Can we know Roughly when the Great Tribulation could start?

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revert_jen said:
My personal opinion is that there are at least three places in the Gospels where Jesus says we will not know ahead of time when it is (Mt. 24:37-44, Mt. 25:13, Mk. 13:32-37), so I don’t think we will know. Also, there were apparently a large number of people who were certain that Jesus would return at the end of the millennium–the first millennium, in 1000 AD. 🙂 And very many times since then.

I’m pretty sure that the official Catholic teaching is that we will not know ahead of time, too (CCC #673), but I welcome correction by anyone who knows more about it.

I don’t think there is anything wrong with speculating about when Jesus will return, I just think it is pointless. It would be wrong to preach it in homilies except to mention it as a theory, since that is all it is, and not an official Church teaching.

Just MHO, though.

–Jen
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People always seem to forget Jesus gave us very specific signs and warnings to watch for, so we WOULD KNOW when we were in these times, while its true NO ONE can know the exact day, or hour, I believe we should be knowledgeable enough to see when these signs Jesus spoke of, are taking place.

Many people also respond to this with ‘oh but things like this have happened all thru out history’, but not all at the same time, which is what we are seeing in the world now…I mean, its not tough at all, I can post the signs and warnings Jesus spoke of, just watch the news on any given night and compare notes…pretty simple imo…(shrugs?)
 
mikekle said:
Many people also respond to this with ‘oh but things like this have happened all thru out history’, but not all at the same time, which is what we are seeing in the world now
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No, what you’re saying is precisely what people have said throughout all time: “there’s never been a time like this! The signs are aligning! The end is near!” 😉

Here’s the thing: the signs that Jesus gave – natural disaster, war, famine – are all things that always been around! It’s like as if Jesus had said, “On the day that I return, the sun will rise in the east! Be ready! Keep watchful!” Then, any day that the sun rises, we can say, “it might be today!” That’s the beauty of the ‘signs’: they tell us that today could be the day (or tomorrow, or a week from now…) – so Jesus’ message really means “be ready today” and nothing more…
 
Gorgias said:
No, what you’re saying is precisely what people have said throughout all time: “there’s never been a time like this! The signs are aligning! The end is near!” 😉

Here’s the thing: the signs that Jesus gave – natural disaster, war, famine – are all things that always been around! It’s like as if Jesus had said, “On the day that I return, the sun will rise in the east! Be ready! Keep watchful!” Then, any day that the sun rises, we can say, “it might be today!” That’s the beauty of the ‘signs’: they tell us that today could be the day (or tomorrow, or a week from now…) – so Jesus’ message really means “be ready today” and nothing more…
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I have “grown” to view it this way. I now look at what he said to mean “the sky will still be up and the ground will still be down”.
 
Mr_Clean said:
I have “grown” to view it this way. I now look at what he said to mean “the sky will still be up and the ground will still be down”.
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Here’s the thing: the signs that Jesus gave – natural disaster, war, famine – are all things that always been around! It’s like as if Jesus had said, “On the day that I return, the sun will rise in the east! Be ready! Keep watchful!” Then, any day that the sun rises, we can say, “it might be today!” That’s the beauty of the ‘signs’: they tell us that today could be the day (or tomorrow, or a week from now…) – so Jesus’ message really means “be ready today” and nothing more…
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👍 You two are a breath of sanity & fresh air!
 
Gorgias said:
OK, gotcha. So, you’re calling for homilies on the “final trial”, not on the “Great Tribulation”. Makes sense. 👍
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Yes, exactly. Not all the time, of course, but the occasional one might be a good idea.
Gorgias said:
It doesn’t. Yet, preaching the ‘end times’, when a person doesn’t have a grip on Christ’s message of love, isn’t really helpful, don’t you think?
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Well, no, it wouldn’t be, if it were the case that no regular-Mass-attending Catholics understood the message of the Gospel. But I think that, as there are different levels of conversion (of heart) in any congregation, there should be different levels of homily, so that everyone finds something sometimes that is relevant to their condition. I also think that a lot of the Catholics who (for instance) do not understand the meaning of the Eucharist, do not attend Mass regularly. It is of first importance that these people come to a correct understanding of this, but if they’re not at Mass, they’re not going to get it from homilies. That doesn’t mean that we shouldn’t have homilies where it is taught, of course, because we all need reminders, and also the Eucharist is beautiful to contemplate. It just means that the specific problem may need to be solved some other way, although I’m not sure what that way is exactly.
Gorgias said:
Agreed. Even in leading Bible studies, it’s surprised me how many Catholics think all that Rapture stuff is not only true, but also actually is taught by the Church. One of the reasons I was once given was, “well, I never heard a priest preach from the pulpit that it’s not true!” :sad_yes:
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Well, there are lots of things that aren’t true that never get refuted in homilies, but I’m sure there are a lot of people who feel that way. The Left Behind series was very popular, and the idea of the rapture, and the idea of the seven seals and seven cups and so on (if taken literally), are very visual and relatively easy to understand/embrace. I can’t say, though, that even before I returned to the Church, that I found them to be really likely. I don’t know why, though, except unless it was just the Holy Spirit protecting me (unworthy though I am).

–Jen
 
Tom_Baum said:
I haven’t read the whole thing, the site you posted, but do you think God has read the whole thing and agrees with it 100%?
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Well, considering God’s omniscience, I would say, while God hasn’t “read” the article in a normal sense, God does know what information is contained therein, in its entirety.

Does God agree with it 100%? Well, it has received ecclesiastical approbation, which is a good indication, though not perfect, that what’s contained in it is true.Therefore, I have very little reason to believe God disagrees with any of it.
 
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