While these documents which Symonds has unearthed are undoubtedly the earliest of their kind, and therefore possess the strongest claim to the full truth on this matter, we cannot fail to notice that this contradicts the common perception that Pope Leo's prophetic vision comprised the entirety of the 20th century, rather than just the first half of it. On the surface, this discovery appears to indicate that the period of Satan's greater power ended around the middle of the 20th century, at the close of the Second World War. Once again, such a scenario appears to contradict the actual sequence of historical events, and it is plainly evident that the true grip of Satan's greater power only seemed to really take hold in the latter half of the 20th century, after the events of the Second World War, when the Sexual Revolution which took place in the 1960's coincided with a massive decline in the Church - paving the way for current apostasy we are still enduring today.
Symonds is solely concerned with presenting the facts on this matter however, and his efforts are to be commended, as they allow us to see this prophecy from a completely fresh perspective. I have been very fortunate in the timing of the publication of this book, as its findings have helped greatly with my own research for the forthcoming new version of my book, titled Unveiling the Apocalypse: The Final Passover of the Church. One of the central features of this new version is how the prophetic vision of Pope Leo XIII is directly related to the unbinding of Satan described in Rev 20, so Symond's work has been of enormous benefit. In The Final Passover of the Church, I argue that the 50-60 years requested by Satan during Pope Leo's vision was actually only Satan's first attempt to destroy the Church. If we compare this prophecy with its primary inspiration in the Book of Job, the exact manner in which Satan tests Job is comprised of two distinct parts. In his first attempt, Satan claims Job's children by tearing down the house of their elder brother. After Satan's first attempt fails, he then comes back to request another chance to destroy Job's faith, this time by afflicting the prophet himself with a plague of terrible sores:
And the LORD said to Satan, “From where have you come?” Satan answered the LORD and said, “From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking up and down on it.” And the LORD said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, who fears God and turns away from evil? He still holds fast his integrity, although you incited me against him to destroy him without reason.” Then Satan answered the LORD and said, “Skin for skin! All that a man has he will give for his life. But stretch out your hand and touch his bone and his flesh, and he will curse you to your face.” And the LORD said to Satan, “Behold, he is in your hand; only spare his life.” So Satan went out from the presence of the LORD and struck Job with loathsome sores from the sole of his foot to the crown of his head. And he took a piece of broken pottery with which to scrape himself while he sat in the ashes. Then his wife said to him, “Do you still hold fast your integrity? Curse God and die.” But he said to her, “You speak as one of the foolish women would speak. Shall we receive good from God, and shall we not receive evil?” In all this Job did not sin with his lips.
(Job 2:2-10)
So if the prophecy of Leo XIII corresponds with the trials of Job, it would follow that Satan would have returned before the throne of God to request another attempt to destroy the Church after the period of 50-60 years had elapsed, this time by changing tack - manifesting a plague of sores upon the Church itself, rather than the physical destruction of its children through war. Such an interpretation would explain why there was such a sudden swerve in the middle of the 20th century, going from the two world wars in the first half, to the modern apostasy in the second, which yielded not only great changes within the Church itself, but also saw the rise of the sexual abuse crisis, as well as the worldwide resurgence in occultism brought about by the New Age Movement.
We can find some evidence to support this hypothesis in Symond's work, which contains the account of the vision of Pope Leo given by Cardinal Segura, who provides an additional detail about Satan's first request of 50-60 years, stating that "God granted that period and said they would talk again at a later time…" (Symonds, K. Pope Leo XIII and the Prayer to St. Michael, p50). This strongly suggests that the conversation between God and the Devil would be continued after the failure of the first attempt, just like during the trials of Job. And if Satan was granted a further period of 50-60 years during this second attempt, this would bring the total amount of time up to 100-120 years, which is much more in line with the more well known version of this prophecy, and this revised figure fits much better with the actual unfolding of historical events.
The beginning of this time period appears to have been signified by Pope Leo's consecration of the world to the Sacred Heart of Jesus in 1899, which was requested by Christ Himself when He appeared to Blessed Mary of the Divine Heart in 1898. This parallels the 100-year time period between the request to consecrate France to the Sacred Heart during Christ's apparition to St. Margaret Mary Alacoque and the beginning of the French Revolution. This interpretation identifies a major turning point in the period of Satan's greater power (when blemishes would be manifested on the Church itself) at around the year 1960, which ties us into the significance of Our Lady's words concerning when the Third Secret should have been originally published.
Satan's request of 50-60 years to destroy the Church is also extremely similar to Blessed Anne Catherine Emmerich's prophecy of the unbinding of Satan towards the end of the world, which she seen during a vision of the binding of Satan during Christ's Descent into Hell:
In the centre of Hell I saw a dark and horrible-looking abyss, and into this Lucifer was cast, after being first strongly secured with chains; thick clouds of sulphureous black smoke arose from its fearful depths, and enveloped his frightful form in the dismal folds, thus effectually concealing him from every beholder. God himself had decreed this; and I was likewise told, if I remember right, that he will be unchained for a time fifty or sixty years before the year of Christ 2000. The dates of many other events were pointed out to me which I do not now remember; but a certain number of demons are to be let loose much earlier than Lucifer, in order to tempt men, and to serve as instruments of the divine vengeance. I should think that some must be loosened even in the present day, and others will be set free in a short time.
Blessed Emmerich's vision can therefore be completely reconciled with the vision of Pope Leo XIII if we are to understand the period of the unbinding of Satan above as lasting for 50-60 years, starting at an unspecified date before the year 2000, rather than taking place 50-60 years before the turn of the millennium. This would mean that the 50-60 year timeframe mentioned by Blessed Emmerich is one and the same as the period of Satan's greater power, rather than placing the unleashing of the Devil at around the years 1940-1950. Interpreted in this way, the true meaning of Blessed Emmerich's words would be "he will be unchained for a time [period lasting] fifty or sixty years before the year of Christ 2000".
If the period of Satan's greater power consists of two separate lots, just like the trials of Job, bringing the total up to 100-120 years, then it is interesting to note the timing of the end of this time period points not only to the significance of the turn of the millennium, but also to the centenary of the apparitions of Our Lady of Fatima in 1917. In The Final Passover of the Church, I hope to show how both the separate figures of 100 and 120 years are of equal importance in this regard, as the defeat of Satan at the end time is actually also comprised of two separate events. The first is the eschatological expulsion of the Devil from heaven, when Satan is cast down to the earth by the Archangel Michael. This event, which takes place at the end of the period of Satan's unbinding, is the ultimate fulfilment of the Prayer to St. Michael, and is marked on earth by the appearance of the signs in heaven - all of which occurred at the turn of the millennium. Once he is cast down to the earth, the Devil becomes even more enraged at the Woman Adorned with the Sun, and spews a flood out from his mouth in a last attempt to completely sweep her away.
Now war arose in heaven, Michael and his angels fighting against the dragon. And the dragon and his angels fought back, but he was defeated, and there was no longer any place for them in heaven. And the great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world—he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him. And I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, “Now the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Christ have come, for the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down, who accuses them day and night before our God. And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death. Therefore, rejoice, O heavens and you who dwell in them! But woe to you, O earth and sea, for the devil has come down to you in great wrath, because he knows that his time is short!”
And when the dragon saw that he had been thrown down to the earth, he pursued the woman who had given birth to the male child. But the woman was given the two wings of the great eagle so that she might fly from the serpent into the wilderness, to the place where she is to be nourished for a time, and times, and half a time. The serpent poured water like a river out of his mouth after the woman, to sweep her away with a flood. But the earth came to the help of the woman, and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed the river that the dragon had poured from his mouth. (Rev 12:7-16)
If the appearance of the signs in heaven occurred at the turn of the millennium in order to herald when Satan has been cast down to earth, this means that this is the time period we are currently experiencing, and explains the significance of the 100-year element of this prophecy. However the flood sent out of the mouth of the Ancient Serpent is eventually swallowed up by the earth itself, which marks the second defeat suffered by Satan at the end of the period of his unbinding, and symbolises the restoration of the Church by the Two Witnesses during the Triumph of the Immaculate Heart of Mary. If this prophecy is related to the passing of the 120-year element of this timeframe, then we have every reason to hope that the words of Pope Benedict XVI will ring true:
May the seven years which separate us from the centenary of the apparitions hasten the fulfilment of the prophecy of the triumph of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, to the glory of the Most Holy Trinity. (Homily of Pope Benedict XVI, Fatima, May 13th, 2010)
67 comments:
Excellent essay, as usual. As someone who is trying to keep track of all the balls in the air, I have a question about the role of the Immaculate Heart of Mary in all this. Specifically, do you think that at the end of this current period -- circa 2017 -- that we might see the conversion of the Muslims AND/OR the conversion of the Jews, and that either or both of these events will mark the Triumph of the Immaculate Heart of Mary?
(Honestly, I feel like I'm reaching the climax of an adventure novel where you can see the end coming, but you don't know who's going to survive and the novel has been serialized and you have to wait for the next chapter to be published!)
Oh, and I wanted to point out: over at onepeterfive.com, there is a Fatima Novena for the Conversion of Muslims that starts on May 4. You can find the novena prayer at:
http://www.onepeterfive.com/a-fatima-novena-for-the-conversion-of-muslims/
To Jesus Through Mary!
Hi Jim,
According to St. Paul, the "fullness of the Gentiles" must come in before the conversion of the Jews. The Jewish people are reserved until last, and will only be brought to Christ after the appearance of the sign of the Son of Man described in Zech 12. The Muslims would naturally be included in the "fullness of the Gentiles", but I don't think there will be a universal conversion here, many of them will still reject Christ. The Jews will only be converted at the end of the period of peace, just before the rise to power of the Antichrist.
I'd be very happy with the conversion of our protestant brothers and sisters. Would the Muslims conversion speed up this process??
I heard that Leo XIII had this vision on October 13 1884. That would make it 33 years later on the exact date that Mary's miracle of the sun occured in Fatima. IMO, if Satan is allowed 100 years to wreck the church, it seems reasonable that God would have warned us of the coming tribulation through the Woman of Gen 3:15, Mary. And since it was the greatest miracle since the Resurrection, we can see its urgency and importance in these regards. I remain convicted that the Triumph of the Immaculate Heart may very well occur on the 100 year anniversary of the miracle (the 100 year closing of Satan's reign): Oct 13, 2017.
The "50-60 years", and Satan's "two askings" seems like a much more wilder speculation.
Matthew,
I don't think it's speculation at all. There seems to be, if I'm reading Emmett's post correctly, a question of historical fact. Earlier versions of this story say that there were two requests of 50-60 years each. Later versions said 100 years. The question isn't an issue of whether the speculation is wild or not, but rather one of which version of this historical narrative is correct. (And not having seen the source material for the book in question, none of us can really take a shot at answering that.)
Mark
Mark W - The earliest versions of this story say that it was just one period of 50-60 years, and this part is historical fact. We don't know for sure that a second period was granted - this part is speculation on my behalf, drawn from the account given by Cardinal Segura, who mentioned that God said to Satan that they would talk again at a later point. This echoes the second meeting which took place between God and Satan in the Book of Job, where the Devil was given another attempt to make Job deny God after the first attempt had failed. The earliest accounts also make it quite clear that this vision was directly based on the story of Job. So if a second meeting between God and the Devil did indeed take place, as was stated in Cardinal Segura's account, we can only be left to conclude that God granted Satan another chance to destroy the Church after the 60 years had elapsed - this time by inflicting a plague of sores on the body of the Church itself, rather than destroying its children through means of physical violence.
Matthew - The date of October 13th 1884 for the date of the vision isn't found recorded anywhere until the latter half of the 20th century. It's not mentioned at all in the earliest accounts. This date appears to be a later invention, and we can only assume that this was selected because of a perceived connection with Fatima. It's actually much more likely that Pope Leo received the vision in 1886, as this is when the Prayer to St. Michael was first added to the Leonine Prayers. According to the earliest accounts, Pope Leo wrote the prayer straight away after receiving the vision, and immediately ordered for it to be sent out to the world's bishops to have it said after Low Mass. If this is the case, then he must have received the vision just shortly before the St. Michael Prayer was first added to the prayers after Mass in 1886.
Emmett (or anyone else) care to speculate as to the effects of the moving away from saying the Leonine Prayers and/or the St. Michael Prayer after the Novus Ordo/Ordinary Form of the Mass became the norm? I certainly DO NOT want to engage in a discussion of Ordinary vs. Extraordinary Form of the Mass but rather focus on the prayers historically associated with the end of the EF Mass.
My local Bishop, Thomas John Paprocki, began mandating that the St. Michael prayer be said after every Mass offering a few years ago. I know many others have incorporated the prayer at Mass as well in recent years. I myself do the Leonine Prayers after Mass and time permitting offer the full length prayer to Saint Michael. It's a good practice to get into.
Hi Kevin,
I certainly don't think it has helped any, dropping the prayer at the end of Mass. In my parish, I suggested it several years ago. The pastor at the time had a good chuckle. But there's a nearby parish where they pray it at the end of daily Mass. (My parish tries to maintain a safe and content-free Catholicism in order to maintain a healthy cash-flow.)
And are you the same Kevin Miller that was on stblogs.org at the same time I was (several hundred years ago, it seems)?
Mark
Kevin, I think it is rather telling that the Prayer to St. Michael was dropped at the half way point in all this.
Emmett, the Job connection is fascinating. I'll reread this blog post against tomorrow. Thanks!
Even still, if he was given two 50-60 year periods, shouldn't we be towards the end of that by now?
An interesting side note for me is my suspicion as to why Kevin Symonds researched this topic.
Mr. Symonds is a well-known opponent of Medjugorje. Allegedly, Our Lady told Mirjana in 1983 of the encounter between Satan and Jesus:
"Satan exists. One day he appeared before the throne of God and asked permission to submit the Church to a period of trial. God gave him permission to try the Church for one century. This century is under the power of the devil."
I suspect Mr. Symonds embarked on this journey into the origin of the prayer to discredit Medjugorje, but ended up being surprised.
God bless,
Greg J Cring
A While Longer
1. "Content-free Catholicism" I like that term, unfortunately it is becoming ever present in many places I go. It seems like many are going through the motions with little beneath the surface. I went to Daily Mass yesterday at an ultra-modernist parish and they had political signs all over the property (to include for candidates who are diametrically opposed to the Church on so many levels like Trump). I could not even locate the tabernacle inside the sanctuary and they have a bizarre looking metal art sculpture of Christ Crucified centered about the off-center altar. Suffice it all to say that it seems apparent that when you remove so much of what is historically associated with our Church it starts getting filled with so much that looks completely out of place.
2. That Kevin Miller I am not, there are plenty of us running around though.
While I don't want to get into politics or off topic, the concept of the lesser of two evils comes to mind here. I have close friends who think of Hilary as the antiChrist because of things like her 100 percent support of abortion and gay marriage etc. Compared to her, Trump seems somewhat 'normal' and more in line with Catholicism. SO with our only choice being between Trump and Clinton for our next leader, from a Catholic perspective Trump wins hands down, that is Trump is more in line with the Church than Hilary.
Trump is refusing to let side issues distract the voters by smartly taking those issues off the table; jobs and the decline of the middle class are most important ths go-round, not who uses what bathrooms. The big picture, as in James Bond/Casino Royale - we need to keep our eye on the big picture and not be distracted by other social (and really, non-Presidential, issues.
God bless you.
Emmett, much of what you say in these posts about what will be in your revised book aligns nicely with the book A While Longer - for example, the sign of the Son of Man being a cross in the heavens that finally converts the Jews is discussed there. And the idea of the 20th century being the time, the hour, of Satan is deeply discussed - it is the theme of the book, it is the 'while longer'.
I have not heard much about your book's resolution of the 'time of Satan' - that is, how it ends, so this might be a divergence. I think it has been said regarding the Pope Leo vision that IF (really WHEN) Satan fails to destroy Jesus' Church, then Satan is forever chained. This would align with Medjugorje. As I previously posted, Blessed Mary mentioned the same event we know as the Pope Leo vision. But after Mirjana finished speaking of Our Lady's telling her of the confrontation between Satan and Jesus, according to Spirit Daily a priest interviewed visionary Mirjana Dragicevic Soldo about it:
"You said the twentieth century has been given over to the devil?" she was asked.
"Yes."
"You mean the century until the year 2000, or generally speaking?" asked the priest.
"Generally, part of which is in the twentieth century, until the first secret is unfolded," explained Mirjana. "The devil will rule till then."
Spirit Daily continues: She used the word "generally." It was not an exactly dated message. It doesn't mean that Satan's power will suddenly stop January 1 at the stroke of midnight. But there's no question that evil has reached what must be close to a crescendo and that by God's grace the new century will see a purification unfold.
Mirjana indicates that at the end of the time given to him, Satan's power will be broken. This matches with the Book of Revelation, and A While Longer points out how what Mirjana says aligns with Revelation - Satan is unleashed and wages war against the people of God [the 20th century and beyond], and then is chained and thrown into the lake of fire forever as Jesus returns, we are judged, and the world is restored.
This would indicate that we are on the cusp of the Second Coming, but many speak of an era of peace, a long reign (spiritually) whereby they seem to describe a perfect, Catholic world, which contradicts Scripture and the Catechism, which says the wheat and tares will exist side by side until the Final Judgement.
So I am wondering how your revision handles this part - the conclusion of the time given to Satan.
Greg J Cring
A While Longer
Hi Greg! I've read your book. It's also quite excellent! I keep meaning to getting round to recommending it, but have been distracted with finished the new version of Unveiling the Apocalypse. I will eventually - there's so much in it I want to discuss. I also categorically reject the "spiritual millenarianism" espoused by Fr. Iannuzzi et al. It's hard to put in a nutshell, but basically my take on the end of Satan's period of greater power is that it is followed by the events described in Rev 12, which have both primordial and eschatological layers of interpretation. I argue that the end of the short time of Satan consists of two parts, first the Devil is cast down to the earth by the Archangel Michael, where he continues his pursuit of the Woman Adorned with the Sun, and threatens to carry her away. This event is marked on earth by the appearance of the signs in heaven, all of which appeared at the turn of the millennium. The next event is when the flood issued from the mouth of the Dragon is swallowed up by the earth, which symbolises the restoration of the Church by the Two Witnesses, the bringing in of the fullness of the Gentiles and the conversion of the Jews. This "period of peace" will be short-lived however, as Satan transfers his great power and authority to the Antichrist once he is cast down to earth, and goes off to make war on the seed of the Woman during the Final Passover of the Church. The Antichrist is then slain by Christ during His Second Coming, which is followed by the General Resurrection and Satan being thrown into the lake of fire along with the Beast and False Prophet.
Hi Emmett,
Please clarify the signs in heaven that appeared at the turn of the millennium. Unless it was the positions of astronomical constellations in the sky that you have mentioned in former posts, I might have been sleeping and I missed them. Thank you, Emmett.
Michael
Yes Michael, I've mentioned them before in various places, such as at the below link:
http://unveilingtheapocalypse.blogspot.co.uk/2011/08/signs-in-sky.html
For the new version of my book, I have gathered many more passages from Scripture which confirm that the eschatological expulsion of Satan from heaven is marked by the appearance of the signs in heaven.
Hi Emmett-
I find this post of yours very compelling, on two fronts.
First, I'm not accustomed to hearing Job being called a prophet. I think he's considered more of a prophet in Islam. The book of Job is firmly established in the canon of Wisdom literature, and Job is a literary, not historical, figure. What interests me here, then, is in viewing the story of Job from an eschatological perspective: perhaps working, in addition to Wisdom literature, as a prophecy for the end times. This is fascinating. So I don't think we should write about this action of Satan as being some sort of historical repeat. Because according to the most sound Catholic scripture scholarship that I'm aware of, there is no historical truth to what is presented in that book. It wasn't intended as such.
Next, when I read your description of the distinction of the two periods of suffering, I was really struck. It seemed to put a piece of the puzzle in place for me. Most certainly the Church, especially in Russia, suffered *severe* persecution in the first half of the twentieth century. But it was a persecution which undoubtedly produced a vast number of martyrs. I had trouble reconciling this fruitfulness of blood, so to speak, with the dramatic reversal of the period which followed it, wherein so much apostasy entered in. How to consider this as one single period of satanic persecution? This division of the period into two distinct phases seems, to me, to be very compelling.
I am especially intrigued to see it paralleled with the book of Job. However, I'd like to see you speak of it not as being "as Satan did with Job," as though Job were a historical figure, but perhaps explore Job as, in addition to Wisdom literature, as a potential work of eschatological prophecy, as a story which would have its more literal interpretation unfolding in the end times.
Great work, to you and Kevin both, wherever credit is due for unraveling this further.
Mark L.
I ran though some of the signs in the sky that Emmett mentions, and compared them to the astronomical constellations. I don't see anything of significance. Most of the events mentioned in the previous post took place to the west of Jerusalem, between 270 and 280 degrees from the Temple Mount.
I also checked for anything that might be in line between the Temple Mount and the Temple of Zeus in Pergamon, Turkey, and the Temple of Pergamon museum in Berlin. These were at 320.6 and 329.0 degrees from Jerusalem respectively, and there were no planets in that area.
The only interesting thing I could find is that the Leonids in 2000 were in the same immediate area as the Great Conjunction between Jupiter and Saturn. Any meaning in this, Emmett?
Mark L - I certainly believe that the entire importance of the Book of Job is eschatological rather than historical in character, and whether Job actually existed or not is somewhat irrelevant. However, I don't want to entirely rule out the possibility that Job was an actual historical figure, and that his life was an example of "acted prophecy", much like the Prophet Hosea. The Catholic Encyclopaedia seems pretty adamant about how Job is received in Catholic tradition though:
"Many look upon the entire contents of the book as a freely invented parable which is neither historical nor intended to be considered historical; no such man as Job ever lived. Catholic commentators, however, almost without exception, hold Job to have actually existed and his personality to have been preserved by popular tradition. Nothing in the text makes it necessary to doubt his historical existence. The Scriptures seem repeatedly to take this for granted (cf. Ezekiel 14:14; James 5:11; Tobit 2:12-15, according to the Vulgate — in the Greek text of Tobias there is no mention of Job). All the Fathers considered Job an historical person; some of their testimonies may be found in Knabenbauer, "Zu Job" (Paris, 1886), 12-13. The Martyrology of the Latin Church mentions Job on 10 May, that of the Greek Church on 6 May (cf. Acta SS.' II, May, 494). The Book of Job, therefore, has a kernel of fact, with which have been united many imaginative additions that are not strictly historical."
http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/08413a.htm
Mark W - I've since discovered that the site of ancient Nineveh plays a far more important role in the "signs in heaven". I don't know how to use the app you are using though. I originally thought the Leonids were interesting in the timing of this, but it is the 33 year cycle of the Peresid meteor storm in 2000 that I hold to be of most significance in this regard.
Emmett - I'll look up the astronomical data on the Perseid's from 2000 and see if there's anything interesting. Relative to Nineveh, should I look for something in line from Jerusalem/Temple Mount?
Sorry Mark, you were right the first time. It's the Leonids that produce the most prolific meteor showers every 33 years.
The path of totality during the 1999 eclipse passed directly through the site of ancient Nineveh. You can look it up on NASA's website. Also, look at the path of the WWI eclipse which took place on 21st August 1914, the feast of Our Lady of Knock.
Hi Emmett,
Let me see what I can find. It's more than just one app. There are four websites involved. I'm also a HAM radio operator, so I calculate the direction in the same way I would a radio signal between two points...on a web page owned by the Federal Communications Commission.
I'll do some quick calculations and get back. I've already noticed one thing about the 1999 eclipse that you might find interesting.
Mark
Hello Emmett, Thank you for this fascinating post and tipping us off to the book by Symonds. One thing has always troubled me, and I suppose it is a mystery of divine providence. But why would God want to give Satan power to bring about such a great apostasy and wreck the Church so that surely many souls must have perished?
It would be like building a beautiful mansion and then turning it over to hooligans who would certainly trash it. Why didn't God just tell Satan "no!"?
I suppose it is that God will draw some greater good out of all this. In any case your post is very thoughtful and informative.
Thank you,
Sr Lorraine (not at my usual computer so I can't login)
Hi Emmett,
Sr. Lorraine's question is a good one.
I'd like to know why God would consort with Satan in the first place?
Could Satan even tolerate being near to God?
Wouldn't the glory of God cause enormous stress to this creature?
And this:
What was Satan doing in the Divine Realm, surely he was cast out for good by St. Michael when he first rebelled against God?
Quid ut Deum and all that.
Maybe these questions are childish and unworthy of consideration in a discussion such as this. They puzzle me though and I'd like to understand more.
Hope that's ok.
Mark L.
You write:
"...Next, when I read your description of the distinction of the two periods of suffering, I was really struck. It seemed to put a piece of the puzzle in place for me. ...How to consider this as one single period of satanic persecution? This division of the period into two distinct phases seems, to me, to be very compelling."
The idea of the period of Satanic persecution - what I believe is the short time of Satan (ala Revelation chapter 20) being broken into distinct phases, or sub-periods of the final tribulation, is a correct approach, in my opionion.
However, I believe there are actually three distinict phases and I believe that is why in several places in Scriptures the final period of tribualtion is described as being for a "time, times, and a half-time." I believe this phrasing is purposefully used by God to indicate three distinct phases, and to give a relative length of duration for each phase compared to the others, with the total of all three phases being the Short Time of Satan (again, as in Rev chapt 20),the final tribulation period. This Short Time spans the 20th century and goes into the 21st century. This is the time given to Satan in the vision of Pope Leo. Satan was released - "unchained" - at the start of the 20th century (1901) and thus began this final period of tribulation in three phases. This time given to Satan began in 1901 and ends in October, 2017, in my opinion.
The three distinct periods are:
- HALF-TIME: a phase of "False prophets" - introduces Modernism, which begins to undermine the Church foundation in many people (about 16 2/3 years)
- TIMES: a phase of Great Tribulation - physical persecution (about 66 2/3 or 66.6 - yes the triple 6 - years)
- TIME: a phase of the Great Apostasy - spiritual perecution (about 33 1/3 years)
These phases flow seamlessly one into another, thus apostasy can be occuring in the TIMES phase for example, and voices advocating false teaching such as gay marriage will be found in the TIME period.
In my opinion, these three phases roughly map to our calendar as:
HALF-TIME: 1901 - Fatima 1917
TIMES: Autumn 1917 to March 25, 1984 (Consecration of Immaculate Heart of Blessed Mary as requested at Fatima)
TIME: March 25, 1984 to October 13, 2017 (100th anniversary of Sun MIracle of Fatima. This is Our Lady of Fatima's promised Period of Peace, when Our Lady appears in Medjugorje as Queen of Peace and urges us to reconcile with God before the final chastisements fall)
After Medjugorje, the final chastisements will fall, the severity depending on how we responded during this Period of Peace to OUr Lady's call.
Note how these three phases of Time, Times and Half Time are shaped by events relating to the Fatima apparition.
[Note centuries run from the year 1 to the year 00, thus the 20th century runs from Jan 1, 1901 to Dec 31, 2000.]
Three phases, rather than two, perhaps should be considered, in light of that expression "time, times, and a half-time."
God bless.
Greg J Cring
A While Longer
to Sr Lorraine's question:
"Hello Emmett, Thank you for this fascinating post and tipping us off to the book by Symonds. One thing has always troubled me, and I suppose it is a mystery of divine providence. But why would God want to give Satan power to bring about such a great apostasy and wreck the Church so that surely many souls must have perished?"
Not wanting to answer for Emmett, but I too have pndered this. The reason, I believe, is because mankind has deeply offended God too much (Man must stop offending God because He is already too much offended - Our Lady of Fatim, 1917, before the worst of the chastisements befell man). Redeemed by the cross, we have rejected His reconciliation, His peace that He offers us through the blood and Passion of His only Son, Jesus. Thus we once again have broken the peace between God and man, a peace made with His cross.
God did give us one way out, even at that late hour - Our Lady of Fatima said that if requests were granted, there would be peace. But that did not happen, so the other part of her message of Fatima, the one dealing with another worse, world war, famine, suffering, and the rise of an evil Russia and her errors, came to pass during the ensuing 20th century.
God gave us a last chance through Fatima, but we ignored Our Lady of Fatima. It reminds me of how OUr Lady of Kibeho in Rwnada was ignored - thus the book, "If Only We Had Listened". They did not listen ot OUr Lady, and then Rwanda was ravaged by a brutal and a most rapid genocide in history.
God bless.
Greg J Cring
A While Longer
And by the way, God STILL is giving us one more "last chance" with the Period of Peace, which is the apparition of Our Lady of Medjugorje, Queen of Peace. God has kept in reserve - not deliver to us - the worst chastisements from Fatima.
BUT, If we STILL refuse to respond to His efforts to get us back, if we refuse to respond to His Mercy, this time of Grace, even after having been so brutally and justly punished in the 20th century because of sin, the worst chastisements that God has kept from us will finally be unleashed, after Medjugorje ends.
Thus Our Lady is begging us to convert, to return to God, now!
God bless.
Greg J Cring
A While Longer
Emmett, et al,
Well, I ran some of the astronomical questions today. It’s actually pretty fascinating. This might get a bit confusing, so ask questions if what I put here doesn’t make sense.
All measurements are from the Temple Mount in Jerusalem. I’ll include the distances in nautical miles, which is a much more reliable measure than statue miles or even kilometers.
Temple Mount to Nineveh (modern Mosul, Iraq) – bearing 52.9 degrees. Distance 480 nautical miles, 552.3 statute miles, 888.9km.
Temple Mount to Temple of Zeus in Pergamon (modern Bargama, Turkey) – bearing 320.5 degrees. Distance 590.1 nautical miles680 statute miles, 1094km.
Temple Mount to Temple of Baal in Palmyra, Syria – bearing 41.75 degrees. Distance 225.6 nautical miles, 259.6 statute miles, 417.9km.
Date of eclipse in question: August 11, 1999
Sun and Moon at 18 degrees 21 minutes in the constellation Leo. Mercury and Veuns also in Leo. Leo was due north of Jerusalem that night (due north was at 12 degrees Leo).
Uranus and Neptune were due south in Aquarius.
Jupiter and Saturn were due east in Taurus.
Mars and Pluto were to the west in Scorpio and Sagittarius respectively. Yes, I still count Pluto as a planet. A pox on the astronomers!
Ok, here’s part the second.
According to Stellarium, the eclipse took place about 6:45 in the morning in Jerusalem, but was not total. The zone of totality was well north of Jerusalem.
Notice above that the bearing to the Temple of Baal was 41.75 degrees from the Temple Mount. The constellation Draco was in that exact direction at that exact moment. Draco is the dragon. Draco is a big constellation, taking up a large swath of sky, but it just happens that the head of the dragon was in this direction. So, a dragon was immediately above the line of sight from Jerusalem if you looked toward the Temple of Baal. Now, this alignment happens every year, with Draco being in this direction. I just find it interesting that it happens during a significant eclipse.
Also, and this is more important, look at the north, south, east and west alignment that I mentioned above. Notice that all of the planets are accounted for. If you lay all this out on a star chart and draw lines between the planets, sun and moon in Leo, and the planets in Aquarius, you get a straight line. Next, draw another line between the planets in Taurus and those to the west in Scorpio/Sagittarius, you get another straight line. What you get, if you draw it out, is a cross. Yes, at the moment of the eclipse, there was a CROSS in the sky!!
Interesting information Mark regarding the cross. Are you expecting this to occur again for ALL to see, and if so when??
That appears to be significant Mark W. Apparently on the day of the Crucifixion, the planets had aligned to resemble Christ on the Cross: http://blog.godreports.com/2015/08/did-unusual-planetary-alignment-in-33-ad-point-to-crucifixion-of-jesus/
Hi Greg-
Thanks for your reply. And let me say - I really love your book.
I love the organization, the charts in Chapter 16, and the arguments and speculations as you lay them out, the discussion of the Jewish feast days and their implications. I found it a very easy and compelling read. It also inspired me to spend more time on my knees (always a good thing).
I've highlighted it before on these forums but I don't think you were active on the thread where I was recommending it.
I'm glad you're on the boards, I hope you stick around.
Mark L.
Regarding Sr. Lorraine's question-
I don't see it as a difficulty at all. Individual souls are permitted to be attacked, tempted and tried, for their greater purification. Why not, then, the entire Church. It is beyond punitive. It has to be viewed in the light of the Gospel, and Christ's own sufferings of love. Satan has always been used as an instrument for the purification of the elect.
Let me quote portions from the Navarre Bible's section on Job (just enough in order to lend credence to the argument. the entire thing is worth a read):
"The book of Job has come to be seen as heralding the passion of Christ. It raises the subject of suffering in a moral context - how can it be good? - and says that the argument that suffering is punishment for sin is an inadequate one. Christ's passion enables us to see the meaning of suffering in terms of the Love of God..(John 3.16).. In order to discover the profound meaning of suffering, following the revealed word of God, we must open ourselves wide to the human subject in his manifold potentiality. We must above all accept the light of Revelation not only insofar as it illuminates this order with Love..Love is also the fullest source of the answer to the question of the meaning of suffering (John Paul II, Salvifici doloris 11)." (Navarre Bible, Wisdom Books, Introduction to Job)
No doubt Salvifici doloris has much to say about the suffering of the wider Church at large, including attacks by the evil one, as permitted for her purification and greater glorification. Although it's freely available online, if anyone wants I can give it another read and extract any relevant ecclesiological sections.
Friends, if all this is true, what an astonishing privilege, to be permitted to be born into these times, to live through this era of the Church. Imagine! If we were born for this time, then we have all been given the gifts necessary for these times. (Recall: it was *according to their ability* that talents were given out to the servants - Matthew 25.15).
May our gifts of Faith, Hope and Love grow more and more - and put to good use during this, our oh-so-brief, time on earth. Our only time to prove our fidelity and love of Christ. After death, no more opportunity to prove.
Mark L.
Greg, the phrase time, times and a half-time actually is taken from Daniel Chapter 12 I looked in Revelation 20 and couldn't find that phrase. In my bible it says a year, two year and a half-year instead of time, times and half-time. I wonder why the difference? There are other independent phrases from the book of revelation that would indicate a three and a half year period of deep suffering. Thoughts, anyone?
It is likely a different translation of the Bible. Also keep in mind that God lives outside of the construct of what we perceive and know as time. Time does not apply to God and thus when he refers to time, in this instance specific increments, how we perceive them is radically different from that of God.
An example I can use to illustrate this is when God offered Saint Faustina the opportunity to spend one day in purgatory versus the rest of her life on earth. From my understanding Jesus effectively informed her that the entirety of one person's life on earth would be less "time" than one day in purgatory. Some have surmised that a day in purgatory or perhaps simply one day in "God's Time" would be equivalent to 100 years in human life. Take it for what its worth.
Rev 20 I was referring to the short time that Satan is released, which corresponds in my opinion to the Pope Leo vision.
Yes, Daniel mentions time, times and a half-time. It also depends on your translation. Douay-Rheims has Rev 12:14 as:
"And there were given to the woman two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the desert unto her place, where she is nourished for a time and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent."
http://www.drbo.org/chapter/73012.htm
God bless.
Greg J Cring
"God lives outside of the construct of what we perceive and know as time. Time does not apply to God and thus when he refers to time, in this instance specific increments, how we perceive them is radically different from that of God."
But God wrote His book for us, man, not Himself, so it is written in terms we can know and understand.
God bless.
Yes, I tend to think that the reason the translation of time, times and a half time was changed to year, two years and a half year is because of the number of references to 3 and a half years in both the book of Daniel and the book of revelation. Revelation 13:5 The beast was given a mouth to speak arrogant and blasphemous word, and authority to act for 42 months. Revelation 11:2 They will trample on the Holy City for 42 months and I will empower my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for 1260 days clothed in sackcloth. Daniel 7:25 He will speak against the Most High and oppress the holy ones of the Most High, thinking to change the feast days and the law. They shall be handed over to him for a year, two years, and a half year.
Hey everyone! What an awesome article Emmett -- Thank you.
Emmetts' thoughts that it could be 2 periods of time - of 50 - 60 years each - works - along with the words of our Lady to Mirjana about the "100 years".
From all that I have read -- the "time that satan has been given to destroy the church and the world" will BEGIN ITS END - when the first secret of Medjugorje occurs. This will mark the death knoll of the time satan has been given.
Each succeeding secret (event) as they occur will lessen his power. Why? Because as each secret (event) unfolds the world (humanity) begins to wake up from the fog of shadows that satan has filled the world with for the last 120 years.
Each event helps souls to see that there REALLY IS good and evil, right and wrong. And so the malaise of self centered stupidity and illogical non-sensical arguments go away. For example, a liberal will tell you that a woman has the right to choose to kill her child - abortion. But that same woman will argue severe punishment for a person who kills a woman AND HER UNBORN child! This inherent blindness of billions of people will be washed away as each event occurs (this fog - by this example, obviously can be given thousands of other examples of how this has ruined marriages, relationships, the church etc).
I do have one strong thought that possibly Emmett or someone else can put their two cents in on.
Regarding the year 2017. Did our Lady come in 1917 because she knew that satan's time/ Russia was about to become a horrific reality. (obviously satan had already started his time in some degree - world war 1 ) But Russia plays a specific role in satan's work, obviously. So, did our Lady come in 1917 because she knew that Russia's evil was about to begin. Or did she come in 1917 because she knew God would act in a particular way in 2017. Or are they combined. This is all speculation, of course, until 2017 comes. If an event of some magnitude occurs in 2017 then we know that the year 1917 played a part. It would seem that God, to help us humans realize the connection - line of His work - would begin some sort of 'awakening' in 2017 to mark the fact that He sent his Mother to us 100 years earlier. Fatima - obviously is the lynch pin of all the other apparitions of our time. Even in Medjugorje -- she said "Medj is the fulfillment of Fatima" (1991). The events in Medj are the echo of her call to all the world from Fatima - the echo that, in time, there will be a cleansing of the world and that her heart will triumph 'in the end'.
Seeing the absolute lunacy that is occurring in our world and our church - it seems SO obvious that we are at the door of the major events that will awaken billions who are asleep - and usher in her triumph!
United in prayer
Michael Patrick
Greg - I agree that there may be further subdivisions to this, and the "time, times and half a time" comes into play here. However, Rev 12 states that the "time, times and half a time" only occurs once Satan has been thrown down from heaven, towards the end of the period of Satan's greater power:
And when the dragon saw that he had been thrown down to the earth, he pursued the woman who had given birth to the male child. But the woman was given the two wings of the great eagle so that she might fly from the serpent into the wilderness, to the place where she is to be nourished for a time, and times, and half a time.
(Rev 12:13-14)
So the "time, times and half a time" should be counted from the eschatological expulsion of Satan from heaven, which I strongly believe took place at the turn of the millennium. It occurs to me that this began a 33-year countdown leading up to the Great Jubilee of the Redemption. Within this timeframe, Satan sends out a flood to sweep the Woman away, before she is finally rescued by the Second Pentecost, when she is given the two wings of an eagle/Two Witnesses to provide sanctuary in the desert (circa 2017?). Towards the end of this 33-year period, the Beast rises up from the Abyss and kills the Two Witnesses, beginning the Final Passover of the Church, which must take place shortly before the Second Coming of Christ.
Emmett - Why 33 years? (as opposed to any other number of years) And did this 33 year period begin in 1999 then?
To me, the significance of the Great Jubilee of the Redemption in 2033 will play a major part in some way or another. The "time, times and half a time" doesn't necessarily have to be 33 years - I have long thought that it could also be a 35 year period, marking two separate halves of the seventy year period of desolation prophesied by the Prophet Jeremiah, beginning circa 1965. It's a bit complicated to go into any real detail here. Also I have no confidence whatsoever in date-setting, and would like to stay away from it as much as possible. I could be way wrong.
Medjugorje is a false apparition.
It's a great mistake to believe anything they say.
Time will tell regarding Medjugorje
I have yet to meet someone with a cogent argument against it
United in prayer
Michael Patrick
I've given cogent arguments against Medjugorje right here on this blog in the comments boxes. It's not really that difficult to find them.
And if we aren't living near the end of time, we should be:
http://www.nytimes.com/2016/05/14/science/synthetic-human-genome.html?_r=0
Michael Patrick,
Nearly everyone with an ounce of common sense against medj has had a valid argument. Plenty before us have also issued cogent arguments, people more informed about this subject than you et al have done so. It IS a false apparition for so many reasons and yet you keep regurgitating this tiresome subject up over and over for no other reason than to derail threads with your personal belief of unapproved phantoms.
FWIW, my Ukrainian friends have been telling me that Russia seems to be loading up to take action against the Baltic states and perhaps even the Caucasus much in the same fashion that they did against Ukraine in recent years. As yesterday was the 99th anniversary of the first Fatima apparition, and I don't mean to sound alarmist, it appears that events may be getting set into motion which further coincidence with Our Lady's warnings nearly a century ago.
It already seems like the US and Russia are engaging (or at least on the brink of engaging) in another proxy war in Syria. Who knows what might happen with the current or next American President. Trump is belligerent, Clinton is an idiot, Sanders and Obama are weaklings.
Emmett, do you think that the fall of the Berlin Wall was the beginning of the time of Peace that the Blessed Virgin Mary promised if people would follow her requests, or do you think the time of Peace is yet to come?
Also, would you please clarify your thoughts on when you think the Three Days of Darkness will come? The Pope's proclaiming this a Jubilee Year of Mercy sure sounds like it could be the fulfillment of Jesus' coming as the Merciful King before He comes as the Just Judge as foretold in Faustina's Diary. And, so it would seem to me that the Three Days of Darkness might come soon after the close of the Jubilee Year of Mercy. Are you thinking along these lines too? Or, do you think the Three Days of Darkness are not to come until the 2030's?
If Medjugorje were blatantly false then the church would have ruled against it by now. Even after an intensive 3 year study they have STILL not said anything. Time will tell.
United in prayer
Michael Patrick
Veritas - Emmett will undoubtedly give his answer, but I'll pitch in my 2 cents worth.
I take the 3DoD as being symbolic more than anything else. It's the 3+ decades following Vatican II. Reread the 3DoD ideas with this in mind and it actually fits quite well.
Mark W
Speaking of Fatima and Medjugorje and the secrets that may be revealed 10 days after the apparitions I'd like to point to two Jewish Feast days that occur this year 10 days after Mirjana's apparitions on two of the 99th Anniversary dates of Fatima: 1. June 12-13, 2016 Feast of Shavout - Jewish Pentecost & remembering Moses receiving the Torah (Illumination of Conscience?) and 2. October 12-13, 2016 - Day of Atonement - Yom Kippur - Feast of Tabernacles - blowing of shofar (announcement of things to come?).
Also, on 9/1/16 over Africa there will be a Solar Eclipse and on 9/16/16 over Europe, most of Africa, Asia and Australia there will be a Blood Red Moon. Followed by Feast of Trumpets - Rosh Hashana - time to prepare for atonement (Jewish New Year).
Egypt had a 5.0 Earthquake this morning, 5/16/16, on the eastern side of the Sinai Peninsula along the fault line that runs up to Jerusalem.
Thank you for pointing out the language differences in New American and Ignatius Rev. 12:14.
Appears we are in the second Pentecost,
Mary Ellen
I don't see where it can be said that the period of Satan's increased power began in 1899. I have also read the book by Kevin Synods and nowhere does he say that after the initial request made by Satan for 50 to 60 years would be renewed after he consults with God. God only said that after this time He and Satan would speak again.
Sorry for the late response to the above comments. I've been busy over at the Mother of God forums defending the traditional Augustinian eschatological model against Fr. Iannuzzi's "spiritual millennium" theory, in a debate with Mark Mallett. I'll try to get round to answering them.
Emmett, looking forward to your response.
Veritas,
Yes, I get the sense that the chain of events after the collapse of Communism is in some way related to the "period of peace" promised by Our Lady of Fatima. But it is an ongoing process, and the full fruits of this time period still awaits us in the future, when the "fullness of the Gentiles" is brought in by the Two Witnesses before the final persecution of the Church under the Antichrist. Evil will still exist in this "period of peace" though, as the Church will constantly have to endure suffering until the end of the world, as is taught by the Catechism and Magisterium. Mark W is right, I do view the 3DoD in a more spiritual light, representing the apostasy we are currently enduring. But I also don't rule out an additional literal future period of darkness related to a volcanic eruption before the appearance of the "sign of the Son of Man".
Thank you for your answer, Emmett. Have you considered that the Two Witnesses might be Pope Emeritus Benedict and Pope Francis?
Fr. Z has an interesting piece up today:
A Communiqué was published Saturday by the Holy See Press Office on various articles regarding the Third Secret of Fatima:
“Several articles have appeared recently, including declarations attributed to Professor Ingo Dollinger according to which Cardinal Ratzinger, after the publication of the Third Secret of Fatima (which took place in June 2000), had confided to him that the publication was not complete,” – the Communiqué reads – “In this regard, Pope emeritus Benedict XVI declares ‘never to have spoken with Professor Dollinger about Fatima’, clearly affirming that the remarks attributed to Professor Dollinger on the matter ‘are pure inventions, absolutely untrue’, and he confirms decisively that ‘the publication of the Third Secret of Fatima is complete’.”
Mark W,
Chris Ferrari had posted this on a discussion board about this Fatima:
"We are expected to believe that the words "attributed" by Fr Dollinger to the future Pope Benedict are fabrications, while the words attributed to Benedict by an anonymous representative of the Vatican Press Office are unimpeachable. Who is more credible? Fr Dollinger, who confirms what the future Pope told him, or the anonymous author of the communique?
The fatal flaw in this "denial" is the assertion that Ratzinger never spoke to Dollinger at all, at any time, about Fatima. The Vatican has staked its entire position on the claim that the entire account is the pure invention of third parties, when Dollinger has just confirmed that he did speak to Ratzinger on the matter, and that Ratzinger did say the things Dollinger reported back in 2009 which Dollinger continues to affirm today."
I had found this re that 2009 article to corroborate:
http://www.fatimacrusader.com/cr92/cr92pg7.pdf
Indeed, that appears to be accurately stated by Ferrara.
sam
Dear Emmett,
I was so, I don't know what word to use given the gravity of the topic, but maybe a mixture of relief and affirmation after reading this blog post. I think the only thing I've read of yours that my gut told me might not be spot on was the timing of the 100 year period (but if it is 120, then it is reconciled), which I have such a strong feeling will end at the centenary of the Miracle of the Sun which accompanied Our Lady's last appearance at Fatima.
What has always really struck me as tying the 100 years of Pope Leo XIII to Fatima is the fact that the last appearance of Our Lady occurred, to the day, exacted 33 years after Pope Leo XIII's hearing of the conversation between God and Satan. That has always seemed much too coincidental to be an actual coincidence, especially with 33 years being to important in the length of Our Lord's life and ministry before His Crucifixion.
So, again, I feel a real relief in a way that with this further information and pondering more on how it parallels the two distinct periods of Job's tormenting. I have a strong inkling, and have so for many years, that the period of Satan's increased power on Earth will end on the exact date of the centenary of the Miracle of the Sun, so that October 13, 2017 will mark the end of this period. Now, I don't know of the Marian period of peace will begin on Oct. 13, 2017 perhaps or not, but I think if not it is still an important step along the way at the very least. Maybe the permanent sign of Our Lord will arrive on that date, perhaps maybe not the period of peace prophesied by Our Lady with start on that date, but if Satan's period of increased power ends on that date, obviously peace will increase as of that date, even if it doesn't mark the beginning of the period of peace.
I also have a sick and sinking feeling that the Devil knowing his time of increased power is waning and coming to a close, that he will strike out like a wounded animal before its final demise, and that even a World War, with international events accelerating at a pace such as we haven't seen since the prelude to the Second World War perhaps coming very soon, perhaps precipitated by the American election campaign season, and NATO introducing a "trip-wire" amount of troops to protect the borders and national integrity of Latvia, and continuing war in the Middle East with continued spill-over as has happened in France, and even today on Bastille Day with a new mass casualty attack.... all of these events could create a confluence leading to World War, a World War just as Pope Francis alluded to.
I hope and pray that I am so completely wrong and we won't see any escalation in events leading to a catastrophic war that may be the Minor Chastisement before October 13, 2017... could such things as the mega-tsunami, the Russian-Prussian-Muslim invasion of Europe, the rise of the Great Monarch and Angelic Shepherd, could all of these events, or at least the beginning of them occur before Oct. 13, 2017?? It doesn't seem enough time, but with Satan's power waning, and if that date is when his increased power ends, perhaps it will. I sure hope I am wrong, but time will tell whether I am just paranoid or seeing potentialities in a clear light.
That is not true:
https://kevinsymonds.com/2016/08/05/leo-jesus-satan/
Hello, Emmet! Very incisive commentare and analysis of the coming tribulations. I'd like to know your thoughts about the Church Fathers' writings concerning the Seven Ages of the Church, which was propounded more extensivelyrics by Fr. Bartholomew Holzhaüser. It appears we are in the Fifth Age (From Pope Leo III to the strong and holy Pope who is yet to appear? Or could it have been JPII?). Cardinal Newman's essays on Antichrist are also excellent sources of insight and information.
Thanks! More power to you and your work, and God bless us all in these difficult times!
Hi Reuel! I haven't completely formed an opinion on the chronology of the seven ages of the Church. There are so many different variations on this idea even among the writings of the saints. I suspect that there are several layers of interpretation behind this though, like much of the rest of the Apocalypse. I agree on Newman essays - they are invaluable!
Hello again, Emmett! Thanks for your thoughts on the seven ages and the Newman essays. I have come across some resources on YouTube -- all to be taken with copious amounts of salt, of course -- but which nonetheless give something to chew on. (Apologies for the culinary references!) These videos, particularly those by Sensus Fidelium, appear to be grounded solidly on Catholic teaching and are quite informational at the very least.
You are right, though, about the difficulty in pegging the chronology of events unfolding until the age of Antichrist. In particular, I've been trying to wrap my head around the idea that the period of peace promised by the Blessed Mother would eventually be broken by a great apostasy, culminating in the appearance on the scene of Antichrist. This would mean that the period of peace would not hold, which is quite disappointing (although the Blessed Mother's words do tend to imply that, being a "period," it most certainly will not last). This could simply mean the world and all humanity would be so bullheaded as to insist on its own ways instead of that of Heaven. Worse, it shows that humanity will be sinking to greater, more depraved depths of apostasy -- something I cannot imagine given what we are already witnessing today. How much more wicked can things get?!
Thanks, and more power! God bless us all!
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