06.06.06 | Is the End At Hand? | An Interview with Michael O’Brien by Valerie Schmalz

06.06.06 | Is the End At Hand? | An Interview with Michael O’Brien by Valerie Schmalz

The number "666" is believed by some interpreters of The Apocalypse (or The Book of Revelation), the final book in the New Testament, to be the Mark of the Beast and the sign of the Antichrist, who will arise in the world’s final years to do battle against God and God’s people. Not ones to let an opportunity pass them by, the producers of a remake of The Omen — titled The Omen 666 — are releasing the movie on June 6, 2006 – 06.06.06. And while the fictional tale of a child born to be the Antichrist hits movie theaters, The Rapture, the final book in the fundamentalist potboiler Left Behind series by Tim LaHaye and Jerry B. Jenkins, is set for release in bookstores on the same day.

What does the Catholic Church believe about the Antichrist and the end of the world? Recently, Valerie Schmalz of IgnatiusInsight.com interviewed author Michael O’Brien (IgnatiusInsight.com Author Page), whose fictional work Father Elijah is built around the character of a priest who is a convert from Judaism. Father Elijah is sent by the pope and the cardinal secretary of state to penetrate the inner circles of the man they believe is the Antichrist and call him to repentance. The plot for O’Brien’s novel came to him in one inspiring moment while he was praying in a parish church for the state of the world and the Church. O’Brien, who is a husband, father of six children, and a painter, went on to write a series of novels about the end of the world, the Children of the Last Days books, all published by Ignatius Press. He is known as a strong voice for the Church’s moral values in Canada and in the Western world. Most recently, O’Brien gave a talk about the Apocalypse and Christianity at St. Patrick’s Basilica in Ottawa, Canada.

IgnatiusInsight.com: Who is the Antichrist? Is he for real?

Continue reading...

Comments

[pace]

As the world becomes more and more of a (psychological/emotional) tyrant, the more we will be tempted to despair. We will increasingly wonder, "Where is God?". But I don't think that this will be the same experience and choice that confronted previous generations; ours is a singular despair, it is more psychological... but perhaps the very thing about it is that it cannot be classified with words. Maybe that is the key? But it seems to be unique to our times. The main thing is that this increasing temptation to despair of God's Providence is commensurate with Frodo's journey to the Crack of Doom. We will all fail in the end. Again, I believe this is a singular way of failing that is particular to our times (the Last Days?).

What is necessary is that mankind is given an *external* means, or mechanism, to remove the Ring from each of our finger; indeed, something that will give us access to this deep secret in the Mordor of our own heart.

As I've tried to share with Michael O'brien and others, it is my belief that the mechanism or process by which this great comfort and peace of the burden of the Ring being removed from our hearts and minds has been acheived. It is 'hidden' within the viewing process of a work of art, specifically a movie (backed up by two other perfect works of art, that can be likened to Sam, in that they are there to assist).

The existence of these three films is an abiding miracle.

[pace]

... what I meant to say was that not only has God not been absent from our modern psychological tortures, but indeed rather He was all along with us, going throught the process of 'emptying himself' and re-revealing Revelation to us (and yes, we were in need of it just as much as the pagans). In late 2001 (coindicentally) he gave of Himself completely again, as it were; He expressed Himself through the Perfect Work of Art as if from the cross.

[Mark Brumley]

The end is near--again.

[MenTaLguY]

The films weren't half bad, but... movies as a gnostic sacrament? Oh dear.

[pace]

... and the more we will join in mocking the real, authentic re-revelation when it does appear.

There is an eternity of difference in believing that God began in earnest (incarnated himself) trying to speak to the modern world (through art) beginning in the 1970's, finally exhausting and spending Himself in the early 2000's, and believing that he first began that speaking with Gibson's "Passion". Gibson supposedly said about the Perfect Work of Art, "I hate movies I can't understand. He then went on to make "The Passion". "The Passion" was created most out of this frustration of the modern mind with God; with mystery.

[MenTaLguY]

Lacking context, I thought you were speaking of Peter Jackson's "Lord of the Rings" trilogy. To be clear, I think "The Passion of the Christ" has been (and continues to be) a particular blessing to our time and culture.

However, I would still never ascribe divine perfection to it by refering to it "The Perfect Work of Art", nor would I speak as if the act of viewing it were a "hidden" eighth Sacrament ("What is necessary is that mankind is given an *external* means, or mechanism, to remove the Ring from each of our finger .... [it] is 'hidden' within the viewing process of a work of art"). I'd be especially reticent of adopting incarnational language on top of all that.

[Ed Peters]

he he he. i didn't even see this post until 07.06.06 (using the more logical european convention here, folks). so if the world ended, i guess i missed it. oh well, maybe next time. g'nite.

[pace]

men TalguY:

No, no, no. I wasn't speaking of "The Passion of the Christ". I was speaking of the movie that Mel Gibson supposedly said of, "I hate movies I can't understand." The name of that movie is "Mulholland Drive". The other two movies that assist "MD" in carrying the Ring are "Dogville" and "The New World".

There is an article/review at a site called "Agenda for Prophets" that gives good reasons for the belief that "The Passion" is the most powerful expression of the spirit of anti-Christ.

[Merle]

Hi Rhapsody ~~ Thank you for your visit to my blog
and for your comments. Thanks also for the birthday wishes for my son, who will be 52 tomorrow. Take care, Merle.

[MenTaLguY]

I think pace is alluding to Fr. Ian Dalgleish's review. Isn't liberation theology passé by now?

[pace]

I meant to draw attention to the other non-political points made in Fr. Dalgleish's review.