The end, the last days, the rapture?

This weekend's readings from Daniel and the 13th chapter of St. Mark, as well as our upcoming Advent reading from the 21st chapter of St. Luke, give rise to discussion about the second coming of Jesus and the end of the world. Often, introduced to this discussion, is a question about the rapture. Many have read the books or watched the movie series called Left Behind. It is very important to understand the Church's teachings about such subject matter.

First it is important to know what living in the end times really refers to. The end times refers to the New Covenant and the gathering of God's people in the Church. The Apostle's referred to it in Scripture, the Church fathers taught about it throughout the ages and we preach it today. But Catholic understanding of the end times differs greatly from the belief in the rapture.

The rise in interest in the rapture is credited to the Left Behind series. In the rapture there will be this secret snatching up or disappearance act of true believers only. The rest are left behind. After 7 years of tribulation, Christ then will come again to reign on earth from his headquarters in Jerusalem. This almost sounds like his 3rd coming?

Amazingly, despite a 2,000 year church, established by Christ himself endowed with a teaching authority, we don't hear of a dispensational view of the rapture until 1830 by a disgruntled Anglican priest. This dispensationalist view, which is at odds with traditional Catholicism, is then picked up by 20 and 21st century fundemantalist and evangelicals.

Let's look next at eschatology, the study of last things. Those who follow dispensationalism believe God has two people, the Church and Israel. The Catholic Church teaches one people, one family, and has done so for 2,000 years. The Catholic Church is also intimately related to the Kingdom of God and is endowed with four marks; one, holy, catholic and apostolic. Because of her, the Kingdom of Heaven and the Reign of God already exists. The Kingdom is not yet complete. The Church is the kingdom's beginning, inaugurated by Christ. The Church still awaits the eschatological manifestation.

Those who believe in the rapture believe the Kingdom is a 1,000 year reign. This is millennialism; soundly rejected by Catholicism. St. Augustine clarified this as early as the late 300's.

So cutting to the chase, the Catholic Church rejects the secret rapture. She does teach that Jesus will physically and visibly return to earth. Rapture has become then a term owned and copyrighted by dispensationalists. The secret snatching away is distict from the second coming.

The church clearly teaches that there will be a second coming and the fulfillment of the Kingdom that has already begun in the Church.

So we still ask, are we living in the end times? Yes. Does that mean the end is near or we can predict it? No. Just ask Nostradamus, if you could. As I said in today's homily; let God be God; let the end happen and be prepared and live your life to the fullest.

* Based on "Are We Living in the Last Days? by Carl E. Olson via Catholic Education Resource Center.