We all agree that life is a journey, but while some see it as a journey towards death, some others see death as a transition to another life. In both currents of thought, death is inevitable, whether as a definitive end or as a transition. This is the lot of every mortal. In the face of this inevitability of death, many religions preach the hope of another type of life after death. This hope of life after life lessens the absurdity of human life here on earth. The Christian religion presents a glorious future life and presents the present life as a preparation for that next life. Death becomes a gateway and an experience of transformation.
The Christian is, thus, encouraged never to fear death as an end of existence. The anxiety about the end of time is expressed frequently in our contemporary culture, especially in times of crisis and suffering. Despite all the modern attempts to make the world a happy place, people still know that this world is not our lasting home. In today’s Gospel from Luke 21, Jesus warns about fake prophesies of the end and false messiahs whose stock in trade is to lead people astray.
End of Time as Experience of Destruction
The first reality about the end of time is that it is a time of annihilation. That is why it is often called a day of doom. In Luke 21, Jesus does not hide the fact of a coming doom’s day that will be characterized by destruction. His words, however, have double reference. One is the destruction of the temple together with the city of Jerusalem and the calamities that will come with the destruction. The other is the destruction that will come at the end of time. He provokes the people to be ever ready for either but warns against false messianic figures who will capitalize on the gullibility of the people to announce the end of time. Times of turmoil and national crisis are often instrumentalized by these fake messiahs and false prophets to lead people astray. Such fake messiahs and false prophets are rampant in our contemporary society in the face of many human and natural tragedies.
End of Time as a Time of Glory
The second feature of the end of time is the glorious life it will bring about for the just and elect of God. In the first reading of today from the apocalyptic book of Daniel (2:31-45), the end of time is presented as a glorious emergence of the reign of God. In Daniel’s interpretation of the dream of Nebuchadnezzer, the statue with the head of gold is explained as world history portrayed in the succession of four kingdoms or empires which would be destroyed one after the other, culminating in the glorious reign of God. The Christian faith presents this final divine victory as the second coming of Christ, called the parousia. It is the final saving presence of Christ which will usher in the end of history, which is the completion of human salvation. The New Testament presents the new emergent world in metaphorical terms as a new Jerusalem where God will dwell with His people.
Preparing the End of Time with Courage
What we need to prepare for the inevitable end is not fear but courage and repentance. This notwithstanding, human beings continue to fear the end, and this has led to many forms of prophetic utterances. Jesus enjoins his disciples to banish fear from their hearts, even when they see awesome phenomena like powerful earthquakes, famines, plagues and nations rising against nations. Despite all these upheavals, the final outcome is liberation of God’s people and the triumph of God’s reign.
