Hi all. In terms of scripture is the end of " time" and the end of the world the same thing? Is there a "times up" before the end of the world ?
My understanding is that we are (hopefully) facing the end of an era, not yet the end of the world. So we are expecting the end of the current world order through the Triumph of the Immaculate Heart. Then, an era of peace should be granted. I am not sure if I have answered your question.
That's my understanding, too, Michael! The Triumph provides a marvelous respite, and then our fallen nature reasserts itself in the general population. Our Lady of the Triumph, pray for us!
Astronomically, the end of time would happen only when the universe ceases to exist. The earth will be destroyed when the sun starts to die in about 7-8 billion years' time, if we haven't blown it up first. The universe is finite and there are indications that fewer stars are being made but it would take many billions of years for all the stars to die out. In eschatology, the Christian study of end times teaches that Christ will come again t but we don't know when this will be. There are numerous prophecies which indicate that we are not at that point yet. I was talking to a protestant lady recently who believes in the 'rapture' which isn't Catholic teaching. St John talks about a 'new heaven and a new earth' when sorrow and suffering is past.
I was just looking there at what the Catechism teaches on this and Scripture: https://media.ascensionpress.com/2020/08/31/the-end-of-the-world-what-does-the-church-teach/
the end of time would be a punishment followed by a renewal of God's people, for example the destruction of Jerusalem in the year 70 which served to detach the Church from any vestige of Jewish ceremonial laws, the end of the world would be the end of human existence on earth .
The New Heaven and the New Earth, the heavenly Jerusalem is such a Mystery. 1 Corinthians 2:9 However, as it is written: “What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived” — the things God has prepared for those who love him— However it seems to me that there are some Signs of what is to come in the New Jerusalem, Shadows of what is to come in things we see around us. A big for instance is the Good Catholic Family. This is deeply Trinitarian in Nature and foreshadows in mutual support, love and caring the New Jerusalem in its very nature. Which is why the Devil hates it so much. It is the Church in Situ, just as the Church itself presages the New Jerusalem.
Another Sign or Shadow of the Eternal Reality are Good and Holy Religious Communities, which foreshadow here and now what is to come:
But I think my favourite shadow and icon lies amongst the special gifts of the Saints and Mystics. For instance when we see pictures of the saints with halos. This represents the light that was often seen around them in prayer, the Light of the Holy Spirit. The heavenly smells and perfumes which envelop people who came near to name. The Flowers of Paradise. Their being able to be in many places at the one time, the swift feet of heaven. Their knowing secret thoughts and Secret Knowledge. The Language of Heaven. These are the citizens of of the New Jerusalem walking the Earth.
This was joyful to hear. They radiate the light of Jesus and Mary and the Angels. No wonder they hate having to go out in the world for appointments.
