The End of the World

Recently I have been receiving more hits than usual because of the post I made two days ago on the Prophecy of St. Malachy. So I would like to address this issue on the End Times (i.e. end of the world) in greater detail from the Catholic perspective.

For the Church the Prophecy of St. Malachy is categorize as a private revelation; which role is not to "...improve or complete Christ's definitive Revelation, but to help live more fully in a certain period of history." (CCC 67) In other words, "(w)hen the Church approves private revelations, she declares only that there is nothing in them contrary faith or good morals, and that they may be read without danger or even with profit; no obligation is thereby imposed on the faithful to believe them."

[Note: the CCC refers to the "Cathechism of the Catholic Church", which is an official exposition of the Catholic faith]

The fact that the Prophecy of St. Malachy is related to and approved by the Catholic Church (as a private revelation) is what makes it interesting. As most know, Catholics are not known for preaching the End Times (i.e. the Second Coming of Christ). But recently there has been more and more buzz among the Catholic faithful regarding the topic of St. Malachy's Prophecy, which goes to show that the topic of End Times is no longer a topic to be ignored rather it is a topic which should be addressed urgently.

According to CCC 680-682:

Christ the Lord already reigns through the Church, but all the things of this world are not yet subjected to him. The triumph of Christ's kingdom will not come about without one last assault by the powers of evil.

On Judgment Day at the end of the world, Christ will come in glory to achieve the definitive triumph of good over evil which, like the wheat and the tares, have grown up together in the course of history.

When he comes at the end of time to judge the living and the dead, the glorious Christ will reveal the secret disposition of hearts and will render to each man according to his works and according to his acceptance or refusal of grace.

Finally to quote St. Paul in his 1st Letter to the Thessalonians (5:1-3, NLT):

"I really don't need to write to you about how and when all this will happen, dear brothers and sisters. For you know quite well that the day of the Lord will come unexpectedly, like a thief in the night. When people are saying, "All is well; everything is peaceful and secure," then disaster will fall upon them as suddenly as a woman's birth pains begin when her child is about to be born. And there will be no escape."