Is a coming of the Lord imminent? Father Amorth replies

Scripture speaks clearly to us about the first historical coming of Jesus, when he is incarnated in the womb of the Virgin Mary by the Holy Spirit; he taught, died for us, rose from the dead and finally ascended to Heaven. Scripture CL also speaks of a second coming of Jesus, when he will return to glory, for the final judgment. He does not speak to us of intermediate times, even if the Lord has assured us that he will always remain with us.

Among the Vatican documents I would like to remind you of the important summary contained in n. 4 of the "Dei Verbum". We can express it in some concepts: God spoke to us first through the Prophets (Old Testament), then through the Son (New Testament) and sent us the Holy Spirit, who completes the survey. "No other public survey is to be expected before the glorious manifestation of our Lord Jesus Christ."

At this point we must recognize that, regarding the second coming of Christ, God has not revealed the times to us, but has reserved them for himself. And we must recognize that, both in the Gospels and in the Apocalypse, the language used must be interpreted on the basis of that literary genre which is precisely called "apocalyptic" (that is, it also gives for imminent facts that historically will occur even in thousands of years, because sees present in the spirit —ndr—). And, if St. Peter expressly tells us that for the Lord "one day is like a thousand years" (2Pt 3,8), we cannot deduce anything about the times.

It is also true that the practical purposes of the language used are clear: the need for vigilance, to always be ready; the urgency of conversion and confident expectation. To underline on the one hand the need to be "always ready" and on the other hand the confidentiality of the moment of the Parousia (that is, of the second coming of Christ), in the Gospels (cf. Mt 24,3) we find two facts mixed together: one close (the destruction of Jerusalem) and one of unknown maturity (the end of the world). I find that even in our individual life there is something similar if we think of two facts: our personal death and Parousia.

Therefore we are careful when we hear private messages or particular interpretations referring to us. The Lord never speaks to frighten us, but to call us back. And he never speaks to satisfy our curiosities, but to push us towards a change of life. We men instead have a thirst for curiosity rather than conversion. It is for this reason that we take dazzles, that we look for imminent innovations, as the Thessalonians already did (1 ch. 5; 2 c. 3) in the time of St. Paul.
"Here, I come early - Maranathà (ie: Come, Lord Jesus)" thus ends the Apocalypse, summarizing the attitude that the Christian must have. It is an attitude of confident expectation in offering one's activity to God; and an attitude of continuous readiness to welcome the Lord, whenever he comes.
Don Gabriel Amorth