First Sunday of Advent

Intro

Advent

Ad venio (come to)

like a mini lent where we prepare for Christ coming

both Christmas and end of times.

So what of end times?

dont normally hear from us Catholics

seems more a crazy preacher predicting the end of times as if Christ didnt SPECIFICALLY say in the Gospels we do not know when the end will occur

but we do not have nothing to say

6 Catholic things about the end of the world

some of them may surprise you

Several Things

There will not be a Rapture

appeared late in some Protestant circles misinterpreting people dying (being taken) and our goal of being taken up with Christ.

unfortunately, no get to escape for believers

believers might actually suffer worst.

The antiChrist is a thing

revealing of the man of lawlessness

one person or general attitude/ philosophy?

already been many lesser ones

Characteristics

proclaim self to be valued above all (2 Thess 2)

self as more important than any rules, God or gods.

proclaim self as God

no rules, b/c rules and laws of nature are limitations, so saying no rules apply to you is similar to saying you are God.

will be accompanied with “power and pretended signs”

Final Test

A religious deception is supposed to come before the end

in this deception people will, according to Scripture and the catechism, be offered what looks like a solution to every one of their problems

but the cost will be the rejection of the faith

Some type of Conversion of the Jewish People

According to Scripture and the Catechism CCC 674

hardening has come to Israel for a time,

end of things will not come until “all israel” (whatever this means) recognizes Him

Revelation is not Just About the End of the World

about end times, but not in the sense of just something in the future (coming of Christ and on)

certainly has stuff about future but much seems to be in distant past in the Christian era.

One thing causes alot of stir in this book and it is mark of beast:

666

not allowed to buy or sell w/o the mark of

tho uncertain, probably referring to Rome, the emperors, or a emperor according to Iraenaeus

despite that no commentator in the early Church is confident as to who

evidence that Nero is pretty weak, despite hearing many commentators say that

possibility veiled reference to someone or some character of fallen Solomon

Number of gold talents brought to king solomon in OT

considering

666 has to do with love of money over God (have to reject God for being able to get money),

666 might be seen as a turning point into Solomons fall

in Daniel number close to it related to idolotry and Solomon fell to idols

tarts with saying this pertains to wisdom and solomon was the man of wisdom

probably not coincidental.

Don’t find Utopia in World

perhaps the most important thing about end times is truth we are not going to make utopia

One easy mistake to make is to expect our complete and final happiness too prematurely

it will not happen completely in time.

only get glimpses of it in time

the world will end and God will make it perfect only in the end

don’t lose hope when see world going down the trash, dont put too much stock in world when seems to be going right

it will all pass

Instead lets us focus all our efforts and attentions to this reality:

we should patiently await Him

God is not just the alpha, but is also the one and only omega, the end of all things.

Notes

Commentary:

fathers see 2 people as symbolic of damned and saved

Leaves end time unknown so

we stay awake and resist devil

by suspense prepared for it

rebuke to those who more care for house and money than soul

Adam and Eve story about stealing knowledge belonged to Logos alone -St. Bernard

The imitation of Christ, thru Jesus, becomes a thing of goodness rather than blasphemous pride

Advent

means Come to ad ventus

whole old testament is an advent season ccc522

st. John Baptist

time to repent

End Times

Suspended until recognition by Israel which is after full measure of gentiles (CCC 674)

Final persecution w/ religious deception offering solution to problems at price of apostasy CCC675

THE FINAL UTOPIA NOT TO BE FOUND IN HISTORY, this is the deception of antiChrist CCC676

premature hope for the end