Apoclypse, that was today's Gospel from Mark 13, the famous mini apocalypse or condensed version of the final wrap we see in the Revelation to St. John the Divine. It's powerful.
Wars and rumours of wars, earthquakes and famine, persecution mounting to a crescendo in the great tribulation, the abomination of desolation in the Temple.
Antichrist with supernatural, diabolic power to deceive the very elect, the light of the sun and moon darkened and at the climax of the battle, the Son of Man returning as He left, in clouds of glory; all within "this generation." And we have to ask, has any of this been fulfilled and will it be? The answer is yes, and yes.
Jerusalem and its temple were utterly destroyed by Titus and Vespasian in 70 AD, within the generation of Christ's prophecy. And what are the crown of thorns, scourging, mocking, betrayal and crucifixion but the desecration of the temple of Christ's body?
The ultimate sacrilege, Daniel's abomination of desolation waged against the Messiah who rose from the dead to lead His elect through tribulation to the restoration of Israel in His Mystical Body, the Church.
So yes, the prophecy has been fulfilled, partially, but this points towards a greater fulfillment. The sack of Jerusalem and Christ's Passion are moments or gears in the apocalyptic clock which was set in motion at the moment of the Incarnation.
A clock that's racing to its end in the final battle, the apex of the conflict between good and evil. We know the result, victory's assured, but beware the Dragon as its chains are unloosed and the Church, like ore in the fire, is refined to precious metal through tribulation.
Watch, pray and stand fast against the rising tide of evil which would destroy all that's good, true and holy.
Sermon over, as you were,
LSP
Reminds me--I gotta confirm the zero on my Eotech.
ReplyDeleteThe demons have clearly unmasked.
ReplyDeleteI'm going to play some Johnny Cash, end of the world music now.
Have to zero the armory too, RHT. Problem is -- the place I shoot's been torn up by a tornado a little while ago and I can't drive in. It's flooded too, but that should be sorted out in a week or so.
ReplyDeleteShoot!
LL, thanks for that. Just posted some apocalyptic Cash.
ReplyDeleteYou can tell I don't shoot much. Confirm the zero?
ReplyDeleteA blessed Thanksgiving to all.
LindaG,
ReplyDeleteThe term "zero" is just technical jargon for sighting in--making sure that your sights and the bullet holes in the target agree.
Many sighting devices (scopes, target sights, what have you) have knobs you can turn to adjust them for windage (right/left) and elevation. These knobs have scales with numbers. The common practice is to choose a known distance (say, 100 yds.) and adjust the sights so that the shots hit the point of aim at that distance. Then, the knob with numbers is loosened to turn freely, and turned so that it reads "zero" at that distance, then it is re-tightend.
Now, if a shooter decides to change his elevation for distance, or his windage to correct for a cross wind, he can later return his sights to his original 100yd point of aim by "returning his sights to zero".
Hope this helps.
Linda, just making sure the beasts work as they should!
ReplyDeleteGod bless.
Thanks for the helpful description, RHT.
ReplyDeleteI have to check the rifles sooner rather than later. I think they're mostly on but...
Oh. Okay. Thank you, RHT. I don't think we have anything like that. All I shoot is a pistol, and I have to use a red dot - which, as I recall, hubby sighted in for me. :)
ReplyDeleteThank you for explaining it all to me. :)
Thank you, LSP! :)
ReplyDeleteLinda, always a pleasure!
ReplyDelete