Catholic eschatology, the end times and the rapture?

Question

I have been working on a project related to end-times theology (post-tribulation, pre-wrath rapture) and have done a bit of study the past couple years on the so-called "prophecies of St. Malachy," a set of prophecies attributed to a 12th-century monk that lists characteristics of each pope from the time that Malachy received these prophecies until the end of time. From the time that Malachy received these prophecies until the end of the world, there would be 112 more popes, and then the end of the world will come, according to these prophecies. Benedict XVI is the 111th pope in this chronology. I'd like some information on the Catholic Church's theology on the end times and the second coming of Christ so I can try to tie together Malachy's prophecies--I'm not saying whether or not they have merit, just that they'll soon be the subject of a lot of discussion, IMO--with Biblical passages and prophecies pertaining to the end times.

I'll offer these two sites as points of reference:

http://members.tripod.com/crossbearer-brian/id59.htm
http://www.prophecyofstmalachy.com

lookn2cjc, I want to understand the Catholic perspective on the end times to know how they will perceive or misperceive anything I might write or say about the end times. If what the Catholic Church teaches about the end times is radically different than how mainstream Protestant denominations interpret Biblical passages about the end times, then both groups could be using the same terms yet have them mean totally different things. I want to understand what Catholic doctrine says about the end times to have a reference point from which I can compare and contrast it to the Bible and try to get Catholics to thinking about what they believe versus what the Bible actually says. I'm not looking to get into a debate over Catholicism. I'm looking for people to hopefully put their trust in Christ no matter how chaotic the end times get. The prophecies attributed to Malachy will be more and more in the news in the days to come, IMO, so they are a good reference point from which to start.

Pastor Billy, since there are about 1.1 billion Catholics in the world and since the prophecies attributed to Malachy have the potential to cause a lot of people to act irrationally in the near future if they believe the end of the world is near, whether these prophecies have any merit or not, I want to understand what the Catholic perspective is on the "end times" so that I can know how they will perceive the Bible's message about the end times. It's hard to direct a message toward a certain group if the way they are interpreting what I am saying is not what I intended to convey.

Sorry, I forgot to offer a link to another of my sites: http://www.posttribrapture.com

Don't worry, I'm definitely not a premillenial dispensationalist. :-)

Bibs and Harlomcspears, I realize that Malachy's prophecies are not a part of the Church's teaching, but if enough people start to give credence to those prophecies that some say point to Benedict XVI as the next-to-the-last pope before the end of the world, there could be a lot of irrational behavior and general chaos among a lot of people if they believe the end of the world is near, whether it is in fact near or not. That's why I'd like to have a grasp on the details of Catholic eschatology so I'll understand how they might perceive things if or when others start saying that the end of the world might be near.

Upyr1, the notion of the rapture is clear in Scripture, but the idea of a PRE-TRIBULATION rapture has only been around since about the 1830s. ;-) Check out http://www.posttribrapture.com.

Answer 1

The Catholic Church does not accept private revelations, like the prophecy of St. Malachy, to be binding on anyone other than the person to whom they are revealed.

A Catholic could believe in these prophecies if he or she found them persuasive, but could just as well reject them and remain in good standing.

As for the official Church's teachings on the end times, there's not much more than that after a "final trial," the dead will be raised in their "mortal bodies," and Christ will return in glory to judge the living and the dead. Those judged unrighteous will go to hell; those judged righteous will go to "heaven" (with a stop in purgatory if still in need of purification).

"Heaven" is to be understood as the renewal of this material creation, not some kind of over-spiritualized floating in the clouds. It is nonetheless beyond what we can understand.

Answer 2

Pastor Billy says: I'd like you to define what "mainstream Protestant denominations interpret Biblical passages about the end times" is first. I'm praying you don't say dispensationalism with it's version of rapture as this is a creation of less than 150 years ago.

Two, for what final purpose do you wish to establish what you consider a reference of similarities and differences? To what purpose will this be used?

You mention you wish to contrast this information with the bible yet this is not altogether the case, more correctly you wish to contrast any information you gain from Catholic sources with other biblical interpretative traditions.
It is the interpretations you are weighing not whether or not biblical reference is provided and even this is an assumption of the written word being all of revelation.

Finally the first person who answered you, the fallen away Catholic I feel pity for her ignorance. The large majority of Catholics who leave the Church either never knew their Christian faith very well or have problem with it's teaching against sin.

Answer 3

The 2ND site is right on from my point of view. did not go to the first site. I am also a post tribber but like the author of site 2 I don't consider it a salvation issue . As far as the next pope being the last one, it very well could be . I am convinced that we are in the last of the last days . When we see the Gog/Magog war spoken of in Ezekiel 38-39 ( Russia and Iran teamed up with other Islamic nations against Israel) hold onto your hat , because the end is soon to come. Even so come Lord Jesus. I will be interested to see what Catholics do post here. I believe that the great whore/mystery Babylon is Rome/Vatican . No other city has so much blood of the saints on her hands as Rome and the Roman Catholic Church. I also believe there are true Christians inside the Catholic Church in spite of her false doctrines not because of them. This belief is supported by Revelation 18:4

And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.

Good luck and God bless Jesus freaks!

Answer 4

I'm Orthodox my self with a high Anglican background so I am not the best source.First the concept of a rapture is a protestant one the RC in modern times do seem to have some fascination with the secrets of Fatima while in the years before Malachy's vision the stance was simple Christ is coming again and you won't know when...there will be wars roomers of wars plagues and famines and earthquakes and signs in the heavens (astronomical events) but these will pass. but don't read them prophetically for Only God knows when the second comming will be.

Answer 5

I am a Catholic. I have heard about this St Malachy and his prophecies. This is certainly not the teaching of the Catholic Church. I do not know anyone who takes what he said, seriously. He also said the last pope would be named Peter. I think it's a bunch of Irish "malarkey". Check your dictionary for the meaning of this word. For the official teaching of the Church on the last days consult a Catholic catechism.

Answer 6

“I want to understand what Catholic doctrine says about the end times to have a reference point from which I can compare and contrast it to the Bible and try to get Catholics to thinking about what they believe versus what the Bible actually says. I'm not looking to get into a debate over Catholicism.”

By your own words, a debate is exactly what you’re asking for. You wish to learn Catholic doctrine to “compare and contrast it to the bible” to “try to get Catholics to thinking about what they believe versus what the Bible actually says”. You’re already approaching this from the viewpoint that Catholics are wrong and don’t follow the bible. What will you do if you find (and you will) that Catholics DO follow the bible and that Her doctrines ARE scripturally based?

Well, here’s some websites you’ll need: www.catholic.com & www.scripturecatholic.com. Everything is laid out, easy to understand, explains what the Church believes and why.

God bless.

Answer 7

Not sure of the actual Bible passages, but I think it's safe to assume that the earth will die out in 5 Billion years (at the latest). You see The Sun is a yellow, G2 V main sequence dwarf. Yellow dwarfs have a life expectancy of 10 billion years (from zero-age main sequence to white dwarf formation), and our Sun is already about 5 billion years old.

Answer 8

you have the scholarly approach.... me great posts above. if you'd like the "Catholic left behind" take on the "rapture" end times - go to StJudeMedia.com and get the book pierced by a sword. there are two others also - they will give you a simple "story" style read of what can be.

Answer 9

If you want to learn about the catholic position on the rapture, you must read David Currie's "Rapture". It is published by the Sophia Institute Press. Currie is a former fundamentalist missionary (according to the biographical note) who converted to the catholic faith. Good luck on your project.

Answer 10

first permit's set up who a christian is. a christian is a guy or woman who has accomplished what GOD informed US TO DO, that's to settle for christ and ask him to return into our lives and be our very own very own savior. all to many church homes say which you're able to desire to be a member of their church and paintings your thank you to heaven. the catholic church working example. christ tells us that many will cry out " lord, lord did no longer we bypass to church faithfully and do solid works on your call." christ will say i under no circumstances knew you in my opinion. there are christians in all denominations. secondly we could desire to realize that the recent testomony grew to become into written interior the greek language that's an "specific" language---there is not any thank you to misread the greek. working example in 1st Thessalonians financial ruin 4:sixteen we are informed interior the greek that christ will come interior the clouds at mountain precise point and seize up all born lower back believers and do away with them from the earth. he does not come all a thank you to earth at this factor. this is complete so as that the Antichrist can come to skill. the holy spirit should be do away with to permit this to ensue. once you examine the greek that's complicated to misconstrue what that's asserting pertaining to to the tip of this age and the Millenium to return. I quite have discovered that maximum actual bible pupils agree on the tip time eschatology. rank and record "christians" that are no longer quite nicely grounded interior the bible could arise with many diverse recommendations---yet no longer so with actual bible pupils !!!!!!!!!!!!