Are We in the End Times?

t used to be that apocalyptic talk was relegated to the fringes of society. But a recent study indicates that about a third of Americans believe we’re living in the End Times. In March, Putin’s Kremlin announced that we were in the Last Days, with the current war simmering in the Middle East; and Peter Theil, from Palantir, has been holding a series of discussions about the Antichrist. Catholics, too, are sounding the alarm: Fr. Chad Ripperger, Catholic author Mark Mallett, and many other sane and holy individuals are indicating that world events might be drawing toward a dramatic climax.

Are we in the “end times”? That is a question that has been asked in every age. We believe, as Christians, that human history is not just a series of meaningless, random events; rather, we are part of a Larger Story—one that is being written by God and is accomplishing His purposes. Every story has a Beginning (Creation and the Fall), a Middle (Christ’s Incarnation and Paschal Mystery), and an End (Christ’s triumphal return). So, are we in the End? The End Times: A Guide... Gillette, Britt Check Amazon for Pricing.

We are certainly well past the middle—about 2,000 years past the middle—which is about how far Abraham was from Christ, historically. The question that no one knows is how close we are to the end. It could be a year, five years, a hundred years, a thousand years. In my personal opinion, it will not happen in my lifetime.

But “the end” is not just a moment, it is a process. In a sense, one could trace the beginning of “the end” back to the 1400s with the rise of the Renaissance, a system that began to take the attention off of God and put it back on man, seeing the creature without a relation to the Creator.

Thinking of ourselves in “the end” is, to me, just situating ourselves in the Larger Story. We talk about the mundane and the boring nature of our everyday lives—and certainly all of our lives are full of mundane, boring things. But they are not unimportant things.

Many years ago, my sister and I went to go see the first Lord of the Rings together in the movie theater. We were driving home and gazing into a brilliant sunset when she sighed deeply and said, “Oh, I wish life could be like that! An epic quest, a thrilling adventure!” I’ve often used that quote in talks that I’ve given because I think it was a profound insight into the human heart.

Human beings want to know that their life is not just a random chance accident, that our presence here on this planet isn’t just unnoticed and unimportant. This desire of the human heart was placed there by God because we do play an irreplaceable role in a grand epic—the epic of Salvation History. So those mundane, boring tasks, when seen through that lens, take on monumental significance.

Consider: when a mother cleans a dirty diaper or makes dinner for her kids, she is taking care of the physical needs of an immortal soul who will someday spend eternity as an eternal triumph of glory or an everlasting tragedy of horror. These immortal souls in your house will someday either advance the Kingdom of God here on earth, taking back ground for the King, or they will participate in the Kingdom’s further destruction. All of the mundane tasks that we do have ramifications in history and into eternity. We are part of an epic tale, a battle between good and evil, which is fought in every soul, in every home, in every nation, in every age. The End Times in Chron... Rhodes, Ron Check Amazon for Pricing.

And so I do find it spiritually helpful to be aware of what role we might be playing at this critical juncture in history. One thing that such reflections have taught me is how much of the stuff I worry about on a daily basis won’t matter in the grand scheme of things. That traffic jam, that jaywalker, that worry about money—will it matter if the end is near? After all, whether or not the end of the world is near, the end of my world is near and guaranteed. Apocalyptic thinking is just memento mori writ large. It helps me to remember that life is bigger than my petty worries and that I have to focus on the truly important things—being ready for when Christ comes for me.

When I became a priest, one thing that struck me deeply is how much our liturgy talks about Christ’s Second Coming. I never really noticed it until I started celebrating Mass, but all of the Eucharistic prayers and the Memorial Acclamations—and even much of the New Testament—is all about awaiting His return. We are an eschatological people, always looking for the culmination of all things.

In a sense, Christ’s death on the Cross was an incomplete redemption—not that He has to add anything to it, but sin continues to multiply even with the tremendous outpouring of grace. The Cross allowed us to be reconciled to God if we respond to the grace—but He has not yet exercised His full dominion over creation. The dominion is His, but He awaits the fulfillment of all things in order to display His full might and power. That is why the Church has cried in every age, “Maranatha! Come, Lord Jesus!” As Catholics, we are all longing for that day when His redemption will be complete, when “the last enemy to be destroyed is death” (1 Corinthians 15:26).

As we await that final victory, Christ calls us to be vigilant and to observe the signs of the times. Every age has had to wrestle with the question, “Is the end near?” Our age is no different. And so prophets, and wise men, and those who have the mind of Christ would do well to continue to discern that question.

I do think there are some fundamental differences between our age and the ages past (stay tuned for Part 2), but every person in every age is called to discern wisely the signs of the times. Although we can’t draw any solid conclusions yet, we should always prayerfully consider the evidence in geopolitics and the philosophical winds that blow. I think it can be quite helpful, spiritually. Consider the number of times we are called in Scripture to be vigilant, watchful, keeping our spiritual eyes open—it’s a constant theme in the New Testament. Men’s Daily Mult... Buy New $19.97 (as of 05:34 UTC - Details)

Rather than taking us away from the duties of our state in life, consideration of “the end” can help us to perform our duties with more diligence, knowing that if we are half-hearted or sleepy, the Bridegroom will return and leave those foolish virgins outside. If I (wrongly) believe that my life is just full of boring, meaningless things, or that Christ’s coming is so delayed that I will always have time to repent and draw close to Him, then He will arrive like a thief in the night. This is true not just for each individual but for the world as well. Is the Church ready? Is the world ready? If not, what do we need to do to prepare ourselves for His coming?

Recently, someone asked me, “Didn’t every age think they were in the End Times? What makes this age different from every other age?” I thought that was a very good question—one that deserved a response.

I do think that there are fundamental differences between life as we see it now in the 21st century versus life throughout history. It’s not simply a matter of “more sin” or different kinds of sin; there was always lust, greed, violence, and even drugs throughout history. Various cultures have been equally depraved. Atheism has been around for a long time. The devaluation of human life dates back to Cain and Abel. So, it’s not just a matter of “sex, drugs, and rock & roll” being the defining factor of our age.

No, I think there are philosophical and anthropological trends which are far more prevalent that make this a profoundly unique time in human history.

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