Expert: Fr. Timothy Johnson - 6/24/2007

Question
Dear Sal,

           Has A world gone mad! Can mankind survive itself in World War III? And that's what we are in; but it's just not the World War III we expected. We kind of thought we'd be throwing missiles back and forth with the Russians, the Soviets. Well, it didn't come out that way, it came out to be different. And when you talk about Armageddon, the possibility of Armageddon, meaning wars all over the place and an awful lot of people dying that make World War I&II look like a joke, you've got to start adding up all the other factors.If you just tuned into the show on the news and such, I want to know if you think this, in the Middle East, could this be the beginning of Armageddon, at least a modern-day Armageddon?

There's going to be a horrible conflict over Israel and over the Middle East which from my knowledge of the bible and so on. What they're saying now is, the last Bible prophecy that's going to be fulfilled, Psalm 83:4. Let us cast Israel off from being a nation that their name be no more in remembrance. And that's what starts Armageddon. As they divide the land of Israel, Joel 3, verse 2. Yes, Armageddon is coming, Revelations 16:16. But I repeat, it's not going to be the end of the world just yet. Billions are going to be standing there to meet Christ after the conflict hast ended and then they'll beat their swords and their plowshares and their spears and their pruning hooks, Isiah 2, verse 4.For Isaiah 45:17 and Ephesians 3:21 both say it's a world without end amen, amen. So, when he comes, Armageddon's not the end of the world, Revelations 16:16. But Christ comes to put an end to the fighting that is going on in the Middle East and globally and, of course, that's Revelations Chapter 11, verse 18.Jesus said there'd be wars and rumors of wars -- Matthew 24, verses 6 and 7, Mark chapters 13, verses 7 and 8. But listen to him in Luke 21, verse 9. He says when you hear of wars and commotions, wars and terrorism, wars and revolutionaries, be not frightened. These things must first come. And I'll come back to that in a moment. But he's talking about two things there: wars and terrorism. I had articles today but we're going to have to cut them off because we don't have time concerning the bombing that just took place in India with 200 dead. And in Somalia, in London a year ago, and then in Sweden, in Spain, and now they are talking about it happening in Canada and in New York -- the tunnels. Why? Because that is what the Bible says will come just before Christ returns. Terrorism. Genesis 6:11, Matthew 24:37, 2nd Peter 2:5, 2nd Peter 3:6. It's too soon to say, honestly, that Ezekiel 38 and 39 are coming true, but I think it's drawing a lot of interest in what the Bible has to say about future events in that part of the world given the parallels to those prophecies. Is this what I said Catholic interpretation?  

Answer
Dear Jacqueline:

The most important element of the Catholic interpretation is "are you ready, are you prepared to meet Jesus?"
It is fine to conjecture, but really only the Father knows, and has not revealed it to us in the particulars through His Son.  Even the Son has told us that we do not know the day or the hour.  All that we know is that the world will come to an end some day, and we need to be ready.  Keep doing penance, praying, and drawing closer to God and His Holy Ones in the Kingdom.
Let us pray:
O God, You alone are ever merciful and sparing in punishment, humbly we beg You on behalf of Your servants: that You do not hand us over to the power of the enemy and do not forget us for ever.  Deliver us, O Lord, from everlasting death on that day of terror: when the heavens and the earth will be shaken, as You come to judge the living and the dead and the world by fire.
Lord, have mercy.  Christ, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.
Our Father . . . Amen.