The End of the Present World

[aquinasandmore]

I started reading The End of the Present World last week and wanted to start posting thoughts about it as I go.

The book is a series of conferences given in France in the late 1800's. St. Therese says that the book was one of the most inspiring books she read.

The current printing is the first ever in English.

The first chapter discusses the events leading up to the end of the world and focuses on two in particular:

1. The preaching of the Gospel to all corners of the Earth.
2. The condition of the world at the time of the Tribulation.
   

As described, these events seem to be far off for a couple of reasons. The author seems to believe that the first condition can only be met when the Gospel is preached everywhere as correctly and thoroughly as possible which will lead to a golden age of the Church.

Since this obviously hasn't happened yet and the current lack of missionary zeal and promotion of false ecumenism in the Church kind of makes such an accomplishment impossible, it could be a very long time before this occurs.

The second event is supposed to follow the first as the Church declines in the face of humanist beliefs in the omniscient power of man. Judging by the current state of the world, it seems we have skipped right over the first event to the second.

I've just started the second chapter which discusses the conversion of the Jews and the rise of the Antichrist.

[aquinasandmore]

I just finished reading chapter 2 of The End of the Present World. This section dealt with the characteristics of the Anti-Christ.

A few interesting points: The Anti-Christ is not going to be some amorphous power structure or just some standard tyrant. He will gather all worldly power to himself and destroy all opposition through trickery, coercion and violence.

He will be born of Jewish parents who aren't married and his mother will probably be a prostitute. All circumstances are planned to mock Christ.

His rise to power will take a few years and his reign will last a little over three years during which time all worship of anything or anyone but himself will be banned and crushed - even atheists won't be tolerated. Everyone will be forced to worship him.

There will be no mistake that the Anti-Christ is the Anti-Christ. He will make all persecution that came before look almost trivial.

The next section is on the resurrection of the dead at the final judgment.

[James Harris]

That would be an interesting subject to read. I think I might want to pick this book up.

[Hal Ivie]

I'm sympatico with FR. Corapi who, after scanning a room of elder contemporaries said words similar to the following: I don't know when The End is comming; but judging from our ages, certainly our end is comming pretty soon. GET READY!

[MikeReilly]

Reference Book entitled "The Tend Time" (ISBN 978-0-9802028-0-9)

Your review of the referenced book is suggested. It analyzes the Bible's Book of Revelation and events surrounding the related end time anticipated. There have been any number of books addressing these subjects in current times, but yet one more is proposed for very good reason. “The Tend Time” is distinctly unique in that it provides an insight into Revelation heretofore unavailable.

This insight, in turn, has been afforded by the identification of a new name for the value 666 cited in Revelation 13: 18. Such identification has been made possible by a recent international agreement assigning new and unique numerical values to letters of western hemisphere languages. The name identified has in turn resulted in an interpretation of the Book of Revelation that speaks for itself. As such, it is worthy of the interest of all who search for a better understanding of this Biblical book. Specifically,

·It explores current world events within the context of Biblical prophecies.
·It provides a comprehensive and rational analysis of this subject matter that is notably consistent with Catholic doctrine.
·And it is a must read for anyone seeking Christian perspective and answers not otherwise available.

A synopsis as well as a review of the book by BookReview.com are provided at it’s listing in the book department at Amazon.com.

MikeReilly [/size][/font]

[john3cena16]

I have always been facinated by doomsday stories.
Don't get me wrong... im not a doomist..
but these stories always bring in the best in our prayers and the most determination out of our souls
to fight to the bitter end.

[carl50nwagn3r]

It just runs people scared. at least those without strict hearts that just want money.
I am personally scared of the event that the end really is coming.

[amyb]

(06-19-2009 12:47 AM)aquinasandmore Wrote:  ....
The book is a series of conferences given in France in the late 1800's. St. Therese says that the book was one of the most inspiring books she read.

The current printing is the first ever in English.

The first chapter discusses the events leading up to the end of the world and focuses on two in particular:

1. The preaching of the Gospel to all corners of the Earth.
2. The condition of the world at the time of the Tribulation.
   

As described, these events seem to be far off for a couple of reasons. The author seems to believe that the first condition can only be met when the Gospel is preached everywhere as correctly and thoroughly as possible which will lead to a golden age of the Church.

Since this obviously hasn't happened yet and the current lack of missionary zeal and promotion of false ecumenism in the Church kind of makes such an accomplishment impossible, it could be a very long time before this occurs.

The second event is supposed to follow the first as the Church declines in the face of humanist beliefs in the omniscient power of man. Judging by the current state of the world, it seems we have skipped right over the first event to the second.
....

I wonder, though, if the first condition can possibly mean that the Gospel has been preached to all corners of the earth, regardless of the response of the people to its message. I would say that this has been at least somewhat fulfilled in recent times.

For many centuries, the limits of exploration and the difficulties of travel would have made this impossible. There is always more to be done to reach those in the most remote corners of the world - and to wake up those of us who have heard God's message but tune it out, take it for granted, find it irrelevant - but within the past two centuries, nearly all parts of the world have at least begun to receive the words of the Gospel.

I fully agree with you about the second condition.