Good Things To Come Trivia Quiz

Answer: Christianity

In Christianity, Christians believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and the Messiah prophesied in the Old Testament. They believe that Christ will return in the Second Coming, an eschatological event. He will judge the living and the dead, defeat evil, and establish God's kingdom on Earth.

This event is often called the Parousia (Greek) and is described in various New Testament books including 'Matthew', 'Thessalonians' and 'Revelation'. The timing of this return is said to be unknown, emphasising the need for constant spiritual readiness among believers.

Answer: Zoroastrianism

The Saoshyant (also known as Frashokereti) in Zoroastrianism is the prophesied saviour figure who will bring about the final renovation of the world. According to Zoroastrian eschatology, Saoshyant will be born of a virgin who becomes impregnated while bathing in Lake Hamun. This is where the seed of the prophet Zoroaster is preserved.

The Saoshyant will raise the dead, defeat evil and the demon Angra Mainyu. By doing so, he will also restore the world to its perfect state. This figure represents the culmination of the cosmic battle between good and evil that is central to Zoroastrian belief.

Answer: Buddhism

The Maitreya in Buddhism is the future Buddha prophesied to appear on Earth. He will achieve complete enlightenment, and teach the pure dharma. In Buddhist tradition, Maitreya currently resides in Tushita Heaven and is going to descend to Earth when the teachings of the current Buddha, Gautama Buddha, have been completely forgotten.

When Maitreya arrives, he will establish a new era of dharma, by teaching under a special tree and leading countless beings to enlightenment. In the same way Gautama Buddha taught under the Bodhi Tree, Maitreya will teach under his own. The tree represents awakening, stability, and cosmic renewal. The concept of Maitreya appears across various Buddhist traditions including Theravada, Mahayana, and Vajrayana.

Answer: Islam

In Islamic eschatology, the Mahdi is a prophesied redeemer. He will appear before the Day of Judgment to rid the world of evil and injustice. While beliefs about the Mahdi vary between Sunni and Shia traditions, both agree that he will establish justice and true Islam across the world.

In Sunni Islam, the Mahdi is seen as a future righteous leader from the Prophet Muhammad's lineage. He will appear near the end of time during a period of widespread injustice. He isn't a divine or salvific figure, nor a prophet. He's a guided human leader who restores justice, revives true Islamic practice, and prepares the community for the later events of the Last Days, including the return of Jesus and the defeat of the Dajjal. His role is moral and political rather than one of spiritual salvation.

Answer: Hinduism

In Hindu eschatology, Kalki is the prophesied tenth and final avatar of the god Vishnu. He's expected to appear at the end of the current Kali Yuga, the age of darkness and moral decline. Vishnu is one of the members of the Trimurti (Brahma, the creator; Vishnu, the preserver and sustainer of the universe; and Shiva, the destroyer).

Hindu scriptures, particularly the Puranas, describe Kalki as a warrior wielding a sword and riding a white horse. He will destroy evil, restore dharma (cosmic order) and usher in a new Satya Yuga, the age of truth and righteousness. His arrival will mark the end of the current cosmic cycle and the beginning of renewal in the eternal cycle of creation and destruction.

Answer: New Age

The World Teacher in New Age spirituality is seen as a future enlightened being who will guide humanity into a higher state of consciousness. This figure is often associated with universal wisdom rather than any single religion. It's sometimes linked to concepts like the Christ Consciousness, Maitreya, or a collective awakening. The World Teacher is expected to appear during a time of global crisis and spiritual confusion.

New Age writings describe the World Teacher as a catalyst for planetary transformation. His role is to awaken humanity to its spiritual potential, dissolve outdated patterns of fear and separation and guide the world into a new cycle of evolution. This is often called the Age of Aquarius.

Rather than enforcing doctrine, the World Teacher inspires inner change, encouraging individuals to recognise their own divinity and interconnectedness. His arrival symbolises the beginning of a collective renewal in which humanity aligns with higher consciousness and global cooperation.

Answer: Taoism

Li Hong is a prophesied future sage-king who appears in certain Daoist and folk religious traditions. He's often portrayed as a messianic figure who will emerge during a time of chaos, corruption, and social decline. He will restore harmony and moral order. He's sometimes linked to the concept of the 'True Lord' or a divinely guided ruler who embodies cosmic virtue and brings the world back into alignment with the Dao.

Daoist texts such as the 'Taishang Ganying Pian' and various prophetic writings describe Li Hong as a transformative leader who will overthrow corrupt regimes, eliminate suffering, and reestablish a just and balanced world. He's not a saviour in a supernatural sense, as he functions as a divinely inspired restorer of cosmic order who guides humanity back to proper conduct and spiritual harmony. His coming symbolises cyclical renewal in Chinese cosmology

Answer: Bahá'í

Bahá'u'lláh was born in 1817 as Mírzá Ḥusayn-'Alí. He declared his mission in 1863 and taught that he was the promised one foretold in previous scriptures. In the Bahá'í Faith, he is believed to be the fulfilment of eschatological prophecies from various religions, including the return of Christ, the Mahdi, and other messianic figures.

Bahá'ís believe his teachings represent the latest stage in progressive divine revelation, bringing messages of unity, peace, and the establishment of a global civilisation. His arrival is seen as the beginning of a new religious era rather than an apocalyptic end.

Answer: Judaism

In Judaism The Moshiach or Messiah is the prophesied future Jewish king from the Davidic line who will be anointed to rule the Jewish people during the Messianic Age. The Messiah will gather all Jews back to the Land of Israel, usher in an era of world peace, rebuild the Third Temple in Jerusalem and bring about universal recognition of the God of Israel.

This differs from Christian interpretation, because Jewish tradition sees the Messiah as a human leader and teacher rather than a divine being, and emphasises that the messianic age will be characterised by the end of all evil, oppression, and suffering.

Answer: Shia Islam

The Hidden Imam, known as Muhammad al-Mahdi, was born in 869 CE in Samarra (in present-day Iraq). He was the son of the eleventh Imam, Hasan al-Askari and is the twelfth and final Imam in Twelver Shia Islam. According to their belief, when his father died in 874 CE and young Muhammad was about five years old, he entered a state of occultation (ghaybah), divine concealment, to protect him from persecution by the Abbasid caliphate, who sought to eliminate potential claimants to religious leadership.

According to Twelver Shia eschatology, the Hidden Imam is still alive. He's preserved by divine will and will eventually emerge as the Mahdi to establish justice and righteousness on earth before the Day of Judgment. Belief in the Hidden Imam is a fundamental requirement of the faith.

Unlike the Sunni view of the Mahdi as a future figure yet to be born, Shia Islam maintains that the Mahdi already exists as a specific historical person who has been in occultation for over 1,150 years. This allows for the continuation of the line of Imams while explaining the absence of visible leadership until the appointed time of his return.