Recognising Christ returned

[stpurl]

Right, angels are pure spirits. However, this is the Second Coming and we have Scriptural evidence that when angels are needed to be ‘seen’ they are, indeed, seen. Of course it is entirely possible that a spiritual being who exists ‘out of time’ as angels do will ‘cast a shadow’ if they ‘enter into’ time, just as a stone thrown into water will cast ripples.

 

[Emeraldlady]

Right, angels are pure spirits. However, this is the Second Coming and we have Scriptural evidence that when angels are needed to be ‘seen’ they are, indeed, seen.

But the evidence shows that it requires discernment to recognise ‘seen’ angels. They aren’t just evident by sight alone.

Heb 13 2 Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by doing that some have entertained angels without knowing it.

 

[Vico]

Right, angels are pure spirits. However, this is the Second Coming and we have Scriptural evidence that when angels are needed to be ‘seen’ they are, indeed, seen. Of course it is entirely possible that a spiritual being who exists ‘out of time’ as angels do will ‘cast a shadow’ if they ‘enter into’ time, just as a stone thrown into water will cast ripples.

Tobit, for example, although a teaching story.

 

[JosephDColeman]

But when He comes again–and this is pretty specific and Scriptural–the coming will be heralded with trumpets, will flash across the entire horizon, and He will return with His angels and at the head of a mighty army of same.

I’m not sure that’s how it will literally look, though. If we look at Acts 2:16-21 it would appear that Peter is applying the prophecy of Joel to the coming of the Spirit at Pentecost…and the propecy mentioned things like:

The sun will be turned to darkness
and the moon to blood
before the coming of the great and glorious day of the Lord.

I’m no theologian or Bible scholar, though. I also don’t know the Church’s teaching on this.

However, it is interesting to note that even though it’s easy to look at the old testament and recognize Christ in it, it’s easier to discern the details of prophecy after the fact…

 

[Beryllos]

Christian unity has been an overriding mission of Vatican II of course and that goal permeates every endeavour of the Church since then. From Unitatis redintegratio 1964…

Ah, when I read your earlier post about preparing as a Body for Christ’s coming, somehow I didn’t even think of the unity of Christian churches and ecclesial congregations. I was thinking only of the individual being part of the Body and worshiping and serving as one, which also seems a distant goal.

As I see my children really loving God and striving admirably, my heart has increased to desire that I would wish everyone I know to march together towards that one goal as well. Then there is that increasing desire that the whole of humanity that God made and loves equally, how can we continue to march without all His children with us.

This is closer to my way of thinking about Christian unity, person to person, like a family. Thank you for expressing/describing it so well!

 

[Tis_Bearself]

It seems (to me) that our faith is quite an individual and personal thing. We make moral choices as individuals, and we are judged as individuals.

Yeah, same here. I do pray for other members of the Body and hope to reunite especially with those members I was connected to in life and whom I grieve for or miss.

But I can’t take responsibility for unifying everybody, other than by praying for unification, praying for others, and trying to act in a Christlike way that doesn’t sow division. Sometimes I fail on that last point but I keep trying.

I also don’t think my personal judgment is going to be made with me being part of a “Body” that gets judged all together. It’s always been about individual souls. One will be taken and one will be left.

And then the document goes on to basically compel Catholics to always be seeking reunion without extinguishing the hearth of Truth.

Well, yeah, sure…
I already married a Protestant in the Church, thus increasing his personal communion with the Church. (Apparently half of this forum seems to disapprove of that, so good thing I did it decades before the Internet and CAF happened, eh?)
I pray for his soul and the souls of dozens of his deceased family.
Likewise for my father’s deceased family as they were all Protestant.
I also pray for lots of other Protestants, non-Christians, and unbelievers…basically I’ll pray for anybody because we all need prayers.
I try to be nice to all different religious groups and sincerely hope we will all be one in Heaven or before that if God wills it to happen.

Don’t see how I can do more than that…I’m not a priest or a religious who works on ecumenical issues all day, but I think I “do my bit” and anything further is out of my control.

I’d go to the Week of Prayers for Christian Unity (it has an indulgence), but I seem to have a hard time finding one in my area.

Se said something like when she gets to the gates of heaven she will insist to St Peter that she won’t come in unless he allows her to bring her children with her. It was said tongue in cheek but that’s a very strong, physical desire for me as well. I want to march into eternity as a family.

Well of course, all of us who love our families feel the same way. I certainly don’t want to go without my husband and parents. I do have confidence that they are all in heaven ahead of me though.

 

[Tis_Bearself]

will temporary apparitional bodies of these angels appear on the earth?

I’m aware of one Catholic priest who says he can see angels appearing right now, so I wouldn’t be surprised if they showed up then.

 

[Vico]

Vico:

will temporary apparitional bodies of these angels appear on the earth?

I’m aware of one Catholic priest who says he can see angels appearing right now, so I wouldn’t be surprised if they showed up then.

I had a room mate in college that said he could see spirits in the room which I could not.