The end of the world is certain. The Lord proclaims: "The heavens and the earth will pass away but My words will not pass" (Mk 13:31). The end of the world is unpredictable. "As to the exact day or hour, no one knows it, neither the angels in heaven nor even the Son, but only the Father" (Mk 13:32).  The end of the world "shall be a time unsurpassed in distress since nations began until that time" (Dn 12:1). "During that period after trials of every sort the sun will be darkened, the moon will not shed its light, stars will fall out of the skies, and the heavenly hosts will be shaken" (Mk 13:24-25). "Indeed, had the Lord had not shortened the period, not a person would be saved. But for the sake of those He has chosen, He has shortened the days" (Mk 13:20).

The Lord, Who is Love (1 Jn 4:8, 16), has warned us about the end of the world so that we will be always ready for it. If we are ready for the final end, we are the wise who "shine brightly like the splendor of the firmament" (Dn 12:3). If we are not ready for the end of the world, we "shall be an everlasting horror and disgrace" (Dn 12:2).

We are always ready for the end of the world when we have been baptized into Jesus (see Mk 16:16) and live totally for and in Him. "There is no condemnation now for those who are in Christ Jesus" (Rm 8:1). In Jesus, we hasten the end of the world and Jesus' final coming (2 Pt 3:12). In Jesus, we who are on earth at the end sing "Alleluia!" as the smoke begins to rise from the earth (Rv 19:3). Are you ready for the world to end now? Are you living in Christ now?

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The Nihil Obstat ("Permission to Publish") is a declaration that a book or pamphlet is considered to be free of doctrinal or moral error. It is not implied that those who have granted the Nihil Obstat agree with the contents, opinions, or statements expressed.

Nihil Obstat:  Reverend Giles H. Pater, April 24, 2003

Imprimatur:  †Most Reverend Carl K. Moeddel, Vicar General and Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, April 28, 2003