+In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit +

Heavenly Father,
At the beginning of this new year, we are filled with anticipation
and gratitude for the coming of Your Son, our Lord, Jesus Christ.
O Lord,
We are weak, limited, and imperfect. Help us to keep this a season
of growth in prayer, strengthened in hope, and persistent in faith.
Help us always to be renewed and restored by Your grace and Your
love.
Bring us to this Holy Sacrifice of the Altar with contrite hearts and
afflicted spirits to be nourished by Your Body and Blood, that we
may always be united to You in faith, hope, and love.
In the powerful name of Jesus, we pray. Amen.

+In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit +

 

A few weeks ago I read these theological beliefs on some of the major religions on the Second Coming and I thought they would be worthwhile to pass on. 

They include our Catholic belief and those of the Episcopal Church, Church of Jesus Latter-Day Saints, Jewish, Southern Baptist, Shiite Islam, and Sunni Islam. 

CATHOLIC-Christ will literally come again, but the tim- ing is entirely up to Him. The 1,000 year reign of Christ described in Revelation 20:7 is generally viewed as tak- ing place now, as Christ reigns in heaven and on earth through His church. There will be a final unleashing of the force of evil before the Second Coming, and a time of crisis and testing. Catholics do not generally use the term "Rapture" which occurs at the very end. 

EPISCOPAL CHURCH-Christ is already reigning over His church in heaven. There will be a Tribulation and a lit- eral Second Coming of Christ. The time of Christ's re- turn is unknown. Christ will return to judge mankind, ushering in the New Heaven and New Earth. 

CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS— Christ will come again, and His return will begin a 1,000- year reign on earth. The righteous need not fear the signs and turmoil that precede the Second Coming. 

JEWISH-Moshiach (literally the source of the word "Messiah") will arise as a great, pious leader and judge. He will be human and/or divine. He will preside over an era of peace and righteousness. He may come to save Israel from great armies arrayed against it, or come sooner if Jews deserve it. 

SOUTHERNBAPTIST-There will be a literal Second Coming of Jesus Christ on earth. Most Southern Baptists believe a 1,000-year reign of peace will follow the return of Christ and believers will be taken up before the end-time troubles begin. Many also believe the rapture will come after the Tribulation. 

SHIITE ISLAM-The messianic figure, or Mahdi, is a specific historic personage, Muhammad al-Mahdi, who was born in the 9th century. Adherents of "Twelver Shiite" Islam maintain al-Mahdi currently still exists, but is hidden. They teach that he will re-emerge at the appointed time of ghaybah, or Armageddon. Until then, Iran's Ayatollahs will serve as caretaker Imams, preserving his office. 

SUNNI ISLAM-The Yawm ad-Din will be the final Day of Judgment for humanity. Signs of the end of time have been given, but the timing has not been specified. The Tribulation is described in the hadith. The judgment time will experience great turmoil, and Mahdi will do battle with the Antichrist. This will be followed by a time of peace and piety. 

Note: The sources for these statements came from Catholic Answers; Episcopal priest and author Christopher Weber, Orthodox Union; Oxford Encyclopedia of Islam; and Encyclopedia of the Quran. 

A copy of this week's bulletin can also be found on our parish website on the home page.

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