“In all of Christ’s disciples the Spirit arouses the desire to be peacefully united, in the manner determined by Christ, as one flock under one shepherd. The journey of the Church, especially in our own time, is marked by the sign of ecumenism: Christians are seeking ways to restore that unity which Christ implored from the Father for his disciples on the day before his Passion: ‘That they may all be one; even as you, Father, are in me, and I in you that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me’ (Jn. 17:21). The unity of Christ’s disciples, therefore, is a great sign given in order to kindle faith in the world while their division constitutes a scandal” (Redemptoris Mater, St. John Paul II).
Public revelation in Christ (Apostolic Tradition and Scripture) ALWAYS takes primary place in discerning end times events and prophecies. Not Marian apparitions, contemporary prophets, or fascinating modern predictions.
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LOVE the Word® is a Bible study method based on Mary’s own practice: lectio without the Latin. Get the book based on Sonja’s method in the right margin, How to Pray Like Mary.
Listen (Receive the Word via audio.)
Observe (Connect the passage to your life and recent events.)
“I in them and thou in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that thou hast sent me and hast loved them even as thou hast loved me” (Joh 17:23).
To whom is Jesus speaking, here? What is He talking about in this verse? When Jesus prays, are His prayers always answered? Why? How? Where in your life is there marked disunity? What does this verse say about that?
What are you thinking and feeling as you re-read Jesus’ prayer, above? What do you want to say to Him about that?
Verbalize (Pray about your thoughts and emotions.)
Remembering that He loves you and that you are in His presence, talk to God about the particulars of your O – Observe step. You may want to write your reflections in your LOVE the Word® journal. Or, get a free journal page and guide in the right-hand margin.
Entrust (May it be done to me according to your word!)
Come, Lord Jesus, come! Amen +
What we discussed | Show Notes
Scripture References for the Show
Revelation 2-3, 11, 17
Daniel 7
Overview:
Minutes 00:12:00 – Update to 2021 current events
Minutes 12:01-24:00 – Prophecies from the Deposit of Faith, Church Fathers, and Church history; the seven churches in Revelation as the seven eras of Church history
Minutes 24:01-36:00 – Era of the Father, the OT; Era of the Son, the Gospels and the Church to the present; Era of the Holy Spirit and Mary, the Age of Peace/Era of Peace/Great Revival/Second Harvest/New Evangelization
Minutes 36:01-48:00 – Second Ecumenical Council during the Era of Peace, characteristics of that era
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 the proper interpretation is not either history or prophecy, but both history and prophecy, as biblical prophecy and apocalyptic literature always is: there is usually more than one fulfillment of prophecy.
Because much of eschatology is a matter of speculative theology, we are free to ruminate and speculate.
Resources
How to read St. John’s Apocalypse, or the Book of Revelation
As History
- AD 63-64 St. Peter is crucified upside-down by Nero
- AD 66 Jewish revolt against Florus spreads throughout Judea in “Jewish War”
- AD 68 Nero commits suicide
- AD 69 Gospel of Mark written
- 70 Romans sack and burn Jerusalem, complete destruction of Old Covenant “world”
- 73 Jews at Masada commit suicide
- 75 Book of Hebrews written
- 85-90 Gospels Matthew and Luke and Book of Acts written
- 90-95 Gospel of John completed
- 93 Josephus writes Antiquities of the Jews, a Jewish history through post-biblical times
- 95 John exiled to Patmos, writes his revelations
As the Heavenly Liturgy
- Revelation 1:1-11:18 Liturgy of the Word
- Revelation 11:19-22:21 Liturgy of the Eucharist
As Eschatological (see Major Chastisement references, below)
Catholic Eschatology Timeline
The events in the first section are conditional on repentance and could happen in any order, and I would argue much of it has already happened.
Minor Chastisement or Tribulation (conditional, and mostly part of approved private revelations, such as Fatima, Lourdes, Betania, and Sallette)
Western Church scourged with heresy
Civil wars in Italy and France, then England
Famine, pestilence, natural disasters
Muslim ascendency
Russia invades Europe
Pope flees Rome, is murdered
Great saint elected Pope, helps bring great military leader to ascendancy
Military leader defeats all enemies, including Russians and Muslims
Special interior illumination that inspires conversions
Age of Peace (Age of the Holy Spirit & Mary, public and private revelation)
Time of normalcy for repentance (2 Thess 2:7; Matt. 24:37-39; Luke 17:26-30)
Establishment of New Roman Empire (Dan. 2)
Restoration of Catholic faith and practice over whole earth
Pope calls Ecumenical Council
People prosper, Church prospers, faith prospers
Then: people grow lax
Universal apostasy (2 Thess. 2:2-3)
Major Chastisement or Great Tribulation (public revelation)
Ten kingdoms of new HRE dismantled, three are crushed (Dan. 7-8)
False prophet comes to power, prepares way for supreme and final Antichrist (Rev. 13)
3 ½ reign of Supreme Antichrist, severe persecution of Christians, some say he will be Jewish from tribe of Dan (Gen 49:17, Jer 8:16)
“Two Witnesses,” possibly Enoch and Elijah, preach Gospel throughout earth (Rev. 11)
Mass conversion of Jews and conversion of nations (Rom. 11)
Antichrist murders two witnesses who are resurrected (Rev 11)
Antichrist attempts “Ascension” (Dan 8:25, Is 14)
Then: death of Antichrist by St. Michael the Archangel (Is 14)
“Immediately after” (Matt 24:29), three days of darkness and the Parousia!
CCC 568-573, Resurrection of the Dead and Judgment, New Heaven and New Earth (Rev. 20-21)
Trial, Tribulation, and Triumph: Before, During, and After Antichrist, by Desmond Birch
Early Church (Ante-Nicene Fathers
‘In things of faith and morals, the true sense of Holy Scripture is held by the Church, whose place it is to judge the interpretation of the Scriptures (1 Tim 3:15); and it is permitted to no one to interpret Holy Scripture against such sense or against the unanimous agreement of the Fathers'( 34). ‘What can be a greater sign of pride than to refuse to study the Books of the divine mysteries by the help of those who have interpreted them?’ (37, Providentissimus Deus).
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