Again, to paraphrase Dr. Van Impe, the pope was emphasizing the  
millennium when he said that the end was not near.   As Van Impe  
stated, many Protestants as well as Catholics have an amillennial  
attitude, started by the theologian Augustine.   They do not believe  
there will be a millennium, but that there will be an apocalypse  
(which may or may not be put off by good behavior, repentance, and  
prayer).  So they expect the world to be destroyed but that they will  
live on in Heaven.


However, Van Impe was explaining that the Pope believes as he does,  
that there will not only be a millennium, but that there will be a  
"new heaven and new earth," which wiil be a restored earth (based on  
the Greek for restoration in the passage on "new earth").   Van Impe  
often quotes the words in the Catholic eucharist which concludes with  
"world without end".

Thus, although not enunciating an entirely new teaching, the Pope is  
correcting those who feel there will be an end to Earth.


The Vatican recently conducted a complete reading of the Bible aloud,  
an official exercise which they do when they feel the world is in  
grave danger of destruction.   Thus, the Pope does acknowledge that  
the apocalypse may be near, but he also affirms the Catholic position  
that one must "stand until He comes."  I believe that "stand until he  
comes" is also part of the Protestant Bible.