Russian Icon of the Final Judgment, mid- 15th Century
In America, the subject of the "End Times" in popular religion is a sensationalist topic. The success of the Left Behind Series and the ministries of such TV preachers as John Hagee and Jack Van Impe, are emblematic of the fascination with the "end times" by adherents of popular American religion.
Often the narratives proclaimed by these contemporary preachers of the End Times include judgment on the perceived enemies of God, suggestions of who the Antichrist might be, and the whisking away of "true believers" in the rapture, before the Great Tribulation. In these narratives, the believers avoid all judgment, and are in heaven with Jesus while the rest of the world below goes through hell.
These End Times ministries also are invariably Christian Zionist, and have promoted an uncritical attitude toward Israel among many Christians in this country. It is not an exaggeration to suggest that these attitudes have possibly influenced this nation's middle east policy at times because of the political participation of some types of conservative Christians in the religious right and the Republican party.
Besides the fact that these teaching are clearly heretical according to Holy Orthodoxy and historical Christianity, they are also very narcissistic.
Today's gospel reading in the Holy Church is from Luke chapter 21. What struck me as I read is that our Lord Jesus Christ directs his warnings about the "end times" toward believers, not unbelievers. The Gospel is written to the Church, Jesus tells us to "take heed to yourselves lest your hearts be weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and cares of this life, and that day come upon you suddenly like a snare; for it will come upon all who dwell upon the face of the whole earth. But watch at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that will take place, and to stand before the Son of man."
The Lord Jesus directs his words to me as a believer; I must pray for the strength to endure the tribulation and to stand before the Son of Man. We do not take the attitude that some have that I am "saved," and all of this judgment is happening to someone else, the spiritual version of "I've got mine Jack, and to hell with you!"
No, Christians must prepare themselves for testing, and to be able to stand before the Son of Man. St. Paul teaches us that "all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted," - 2 Timothy 3.12, not just those "left behind." I always thought it was a slap in the face of persecuted Christians all over the world for American Christians to insist that they will be raptured up into heaven and avoid all persecution and suffering.
What must one do to "stand before the Son of Man?" One must be sanctified, and purified from those things which would impair our communion with God.
Christ, in the person of King David in the Psalms tells us:
"The man of haughty looks and arrogant heart
I will not endure.
I will look with favor on the faithful in the land,
that they may dwell with me;
he who walks in the way that is blameless
shall minister to me.
No man who practices deceit
shall dwell in my house;
no man who utters lies
shall continue in my presence."
- Psalm 101.5b-7
and...
"For thou art not a God who delights in wickedness;
evil may not sojourn with thee.
The boastful may not stand before thy eyes;
thou hatest all evildoers.
Thou destroyest those who speak lies;
the LORD abhors bloodthirsty and deceitful men."
- Psalm 5.4-6
...and finally....
"O LORD, who shall sojourn in thy tent?
Who shall dwell on thy holy hill?
He who walks blamelessly, and does what is right,
and speaks truth from his heart;
who does not slander with his tongue,
and does no evil to his friend,
nor takes up a reproach against his neighbor;
in whose eyes a reprobate is despised,
but who honors those who fear the LORD;
who swears to his own hurt and does not change;
who does not put out his money at interest,
and does not take a bribe against the innocent.
He who does these things shall never be moved."
- Psalm 15.1-5
Who then can be saved? We might say. Our Lord Jesus Christ tells us " "With men it is impossible, but not with God; for all things are possible with God." - Mark 10.27.
In the Psalms we read of the Grace of God enabling us to have communion with God: "But I through the abundance of thy steadfast love will enter thy house, I will worship toward thy holy temple in the fear of thee." - Psalm 5.7
We must seek the Grace of God through prayer. In the Greek Prayer manual (The Synekdemos) we read:
"Now, Master, let your hand shelter me, and let your grace descend upon me, for my soul is distracted and pained at the departure from this, my miserable and sordid body, that the end design of the adversary may not overtake her and make her stumble into the darkness for the unknown and known sins amassed by me in this life. Be gracious to me, Master, and do not let my soul see the dark countenance of the evil spirits, but let her be received by your angels bright and shining. Glorify your holy name, and by your might set me before your divine judgment seat. When I am being judged, do not allow the hand of the prince of this world to take hold of me, to throw me, a sinner, into the depths of hell, but stand by me and be a savior and mediator to me. Have mercy, Lord, on my soul, defiled through the passions of this life, and receive her cleansed by penitence and confession, for .you are blessed to the ages of ages. Amen." - Prayer of St. Eustratios
Orthodox spirituality emphasizes the synergy between God's grace and man's free will. We trust in God's mercy for our salvation, but we also work for our salvation, especially through prayer, begging God's grace for repentance.
"work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; for God is at work in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure." - Philippians 2.12-13.
We do not take our salvation for granted, but continue pray for God to save us. St. Paul says, "I pommel my body and subdue it, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified." - 1 Corinthians 9.27.
When our Lord Jesus Christ teaches us to pray and be ready that we can stand before Him, he is not just talking about the end of the world, but about the end of our lives. For most of us, our death will be our own personal eschaton, "it is appointed unto men to die once, and then face judgment." - Hebrews 9.27.
He further teaches us that "he that endures to the end shall be saved." - Matthew 24.13.
Christ provides His Grace to help us endure to the end. He invites us to "abide in Him," (see John ch. 15), and we do this by being organically united to Him by prayer and the sacraments in communion with the Church, which is His Body.
The teaching on the end times is meant to prepare us for eternity, for eternal life in communion with God, not to inspire sensationalism. God does infinitely more to save us by His Grace, but we also must do our part, and work and pray for our salvation too, in cooperation with God's Grace.
"In all you do, remember the end of your life, and then you will never sin." - Sirach 7.36
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