Expert: Tom Schott - 7/26/2006

Question
Deacon,
Sir my name is Robert i am currently in the military and i am also a catholic.I believe strongly in the Catholic church.  My question is this i have a friend who said that the end of the world will be in 2007 armageddon.  He says that it is the bible under Isiah 66  8-10?
something like that and about once Isreal beomes a sovern state not 40 years will pass? 1967 isreal became a state he says?  So i would like to know he misread it? Do you think it is true and it will happen?  If it is going to happen i think its just not fair.  Im in my twenties and i want to live my life get married and have kids and get old.  I think there are still great things going on in this world today even with the turmoil.  Sorry if im confusing.  If you could explain to me and tell me what you think it would be appreciated.  Thanks again sir for what you do.  God bless

Answer
Robert,

Normally I don't even respond to questions about whether someone's reading of the Scripture is correct or not. I'll make an exception in this case to assure you that NO ONE, that is NOBODY, knows when the end of the world will happen. There are any number of people who will tell you that this verse in the Bible or that verse in the Bible "proves" when the end of the world will happen. People have been predicting the end of the world for hundreds of years based on this verse and all kinds of other verses in the Book of Revalation. All of these people have been wrong. I have no doubt that your friend is wrong, too. That's what I think.

I'm not going to even get into the matter of what Isaiah 66:8-10 means. This book was written thousands of years ago in another place and time and language. It has to be situated in its own place and time and language to be understood. That's what the Church teaches about all Scripture.

Robert, if I can offer you one little piece of advice that has served me very well for fifty years: do not argue Scripture with anyone. Scripture can be cited to prove anything anybody wants to prove. And arguing with somebody who already "knows" what Scripture means is a futile endeavor.

Hope this helps.

Deacon Tom