بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

اللہ کے نام سے شروع جو بڑا مہربان نہایت رحم کرنے والا ہے

In the name of ALLAH, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful

"The Last Days" By Shane Schaetzel

A Catholic Analysis of the Apocalypse and the Second Coming of Jesus Christ

Shane Schaetzel is a Catholic catechist and apologist. He is an Evangelical convert to the Catholic Church through Anglicanism. His articles have been featured on well-known Catholic journals such as; "LifeSiteNews", "The Remnant Newspaper", "Catholic Online" and "Forward in Christ Magazine". In 2012 he began blogging under the title "Catholic In The Ozarks" (www.CatholicInTheOzarks.com), where he writes about Catholic apologetics, current events, and personal reflections. In one of his blog he says " I am, myself, of Hebrew ancestry. DNA tests show that I am (genetically-speaking) a small part Ashkenazi Jew."

"The Last Days" By Shane Schaetzel raises some queries like; Are we living in the Last Days? Is the great and terrible Apocalypse finally upon us? This book delves into the greatest question of our time. Are we soon approaching the end of the world?

In the pages of the book "The Last Days" By Shane Schaetzel, the author exposes the origins of the many theories that move and shape the times we live in, and presents an orthodox perspective, based upon sound Biblical exegesis, historic Christian tradition and Catholic theology. This book on Catholic eschatology is an “interesting read;” because, it exposes the flaws behind Evangelical Dispensationalism and the Rapture craze that has permeated American society for half a century.

This book "The Last Days" By Shane Schaetzel contains the basic framework for how Catholics should interpret prophetic writings, as well as a short commentary on the Book of Revelation (Apocalypse). There is also a section on Catholic prophecy from oral tradition and the mystical writings of private revelation, including those pertaining to recent apparitions of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Are we soon approaching the end of the world? In the pages of this book "The Last Days" By Shane Schaetzel, the author exposes the origins of the many theories that move and shape the times we live in, and presents an orthodox perspective, based upon sound Biblical exegesis, historic Christian tradition and Catholic theology.

"Biblical ecclesiology and eschatology are very simple. They go like this. Jesus is the King of Israel. There is no question about this. This is clearly established in all the gospel narratives. In the 1st-century AD, the reigning King Herod was illegitimate. He wasn’t even Jewish! Let alone a descendant in the line of David! Pontius Pilate was just a Roman procurator over a southern province of Jewish land called Judea. In addition to that, the Temple priesthood had been corrupted, and many of the priests serving in the Temple were actually Roman spies."

"The entire religious and governmental system of 1st-century Judea had been corrupted by Roman occupation. What the Jews of that time needed more than anything was a king, a real king, from the line of David, who could unite them and re-establish the Kingdom of Israel."

WHAT IS THE KINGDOM OF GOD?

Israel Is The Kingdom Of God: Exodus 19:6, 1 Chronicles 17:14, 1 Chronicles 28:5

Disobedient Israel Is Not The Kingdom Of God: Matthew 8:11-12, Matthew 21:43

Christians Are The Kingdom Of God: Romans 14:17, 1 Corinthians 4:20, Colossians 1:13, Colossians 4:11, Revelation 1:6

WHO ARE THE CHILDREN OF GOD?

Israelites Are The Children Of God: Exodus 4:22, Deuteronomy 14:1, Isaiah 1:2,4, Isaiah 63:8, Hosea 11:1

Disobedient Israelites Are Not The Children Of God: Deuteronomy 32:5, John 8:39-44

Christians Are The Children Of God: John 1:12, John 11:52, Romans 8:14-16, 2 Corinthians 6:18, Galatians 3:26, Galatians 4:5-7, Philippians 2:15, 1 John 3:1

WHO ARE THE PEOPLE OF GOD?

The Israelites Are The People Of God: Exodus 6:7, Deuteronomy 27:9, 2 Samuel 7:23, Jeremiah 11:4

Disobedient Israelites Are Not The People Of God: Hosea 1:9, Jeremiah 5:10

The Christians Are The People Of God: Romans 9:25, 2 Corinthians 6:16, Ephesians 4:12, Ephesians 5:3, 2 Thessalonians 1:10, Titus 2:14

WHAT IS JERUSALEM?

Jerusalem Is the City And Mother Of Israel: Psalms 149:2, Isaiah 12:6, Isaiah 49:18-22, Isaiah 51:18, Lamentations 4:2

Jerusalem Is The City And Mother Of Christians: Galatians 4:26, Hebrews 12:22

WHO ARE THE CHOSEN PEOPLE?

The Israelites Are The Chosen People: Deuteronomy 7:7, Deuteronomy 10:15, Deuteronomy 14:2, Isaiah 43:20,21

Disobedient Israelites Are Not The Chosen People: Deuteronomy 31:17, 2 Kings 17:20, 2 Chronicles 25:7, Psalms 78:59, Jeremiah 6:30, Jeremiah 7:29, Jeremiah 14:10

The Christians Are The Chosen People: Colossians 3:12, 1 Peter 2:9

WHO IS ISRAEL?

Israel is descended from Jacob: Genesis 32:38, Genesis 35:10, Exodus 3:14, Judges 20:11

Disobedient Israelites Are Not Israel: Numbers 15:30-31, Deuteronomy 18:19, Acts 3:23, Romans 9:6

The Christians Are Israel: John 11:50-52, 1 Corinthians 10:1, Galatians 6:15-16, Ephesians 2:12-19

The truth is this. Jews who accept Christ are part of both the Kingdom of Israel and the Church, because they are one and the same thing. A Jew who accepts Christ simply comes into his natural and organic home — the Kingdom of Israel (a.k.a. The Catholic Church).

Remember, the ancient 1st-century Jews were looking forward to a restored Kingdom of Israel, with a King, not a republic with an elected president. In fact, the modern State of Israel looks a lot more like ancient Rome (with a president and a senate) than ancient Israel (which was a theocratic kingdom). Honestly, if you just changed the name of the Israeli office of president from “President” to “Caesar,” or even “Procurator,” it would be a perfect match to the old Roman system, couched in American republicanism. What we have in the Middle East today is not the Biblical Kingdom of Israel, not even by a stretch. It is rather a republican form of government, based on Secularism and Western values. It has little to nothing in common with the ancient Kingdom of Israel, other than the fact that many of the Jews who live there have some level of genetic and religious connection to the Jews who lived there thousands of years ago. That’s about it.

"It is into this environment that Jesus of Nazareth came, heir to the throne of David, and high priest according to the order of Melchizedek. (Again, all of this is established New Testament narrative.) Jesus, of course, teaches his apostles that the type of Kingdom he would soon set up would be entirely different from what they expected. He informs them that his Kingdom is not like all the other earthly kingdoms, and his reign will never end. He will rule forever, as the King of Israel, and this ‘Israel of God’ will extend far beyond the borders of the Holy Land. His Kingdom is not about borders, language and culture. Rather, his Kingdom will reign through the hearts of men. It will transcend borders, language and culture. No one will be able to contain it."

"It is absolutely critical that we Christians understand WHO we are! It is essential that Christians understand WHAT the Catholic Church is. The Catholic Church is Israel. Israel is the Catholic Church. Christians are modern Israelites, and modern Israelites are Christians. Call this “Replacement Theology” if you want, but I see no “replacement” at all. What I see are the promises of God to my ancestral people (the Hebrew people) fulfilled in Jesus Christ, and the Kingdom of God delivered to us (as promised) in a way more powerful and dynamic than our Hebrew ancestors could have possibly imagined. They wanted a little independent fiefdom to call their own. Instead, God gave them a global, spiritual empire that would last throughout the ages! They wanted the Gentiles to respect their religious understanding of God. Instead, he made the Gentiles adopt it! They wanted Yahweh’s name honored in their ancestral homeland. Instead, he made it honored throughout the world! They gave him a crown of thorns and a cross. In turn, he offered them citizenship in a global messianic Kingdom! Replacement Theology? Whatever! I call it Fulfilment Theology!"

Judaism, Christianity and Islam are monotheistic Abrahamic faiths that share a belief in one God, the creator of the universe, who communicates through prophets, Holy Scriptures, and angelic beings. They share moral codes, emphasize prayer, charity, and accountability, and all hold Jerusalem as a significant holy site. The writer of the book has restricted his scope to Judaism and Christianity only; however, Islam is also the youngest faith in the Abrahamic Religion philosophy.

All three Abrahamic Religions share a common heritage tracing back to Abraham and worship the same God (Yahweh/Elohim in Judaism, God the Father in Christianity, ALLAH in Islam). They are "People of the Book," holding that God revealed divine instructions (Torah, Gospel/Bible, Quran). They believe in Prophets including Adam, Abraham, Moses, and Jesus. They all have "Belief" in a Day of Judgment, heaven, and hell.

The Abrahamic Religions put emphasis on fasting and specific holy seasons and promote charity, ethical living, and community and daily prayer is central to all three. Rituals regarding clean and unclean items, such as the prohibition of pork, are shared between Judaism and Islam. Jerusalem is considered a holy city by all three faiths.

Therefore, all the three faiths of Abrahamic Religions have the same root of moral "Obligations and Commandments"; similarly "Do's & Don't"; "Permissions & Restrictions" and "Spiritual Exultation and Blessings".

However, there are certain differences also; which have become cause of conflicts and wars as well. Christians view Jesus as the son of God, while Muslims revere him as a prophet and Jews do not accept him as a prophet. Christianity includes the Trinity, while Islam and Judaism maintain a strict, unitary, and indivisible concept of God. Islam holds the Quran as the final, uncorrupted word of God, believing the Bible/Torah have been altered. The three faiths of Abrahamic Religions will also clash in "End Times" also prophesized as "Armageddon". The book "The Last Days" By Shane Schaetzel is suggesting better coordination between the followers of Judaism and Christianity.

The three Abrahamic religions—Judaism, Christianity, and Islam—share a deeply rooted, linear apocalyptic tradition that predicts a final, catastrophic battle in the "End Times," often associated with the region of Jerusalem or Megiddo. While they share common elements such as the return of a Messiah figure, resurrection of the dead, and final judgment, their interpretations of who is fighting whom differ significantly.

The Messianic Age (Judaism): Jewish tradition focuses on the "end of days" (aḥarit ha-yamim), where the Messiah will gather the Jewish diaspora, rebuild the Temple, and establish an era of universal peace, often involving a climactic confrontation against Israel by other nations.

Armageddon (Christianity): The Book of Revelation depicts Armageddon as a gathering of the kings of the world for a final battle between the forces of God and Satan, concluding with the return of Jesus Christ to defeat the Antichrist and establish a new kingdom.

The Mahdi and Jesus (Islam): Islamic eschatology features the arrival of a messianic figure, the Mahdi, followed by the return of Isa (Jesus, son of Mary). Jesus is expected to destroy the false Messiah (Dajjal), defeat the forces of evil (often associated with Gog and Magog), and lead the faithful to peace.

Interfaith Perspectives on the Conflict

Shared Eschatological Structure: All three faiths anticipate a period of great chaos, moral decline, and devastating war before the end of the world.

Competition and Conflict: Some interpretations see these prophecies as setting the faiths against each other, particularly over the control of Jerusalem and the identity of the true Messiah. For instance, certain narratives suggest the Mahdi will unify the Muslim world to combat non-believers, while other interpretations focus on the conflict as a struggle against a global anti-religious force.

While apocalyptic believers within all three faiths see contemporary geopolitical unrest, especially in the Middle East, as signs that the end is near, mainstream theologians often view these texts in a more metaphorical or metaphorical light.

The recent Iran-USA-Israel war has been narrated by @POTUS Donald Trump Team as a war for Armageddon and similar sentiments have been shared by Israel's leaders. However, Iran and Islamic World has not reflected such sentiments. Iran being a Shia Muslim Nation has taken the assault by world's greatest military power along with client state of Israel as Tyranny enforced upon them similar to Battle faced by Hazrat Imam Hussain (AS) at Karbala, and as True Believers of Shia Faith are rejoicing the "Shahadat" of Supreme Leader Khamenei and others as "Success".