Can anyone predict the date of Christ's return or the end of the world?
No. Jesus explicitly stated: 'About that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.' Anyone who claims to have discovered the exact date or year of Christ's Second Coming is teaching contrary to the Gospel.
The Church warns believers against sensationalist end-times predictions or anxiety-driven speculations. Instead of trying to calculate dates, Christians are called to live in watchful and joyful readiness at all times, faithfully doing God's will in our daily responsibilities.
Before Christ returns, the Church must pass through a final trial that will shake the faith of many believers. However, the triumph of God's kingdom will not be achieved through a human historical development, but by God's definitive victory over evil at the Parousia.
Sources
- Catechism of the Catholic Church, paragraph 1040
- Matthew 24:36
- Acts 1:7
Awaiting review by the chaplaincy. Written in our own words; the Church's own texts are the authority.