• whotookkarl@lemmy.world
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    4 days ago

    Christianity at its foundation is an apocalyptic religion, more so in Mark than the later gospels but it’s there in all 4 of them and comes back in full force in revelations which are all part of the Catholic canonical Bible. The specific details of what the end times will look like beyond what it says in the Bible differs greatly between different sects of Christianity, but they all predict some sort of divine apocalypse.

    The mythical narrative is humanity doomed itself (Adam and Eve committing original sin dooming their progeny), Jesus came and erased that doom (by sacrificing himself to himself), and said he’ll be back (within the apostles lifetime) to bring the end times and utopia for Christians.

    Edit: Catholic doctrine regarding the apocalypse: https://www.catholic.com/encyclopedia/apocalypse

    And some of the predictions attributed to Jesus in Matthew as signs of the end is nigh: https://www.catholic365.com/article/40494/decoding-the-signs-the-catholic-perspective-on-end-times.html

    • Maggoty@lemmy.world
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      4 days ago

      The Catholic Church does not believe Revelations is a prophecy. Here is the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops explainer.

      The Book of Revelation cannot be adequately understood except against the historical background that occasioned its writing. Like Daniel and other apocalypses, it was composed as resistance literature to meet a crisis. The book itself suggests that the crisis was ruthless persecution of the early church by the Roman authorities; the harlot Babylon symbolizes pagan Rome, the city on seven hills (Rev 17:9). The book is, then, an exhortation and admonition to Christians of the first century to stand firm in the faith and to avoid compromise with paganism, despite the threat of adversity and martyrdom; they are to await patiently the fulfillment of God’s mighty promises. The triumph of God in the world of men and women remains a mystery, to be accepted in faith and longed for in hope. It is a triumph that unfolded in the history of Jesus of Nazareth and continues to unfold in the history of the individual Christian who follows the way of the cross, even, if necessary, to a martyr’s death.

      The most we get as Catholics, if we bother the priests about it, is to not worry about it as long as we live properly. To try and bring it about or figure out when it would be is literally heresy.