Ultimate Things: An Orthodox Christian Perspective on the End Times [Paperback]

I was disappointed after reading this book, but it was the first Orthodox resource I had come across that dealt with the end times. Sadly, it is so rooted in the ethos of the 20th century that the approach of the author was indistinguishable from fundamentalist Protestant writers. The insistence that THESE are the last days, and that THESE are the signs which prove it is symptomatic of the apocalyptic sectarian thinking which has characterized a small but vocal part of American Christianity over the past 150 years. While no Southern Baptist would identify the "restraining power" spoken of in 2 Thes. 2 with the holy martyr Tsar Nicholas II of Russia, the specificity of this identification is one which has been shunned by the Orthodox Church. It has been over 85 years since the Bolshevik Revolution. How long do we have to wait before deciding that this event, tragic as it was, was not the beginning of the end?

A much better book on the subject is "A Second Look at the Second Coming: Sorting Through the Speculations" by T. L. Frazier. It exposes the heretical teachings behind millenarianism, Zionism, the "rapture," dispensationalism, and numerology but it also presents a positive and hopeful outlook, calling us all to a joyful penitence in light of our Lord's glorious second coming.

_Ultimate Things: An Orthodox Perspective on the End Times_ by Dennis Engleman is an outline of the rise of the Antichrist and the coming Apocalypse. This book is not what I would consider the most academic treatment of the topic, but it provides a rough outline and for the most part cites contemporary sources. It does have some references to "apocryphal" texts such as the Gospel of Nicodemus and the Apocalypse of Elijah. _Ultimate Things_ is written as a response to the pre-tribulation rapture propaganda so widespread in the Christian churches in America today. The question is what did the ancient Fathers of the Church understand and teach of the coming of the Antichrist? How does it differ from modern day interpretations? A key discrepancy is of the idea of suffering for Christ in the Church. The "rapture" will supposedly whisk away all true Christian believers and leave the world's unbelievers to suffer God's wrath with the rule of the Antichrist for three and a half years. This is contrasted to the traditional Orthodox teaching where the Church is severely persecuted under the Antichrist and Christ returns at the end of time and Judgement Day commences. Chiliasm is the ancient heresy of a literal thousand-year reign of Christ over the earth after his Second Coming. This heresy is dangerous because not only will the "rapture" not happen but the man who will reign posing as the Savior of the World will mimic Christ, creating a one world government with signs and wonders, "deceiving even the elect." St. Paul refers to the satanic force that is hurtling the world to Apocalypse as the "mystery of iniquity." Fr. Seraphim Rose is cited explaining that "mystery" in this sense is something that is not working out in the open, but exercising a covert, unseen influence. The Book of Revelation speaks of a "seal" that kept Satan "bound" for the figurative 1,000 years of Christ's reign, understood as being from the time of the Crucifixion and the period when the Church was free of political opposition and oppression. This seal, explains Engleman, is the Christian Monarchy of the Roman Empire, the "legs of iron" and "fourth beast" in Daniel's prophecy. It was established when Constantine saw the Sign of the Cross in the sky, and was ordered marked on his soldiers' uniforms. Constantine moved the capital of the Roman Empire to the city of Byzantium in Greece, which was renamed Constantinople. The Byzantine Empire lasted into the 1400s until the Ottoman Turks overthrew it. By this time, however, Russia and large tracts of Eastern Europe had been converted to Christianity. The Grand Duke of Moscow took the title "tsar/czar" meaning "Caesar" and Russia became the "Third Rome." With a Christian monarchy in political power, the forces of rebellion against God had to be kept secret (the cabals of Rabbis, Masons, Illuminati and Alchemists come to mind). The first outward manifestation of Satanic government was the French Revolution and the proclamation of Atheism and "Reason" as the state religion, and the persecution of the Church for "counter-revolutionary" activity. The Roman Empire itself fell in 1917 with the Communist takeover of Russia and the murder of Czar Nicholas II and his family. Bishop Theophan the Recluse and Father John of Kronstadt both warned the Russian people in the late 1800s and early 1900s about what would happen if the monarchy were to fall. "...When the monarchy falls, and everywhere nations institute self government (republics, democracies) then the Antichrist will be able to act freely. It will not be difficult for Satan to prepare voters to renounce Christ as experience taught us during the French Revolution" (p76). Engleman looks forward to a possible repentance in the future of Russia, followed by a brief return to a monarchy under the Czar. This will be short-lived, the "peace in Heaven for half an hour." The Antichrist will use all methods at his disposal to deceive the world--technological wonders, false miracles, signs in the sky, world peace, material prosperity--to set himself up. The world capital will be a "spiritual" one, the holy city of Jerusalem. The Third Temple of Solomon will be rebuilt, the culmination of Masonry. The Jews look forward to their messiah, the one whom Christ said "would come in his own name", not in the name of the Father. The Pharisees looked for a messiah who would lead the Jews in a revolt against Rome and establish a Jewish kingdom, not Jesus who was rejected and handed over to the secular authorities to be condemned. In Phariseesism were the seeds of Revolution planted and this nihilistic Revolution now has open control of all formerly Christian countries. _Ultimate Things_ concludes by stating the Christ will come, "as a thief in the night" when no one will expect it. The Christians of the last days do not know exactly when Jesus will return but are encouraged to be vigilant and watch so they will not be caught off guard when the "Thief" comes to rob Satan's house.

_Ultimate Things_ by Dennis E. Engleman is a book dealing with the End Times from the perspective of an Orthodox Christian. Basing his study on traditional prophetic writings of the Church Fathers as well as from Sacred Scripture, in particular the writings of the prophets and the Books of Daniel and Revelation, Engleman shows how modern events bear out the prescriptions described in prophecy and explains the End of Days in terms understandable to the Orthodox Christian. Engleman focuses on the "Last Christians", those Christians who will be living during the End Times. During the End Times the church will dwindle in size because of mass apostasy and the Christians will be identified in the catacombs, tiny islands bearing the traditional marks of oneness, holiness, catholicity, and apostolicity or Christ's true church. Engleman considers the Tsars to have been true Christian rulers, and interprets the Last Tsar, Tsar Nicholas II, as "the one who restrains the mystery of lawlessness" from 2 Thessalonians. For Engleman and for Orthodox Christians, Moscow represents the "Third Rome", and the rise of the communist tyranny in Russia is an extremely troublesome event heralding the imminent apocalypse, in which the armies of "Gog and Magog" shall do battle. With the fall of communism in Russia during the 1990s the possibility of a New World Order has been put forth, and such a thing promises to achieve the Kingdom of Antichrist upon the Earth. The return of the Jews to Israel, the Holy Land, is a second event with deep historic and apocalyptic consequences. While the Jews have rejected Christ (the Pharisees calling for his crucifixion before Pilate), it is written that in the last days they will be converted. Currently Satan is held in bondage, but he will be released to wreak havoc upon the Earth. Engleman also discusses modern day decadence, moral depravity, and nihilistic despair which serve as signs of the coming apocalyptic developments. Population control methods (in particular the ready availability of abortion) as well as "New Age" spiritualities put forward by the United Nations ("the one world government") are paving the way for the coming of Antichrist. The Antichrist is likely to be a great unifier and problem solver, who will unite the world under his reign; however, he will also be a great deceiver who will deceive even many Christians. Engleman explains how Christians will not be "raptured" off the planet before the coming Tribulation and the Reign of Antichrist contrary to many of the false beliefs which currently exist within mass culture. In the light of Holy Tradition, the "Rapture" is shown for what it truly is, a demonic deception which will lead the true believers astray during the time of Antichrist. The Antichrist is likely to enslave many as foretold in Revelation, and many will be made to bear his mark, "the mark of the beast", upon their forehead or hand. This is to prevent the Christian from making the Sign of the Cross, which can be used to ward off evil and will be particulary pugnacious to the Antichrist. Two prophets will appear, Enoch and Elias, who will be martyred by the Antichrist. Finally, there will be a great battle at Armaggedon and Christ will come again in the Parousia, the Second Coming, to judge living and the dead. Only those Christians who "perservere till the end" by surviving in their underground catacomb churches shall manage to be among the Elect. Engleman writes that knowing these truths about the final days allows one to become constantly vigilant in one's faith. By returning to the Tradition of the Church, one can hope to survive during the coming Tribulation and Reign of Antichrist until Christ comes again. This book gives an excellent overview of the End Times from the perspective of the Orthodox Christian and clears up many misconceptions that abound. As a Roman Catholic, I agree with much of what Engleman has to say, particularly about the errors involved in the false doctrines of the "Rapture" as well as his interpretation of the End Times events.