Wednesday 20 June 2012

The Great Sign in Catholic Prophecy



The Vision of the Cross fresco in the Vatican's Apostolic Palace, painted by the Raphaelite school


Various prophecies made by Catholic saints and visionaries speak of the appearance of a great sign before a major renewal of the Church. The controversial and unapproved apparitions alleged to have occurred at Garabandal and Medjugorje are undoubtedly the most high profile, but it is often forgotten that the promise of a "great sign" is actually rooted in private revelations which have been approved by the Church. St. Faustina appears to refer to such an event in her diary:

Write this: Before I come as the just Judge, I am coming first as the King of Mercy. Before the day of justice arrives, there will be given to people a sign in the heavens of this sort: All light in the heavens will be extinguished, and there will be great darkness over the whole earth. Then the sign of the cross will be seen in the sky, and from the openings where the hands and the feet of the Savior were nailed will come forth great lights which will light up the earth for a period of time. This will take place shortly before the last day.
(Diary, 83)

Our Lady of Akita similarly spoke of the "Sign left by My Son", as one of the only sources of solace in the period of chastisement that is still to befall humanity. And although the signs spoken of at Garabandal and Medjugorje seem to refer to this same event, they put a different spin on it which links the appearance of the sign to their respective locales - making it a matter of cautious discernment. So it would perhaps be wise not to connect it too closely in our minds with these sites. Whether or not the promised "Great Sign" will appear at Garabandal or Medjugorje, or both, remains to be seen, and their authenticity are open to doubt. But given that the sign is also described in approved private revelations, it seems that this event will happen, and that it will be one of the greatest apparitions in history - eclipsing even that of Fatima in importance.
The exact nature of this apparition remains somewhat vague, but St. Faustina's diary is perhaps the best source of information we have on this subject - so we should examine this in closer detail.
The darkness hanging over the earth described by St. Faustina appears to symbolise the spiritual darkness brought about by the Great Apostasy, which will be dispelled by the light of the Second Pentecost. Here, it is foretold that the Second Pentecost will be brought about following a major apparition of a cross in the sky. We know from various other prophecies that the Second Pentecost will be spearheaded by the Two Witnesses of Revelation, and that it is also in some way connected with the martyrdom of a pope - so there seems to be a series of inter-connected events that will lead to the restoration of the Church.
These prophecies of the dawn of a religious renewal after the appearance of a heavenly apparition, seem to be based largely upon Constantine's miraculous vision of the Chi-Rho symbol (also known as the Labarum) above the Sun before his decisive victory at the Battle of the Milvian Bridge in 312AD. This crucially important event would ultimately lead to the conversion of the Roman Empire to Christianity, and firmly establish Catholicism as the major religion of Europe over the course of the next two millennia. Constantine's vision is one of the earliest examples of a relation between heavenly apparitions and solar phenomena, which are so frequently prevalent in modern events - most notably the Miracle of the Sun at Fatima.
Constantine's miraculous vision of the Labarum is described by one of his contemporaries, the Early Church historian Eusebius of Caesaria:

Accordingly he called on him with earnest prayer and supplications that he would reveal to him who he was, and stretch forth his right hand to help him in his present difficulties. And while he was thus praying with fervent entreaty, a most marvelous sign appeared to him from heaven, the account of which it might have been hard to believe had it been related by any other person. But since the victorious emperor himself long afterwards declared it to the writer of this history, when he was honored with his acquaintance and society, and confirmed his statement by an oath, who could hesitate to accredit the relation, especially since the testimony of after-time has established its truth? He said that about noon, when the day was already beginning to decline, he saw with his own eyes the trophy of a cross of light in the heavens, above the sun, and bearing the inscription, Conquer by this . At this sight he himself was struck with amazement, and his whole army also, which followed him on this expedition, and witnessed the miracle.
He said, moreover, that he doubted within himself what the import of this apparition could be. And while he continued to ponder and reason on its meaning, night suddenly came on; then in his sleep the Christ of God appeared to him with the same sign which he had seen in the heavens, and commanded him to make a likeness of that sign which he had seen in the heavens, and to use it as a safeguard in all engagements with his enemies. At dawn of day he arose, and communicated the marvel to his friends: and then, calling together the workers in gold and precious stones, he sat in the midst of them, and described to them the figure of the sign he had seen, bidding them represent it in gold and precious stones. And this representation I myself have had an opportunity of seeing.
Now it was made in the following manner. A long spear, overlaid with gold, formed the figure of the cross by means of a transverse bar laid over it. On the top of the whole was fixed a wreath of gold and precious stones; and within this, the symbol of the Saviour's name, two letters indicating the name of Christ by means of its initial characters, the letter P being intersected by X in its centre: and these letters the emperor was in the habit of wearing on his helmet at a later period. From the cross-bar of the spear was suspended a cloth, a royal piece, covered with a profuse embroidery of most brilliant precious stones; and which, being also richly interlaced with gold, presented an indescribable degree of beauty to the beholder. This banner was of a square form, and the upright staff, whose lower section was of great length, bore a golden half-length portrait of the pious emperor and his children on its upper part, beneath the trophy of the cross, and immediately above the embroidered banner.
The emperor constantly made use of this sign of salvation as a safeguard against every adverse and hostile power, and commanded that others similar to it should be carried at the head of all his armies.
(Life of Constantine I:28-31. See full text here)






A coin of Constatine dating to circa 337AD, showing the Labarum spearing a serpent


It should be further noted that the earliest authentic prophecy of the coming of the Great Monarch in the Latin version of the Tiburtine Sibyl, was actually based on the example of Constantine, rather than Charlemagne (see the full text of this prophecy in the earlier post here). So this could be yet another connection between the Two Witnesses of Revelation and the Angelic Pope and Great Monarch, who are similar prophesied conduits for the spread of Christianity at the end-time.
The appearance of a cross-shaped object in the sky also sounds remarkably similar to an event described by the widely respected 1st century AD Jewish historian Flavius Josephus. Josephus details the appearance of a "sword-shaped" star in the night sky above Jerusalem, which he regarded as an omen of its impending destruction in 70AD:

Thus were the miserable people persuaded by these deceivers, and such as belied God himself; while they did not attend nor give credit to the signs that were so evident, and did so plainly foretell their future desolation, but, like men infatuated, without either eyes to see or minds to consider, did not regard the denunciations that God made to them. Thus there was a star resembling a sword, which stood over the city, and a comet, that continued a whole year. Thus also before the Jews' rebellion, and before those commotions which preceded the war, when the people were come in great crowds to the feast of unleavened bread, on the eighth day of the month Xanthicus, [Nisan,] and at the ninth hour of the night, so great a light shone round the altar and the holy house, that it appeared to be bright day time; which lasted for half an hour. This light seemed to be a good sign to the unskillful, but was so interpreted by the sacred scribes, as to portend those events that followed immediately upon it...

...Besides these [signs], a few days after that feast, on the one and twentieth day of the month Artemisius, [Jyar,] a certain prodigious and incredible phenomenon appeared: I suppose the account of it would seem to be a fable, were it not related by those that saw it, and were not the events that followed it of so considerable a nature as to deserve such signals; for, before sun-setting, chariots and troops of soldiers in their armor were seen running about among the clouds, and surrounding of cities. Moreover, at that feast which we call Pentecost, as the priests were going by night into the inner [court of the temple,] as their custom was, to perform their sacred ministrations, they said that, in the first place, they felt a quaking, and heard a great noise, and after that they heard a sound as of a great multitude, saying, "Let us remove hence."
(Josephus, Jewish Wars VI:5:3 See full text here)

Some commentators have suggested that the "sword" or "cross" shaped star described here by Josephus may have been a near-earth supernova visible in the night skies over Jerusalem. And there have been frequent comparisons of this description with the Star of Bethlehem - which appears to be symbolically connected with this event.
On an interesting side note, SN1054 - one of the few, and indeed best known, historically verifiable supernovae, took place in the year 1054AD, the exact year of the East-West schism that saw the division of the Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox Churches, ending a thousand years of Christian unity - which I suggest in the book may be the point of reference behind the millennial reign of Christ described in Rev 20.
The comet described by Josephus here would thus most likely be the appearance of Halley's Comet in 66AD, which we have already identified as the "Wormwood Star" described in the Book of Revelation (see the post Wormwood, Chernobyl and the Hrushiv Apparitions). So Josephus undoubtedly viewed these astronomical events as omens which heralded the onslaught of the First Jewish Revolt, which lasted between 66-70AD.
A slightly different version of these events is further recounted by the Roman historian Tacitus writing circa 115AD:

Prodigies had occurred, which this nation, prone to superstition, but hating all religious rites, did not deem it lawful to expiate by offering and sacrifice. There had been seen hosts joining battle in the skies, the fiery gleam of arms, the temple illuminated by a sudden radiance from the clouds. The doors of the inner shrine were suddenly thrown open, and a voice of more than mortal tone was heard to cry that the Gods were departing. At the same instant there was a mighty stir as of departure. Some few put a fearful meaning on these events, but in most there was a firm persuasion, that in the ancient records of their priests was contained a prediction of how at this very time the East was to grow powerful, and rulers, coming from Judaea, were to acquire universal empire. These mysterious prophecies had pointed to Vespasian and Titus, but the common people, with the usual blindness of ambition, had interpreted these mighty destinies of themselves, and could not be brought even by disasters to believe the truth.
(Histories, Book 5, v. 13. See full text here).

The sound of the "great multitude" described by Josephus, saying "Let us remove hence", brings to mind the voices of the multitudes in described in the Book of Revelation:

After this I heard what seemed to be the loud voice of a great multitude in heaven, crying out,
“Hallelujah! Salvation and glory and power belong to our God, for his judgments are true and just;
 for he has judged the great prostitute who corrupted the earth with her immorality, and has avenged on her the blood of his servants...”


 ...Then I heard what seemed to be the voice of a great multitude, like the roar of many waters and like the sound of mighty peals of thunder, crying out, “Hallelujah! For the Lord our God the Almighty reigns. Let us rejoice and exult and give him the glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and his Bride has made herself ready; it was granted her to clothe herself with fine linen, bright and pure”— for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints.
(Rev 19:1-2; 6-8)

It also recalls the departure of the Shekinah from the Temple, symbolised by the tearing of the curtains, which took place after the eternal sacrifice of Jesus on the Cross rendered its functions as obsolete:

And when the sixth hour had come, there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour. And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?” which means, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” And some of the bystanders hearing it said, “Behold, he is calling Elijah.” And someone ran and filled a sponge with sour wine, put it on a reed and gave it to him to drink, saying, “Wait, let us see whether Elijah will come to take him down.” And Jesus uttered a loud cry and breathed his last. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. And when the centurion, who stood facing him, saw that in this way he breathed his last, he said, “Truly this man was the Son of God!”
(Mark 15:33-39)

This in turn is intimately associated with the original, preterist interpretation behind the prophecy of the abomination of desolation:

“So when you see the abomination of desolation spoken of by the prophet Daniel, standing in the holy place (let the reader understand), then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains."
(Matt 24:15-16)

It thus seems that it was the prodigies described by Josephus that led to the flight of Christians from Jerusalem to Pella before the destruction of Jerusalem, which is described by Eusebius in his Church History:

But the people of the church in Jerusalem had been commanded by a revelation, vouchsafed to approved men there before the war, to leave the city and to dwell in a certain town of Perea called Pella. And when those that believed in Christ had come there from Jerusalem, then, as if the royal city of the Jews and the whole land of Judea were entirely destitute of holy men, the judgment of God at length overtook those who had committed such outrages against Christ and his apostles, and totally destroyed that generation of impious men.
(Church History III:5.3. See full text here)

And this in turn seems to be related to another passage in the Apocalypse concerning the voice from heaven telling the people of God to come out of Babylon before its impending judgement:

Then I heard another voice from heaven saying, “Come out of her, my people, lest you take part in her sins, lest you share in her plagues; for her sins are heaped high as heaven, and God has remembered her iniquities."
(Rev 18:4-5)

There are some echoes here of the escape of the Israelites from Egypt. And importantly, it also alludes to Lot's departure from Sodom before it was consumed by the fire and sulphur which descended from heaven. The two angels sent by God to rescue Lot and his family before the destruction of Sodom, directly foreshadow the coming of the Two Witnesses sent to rescue the people of God with the Second Pentecost before the destruction of the earth by fire:

The two angels came to Sodom in the evening, and Lot was sitting in the gate of Sodom. When Lot saw them, he rose to meet them and bowed himself with his face to the earth and said, “My lords, please turn aside to your servant's house and spend the night and wash your feet..."
...Then the men said to Lot, “Have you anyone else here? Sons-in-law, sons, daughters, or anyone you have in the city, bring them out of the place. For we are about to destroy this place, because the outcry against its people has become great before the LORD, and the LORD has sent us to destroy it.” So Lot went out and said to his sons-in-law, who were to marry his daughters, “Up! Get out of this place, for the LORD is about to destroy the city.” But he seemed to his sons-in-law to be jesting.
(Gen 19:1-2;12-14)

These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands that stand before the Lord of the earth. And if anyone would harm them, fire pours from their mouth and consumes their foes. If anyone would harm them, this is how he is doomed to be killed. They have the power to shut the sky, that no rain may fall during the days of their prophesying, and they have power over the waters to turn them into blood and to strike the earth with every kind of plague, as often as they desire. And when they have finished their testimony, the beast that rises from the bottomless pit will make war on them and conquer them and kill them, and their dead bodies will lie in the street of the great city that symbolically is called Sodom and Egypt, where their Lord was crucified.
(Rev 11:4-8)

 “For behold, the day is coming, burning like an oven, when all the arrogant and all evildoers will be stubble. The day that is coming shall set them ablaze, says the LORD of hosts, so that it will leave them neither root nor branch. But for you who fear my name, the sun of righteousness shall rise with healing in its wings...
...“Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the great and awesome day of the LORD comes. And he will turn the hearts of fathers to their children and the hearts of children to their fathers, lest I come and strike the land with a decree of utter destruction.”
(Mal 4:1-2; 5)

It is this promised "Great Sign" that will inform the people of God to depart from the state of apostasy (which is represented by the captivity in Babylon), and return to the house of their Master before the arrival of the chastisement. As we shall see in the next post, it is this threat of chastisement which is symbolised by the angel with the flaming sword in the Third Secret of Fatima, who is halted through the intercession of the Virgin Mary to allow for a period of reconciliation. By examining its many allusions to passages in the Old Testament, we can gain a better sense of the true spiritual depth of the Third Secret. For now, it will suffice to conclude that the prophecy of the Second Secret was only partially fulfilled in the appearance of the aurora borealis of 1938. It seems that this event was a foreshadowing of things to come, and we should perhaps expect the ultimate fulfilment of this prophecy in the "Great Sign" that is still to arrive in the future. It is this sign that will announce the coming of the persecution of the Church and the Holy Father himself during the final tribulation, whilst also calling those who have fallen away from the faith into accepting a state of repentance:

When you see a night illumined by an unknown light, know that this is the great sign given you by God that he is about to punish the world for its crimes, by means of war, famine, and persecutions of the Church and of the Holy Father...

This will be the ultimate and final fulfillment of the prophecy of the "sign of the Son of Man", which Jesus said would appear before his arrival in Glory at the Second Coming, when he comes to bring judgment upon the earth:


Then will appear in heaven the sign of the Son of Man, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.
(Matt 24:30)

This event, which was prefigured in the planetary alignment of the year 2000 (just as the Star of Bethlehem prefigured the ministry of Christ thirty years later), will be the final layer to the "sign of the Son of Man" prophecy.











24 comments:

Jason said...

Emmett,

Highly illuminating as always. I have always thought that the Cross in the sky could be what some Blessed and Mystics (Blessed Anna Maria Taigi, St. Edmund Campion) refer to as the “Illumination of Consciences”. If Garabandal proves worthy, the seers might have been given a vision of this future Cross in the sky and refer to it as the so-called “Warning”. Undoubtely, if the world were to be granted this grace, we would all fall on our knees convicted by the Wounds of Savior (see our sins).

I would note that some holy people have been convinced of the worthiness of Garabandal (St. Pio, Mother Teresa of Calcutta and Mother Angelica). I respectfully submit EWTN’s Colin Donovan’s take on Garabandal. http://www.ewtn.com/expert/answers/garabandal.htm
Of course, I will wait for the judgment of Holy Mother Church in this and all matters.

Jamey said...

Emmett,

The impression I get from the Akita apparition is that the chastisement will happen first and then the sign will appear in the sky. "Fire will fall from the sky and will wipe out a great part of humanity, the good as well as the bad, sparing neither priests nor faithful. The survivors will find themselves so desolate that they will envy the dead. The only arms which will remain for you will be the Rosary and the Sign left by my Son."

Do you think Sr Sasagawa got matters mixed up on this point? Apologies if I have misuderstood things but I thought there is the great apostasy, then the second pentecost and finally the consumation of the world in fire (fire falling from the sky).

Emmett O'Regan said...

Hi Jason,

I am in the middle of composing a post about my thoughts on the "Illumination of Consciences". It does seem to be linked to the "Great Sign", as you say, and also to the Second Pentecost. I am inclined to think that the Illumination of Consciences is symbolic of the interior reflection of everyone on earth after the appearance of the Great Sign, rather than the gift of the supernatural knowledge of the state of each person's soul. I think the Great Sign will cause everyone to pause and reflect upon themselves interiorly, and many souls will be won to Christ.
I've already read that article - it's quite good and gives a well-balanced presentation.
Personally, I want Garanbandal and Medjugorje to be true - but I think it's healthy to approach unapproved apparations with a dose of scepticism, whilst being charitable and open to the possibility of authenticity. Indeed the admonition of St. Paul is the most wise in this respect:
"Do not despise prophecies, but test everything; hold fast what is good". (1Thes 5:20-21)

Emmett O'Regan said...

Hi Jamey,

I think that particular sentence is achronological, and refers to all of the tribulations involved, rather than taking place after them - which would be a bit pointless. It should probably be read with the following sense:
"The only arms which will remain for you [when these chastisements begin] will be the Rosary and the Sign left by my Son."
The section on the "cardinal against cardinal" should also be placed before the Great Chastisment - possibly taking place either just before, or during the reign of the Antichrist (or possibly both).
Prophecies are often chronologically disjointed (particularly so throughout the Apocalypse), and quite often can only be understood when broken down into seperate oracles and then arranged in accordance with the chronological sequence already established in other prophecies.
The proper sequence of events seems to be the Great Apostasy, then the Great Sign/martyrdom of a pope, which is followed by the Second Pentecost. After which is the minor chastisement/mega-tsunami, followed by the reign of the Antichrist, which ultimately leads to the Battle of Armageddon/Great Chastisement/End of the world. Only then can the General Resurrection and Last Judgement and the creation of the New heaven and earth take place.

Jamey said...

Thanks Emmett! So this is why you don't see the three days of darkness prophecies as being literal as it implies there will be survivors and the world still in existence. Since the antichrist is surely around the corner then so is the end of this world/earth.

It just strikes me as slightly odd that after the earth has been around for billions of years and humans 200,000 years(if scientists are correct) then it would be destroyed only 2000 years after Christ showed us the way, the truth and the life. I could only perhaps counter that Christ came to prepare us for all this and to usher in the new heaven and earth. I am sure you have probably touched upon this elsewhere.

Emmett O'Regan said...

I think that the Eternal Logos chose the perfect moment in history to become incarnate - just before humanity became so advanced that it would reach the state of existence promised by Satan:

"But the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil."
(Gen 3:4-5)

Only now we are reaching the point of technological sophistication that is beginning to threaten the Tree of Life. Many scientists believe we are now within reach of the point of "tranhumanism" - when we become like "gods" and "will not surely die", because our conscienceness will be able to be fully mapped and "downloaded" into computer data, before being "uploaded" again into a new body - much like the ideal forwarded in James Cameron's film Avatar. Or that our own physical bodies will be able to be sustained indefinitely through nanotechnology.
Possibilities such as this have to be the greatest abominations of all - when humankind threatens to reach the point of Satan's promise, for humanity to become "like" gods. God is simply not going to allow for this to happen, and will consequently bring history to a close before we reach the "Tree of Life" - when He will send forth his Angel with the Flaming Sword.
The Logos was made flesh two thousand years before this point, so that humanity would have the full revelation of God and his intent for us before the consumation of history. This is why the end-time was portrayed as so close by Jesus and the early Christians - because in the grand scheme of things it was:

“The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.”
(Mark 1:15)

"with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day." (2Peter 3:8)

Will said...

from Spirit Daily - old one
"In four years there will arise a new evil the likes of which mankind has never before encountered. It will arrive almost imperceptibly, with few people noticing the depth of its evil, for it will appear to have beneficial and convenient aspects. It is an evil comparable to abortion -- that is to say, that even if evils as great and widespread as abortion were to be eliminated, this is enough of an evil that it would present mankind with an enormous challenge. This evil is being allowed as a test because of the prayers inspired by Mary to put off chastisements. How mankind responds to this new evil will determine the extent, length, and severity of the first chastisements. These chastisements will differ according to regions, and like the great evil, will not always or usually be immediately noticeable for what they are. In the period also will be a warning that involves not fire from the sky but fear of fire from the sky, and strange loud rumblings. This, according to mankind's response, will then be followed by another chastisement, or the inevitable onset of the change of era. Your era is ending. Soon the world will not be the world you know. I am not speaking of a barren world, or one depopulated, but of the end of your technological era. Many inventions of mankind will be broken down and there will be more of a peasant attitude and way of life everywhere. After this breakdown of false society will come persecution of Christians and also a new world order. The anti-christ will be on earth trying to affect the new world order. Hardly anyone will notice the extent of his influence until afterwards. He will not be of tremendous visibility until he is accomplished. That is to say, he will not rule, control, and be at all obvious to the world at the peak of his influence. He will not be unlike a figure such as Marx, except his ideas will be more immediate.
"I will come not as a man of flesh, but like My mother, who already nurses Me and holds Me in her arms, as a light and power. I will manifest Myself in a series of supernatural events similar to the apparitions but much more powerful. In other words, My second coming will be different than My first, and like My first, it will be spectacular to many but also unknown initially to many, or disbelieved. Yet truly I tell you, the arrogance of the world will have been broken, and so many more than normal will believe.
"I will come in towering light.
"My mother held me in her arms at Medjugorje, as an infant.
"I will come as she has come, in light.
"Know this about the world: I would not appear on television, nor ride a car, nor travel in an airplane.
"Would I come in such a manner?
"Would I live in such a world?
"You think of the changes in very simple ways, without realizing the fundamental mistakes of mankind.
"The very artifice of your societies is false and against the accordance of God's Will.
"This artifice shall not last.
"Your very conceptions of happiness and comforts are a great evil and falsity.
"They will not stand.
"My greatest nemesis is science, even more so than the media. The science that alters life, the science which creates a counterfeit heaven, the science that toils with the womb and genes, the science that has filled the air with the power of the enemy, the science which creates chemical witchcraft and fouls the earth, the science which seeks to create life but cannot in actuality even sustain it, the science which has denied God.
"This will fall, and all of its creations with it.
"The seat of Satan in America is north of San Francisco.
"New York City is under an evil cloud and will be for 12 years. Do not go there. The pride there will be broken.
"As for the anti-christ, remember Europe, and especially Central Europe.
"Yet know too that God's Hand will be evident in South America.
"The world will not end but change."

Emmett O'Regan said...

Thanks Will,

I'd love to know the source of that anonymous "1990" prophecy. Michael Brown seems to be convinced that it is from a genuine seer. It is also very close to the theories I present in Unveiling the Apocalypse. I didn't come across it until after the book was already written, and was impressed with the parallels with my work.

Will said...

Interesting what it says about Medjugorje ;)

jennifer said...

Hello Emmett,
Your work is commendable. Thank you for sharing your
wisdom and insights with us. Mark Mallett mentioned you and your book
in his latest post 'Mystery Babylon'. This is off subject, but wondering
if you have read his post and what your take is? I have an insight to
share. St. John Henry Newman, I believe, stated that the Roman Empire
never went away. It became the British Empire. That being said, my
insight is this, the seven headed beast in Revelation could in fact be
the British Empire, since they have a presence in/on all seven continents.
What say you? I pray for you, your family, and your ministry.
Blessings, jennifer

Emmett O'Regan said...

Hi Jennifer,

Thanks! I hadn't read that post until you mentioned it. It is very much in line with the chapter on The Whore of Babylon in my book. I argue that Babylon represents the ruling world power in the eschatological age, just as Ancient Babylon and Rome were the ruling world powers in their own times. So if we transpose this situation to the present, the USA is the sole contender for this title, given its current global hedgemony.
The Book of Revelation tells us that "Babylon" would be overthrown "in a single hour". It then goes on to tell us how it would be overthrown, the actions of which is symbolised by an angel casting a huge millstone into the sea:

"Then a mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone and threw it into the sea, saying,
“So will Babylon the great city be thrown down with violence, and will be found no more"
(Rev 18:21)

I argue that this verse directly parallels the "great mountain, burning with fire" being thrown into the sea in Rev 8:8, which I propose is a reference to the threat of a future mega-tsunami posed by the collapse of the volcano Cumbre Vieja in the Canary Islands, which would completely decimate the cities of the east coast of the Americas, including New York.
See my post on this subject at the below link:

http://unveilingtheapocalypse.blogspot.co.uk/2011/08/mega-tsunami.html

It seems that this event will lead to the economic collapse of the USA, and will allow the rise to power of the Antichrist. It seems that the total collapse of the USA after this event will be ensured by the ten kings of the Antichrist, who in turn are identified with the Beast with seven heads which represents the revived Roman Empire:

And the angel said to me, “The waters that you saw, where the prostitute is seated, are peoples and multitudes and nations and languages. And the ten horns that you saw, they and the beast will hate the prostitute. They will make her desolate and naked, and devour her flesh and burn her up with fire, for God has put it into their hearts to carry out his purpose by being of one mind and handing over their royal power to the beast, until the words of God are fulfilled.
(Rev 17:15-17)

Traditionally, Europe has always been considered as the remnant of the Roman Empire. After the fall of Rome, a loose confederation of kingdoms and feudal states was still mantained in the West (which would eventually be more closely united under the Frankish ruler Charlemagne and the formation of the Holy Roman Empire), while the actual remains of the Roman Empire contained to exist in the Byzantine Empire in Constantinople, until the invasion of the Ottoman Turks in the 15th century.
This is why many commentators believe that the prophecy of the revived Roman Empire implied by the beast with seven heads, who "was, and is not, and is about to rise from the bottomless pit and go to destruction" (Rev 17:8), refers to a United Europe ruled under a single leader, founded on the exact physical location of the ancient Roman Empire. In this scenario, the Antichrist will literally be a new "Nero" or "Caesar", who will bring about the final persecution of Christians before the end of the world.

Anonymous said...

WHO WILL CRY FOR YOU, AMERICA ?

I, will cry you a river
And much much more
My dear dear America,
Once so beautiful !
You sold your soul
To a bunch of mercenaries
Which entered your sheep-fold
As wolves and goats
You sold your skin
To the highest bidder
You resemble a harlot
The new BABYLON
Eating and drinking
With the rich of this world
Prostituting yourself
For money and power
And became a den
Of thieves and murderers
You forgot all about
The One Who blessed
You so abundantly
Biting the Hand of the Blesser
Embarrassed to mention His Name !
Did He not teach you
To be wise as a serpent
And harmless as a dove
Why then do you behave
As a silly goose ??
He invited you to His dinner Table
He so diligently prepared
But, you made light of it
And went your worldly, haughty ways
One to his farm,
Another to his business.
But as the Father of Fathers
He waits for your return
The return of His prodigal daughter
WAKE UP, AMERICA !!!
Humble your pride
And follow the Way, the Life and the Truth !!!
Or, I SHALL cry you a river
A river of bloody tears
And much much more !!!

Rita Biesemans 02/17/2003

Jamey said...

God Bless you Rita B!

Emmett,

Touching upon my earlier comment and your response - is it at all possible that most of humanity and the world will be destroyed with only a few left alive and that this would usher in the new heaven and the new earth - that is the earth we are on now would be transformed by God's power and also given Satan will be banished once and for all?

I understand if these are the end-times then there will be the final judgement so it could be argued that everyone must die for this to happen. However could those still alive be taken up into the final judgement (this would differ from the "rapture")? There appears to be different levels of certitude in regard to prophecies (eg, certainty, likely, uncertain). In short is it a dogmatic type certainty that in fact every inhabitant and the earth itself will perish before the final judgement or just very likely? As you mention in your book we dont really have any information regarding what the new earth will look like. The new heaven I assume is heaven but the saints would have their resurrected physical bodies.

I ask these questions as there appear numerous reasonable prophecies that do point to life still existing even after the fire falls from heaven - eg they indicate that a greater part of humanity will perish as opposed to all.

http://www.3daysofdarkness.com/

Emmett O'Regan said...

Judging from several biblical passages (such as 2Pet), the end seems very final.

"The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed.

"Since all these things are thus to be dissolved, what sort of people ought you to be in lives of holiness and godliness, waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be set on fire and dissolved, and the heavenly bodies will melt as they burn!
(2 Pet 3:9-12)

Logic dictates that the Last Judgment can only take place after the death of the last human being. I believe that the creation of the new earth and heaven takes place on a different, metaphysical plane of existence beyond this veil of reality. The bodily resurrection of the dead takes place on the new earth, when creation is restored to its original intended state of perfection (this "new earth" is basically our concept of heaven - while the new heaven remains the abode of God, who will dwell in the presence of the new earth, illuminating it as the Sun). In a parallel with the Resurrection of Christ, it seems that humanity must first be crucified and die on the Cross, before it can acheive the Resurrection to eternal life. This is reflected in the Catechism:

The Church will enter the glory of the kingdom only through this final Passover, when she will follow her Lord in his death and Resurrection. The kingdom will be fulfilled, then, not by a historic triumph of the Church through a progressive ascendancy, but only by God's victory over the final unleashing of evil, which will cause his Bride to come down from heaven. God's triumph over the revolt of evil will take the form of the Last Judgement after the final cosmic upheaval of this passing world. (CCC 677)

That being said, this scenario should only be regarded as "very likely". The Catechism is also careful to point out that no one really knows in what way creation will be transformed:

"We know neither the moment of the consummation of the earth and of man, nor the way in which the universe will be transformed. the form of this world, distorted by sin, is passing away, and we are taught that God is preparing a new dwelling and a new earth in which righteousness dwells, in which happiness will fill and surpass all the desires of peace arising in the hearts of men."
(CCC 1048)

But living on a post-apocalyptic radioactive wasteland as a "new earth" sounds a bit grim to me :->

justyntoo said...

hi emmett , i have often wondered why there is two creation stories in genisis .i have been following the messages of john leary . com. and they strongly suggest that there will be a day of the lord which will include the enlightenment . also , as the christians were led to safety at pella , so will the faithfull be led to areas of refuge in the wilderness after the enlightenment - which , for 6 weeks after we are supposed to try leading people back to god - then on to the refuges , at which we will be prayer warriors for the salvation of the souls of those who fight the chip and the armies of the antichrist . after the allotted time then the same comet that was instumental in the enlightenment and which in turn burnt half of russia , causing their conversion as the pope prays for their conversion as fatima wanted just befor he dies -in germany- will return and strike the earth in the mid atlantic and this will dislodge all that methane stored in the oceans and the followers of the antichrist will walk thru hell for three days -in darkness,with out seeing their hands in front of their eyes - and then all will be cast into hell . to be followed by the -rapture,of sorts- were god will remove all the faithfull left, off of the planet and we will be able to watch the renewal of the face of the earth in 6 days . we will then be returned to our areas and will join the hebrews in cleansing the earth and making it holy to the lord . we will then have 1000 yrs of peace and then the devil gets out again and 7 years later the end of the world and the final judgement . these messages seem to follow a lot of catholic prophesies . i believe this to be true .

Emmett O'Regan said...

Hi Justyntoo,

Some theologians (source critics) propose that the two different accounts in Genesis are the result of two conflated narratives (one called the Yahwist, the other the Elohist) compiled by a redactor circa the 8th century BC. This concept, which supposedly shows different traditions in the Northern Kingdom of Israel and the Southern Kingdom of Judah, is known as the documentary hypothesis.
You can find some further information on that at the below link:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Documentary_hypothesis
I would be wary of John Leary - some of his "private revelations" don't accord with Catholic theology.

Anonymous said...

I have seen what I believe to be the same vision as Sr. Faustina regarding entry 83 in the Diary of Divine Mercy. I saw a sky filled with darkness I would describe as black ink or tar. I then saw a cross in the sky and where Jesus was nailed, light, like laser light, coming forth from the three holes, cutting through the darkness. The vision only lasted about a minute. I recorded it in my journal. At first I took it to mean that Jesus is the light of the world. He has overcome the darkness. God is light. In Him there is no darkness. Afterwards, I read her entry, not knowing who she was or what was contained in her Diary. After this vision, I had an experience of what I would call God's wrath on the wicked. I experienced bitter cold. I was shivering. I cried out in sorrow for the wicked.

I do not know order of events nor if or how they are related. I have a sense of urgency in my soul, however. I have a sorrow for our nation and the unborn. I feel called to fast and implore others to join in prayer.

Emmett O'Regan said...

Thanks for sharing that anon... I'm curious - did you see this vision in a dream, or while you were awake?

Anonymous said...

I saw the vision while awake but eyes closed and in a meditative, reflective, state in bed. I would also like to share that other images i have had over a 1-2 year period include a mushroom cloud, not sure if volcano or nuclear, a miter, not sure if bishop or papal, a strong vision of the star of David and a menorah, black clouds in a desert with lightning striking the ground in many places, thunderous and intense.

Anonymous said...

In his book "Antichrist and the End Times," Rev. Joseph Iannuzzi offers his take on "the Warning" and "the Great Sign". He says:

"Before the great chastisment, God, in his infinite mercy, provides us with every opportunity to make amends. In Jesus' many appeals, especially those of his Blessed Mother, one discovers practical steps that lead to peace with God, with one's neighbor and with the world around him. One of the graces that God will grant humankind is the revelation of its state of soul before the chastisement, so that it may have time to sufficiently prepare itself for the impending judgement. This moment in which we see ourselves as God sees us is popularly known as the "Warning." It will be a supernatural occurence associated with an event in the sky that will cause every man, woman, and child to see the state of his or her own soul - that is, all the unrepented evil they have done and good they have failed to do - through an illumination of conscience...Among the prophets who have beheld the Warning in mystical vision, worthy of mention is 16th century Saint Edmund Campion, who wrote:

"I pronouce a great day...wherein the terrible Judge should reveal all men's consciences and try every man of each kind of religion. This is the day of change, this is the day which I threatened."

Blessed Anna Maria Taigi also write of this illumination of conscience as did Saint Faustina Kowalska who actually experienced it during her life. Saint Faustina writes:

"Suddenly, I saw the complete condition of my soul as God sees it. I could clearly see all that is displeasing to God. I did not know that even the smallest transgressions will have to be accounted for."

In addition to "the Warning" Rev. Iannuzzi goes on to talk about "the Miracle" that approved private revelations talk about. This Great Miracle will follow the Warning. Blessed Catherine Emmerich says:

"When the angel had descended I beheld above him a great shining cross in the heavens. On it hung the Savior from whose Wounds shot brilliant rays over the whole earth. Those glorious wounds were red… their center gold-yellow… He
wore no crown of thorns, but from all the Wounds of His Head streamed rays. Those from His Hands, Feet, and Side were fine as hair and shone with rainbow colors; sometimes they were all united and fell upon villages, cities, and houses throughout the world… I also saw a shining red heart floating in the air. From one
side flowed a current of white light to the Wound of the Sacred Side, and from the other a second current fell upon the Church in many regions; its rays attracted
numerous souls who, by the Heart and the current of light, entered into the Side of Jesus. I was told that this was the Heart of Mary. Beside these rays, I saw from all the Wounds about thirty ladders let down to earth."

A similar sign, Rev. Iannuzzi tells us, was revealed by Jesus to Servant of God Marte Robin. Jesus tells Marthe:

"I play with the plans of men. My right hand prepares miracles and My Name shall be glorified in all the world. I shall be pleased to break the pride of the wicked much more when the world will be most hostile to all that is supernatural. And much more admirable and extraordinary will be the event that will come out of our encounter. In place of the throne of the Beast two glorious thrones will arise, one of My Sacred Heart and the other of the Immaculate Heart of Mary. Then it will be understood that neither human power nor demons nor the genius of industry will end the conflict, but that will end only when reparation has been consummated. Be courageous! The Kingdom of God is near. It will begin with something that will come so suddenly as to be entirely unexpected."

Saint Faustina also writes about a "sign of the cross" that "will be seen in the sky" and "which light up the earth for a period of time."

VTA said...

I think we have to "test" and "hold" for ourselves, since formal approval of some real apparitions may never come, especially those that prophesy events.

Anonymous said...

I'd love to know the source of that anonymous "1990" prophecy. Michael Brown seems to be convinced that it is from a genuine seer.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
A friend of mine whom I met on the 2001 pilgrimage to Medjugorje with Michael Brown asked Michael if he was the "seer" of this 1990 prophecy and he admitted at least to her that he was. I think that is why he is so knowledgeable of the details and has mentioned it so often since it was something so very personal.

Emmett O'Regan said...

That would actually make a lot of sense...

Anonymous said...

As for the two apparitions at Garabandal and Mejorgie (spell?), for me are not worthy of believe because, these two apparitions have some contradictions of the Faith; specially at Medjorgie.