Читать книгу Catholicism For Dummies - Rev. Kenneth Brighenti - Страница 65

Catholics believe that Jesus died on Good Friday, rose from the dead on Easter Sunday, and 40 days later ascended into heaven. They also believe there will be a Second Coming of Christ to mark the end times. He will not be born as a baby again. Instead, He will return to earth as a full-grown man, the same as He was when He ascended into heaven. The first time around, He entered the world in abject poverty and humility. He will return as the victorious conqueror of sin, death, and the devil.

Before the Second Coming of Christ, which will usher in the end times, these things will happen:

 All Gentiles will be united in the Church.

 All Jews will be one in the Messiah’s salvation.

 The Church will be assailed one last time by the Antichrist, who will try to sway many people by deception.

 Christ will be victorious over this final unleashing of evil through a cosmic battle (Armageddon).

Notice that this list does not mention the rapture (a belief that certain “chosen” people will be taken up to heaven before the Second Coming of Christ) nor a reign of a thousand years of the Evil One (the Antichrist). That’s because the Catholic Church does not ascribe to these beliefs, which tend to be held more frequently by some evangelical Christians.

The tribulation of the church by the Antichrist may last a short or long period of time; the jury is out on that one. There will be a test of faith and a battle for souls. The end will happen when the Second Coming of Christ takes place and the Antichrist and the Whore of Babylon (the Antichrist’s accomplice, who is mentioned in the Book of Revelation, or the Apocalypse) are defeated and vanquished.