And Then the End Will Come: Early Latin Christian Interpretations of the Opening of the Seven Seals

First published 2001 by Garland Publishing, Inc.

In an era in which most people believe in using all available resources to extend the life of the planet and to preserve the dominant place of humanity in the world, it is often difficult to understand a collective desire to withdraw from earthly affairs and to wait for the end of the world with anticipation. The tenth-century monastic reform movement, which resulted in a tremendous increase in the number of people participating in the cloistered life, was not overtly apocalyptic, that is, charters from the period do not directly associate the establishment of the monastery with the imminence of the endtimes. Nevertheless, in Christian society the institution of monasticism depends a great deal on many elements associated with the end of history. Christian eschatology declares that in the final days, God's chosen people (the elect) will depart from this world and enter into the heavenly kingdom. The monastic community anticipates and foreshadows the final withdrawal and departure of true Christians at the end of time, and each member of the monastery fully expects to be among the transcendent.