1. The DEVIL, the ANTI-CHRIST and the END TIMES.
Recently, these three topics have hugged the posts of bloggers and with good reason. They are inter-connected in some way. The devil is scary, the anti-christ is scarier and the end time is scariest. Or another way of putting it is: the devil will possess the anti-christ and together they would devastate the world initiating the end times scenario with God throwing them down as the first inhabitants of hell. What? There is no one in hell yet? Not even Hitler? Right. No one is in hell yet. They are all waiting in Hades, a waiting place for those going to hell; as paradise is a waiting place for those going to heaven, though the greater saints are already in heaven. And where are all those devils? Well, all around us here on earth. Now you know why the world is in such a mess.
2. Most information about these topics are from Protestant writings which has no theological interconnection. While Catholic writings on the matter has a theological explanation that gives meaning to the entire picture. Most of what we know about the end times are from the writings of the Fathers of the Church.
2. This is the background to understand present events.
There are many happenings today which we will never understand unless we view them from the back drop of the final days. The tsunamis, the burning forests, the impending clash of civilizations, the hurricanes, man’s cruelty to man, why Cardinal Ratzinger took the name Benedict, the abandoning of the flock by the shepherds.
3. The return to DEVIL topics.
A few movies had returned to the devil-exorcist episodes. That’s good. We are just being reminded by a fact of existence which men would rather relegate to the unconscious. But it is as foolish as denying the fact that we have cancer. The denial is a personal tragedy. Scriptures remind us that the devil exist like a roaring lion seeking whom to devour. Now, to put his existence aside would be falling into his trap.
4. The Anti-Christ.
We are told that at the end times, the head of the devilry will enter a choiced subject, the anti-christ, an ordinary man, born of a prostitute, but will be the epitome of evil. He will appear as the Mr. Nice Guy, a stunning statesman who will win the world’s favor. He is an Israelite. (And here is the reason why all eyes should be in the middle east.)
4. The middle east will dictate the course of event in the history of the world (not the U.S. which can easily be paralyzed with one or two more hurricanes) from henceforward. He will rebuild the Temple, fulfilling the eschatological dimension of Catholic Liturgy and signaling the end times. Scared enough? Well, the exorcism movie is nothing compared to what is coming.
5. The End times.
Martyrdom will be the daily fare of the Catholic Church once more. The blood of martyrs will flow because of the intensity of the persecution as has already been happening. The state will use a highly developed art of torture in an attempt to destroy the faith. Even Cardinal Bifi sent a warning signal with regard to the anti-Christ who should be existing by now, he says. And with all the happenings in Israel that is causing so much dissatisfaction, the Jews are raring to proclaim anyone as messiah. Sounds like the devil let loose? Well, Scriptures described it as the unchaining of Lucifer. And I thought he was on the loose all the time. No! Only the small fries were on the loose. The Big Boss was chained for a while to allow the Catholic Church to strengthen herself after she weakened considerably at the time of Arius, the Greek Schism and specially after Martin Luther. She has to regain some strength before the last bout. Like her Master, she must undergo her own Calvary to perfect her Love. Then her final test and virgin wedding with the Bridegroom.
5.Nice horror or exorcist movie? Yeah, except it is real, the world is the theatre and you one of the actor and heaven and hell waiting for the result of the last battle.
6. Is there anyway we can be spared from the tribulations of these last days? Yes. Join the Woman in the desert. Pope John Paul II, in a trip to Australia said that we must prepare ourselves for repentance by going to the desert. Lapsus linguae? Popes don’t go lapsus when they speak. They usually go infallibilis.
7. Is there a conspiracy going on?
Let’s see it this way. The devil knows the end times is near because he just got chained and released. That means the Church is strong enough for the last bout with him. His small fries were left by God on the loose yet he was chained. Now, that got him angry, very angry. So he gathers evil men to fill the world with mischiefs. This will win him a lot of souls because man loves mischiefs. Then he reads from the bloggers the prophecy of St. Malachy (the devil cannot read from holy books) that Pope Benedict is the second to the last Pope and took the name Benedict because an angel prophesied to St. Benedict that his children will do battle with the forces of evil at the end times. Is this why Pope Benedict encouraged the Youth to a life of martyrdom?
8. So the devil prepares his posture. He tempts the majority of mankind. Then commands his cohorts of devil to possess certain souls and go around marking weak and sinful souls with 666. These guys will be so scary many will not be able to refuse.
9. Gee whizzz… what am I saying?
We should suspect that it might be accounting time. Every time and any time is accounting time. But the eschatological dimension of these days should have a deeper meaning for us all. As Vatican II proposed: we should return to the primitive Church. Because that was the only time the Church had five talents and gave back five more talents and praised by the Master with the words “Good and faithful servant……” (Painting above is the “Martyrdom of St. Stephen”).