LOVE the Word®

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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.)

“Therefore you also must be ready; for the Son of man is coming at an hour you do not expect. Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom his master has set over his household, to give them their food at the proper time? Blessed is that servant whom his master when he comes will find so doing. Truly, I say to you, he will set him over all his possessions.

But if that wicked servant says to himself, ‘My master is delayed,’ and begins to beat his fellow servants, and eats and drinks with the drunken, the master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he does not know, and will punish him, and put him with the hypocrites; there men will weep and gnash their teeth” (Matt 24:45-51).

Observe (Connect the passage to your life and recent events.)

Using all your senses, try to imagine Jesus coming to your home as the Master of your household the way He says it will happen in this passage. What do you see as He comes to your house? What do you hear? What are your thoughts and feelings as He approaches? What does He find? What does He say to you?

What is the faithful servant supposed to be doing in this scenario of Jesus’ Second Coming? What is the food He speaks of? What are the rewards and punishments spoken of here? Why is the wicked servant a hypocrite?

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!)

Jesus, I believe. Help my unbelief (Mark 9:24)! Amen +

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.

What we discussed | Show Notes

Scripture References for the Show

Revelation 1:11, 17-19, Jesus is the Alpha and Omega; Α Ω; protos and eschatos

Daniel 2:33 & 41-45, There will be a last “Holy Roman Empire” (which we have not seen yet).

Matthew 24:14, the “Little Apocalypse”: the gospel will be preached throughout the world until the “fullness of the Gentiles” has been reached, from Muslim, atheism, and other religions (Rom 11:25).

Romans 9-11, Israel accepts Jesus as their Messiah

Romans 11:12, the full number of the gentiles and the full inclusion of the Jews in salvation will enable the people of God to reach the “measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ” in which God will be “all in all” (Eph 4:13; 1 Cor 15:27-28; CCC 674)

Revelation 13, Daniel 7-8, 2 Thess 2, The final trial, a Major Chastisement or Great Tribulation, constituted by a religious deception involving a social justice humanitarianism, or  secular utopianism. At this time the last Holy Roman Empire will be divided into “ten kingdoms,” and dismantled by a great, evil military and political leader. Three of the ten “kingdoms” will not go along with it, and will be crushed.

The Parousia, or the Second Coming and Final Judgment.

How to read St. John’s Apocalypse, or the Book of Revelation

Revelation is first of all liturgical and historical.

History and Timeline

• 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

Resources

Catholic Eschatology Timeline

Each section could happen in any order. 

• Minor Chastisement or Tribulation (conditional, and mostly part of private revelation)

1. Western Church scourged with heresy
2. Civil wars in Italy and France, then England
3. Famine, pestilence, natural disasters
4. Muslim ascendency
5. Russia invades Europe
6. Pope flees Rome, is murdered
7. Great saint elected Pope, helps bring great military leader to ascendancy
8. Military leader defeats all enemies, including Russians and Muslims
9. Special interior illumination that inspires conversions

• Age of Peace (Age of the Holy Spirit & Mary, public and private revelation)1. Time of normalcy for repentance (2 Thess 2:7; Matt. 24:37-39; Luke 17:26-30)
  2. Establishment of New Roman Empire (Dan. 2)
  3. Restoration of Catholic faith and practice over whole earth
  4. Pope calls Ecumenical Council
  5. People prosper, Church prospers, faith prospers
  6. People grow lax
  7. Universal apostasy (2 Thess. 2:2-3)
• Major Chastisement or Great Tribulation (public revelation)

1. Ten kingdoms of new HRE dismantled, three are crushed (Dan. 7-8)
2. False prophet comes to power, prepares way for supreme and final Antichrist (Rev. 13)
3. 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)
4. “Two Witnesses,” possibly Enoch and Elijah, preach Gospel throughout earth (Rev. 11)
5. Mass conversion of Jews and conversion of nations (Rom. 11)
6. Antichrist murders two witnesses who are resurrected (Rev 11)
7. Antichrist attempts “Ascension” (Dan 8:25, Is 14)
8. Death of Antichrist by St. Michael the Archangel (Is 14)
9. “Immediately after” (Matt 24:29), three days of darkness and the Parousia!
10. CCC 568-573, Resurrection of the Dead and Judgment, New Heaven and New Earth (Rev. 20-21)

Overview:

Minutes 00:12:00 – Prophecy and the Catholic Church, which prophecies are trustworthy

Minutes 12:01-24:00 – Millenarianism and the “rapture”; proper interpretation

Minutes 24:01-36:00 – Minor chastisement, era of peace, major chastisement; “end of the world” as destruction of the Jewish Temple with history timeline

Minutes 36:01-48:00 – Catholic eschatology timeline

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