The Doctrine of the Church regarding the End of the World

The doctrine of the Church regarding the End of the World

1. The Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed:

"He will come again" — a real, physical return of Christ to earth. {CCC 668-677}

"in glory"— like his first coming, he will have his human body; but it will be transfigured and glorified. While many, at his first coming, denied his deity; everyone, at his second coming, even his enemies, will acknowledge Jesus to be Lord and God. {CCC 645-646}

"to judge the living and the dead," — the Great General Judgment spoken of above. {CCC 678-679, 1038-1041}

"and his kingdom will have no end." — at his first coming, many wanted him to be king of Israel; this time, his Kingship will be fully manifest. {CCC 1042-1050}

"We look for the resurrection of the dead," — at the Last Judgment, all the dead, good and bad, will receive their bodies, this time incorruptible, because the human person is constituted of body and soul. {CCC 997-1001}

"and the life of the world to come." — those who died in the grace of Christ will enjoy eternal happiness, and those who died in enmity toward God will suffer eternal punishment. {CCC 998, 1038}

2. Signs which will precede the Lord’s Second Coming:

(1) The preaching of the Gospel to the whole world: "And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached throughout the whole world, as a testimony to all nations; and then the end will come." (Matt. 24:14)

(2) The conversion of the Jews: See Rom. 11:25-32. A substantial portion ("all Israel") will turn to Jesus as their Messiah. {CCC 674}

(3) A general apostasy (falling away from the Faith): "And Jesus answered them, ‘Take heed that no one leads you astray. For many will come in my name, saying, ,"I am the Christ" and they will lead many astray.’" (Mat. 24:4)

(4) The appearance of Antichrist: "Let no one deceive you in any way; for that day will not come, unless the rebellion comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of perdition, who opposes and exalts himself against every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, proclaiming himself to be God." (2 Thes. 2:3-4. See also 1 Jn. 2:18-22 and 2 Jn. 7 — the spirit of Antichrist is already present in the world.) {CCC 675-677}

(5) Severe tribulations and natural disasters: "Then they will deliver you up to tribulation, and put you to death; and you will be hated by all nations for my name’s sake. And then many will fall away, and betray one another, and hate one another. And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. And because wickedness is multiplied, most men’s love will grow cold. But he who endures to the end will be saved. . . . Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken." (Mat. 24:9-13, 29)

3. The exact time of Christ’s second coming is unknown to men.

"But of that day or that hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, [This is generally understood as referring to Christ's humanity.] but only the Father. Take heed, watch; for you do not know when the time will come." (Mark 13:32-33) Despite all of the above signs, the precise moment of the Parousia is not known. Speculation in this regard, therefore, is a waste of time. Our Lord calls us to be vigilant and ready at all times because his return is imminent, i.e., it could happen at any moment. {CCC 1040, 1048} "First of all you must understand this, that scoffers will come in the last days with scoffing, following their own passions and saying, ‘Where is the promise of his coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all things have continued as they were from the beginning of creation.’ But do not ignore this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slow about his promise as some count slowness, but is forbearing toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a loud noise, and the elements will be dissolved with fire, and the earth and the works that are upon it will be burned up. Since all these things are thus to be dissolved, what sort of persons ought you to be in lives of holiness and godliness, waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be kindled and dissolved, and the elements will melt with fire! But according to his promise we wait for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells. Therefore, beloved, since you wait for these, be zealous to be found by him without spot or blemish, and at peace. And count the forbearance of our Lord as salvation." (2 Peter 3:3-4, 8-15)

Recommended Reading: