for Lent, here.  LOVE the Word® is a Bible study method based on Mary’s own practice: lectio without the Latin. Get the book based on Sonja’s method in the right margin, How to Pray Like Mary. Listen (Receive the Word via audio.) Observe (Connect the passage to your life and recent events.) “For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only He who now restrains it will do so until He is out of the way. And then the lawless one will be revealed, and the Lord Jesus will slay him with the breath of his mouth and destroy him by his appearing and his coming” (2 Thess 2:7-8). Amen, and hallelujah! What is "the breath of His mouth"?  Verbalize (Pray about your thoughts and emotions.) What do you want to say to Him about that? Remembering that He loves you and that you are in His presence, talk to God about the particulars of your O – Observe step. You may want to write your reflections in your LOVE the Word® journal. Or, get a free journal page and guide in the right-hand margin. Entrust (May it be done to me according to your word!) Come Lord Jesus! Amen + What we discussed | Show Notes Overview: Minutes 00:12:00 – News and updates Minutes 12:01-24:00 –  Summary of timeline  Minutes 24:01-36:00 – Summary continued Minutes 36:01-48:00 – What's next Sonja's Important Eschatological Qualification Catholic eschatology is what's called "speculative theology." This designation means little has been defined by the Magisterium concerning the end times, so the subject is open for speculation and development by Catholics seeking truth via Sacred Tradition (history) and Sacred Scripture. I attempt throughout the series to make clear what is public revelation and therefore part of the Deposit of Faith, and what is approved private revelation and not a matter of adherence. Dr. Scott Hahn most recently put forth the liturgical and historical interpretation of the Book of Revelation without alleging that there is no end times application. Many non-Catholics hold to either this interpretation or an eschatological interpretation; the Church maintains that the proper interpretation is not either history or prophecy, but both history and prophecy, as biblical prophecy and apocalyptic literature always is: there is usually more than one fulfillment of prophecy. Because much of eschatology is a matter of speculative theology, we are free to ruminate and speculate. Resources How to read St. John’s Apocalypse, or the Book of Revelation As History  AD 63-64           St. Peter is crucified upside-down by Nero AD 66                 Jewish revolt against Florus spreads throughout Judea in “Jewish War” AD 68                 Nero commits suicide AD 69                 Gospel of Mark written        70                 Romans sack and burn Jerusalem, complete destruction of Old Covenant “world”        73                 Jews at Masada commit suicide        75                 Book of Hebrews written       85-90            Gospels Matthew and Luke and Book of Acts written       90-95            Gospel of John completed       93                 Josephus writes Antiquities of the Jews, a Jewish history through post-biblical                                       times       95                  John exiled to Patmos, writes his revelations As the Heavenly Liturgy Revelation 1:1-11:18       Liturgy of the Word Revelation 11:19-22:21   Liturgy of the Eucharist As Eschatological (see Major Chastisement references, below) Catholic Eschatology Timeline The events in the first section are conditional on repentance and could happen in any order, and I would argue much of it has already happened.  Minor Chastisement or Tribulation (conditional, and mostly part of approved private revelations, such as Fatima, Lourdes, Betania, and Sallette) Western Church scourged with heresy Civil wars in Italy and France, then England Famine, pestilence, natural disasters Muslim ascendency Russia invades Europe Pope flees Rome, is murdered Great saint elected Pope, helps bring great military leader to ascendancy Military leader defeats all enemies, including Russians and Muslims Special interior illumination that inspires conversions Age of Peace (Age of the Holy Spirit & Mary, public and private revelation) Time of normalcy for repentance (2 Thess 2:7; Matt. 24:37-39; Luke 17:26-30) Establishment of New Roman Empire (Dan. 2) Restoration of Catholic faith and practice over whole earth Pope calls Ecumenical Council People prosper, Church prospers, faith prospers Then: people grow lax Universal apostasy (2 Thess. 2:2-3) Major Chastisement or Great Tribulation (public revelation) Ten kingdoms of new HRE dismantled, three are crushed (Dan. 7-8) False prophet comes to power, prepares way for supreme and final Antichrist (Rev. 13) 3 ½ reign of Supreme Antichrist, severe persecution of Christians, some say he will be Jewish from tribe of Dan (Gen 49:17, Jer 8:16) “Two Witnesses,” possibly Enoch and Elijah, preach Gospel throughout earth (Rev. 11) Mass conversion of Jews and conversion of nations (Rom. 11) Antichrist murders two witnesses who are resurrected (Rev 11) Antichrist attempts “Ascension” (Dan 8:25, Is 14) Then: death of Antichrist by St. Michael the Archangel (Is 14) "Immediately after" (Matt 24:29), three days of darkness and the Parousia! CCC 568-573, Resurrection of the Dead and Judgment, New Heaven and New Earth (Rev. 20-21) Alternative timeline:  Seven Seals: (Rev 6-7) First Seal: Time of mercy (we are here) Second Seal: Dissolution of peace Third Seal: Economic collapse Fourth Seal: Social Collapse Fifth Seal: Minor persecution Sixth seal: Warning Seventh Seal: Reprieve Seven Trumpets & Bowls: (Rev 8-18)  Two Witnesses Rise of Antichrist (3 1/2 years) Reign of terror (3 1/2 years) Three days of darkness Day of the Lord: (Rev 19-22) Jesus defeats Antichrist, establishes Era of Peace, and reigns spiritually in the Church 1000 years Return of Satan's influence  Second Coming, or Parousia New Heaven and New Earth Trial, Tribulation, and Triumph: Before, During, and After Antichrist, by Desmond Birch Early Church (Ante-Nicene Fathers Didache ‘In things of faith and morals, the true sense of Holy Scripture is held by the Church, whose place it is to judge the interpretation of the Scriptures (1 Tim 3:15); and it is permitted to no one to interpret Holy Scripture against such sense or against the unanimous agreement of the Fathers'( 34). ‘What can be a greater sign of pride than to refuse to study the Books of the divine mysteries by the help of those who have interpreted them?’ (37, Providentissimus Deus). 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