Tribulation

Throughout the history of Christianity, people have continually tried to predict the End of Days. Even St. Paul the Apostle thought it would occur in his lifetime. The fact is, God continually makes it clear throughout the Bible (Rev. 3:3, Rev. 16:15, Mt.24:43, 1Thes.5:2, 2Pt.3:10, Lk.12:39) that He will “come like a thief”. Predictions are futile, so focus your energies on repentance and doing good deeds. In Scripture, two great examples of God’s love for us come to mind: Jn. 3:16 16For God so loved the world that he gave* his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life. 2Pt. 3:8-10 8* But do not ignore this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years* and a thousand years like one day.g 9The Lord does not delay his promise, as some regard “delay,” but he is patient with you, not wishing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.h 10But the day of the Lord will come like a thief,* and then the heavens will pass away with a mighty roar and the elements will be dissolved by fire, and the earth and everything done on it will be found out.i Throughout the history of religion, there have been scoffers. The Letter of St. Jude, the last book in the Catholic Letters before The Revelation, is addressed in the most general terms to “those who are called, beloved in God the Father and kept safe for Jesus Christ” (Jude 1), hence apparently to all Christians. But since its purpose is to warn the addressees against false teachers, the author must have had in mind one or more specific Christian communities located in the unidentified region where the errors in question constituted a danger. (Source: New American Bible: Letter of Jude) Jude 17-23 Exhortations. 17But you, beloved, remember the words spoken beforehand by the Apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ,n 18for they told you,o “In [the] last time there will be scoffers who will live according to their own godless desires.”* 19These are the ones who cause divisions; they live on the natural plane, devoid of the Spirit.p 20But you, beloved, build yourselves up in your most holy faith; pray in the holy Spirit. 21Keep yourselves in the love of God and wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life. 22On those who waver, have mercy;* 23save others by snatching them out of the fire; on others have mercy with fear,* abhorring even the outer garment stained by the flesh. Regardless of the meanings of particular saints, bringing as many as possible into repentance before the End of the Age, may be a “Desperate Case” but it is no “Lost Cause”. The underlying message throughout this book is that all peoples, of all nations and all tongues should take advantage of the SECOND chance that God has provided us all.