Victor R. Claveau, MJ
Scripture tells of certain signs, which will precede the Last Day. The Gospel will be preached all over the world.
Mat. 24:14 – And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached throughout the whole world, as a testimony to all nations; and then the end will come.
The great mass of Jews will embrace the Faith.
Rom. 11:25 – Lest you be wise in your own conceits, I want you to understand this mystery, brethren: a hardening has come upon part of Israel, until the full number of the Gentiles come in…
Enoch and Elijah, according to common belief, will appear to preach penance. Some authorities hold that Enoch and Elijah are the “two witnesses” who are to appear with miraculous powers, who are to preach and prophesy in Christ’s name, for three and a half years, just prior to His second coming.
Rev. 11:3-12 – And I will grant my two witnesses power to prophesy for one thousand two hundred and sixty days, clothed in sackcloth. 4 These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands which stand before the Lord of the earth. 5 And if any one would harm them, fire pours out from their mouth and consumes their foes; if any one would harm them, thus he is doomed to be killed. 6 They have power to shut the sky, that no rain may fall during the days of their prophesying, and they have power over the waters to turn them into blood, and to smite the earth with every plague, as often as they desire. 7 And when they have finished their testimony, the beast that ascends from the bottomless pit will make war upon them and conquer them and kill them, 8 and their dead bodies will lie in the street of the great city which is allegorically called Sodom and Egypt, where their Lord was crucified. 9 For three days and a half men from the peoples and tribes and tongues and nations gaze at their dead bodies and refuse to let them be placed in a tomb, 10 and those who dwell on the earth will rejoice over them and make merry and exchange presents, because these two prophets had been a torment to those who dwell on the earth. 11 But after the three and a half days a breath of life from God entered them, and they stood up on their feet, and great fear fell on those who saw them. 12 Then they heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, “Come up hither!” And in the sight of their foes they went up to heaven in a cloud.
Gen. 5:18-24 – When Jared had lived a hundred and sixty-two years he became the father of Enoch. 19 Jared lived after the birth of Enoch eight hundred years, and had other sons and daughters. 20 Thus all the days of Jared were nine hundred and sixty-two years; and he died. 21 When Enoch had lived sixty-five years, he became the father of Methuselah. 22 Enoch walked with God after the birth of Methuselah three hundred years, and had other sons and daughters. 23 Thus all the days of Enoch were three hundred and sixty-five years. 24 Enoch walked with God; and he was not, for God took him.
2 Kings 2:3, 9-10 – And the sons of the prophets who were in Bethel came out to Elisha, and said to him, “Do you know that today the LORD will take away your master from over you?” And he said, “Yes, I know it; hold your peace”. … When they had crossed, Elijah said to Elisha, “Ask what I shall do for you, before I am taken from you”. And Elisha said, “I pray you, let me inherit a double share of your spirit”. 10 And he said, “You have asked a hard thing; yet, if you see me as I am being taken from you, it shall be so for you; but if you do not see me, it shall not be so”.
The Holy City, Jerusalem, with the exception of the temple will be trampled underfoot by heathens. The fate of Jerusalem may be taken as an allegory of the Church of Christ. Another sign is to be a “great apostasy” or a defection from the Church. Natural signs, earthquakes, darkening of the sun, etc. are mentioned by Matthew and Luke.
Mat. 24:8-14 – For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and they will lead many astray. 6 And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars; see that you are not alarmed; for this must take place, but the end is not yet. 7 For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places: 8 all this is but the beginning of the birth-pangs. 9 “Then they will deliver you up to tribulation, and put you to death; and you will be hated by all nations for my name’s sake. 10 And then many will fall away, and betray one another, and hate one another. 11 And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. 12 And because wickedness is multiplied, most men’s love will grow cold. 13 But he who endures to the end will be saved. 14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached throughout the whole world, as a testimony to all nations; and then the end will come.
Lk. 21:7-19 – And they asked him, “Teacher, when will this be, and what will be the sign when this is about to take place?” 8 And he said, “Take heed that you are not led astray; for many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am he!’ and, ‘The time is at hand!’ Do not go after them. 9 And when you hear of wars and tumults, do not be terrified; for this must first take place, but the end will not be at once”. 10 Then he said to them, “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; 11 there will be great earthquakes, and in various places famines and pestilences; and there will be terrors and great signs from heaven. 12 But before all this they will lay their hands on you and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors for my name’s sake. 13 This will be a time for you to bear testimony. 14 Settle it therefore in your minds, not to meditate beforehand how to answer; 15 for I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which none of your adversaries will be able to withstand or contradict. 16 You will be delivered up even by parents and brothers and kinsmen and friends, and some of you they will put to death; 17 you will be hated by all for my name’s sake. 18 But not a hair of your head will perish. 19 By your endurance you will gain your lives.
But concerning that day, no one will know the hour.
Mk. 13:32 – But of that day or that hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.
St. Augustine conjectured an order of events, which is not to be accepted as authorized by the Church, since there is no certain way of knowing the facts. He supposed that Elijah will come first, then the conversion of the Jews, then the persecution of the antichrist, wars, pestilence and famine, Christ’s coming, the Resurrection and separation of the good from the wicked in judgement. Then would follow the conflagration of the world and finally its renovation.
St. Thomas Aquinas supposes a different order, namely, that the action of fire will begin before the judgement. It will, he thinks, thus inflict God’s vengeance upon the wicked, and also serve as purgatorial torment to the imperfect. Further, it will cleanse and renew the world. St. Thomas gathers this from Romans 8:21. His opinions are the most commonly held.
Rom. 8:21 – because the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to decay and obtain the glorious liberty of the children of God.