The Catholic Church teaches that the end of the world, or eschatology, is not something that can be predicted or fully understood by human beings. However, the Church does believe in a general outline of the end times, as described in the Bible and in Catholic tradition. This includes the second coming of Christ, the Last Judgment, the resurrection of the dead, and the eventual establishment of a new heaven and a new earth. The Catholic Church also teaches that each person will be judged by God based on their individual actions, and that eternal life in heaven or hell awaits them.
Dispensationalism is a Protestant interpretive system and a major perspective on the Bible that views history as divided into dispensations, or periods of time in which God relates to humanity in different ways. In contrast to the Catholic view, Dispensationalism holds that there will be a future period of tribulation on Earth, followed by a Millennial Reign of Christ, and then the eternal state.
In Dispensationalism, the Church and Israel are considered two distinct groups with separate plans and destinies. The Church is seen as a temporary parenthesis in God's plan for Israel, and the future events of history will be primarily focused on the restoration of Israel and the fulfilment of God's promises to the Jewish people.
The Catholic Church does not accept this distinction between the Church and Israel and views both as part of the same people of God, with the Church being the fulfilment of God's plan for humanity. The Church also does not see the end times as a series of sequential events with a definite timeline, but rather as a general outline of the ultimate destiny of humanity that cannot be fully known or understood.
Dispensationalism is a Protestant interpretive system and a major perspective on the Bible that views history as divided into dispensations, or periods of time in which God relates to humanity in different ways. In contrast to the Catholic view, Dispensationalism holds that there will be a future period of tribulation on Earth, followed by a Millennial Reign of Christ, and then the eternal state.
In Dispensationalism, the Church and Israel are considered two distinct groups with separate plans and destinies. The Church is seen as a temporary parenthesis in God's plan for Israel, and the future events of history will be primarily focused on the restoration of Israel and the fulfilment of God's promises to the Jewish people.
The Catholic Church does not accept this distinction between the Church and Israel and views both as part of the same people of God, with the Church being the fulfilment of God's plan for humanity. The Church also does not see the end times as a series of sequential events with a definite timeline, but rather as a general outline of the ultimate destiny of humanity that cannot be fully known or understood.