Dear Catholic Exchange:
I was doing a Bible study on prophecies online. The study said that when Christ comes again, He will take us to Heaven and then after 1000 years, He will bring the heavenly Jerusalem back to earth.
I stopped the study because I thought that Catholics believe that Christ will bring those whose names are written in the Book to Heaven and that will be it. Please correct me if I am wrong.
Jean Anders
Dear Jean,
Peace in Christ!
Our FAITH FACT Apocalypse Not Now discusses the interpretations of Revelation 20, which speaks of Satan being bound and Christ reigning with His saints for a thousand years (a millennium). Many Protestants understand this 1,000-year reign literally and believe that it will occur on earth in the future, although they disagree as to when. However, the Church has traditionally taught that the reign of God began with Christ’s death and resurrection and the “thousand years” is a figurative number to describe the reign of His Church (2 Pt 3:8-10; Catechism of the Catholic Church, nos. 664, 668-682).
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