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 nations  (although  our  Lord  does  not  say  that  all  will  accept  it);  but there will  be  a great  apostasy  before  the  end  of  the  world: false  Christs and false  prophets  shall  appear,  and  many  shall  be  seduced. The laws of the  universe  will  be  upset,  and  then  shall  be  seen  the  Cross  in  the heavens, and  the  Divine  Judge  will  come  in  power  and  glory. All the dead will  be  called  from  their  graves  to  appear  before  Him,  and  heaven and earth  shall  pass  away — or  be  changed. “The fashion  of  this  world passeth away”,  says  St. Paul (i  Cor.  7,  31);  while  St.  Peter  writes  thus: “For we  look  for  new  heavens  and  a new  earth  according  to  His  promises” (2  Pet.  3,  13). God will  not  destroy  either  heaven  or  earth, and then  create  a new  heaven  and  a new  earth,  but  He  will  transform and renew  them.

The Justice  of  God.  This  is  revealed  to  us  by  the  terrible  judgment which  overtook  Jerusalem  and  the  unbelieving  Jews.

The Grace  of  Perseverance.  “He  that  shall  persevere  to  the  end' he shall  be  saved.”  The  end — the  death  of  individuals,  is,  as  far  as the  time  of  it  is  concerned,  quite  as  much  a secret  as  is  the  end  of the  world. Blessed is  he  whom  death  does  not  come  upon  unawares, in a state  of  sin. As a man  dies,  so  will  he  appear  before  the  judgment-seat  of  God  at  the  Last  Day. We ought  to  pray  very  earnestly  for  the grace of  final  perseverance;  for  this  most  important  of  all  graces  can only be  obtained  by  prayer.

Our Lord  Himself  points  out  the  application which we  ought  to  make  of  this  prophetic  discourse  of  His: “Watch and  pray!”  We  must  not  spend  our  lives  carelessly  and frivolously like  those  who  do  not  believe,  but  we  must  be  watchful and always  prepared  for  death. We must  be  on  our  guard  against the drowsiness  of  tepidity  and  the  deadly  sleep  of  mortal  sin. Are you  not  lax  in  the  service  of  God? Is not  your  love  for  Him cold? Pray fervently:  “From  sudden  and  unprepared  death, O Lord, deliver  me!”

ESUS warns  His  followers  not  to  seek  the  things  of  this world with  too  much  anxiety,  and  to  make  a provision  of good  works,  while  they  yet  have  time;  for  that  death  will  come like a thief  in  the  night  when  least  expected. To make  them  better understand this  great  truth,  He  gave  them  the  following  parable: