More than ever before in history, the foundations of human life and civilization seem on the precipice of destruction from every social, moral, cultural, political and economic angle. Only in apocalyptic scripture does the tone equal our own contemporary foreboding about the state of our world; nations; churches; communities; schools; families; and marriages; and how evil and difficult times will get.
Global events inspire fear, and what follows for people of faith is often talk of the Second Coming and the prophesies relating to when and how it will happen. But the key to accurately understanding prophecy, as it is to accurately understanding all scripture, is reading with the mind of the whole Church - 2000 years of the history of the Church - as "the pillar and foundation of truth" (1 Tim 3:16).
This series is a survey of end times biblical prophecy as interpreted throughout Church history.

Study Audio

LOVE the Word(TM) is a Bible study method based on Mary's own practice. This week's LOVE the Word(TM) exercise is based on an Ignatian* personality approach. Go on! Try it!

Listen (Receive the Word)

"Therefore you also must be ready; for the Son of man is coming at an hour you do not expect. Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom his master has set over his household, to give them their food at the proper time? Blessed is that servant whom his master when he comes will find so doing. Truly, I say to you, he will set him over all his possessions.

But if that wicked servant says to himself, 'My master is delayed,' and begins to beat his fellow servants, and eats and drinks with the drunken, the master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he does not know, and will punish him, and put him with the hypocrites; there men will weep and gnash their teeth" (Matt 24:45-51).

Observe (Connect the passage to recent events.)

Using all your senses, try to imagine Jesus coming to your home as the Master of your household the way He says it will happen in this passage. What do you see as He comes to your house? What do you hear? What are your thoughts and feelings as He approaches? What does He find? What does He say to you?

What is the faithful servant supposed to be doing in this scenario of Jesus' Second Coming? What is the food He speaks of? What are the rewards and punishments spoken of here? Why is the wicked servant a hypocrite?

Verbalize (Pray about your thoughts and emotions.)

What feelings and thoughts arose in your heart and mind as you pondered these questions? What do you want to tell Him about that?

Entrust (May it be done to me according to your word!)

Jesus, I believe. Help my unbelief (Mark 9:24)!
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*LOVE the Word(TM) exercises, vary weekly according to the four personalities, or "prayer forms," explored in Prayer and Temperament, by Chester Michael and Marie Norrisey: Ignatian, Augustinian, Franciscan, and Thomistic.
Sonja's Important Eschatological Qualification
Catholic eschatology is what's called "speculative theology." This designation means little has been defined by the Magisterium concerning the end times, so the subject is open for speculation and development by Catholics seeking truth via Sacred Tradition (history) and Sacred Scripture. I attempt throughout the series to make clear what is public revelation and therefore part of the Deposit of Faith, and what is approved private revelation and not a matter of adherence.

Dr. Scott Hahn most recently put forth the liturgical and historical interpretation of the Book of Revelation without alleging that there is no end times application. Many non-Catholics hold to either this interpretation or an eschatological interpretation; the Church maintains that...