Please print out copies of these articles for your own personal use and for future reference!
Authors forward:
Holy Scripture can never be wrong, but my interpretations of God’s Holy Scripture may contain misunderstandings, inaccuracies, and outright errors. Even so, I only write for you what I believe to be true and correct interpretations, faithful to the teachings of Jesus Christ and His Church. God is Truth. Whoever loves truth loves God.
This book contains many predictions of future events. I am firmly convinced that the overall outline of events and the general time-frame in which they will occur is correct. However, some of the details are based on my own reasonings and conclusions, drawn from my understanding of various passages of Holy Scripture. I have always written only the things which I believe to be true, but I am fallible and this book is fallible. The reader should consider that the words of Holy Scripture are completely infallible, but that any individual’s interpretation of Holy Scripture is fallible.
The predictions in the book are mainly based on my interpretation of the Bible. I also rely, to some extent, on the words of the Virgin Mary at places such as La Salette and Fatima in making these predictions. My predictions are not based on any kind of private revelation to myself. I have not received any private revelation about the future.
It is my hope that this book will give comfort to those Christians who must suffer through future times of great persecution. May they have confidence in God’s plan for the future of the Church. The
From the Book of Revelation
Not the End of the World
The book of Revelation describes times of suffering for the Church and the world. The book of Revelation is 22 chapters long, so it is clear that the sufferings occur over the course of many years. But these times of suffering are not the end of the world. The end of the world is mentioned briefly near the end of Revelation, in just a few verses (
The Seven Churches (Rev 1:4 - 3:22)
“ ‘As for the mystery of the seven stars which you saw in my right hand, and the seven golden lampstands, the seven stars are the angels of the seven churches and the seven lampstands are the seven churches.’ ” (
Revelation begins with three chapters addressed to “the seven churches” (Rev 1:4). Currently, the Church has many parts, many divisions, Catholic, Orthodox, and Protestant, scattered across the face of the earth. When the Protestant and
But even before the Church is formed into a united whole, the divided Church will change and will move towards a seven-part structure. There will be a closer fellowship among Christians of differing beliefs and also, I think, a consolidation among some Protestant denominations. These will be the first steps towards unity.
God speaks through the book of Revelation to the seven parts of the Church, describing their virtues, weaknesses, and failings. God was speaking to the people living in the time the book was written. The words addressed to each of the seven churches in
But in these words, God is also speaking to the Church of our near future, which will have seven parts, worldwide. The seven parts of the Church are represented by the seven churches which were in
Ephesus (Rev 2:1-7)
“ ‘ “I know your works, your toil and your patient endurance, and how you cannot bear evil men but have tested those who call themselves apostles but are not, and found them to be false.... But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first.” ’ ” (Rev 2:2.4).
God speaks to the future part of the Church represented by the church in
But God also criticizes this part of the Church for a decrease in love. See how the Church at this time in the near future has flaws. Yet, later in Revelation, the Church is described as a beautiful city (Rev 21). Thus, Revelation is a description of the path of the Church to perfection. It is the story of the journey of the Church to God and all of the stumbling and suffering which occurs along the way.
This part of the Church is also praised by God for hating “the works of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.” (Rev 2:6). Notice that it is the works, not the people, which God and His Church hate. The Nicolaitans were heretics of the early Church who, according to Eusebius and Clement of Alexandria, practiced utter promiscuity. [29] The Nicolaitans represent those members of the Church who go astray from the works of God, to do their own evil works. They especially represent those Christians who falsely claim that Christ’s teaching allows for promiscuity and various sexual sins. This verse refers to heretical Christians of the near future, sometime during the Forty Years.
The Nicolaitans named their group after one of the first Deacons of the Church, Nicolaus (Acts 6:5). Yet he did not found the group, was never a member, and did not espouse their beliefs. The Nicolaitans also represent those heretics who name their group after a faithful servant of God, but who are really nothing like the person whose name they expropriate for their own purposes.
“ ‘ “I know your tribulation and your poverty (but you are rich) and the slander of those who say that they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. Do not fear what you are about to suffer. . . . Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life.” ’ ” (Rev 2:9.10).
This part of the Church will experience persecution and many Christians will be martyred. God is speaking to this part of the Church to prepare these Christians to share in the Passion and death of Christ Jesus. These Christians are poor in material things, but rich in the eyes of God.
The slander referred to may come from some Jews, or this may mean that the slander will come from some false Christians. Sometimes, when Holy Scripture refers to the Jews or to
“ ‘ “I know where you dwell, where Satan’s throne is; you hold fast my name and you did not deny my faith.... But I have a few things against you: you have some there who hold the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the sons of
This part of the Church is given both praise and criticism by God. They are praised for holding fast to the faith and the teachings of Christ. Yet they are also criticized because some of them have accepted teachings and practices which are against the teaching of the Church.
That is why this passage begins with the phrase: “The words of him who has the sharp two-edged sword.” (
These Christians dwell in an evil land, “where Satan’s throne is,” and so, where evil has much power. This probably refers to some part of the world where political leaders and others use their power to do evil and to oppose the Church and Christ’s teaching.
Eating food sacrificed to idols is part of God’s complaint against them. Some Christians at this time will sin through something having to do with food and religion. This practice will be a foreshadowing of “the abomination of desolation” (Dan
Thyatira (
“ ‘ “I know your works, your love and faith and service and patient endurance, and that your latter works exceed the first. But I have this against you, that you tolerate the woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess and is teaching and beguiling my servants to practice immorality and to eat food sacrificed to idols.” ’ ” (Rev 2:19-20).
This part of the Church has love, faith, and good works, but it also has serious sin among some of its members. God rebukes these Christians because they tolerate women who are like Jezebel. In the Old Testament, Jezebel sinned by usurping the authority of the king (1 Kings 21). She calls herself a prophetess, meaning that she makes herself as a leader among Christians. She puts herself in the position of teaching and directing others, which she should not do, and moreover her teaching is false. Like Jezebel, she usurps an authority not given to her, then uses that authority to do evil and encourage others in evil.
Here God is correcting not only those who have gone astray by following her false teaching, but also those who tolerate her and her false teachings. They should have stood up against her and in favor of the true teaching of the Church on faith and morals. To stand by and do nothing can be a sin of omission.
There are Christians in the Church, even today, who do not believe what the Church teaches, who teach what is contrary to the Church’s teaching. These false teachers often obtain, in one way or another, positions of leadership, teaching, and authority in the Church. They make friendships or alliances with others, so that they have the support they need within the Christian community in order to obtain and keep power.
Why don’t Christians reject such false teachers? Why do Christians tolerate and even support them? People often decide to give their support and allegiance to those persons whom they like, who say the things which please them, and who treat them well, regardless of whether that person is following Christ or not. A faithful Christian should oppose those leaders who teach what is contrary to the Church’s teaching and should support those leaders who teach what the Church teaches—no matter whom they like or dislike.
Never let friendship get in the way of doing what is right. God is Truth. Those who serve God faithfully will choose hard truths over pleasant falsehoods.
In the years described by this passage, there will be some women who exalt themselves by usurping roles of teaching and leadership in the Church—roles not given to them by God. Moreover, these will also teach and lead others to violate the Church’s teaching on faith and morals. These women will exalt themselves by fighting against the teaching of Christ and His Church. The phrase “beguiling my servants to practice immorality” means that these women leaders in the Church encourage others to break the Church’s teaching on morals. I am not here referring to all women in the Church, nor to all women with roles of leadership in the Church, but only to those women who obtain roles of teaching and leadership not given to them by Christ and to those women especially who use such positions to undermine or oppose the Church’s teaching.
The next phrase, “to eat food sacrificed to idols,” may refer to some misuse or perversion of the Holy Eucharist. The sacrament of Holy Communion is true food and the consecration of the Holy Eucharist is at the center of the sacrifice of the Holy Mass. During these years, there will be a foreshadowing of the abomination of desolation. In some manner, faithless and arrogant Christians will alter or sin against the Holy Mass and the Holy Eucharist.
There will also be some few women who will pretend to say Mass and pretend to consecrate the Eucharist. These few will offend God greatly by usurping the role of priest and pastor in the Church. This passage in Revelation is a warning to the faithful about those few women leaders who will try to remake the Church and the Faith according to their own will.
There are women ministers in some Protestant churches. When the Protestant Churches repent and unite with the Catholic Church, these women will not be allowed to become priests. They will have to step down. If some of these do not step down, they too will become like the Jezebel mentioned in this passage.
“ ‘ “I know your works; you have the name of being alive, and you are dead. Awake, and strengthen what remains and is on the point of death, for I have not found your works perfect in the sight of my God.... Yet you have still a few names in
This part of the Church has much sin among many of its members. Yet a few remain who are holy, for God’s grace never fails to bear fruit. God encourages and warns the sinners in this part of the Church to repent and be saved.
“ ‘ “Because you have kept my word of patient endurance, I will keep you from the hour of trial which is coming on the whole world, to try those who dwell upon the earth.” ’ ” (
This part of the Church will be preserved from much of the suffering which will come upon the whole world. These sufferings are described in the beginning of the book of Revelation, they occur during the Forty Years (A.D. 2000 to 2039/2040).
Clearly, God is telling us that a time will come when God will give the whole world, and most of the Church, sufferings and trials to bear. Notice that none of the other six parts of the Church are excluded from the hour of trial. They must suffer greatly.
This one part of the Church will suffer less and be spared the worst of it. Similarly, when the nearly seven years of the Church’s greatest suffering arrives (in the 25th century), one of the then twelve parts of the Church will also be preserved from much of the persecutions and afflictions which the Church must endure (Rev 12:6, 14). Yet all Christians must follow Christ by carrying their crosses.
“ ‘ “I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were cold or hot! So, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spew you out of my mouth. For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing; not knowing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked.” ’ ” (Rev 3:15-17).
This part of the Church is severely rebuked by God for being neither hot nor cold. When something is hot, it heats up the things around it. When people are lacking in good deeds, in works of mercy, in faith and prayer and love for God, a faithful Christian will be hot by heating up people to pray and repent, to turn back to God and to help those in need. When something is cold, it cools down the things around it. When people are doing what is wrong, a faithful Christian will try to cool them down, by discouraging them from doing evil.
But things which are lukewarm take on whatever the temperature is of the things around them. Christians who are lukewarm behave like the people around them. When the people around them do evil, a lukewarm Christian will join them in whatever evil they are doing. When people abandon doing good works, attending church, and praying, in order to pursue their own ends, a lukewarm Christian will imitate them.
Christians sometimes fail to imitate Christ because they instead seek the acceptance of other people by imitating them. To be a faithful Christian, one must sometimes go against what others are doing. The Christians described in this passage have become rich and prosperous by imitating and seeking the acceptance of other people, instead of Christ.
When good deeds are rewarded by society, many will do good. But when good deeds are punished and evil deeds are rewarded, then it will be seen who is truly devoted to God.
The Lamb of God (Rev 5)
“And between the throne and the four living creatures and among the elders, I saw a Lamb standing, as though it had been slain, with seven horns and with seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth....” (Rev 5:6).
The four living creatures represent the four Gospels. Jesus is the Lamb who was slain. The Lamb has seven horns and seven eyes, which represent the seven parts of the Church. Therefore, sometime during this next period of time, when the seven seals are opened, the Church will be reorganized into seven parts.
Holy Scripture uses the image of seven seals, and later in Revelation, a numbering of angels with trumpets, so that the described events will have an order. The first seal occurs first, and then the second, and so on. When these events actually begin to happen, (and many from this generation will live to see it), people will know what is coming next, because the events have been ordered by number.
The First Seal (Rev 6:1-2)
“And I saw, and behold, a white horse, and its rider had a bow; and a crown was given to him, and he went out conquering and to conquer.”
(Rev 6:2).
The first horseman represents a major war which will occur. The phrase “conquering and to conquer” indicates that the war will be widespread, since after conquering there is still more to conquer. This war may still be going on even as the scourges of the next seals are beginning.
The first seal and the first horseman is the war of the Arab nations against
The Second Seal (Rev 6:3-4)
“And out came another horse, bright red; its rider was permitted to take peace from the earth, so that men should slay one another; and he was given a great sword.” (Rev 6:4).
The second horseman represents conflict within countries; the violence of one person against another, or of one small group against another. The sword of this horseman is called great because the violence and killing will be great. This violence will begin during the Arab war against
The Third Seal (Rev 6:5-6)
“And I saw, and behold, a black horse, and its rider had a balance in his hand; and I heard what seemed to be a voice in the midst of the four living creatures saying, ‘A quart of wheat for a denarius, and three quarts of barley for a denarius; but do not harm oil and wine!’ ” (Rev 6:5-6).
The third horseman represents a great famine. Wheat and barley are rationed or hard to obtain, but oil and wine are available. At the time the book of Revelation was written, wheat and barley were considered to be staples, basic necessities, and the denarius was the payment given for a day’s wages. Thus a day of work will obtain the basic necessities. But oil and wine were considered luxury items, signs of prosperity. There have often been famines in human history, but this famine will be different. Basic necessities will be scarce, but luxury items will be obtainable. This great famine will occur in developed, formerly prosperous countries.
The Great Famine will occur in
This famine will be more severe in some countries and less severe in other countries. That is why Holy Scripture says that a denarius buys only one quart of wheat, but three quarts of barley. Different grains are prevalent in different parts of the world. In one part of the world, where the famine is more severe, a day’s wages obtains less of the basic necessities (represented by the one quart of wheat). But in other areas, where the famine is less severe, a day’s wages obtains much more of the basic necessities (represented by the three quarts of barley).
Also, in biblical times, wheat was the food of wealthier persons and barley was the food of poorer persons. Revelation tells us that a day’s wage obtains three measures of barley, but only one measure of wheat, because this famine will be more severe in wealthier countries and less severe in poorer countries. This famine is like no other famine the world has ever seen.
The Great Famine is predicted by the parable of the Prodigal Son. This Great Famine shall occur prior to the return of all of the Protestant Churches to unity with the Catholic Church. This is the Great Famine of the 21st century. It will not end until there is unity among Christians; this unification will be completed in 2023. Again, I say, an end to this Great Famine cannot be obtained by any means except the repentance, conversion, and unification of all the
The Fourth Seal (Rev 6:7-8)
“And I saw, and behold, a pale horse, and its rider’s name was Death, and Hades followed him; and they were given power over a fourth of the earth, to kill with sword and with famine and with pestilence and by wild beasts of the earth.” (Rev 6:8).
The fourth horseman represents widespread death by various causes. The fourth of the earth where this occurs may or may not be the same area of the world where the previous scourges occurred. It does not mean that a fourth of the people die; it indicates the size or scope of the areas affected by these scourges.
These sufferings will begin before the Great Famine has ended. In other words, the time-frame for the sufferings of some of the seals will overlap. The events of this seal begin in the 2010’s.
The first four seals are represented by four horsemen. Why are these four seals represented by horsemen and the other seals not? The symbolism of four horsemen is used to group the first four seals together. The first four seals are all related to the war represented by the first seal. World War III directly and indirectly brings about many sufferings, including lawlessness, famine, and death from a variety of causes.
God Sends These Scourges
It is God who sends these sufferings and afflictions upon the earth. This is clear because each horseman is only released after the Lamb, Jesus Christ, opens a seal. No one else can open the seals (Rev 5:3-5); therefore, no one else can bring these sufferings upon humanity.
Holy Scripture clearly presents these sufferings to us as a good thing. For when at first no one is found who can open the seals, John weeps: “... and I wept much that no one was found worthy to open the scroll or to look into it.” (Rev 5:4). And after the Lamb is found worthy to open the seals and He takes the scroll, the elders and myriads of angels praise Him (Rev 5:8-14).
“Those whom I love, I reprove and chasten; so be zealous and repent.” (
The Fifth Seal (Rev 6:9-11)
“When he opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God and for the witness they had borne.... Then they were each given a white robe and told to rest a little longer, until the number of their fellow servants and their brethren should be complete, who were to be killed as they themselves had been.” (Rev 6:9.11).
When the fifth seal is opened, the martyrs in Heaven ask God how much longer they will have to wait for justice upon the earth. God tells them to wait until the number of their fellow martyrs is complete. Thus, the fifth seal means that there will be a Great Martyrdom of Christians. This great persecution and massacre of Christians will occur after the events of the first four seals are completed. It will occur during the Arab occupation of
Christians will be hunted, jailed, tortured, and killed. Churches will be desecrated or destroyed. The Holy Mass and the Holy Eucharist will be mostly taken away, as will occur again during the Church’s Crucifixion (in the 25th century). The Arab leaders will try to put an end to Christianity in the occupied countries. As the Holocaust was to the Jewish people, so this persecution will be to Christians. Millions of Christians in the occupied lands will be killed.
The Great Martyrdom marks the beginning of the last part of the Forty Years, a period of time which resembles the nearly seven years of the Church’s great suffering (which will occur about 400 years later). This persecution will be greater than any previous persecution of Christians in the history of the Church. But it will not be as great as in the time of the Church’s Passion and Crucifixion in the 25th century. This persecution will not be as intense and will not be worldwide, as that later persecution will be.
This great persecution and martyrdom of Christians will occur mainly in the countries which are occupied or controlled by the Arabs. This area will include most or all of
This terrible persecution and the extreme suffering of so many Christians will cause other countries in the world to give their support to the great monarch. He will undertake a war to free Christians from persecution and oppression. This war will be successful, but much suffering and death will result from the war. The war of the great monarch, which will free the nations occupied by the Arab forces, is World War IV and it will take place at the end of the Forty Years, during the mid to late A.D. 2030’s, sometime after the Great Martyrdom of Christians has begun.
The Sixth Seal (6:12-17)
“When he opened the sixth seal, I looked, and behold, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth, the full moon became like blood, and the stars of the sky fell to the earth as the fig tree sheds its winter fruit when shaken by a gale....” (Rev 6:12‑13).
When the sixth seal is opened a great earthquake occurs. This is a punishment from God for sin and for the refusal to repent from sin. It will be a very large earthquake; perhaps affecting many places at once (but I do not know where it will occur). This great earthquake will occur in the 2030’s, sometime after the Great Martyrdom of Christians has begun.
The sixth seal also describes stars falling from the sky. This is a metaphor for nuclear bombs (including some pure fusion weapons) and a nuclear war. Nuclear explosions produce a very intense fireball which is hotter than a star and brighter than the sun. Figs falling from a tree is a fitting image; the falling figs represent the nuclear bombs. The explosion of a nuclear bomb leaves a cloud which resembles a mushroom or a tree. The fig tree represents the cloud left by the explosion.
Thus, the sixth seal tell us about a major nuclear war. When the fig tree is shaken in a winter storm, many figs fall to the ground. Many nuclear bombs will be used in this war, so many that the atmosphere will be effected and the sun will appear black and the moon will appear blood red. There will be much radioactive fallout. The sky will also change in appearance, so that it will seem as if the sky “vanished like a scroll that is rolled up….” (
These many nuclear weapons (or similar weapons) will be used during the war of the great monarch against the Arabs. The monarch’s war will occur at the end of the Forty Years, in the mid to late A.D. 2030’s, after the great persecution of Christians has begun. World War IV will be shorter than World War III, but much more intense and more destructive.
During the earlier war when the Arabs invaded
Only after much destruction and devastation do the people of the world finally realize that these events are a punishment from God. After fleeing to caves and mountains, the people say to the mountains and the rocks, “ ‘Fall on us and hide us from the face of him who is seated on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb; for the great day of their wrath has come, and who can stand before it?’ ” (Rev 6:16‑17).
The Seal of the Living God (Rev 7:1-8)
“Then I saw another angel ascend from the rising of the sun, with the seal of the living God, and he called with a loud voice to the four angels who had been given power to harm earth and sea, saying, ‘Do not harm the earth or the sea or the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God upon their foreheads.’ ” (Rev 7:2‑3).
At this time, the servants of God will receive a seal on their foreheads. This seal will be a real visible marking, a symbol of God’s favor. Those who bear the seal of God will be protected from the remaining afflictions which are to follow (cf. Ezek 9:4-6). I think that the servants of God will be sealed sometime during the mid to late A.D. 2030’s. This will occur during or soon after the war between the great monarch and the Arab forces.
The number sealed, 144,000 “out of every tribe of the sons of
Notice that there is considerable suffering given to the world before the servants of God are sealed. In the book of Exodus, when Moses and Aaron brought God’s plagues upon
This pattern will also be repeated in the time of the nearly seven years of the Church’s greatest suffering (about 400 years later). For nearly seven years, Christians will suffer severely, along with many unbelievers and sinners. Then, at the end of that time, after the Antichrist is cast down, there will be a series of worse sufferings, which fall only on the wicked (called the Seven Bowls of God’s Wrath). The faithful will be preserved from these punishments.
In both cases, the last set of punishments, those from which God’s servants are preserved, are more severe and come more directly from God. The earlier sufferings are more from human actions or from nature (each occurring under God’s
The Great Multitude (Rev 7:9-17)
“After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no man could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands....” (Rev 7:9).
The great multitude is those persons who repented from their sins and who died during the tribulation, that is, during the time of war and suffering described by the six seals. This multitude is described after the passage where the servants of God are sealed to protect them from the punishments which follow. The multitude is those souls who did not receive the seal of God on their foreheads.
Some of these may have been holy persons who died before the seal was given out. Others may have been among those who did not receive the seal. These would include sinners who suffered God’s punishment for their sins, but who repented and went to Heaven, where they will rejoice and be happy forever. The servants of God who receive the seal are not the only souls who will be saved. God saves both saints and sinners.
Those who received the seal are mostly protected from the punishments which follow, but they are not immune to death, so it is possible that the great multitude mentioned here includes some who received the seal. However, this passage mainly refers to those who did not receive the seal, who died during the tribulation, and who went to Heaven.
The Seventh Seal (Rev 8:1-6)
“When the Lamb opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour. Then I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and seven trumpets were given to them.” (Rev 8:1-2).
The seventh seal is distinguished from the other six seals by the half an hour of silence. Even Heaven is in awe at the power and extent of the punishments of the seventh seal. The afflictions of the seventh seal are greater than all sufferings from the first six seals combined. These events of the seventh seal will begin during or at the end of the war between the great monarch and the Arab forces. I think that the events of the first six seals will end about the year A.D. 2037, so that the events of the seventh seal (but only of the first six trumpets) will occur from approximately A.D. 2038 to late 2039 or early 2040.
The events of the seventh seal are divided into seven parts, as symbolized by the seven trumpets. This division gives an order to this long series of punishments from God. Each trumpet represents a related series of events occurring at about the same time. There will be varying lengths of time between the events of one trumpet and another. These things do not necessarily occur immediately one after another.
After the half hour of silence, an angel mixes the prayers of the saints with incense on the altar of God. The angel takes the fire from the altar and throws fire down upon the earth. Then there is extraordinary thunder, lightning, and an earthquake. This event will mark the beginning of the punishments of the seventh seal.
Notice that the fire that causes these sufferings came from God and from the prayers of the saints. It is an act of Divine Justice, but also an act of Divine Mercy. These next sufferings, of the seven trumpets, are God’s punishment on unrepentant sinners. When God punishes unrepentant sinners, it is justice upon the sinner, but it is also mercy upon those who have suffered because of their sins.
The First Trumpet (Rev 8:7)
“The first angel blew his trumpet, and there followed hail and fire, mixed with blood, which fell on the earth; and a third of the earth was burnt up, and a third of the trees were burnt up, and all green grass was burnt up.” (Rev 8:7).
The earth will be scorched with fire. This is a punishment from God for sin. Nothing like this has ever happened before in the history of civilization. This description is not a metaphor for a subtle event. There will be great destruction over a large portion of the earth.
What could cause such devastation? At this point in the sufferings of Revelation, the punishments sent by God are from nature guided by God’s
However, Holy Scripture describes hail and fire falling to earth. Ordinary hail is frozen, but does not burn. Most meteors are made of stone; they burn as the fall to earth, but they are not frozen. Comets are frozen, like hail. If a comet broke into pieces and some of those pieces fell to earth, the pieces would burn as they fell through the atmosphere. If enough pieces fell to earth, the result would be exactly what Revelation describes, a large portion of the earth’s surface would be burned up.
The suffering of the first trumpet is caused by a comet that breaks into pieces. Many of the pieces will fall to earth and cause widespread fires and destruction. Comets sometimes break into pieces, as happened with comet Ikeya-Seki (1965), comet West (1976), comet Shoemaker-Levy 9 (1994), and comet LINEAR (2000). But none of those comets are the one mentioned in the first trumpet. I think that the comet that will cause this event of the first trumpet is comet Tempel 1. This comet has a 5.5 year orbit and will be near earth’s orbit in 2038. NASA is planning to send a spacecraft to impact the comet in 2005 and produce a large crater in the comet (http://deepimpact.jpl.nasa.gov). This crater could weaken the comet so that it eventually breaks into pieces. NASA thinks it unlikely that this comet will break apart and unlikely that the pieces would fall to earth. But comets often break into pieces all on their own. Impacting a comet to cause a crater can only increase the likelihood of the comet breaking apart.
The Second Trumpet (Rev 8:8-9)
“The second angel blew his trumpet, and something like a great mountain, burning with fire, was thrown into the sea; and a third of the sea became blood, a third of the living creatures in the sea died, and a third of the ships were destroyed.” (Rev 8:8-9).
The “great mountain, burning with fire” fits the description of a large meteor, such as a large piece of a comet, which strikes the earth. An object such as this could be as big as a mountain and would be burning with fire as it came through the atmosphere. If it struck the ocean, it would cause destruction on a global scale, including: tidal waves, atmospheric disturbances, and abrupt changes in ocean temperature.
Notice that the cause of the events of the first and second trumpets is the same: a comet which breaks into pieces. In the event of the first trumpet, many smaller pieces of the comet cause the described destruction. And in the event of the second trumpet, one large piece of the same comet would explain the destruction. A single comet breaks into pieces, causing the first event, and one large piece of what is left also falls to earth, causing the second event. Thus one comet causes the events of both the first and second trumpets.
One large piece of the comet falls to earth and causes a catastrophe. A third of the ships are destroyed and a third of the ocean’s creatures die. The phrase “the sea became blood” is a metaphor for death and destruction. The ocean water in a large area will change for the worse, will not support life, and will be full of death.
The Third Trumpet (Rev 8:10-11)
“The third angel blew his trumpet, and a great star fell from heaven, blazing like a torch, and it fell on a third of the rivers and on the fountains of water. The name of the star is Wormwood. A third of the waters became wormwood, and many men died of the water, because it was made bitter.” (Rev 8:10-11).
Wormwood is a plant which gives off a toxic substance to inhibit the growth of plants around it. The rivers and other sources of fresh water will be made toxic and cause the death of many people.
The star which falls from Heaven, blazing like a torch, may represent the explosion of a nuclear bomb. The waters will be made toxic, probably by radioactive fallout. This passage may also be referring to a number of nuclear weapons (or similar weapons) which together have this one effect. Perhaps the weapon or weapons which cause this radioactive fallout are used at this time, after the first and second trumpet. But I think it is more likely that this fallout will be the result of the earlier nuclear war described in the sixth seal. When radioactive particles from the use of nuclear weapons enter the upper atmosphere, they spread throughout the upper atmosphere and only descend upon the earth as nuclear fallout after a period of months or years. Thus, the event of the third trumpet is probably the delayed effect, from the earlier nuclear war, of radioactive fallout.
The Fourth Trumpet (
“The fourth angel blew his trumpet, and a third of the sun was struck, and a third of the moon, and a third of the stars, so that a third of their light was darkened; a third of the day was kept from shining, and likewise a third of the night.” (
There will be a third less light reaching the earth from the sun, moon, and stars. The third is not one third of the hours, but one third of the amount of light. The atmosphere will be obscured or otherwise changed, so that less light can get through to the earth.
There is a well-known theory called nuclear winter. This theory states that if enough nuclear bombs explode an increase in the amount of small particles in the atmosphere will cause less light to reach the earth. These small particles can come from ground-level explosions, but they can also come from fires ignited by explosions. [30] Therefore, any other event which causes widespread fires, or which adds large amounts of small particles to the upper atmosphere, could also cause a nuclear winter. [31] In any case, temperatures would fall worldwide as a result. Thus, the fourth trumpet describes a nuclear winter caused by the nuclear war of the sixth seal, or by the widespread fires in the first trumpet, or by the comet piece falling into the sea in the second trumpet, or by the combination of these events. Again, notice how the events of the Book of Revelation are related to one another.
The Three Woes (
After the fourth trumpet, a warning is given about the three remaining trumpets and the destruction which will follow. Holy Scripture is marking off the events of last three trumpets as being much worse than the previous events. This is remarkable because the previous trumpets describe a time of great destruction, such as the world had never seen before. Yet what follows will be even more severe. Here begins a time of supernatural punishments from God. This follows after the many years of afflictions which proceed mainly from mankind and nature (but under God’s
The Fifth Trumpet (Rev 9:1-12)
“Then from the smoke came locusts on the earth, and they were given power like the power of scorpions of the earth; they were told not to harm the grass of the earth or any green growth or any tree, but only those of mankind who have not the seal of God upon their foreheads....” (Rev 9:3‑4).
These locusts do not eat any green growth. They come out of the smoke from “the shaft of the bottomless pit” (Rev 9:2). And they torture, for 5 months, only those who do not have the seal of God on their foreheads. Clearly, these are not ordinary locusts. These things are similar to locusts in that they are small, can fly, travel in great numbers, and are a kind of plague on mankind. This affliction is most likely supernatural, and not from nature. (However, it is possible that these locust-like things are some type of man-made weapon.) This event occurs about the year A.D. 2039.
Those who suffer from this plague “will seek death and will not find it” (Rev 9:6). Their suffering will be so great that they will long to die. Those with the seal of God on their foreheads will be spared this suffering.
I think that those with the seal will also be mostly spared from the other sufferings of the seventh seal (which are symbolized by the trumpets). They were given the seal after the sufferings of the sixth seal began, as a way for God to mark off or distinguish between His servants and unrepentant sinners, between those who would be punished and those who would be protected. Recall that the Israelites were also spared from the last and the worst of the plagues which fell upon
The Sixth Trumpet (Rev 9:13-19)
“So the four angels were released, who had been held ready for the hour, the day, the month, and the year, to kill a third of mankind.” (
The sixth trumpet releases angels who go out in all four directions, that is, over all the earth, with three plagues. By these three plagues one third of the human race is killed. This is not a metaphor or a figure of speech. A very large number of people will die, about a third of the world’s population, i.e. a third of those who survived all the previous sufferings. (The total number killed in all of these sufferings will be significantly more than a third, i.e. closer to two thirds will be killed.)
The description of the horses, and the three plagues which they bring, is metaphorical. The horses have heads like lions’ heads, tails like serpents, and the three plagues which kill come out of their mouths. The three plagues are symbolized by fire, smoke, and sulfur. I do not know what these symbols stand for; perhaps, it is something supernatural which has not been seen before on earth. The cause of so many deaths in this event, as in the previous event of the fifth trumpet, seems to come not from nature or human actions, but more directly from God and His angels.
This event of the three plagues coincides with, and is equivalent to, the Three Days of Darkness, which was foreshadowed by the darkness God sent upon the Egyptians through Moses (Ex 10:21-23). During those three days, there will be no light from sun, moon, stars, fire, electricity, nor from any other source with one exception—the faithful children of God will have light (Ex 10:23).
During the Three Days of Darkness, if any faithful servant of God has a blessed candle, it will give light. [32] But for the unfaithful, even blessed candles will not give light. And I think that, for those who have faith in God, blessed candles will not even be necessary for light. Any holy picture of Jesus or Mary will give light by means of faith and prayer. A crucifix or a simple cross or a Bible will give light by means of faith and prayer. And if there would happen to be anywhere, any faithful servant of God, who is entirely without any holy object, even that faithful servant of God will have light from God, by means of faith and prayer. Sacred Scripture tells us: “but all the people of
As in the days of Moses and Aaron, everyone must remain inside during the Three Days of Darkness. No one may go outside, not even the faithful, or they will die. Every window must remain shut and every door must remain closed, without exception. Never open any door or window during these three days, not matter what you think you hear outside! [33]
Anyone caught outside during these three days will be killed, regardless of whether they are just or unjust, faithful or unfaithful, good or evil. Anyone who opens a door or window during these three days will be killed, as will anyone inside the building with an open door or window.
During these three days, the wicked will not merely suffer from utter darkness, very many of them shall be killed. The cause of most deaths will be supernatural. However, some of the impious will die of their own fears. The darkness will be complete and impenetrable. For the wicked, nothing will give light, not even blessed candles. [34] It shall be as Isaiah prophesied, “For behold, darkness shall cover the earth, and thick darkness the peoples; but the LORD will arise upon you, and his glory will be seen upon you.” (Isaiah 60:2). And a similar time of darkness will occur again at the end of Antichrist’s reign in the 25th century (
The Three Days of Darkness in the Book of Wisdom
“For your judgments, O Lord, are great, and your words are indescribable. Therefore, undisciplined souls have wandered astray. For, while they managed to convince the unjust, so as to obtain dominion over the holy nation, they themselves were fettered with chains of darkness and of endless night, enclosed in their houses, fugitives of everlasting providence, lying in ruins. And, while they thought to escape notice in their secret sins, they were scattered under a dark veil of oblivion, being horribly afraid, and having been disturbed with great astonishment.” (Wisdom 17:1-3, CPDV)
Chapter 17 of the Book of Wisdom is about the Three Days of Darkness. Just before these three days, undisciplined souls who have wandered astray managed to convince the unjust to give them power over “the holy nation,” which refers either to Israel, or in some manner to the Church, or, more likely, to the kingdom of the great monarch. Then the Three Days of Darkness occurs, taking the unjust and those who have gone astray by surprise. Their plans are ruined and they are defeated.
“For neither did the cave which enclosed them preserve them from fear, because descending noises disturbed them, and the sorrowful persons appearing to them intensified their fear. And, indeed, even fire had no strength to provide them light, nor could the clear flames of the stars illuminate that horrible night.” (Wisdom 17:4-5)
The cave which encloses them is the building they are in during the three days. Although many unjust persons will be killed during the three days, even some unjust persons will survive, if they remain indoors. No light is provided for the unfaithful during this time. They are in utter darkness. Yet they are given fearful visions from God of sorrowful souls.
“Yet there appeared to them a sudden fire, filled with fear; and, having been struck with the fear of that face which is unseen, they considered those things which they did see to be worse, and, having been ridiculed, the illusions were removed from their arts along with their contemptuous rebuke of glorious wisdom. Indeed, those who promised to drive away fears and disturbances from a languishing soul, though they were filled with derision, were themselves languishing in fear.” (Wisdom 17:6-8)
Even though they are covered by a supernatural darkness, they are shown certain signs by God: sorrowful souls and “a sudden fire, filled with fear,” that is, they are shown both repentant souls and also the fires of Hell and the fear and torture of those within Hell. Such is the Mercy of God that He even give the wicked supernatural signs to bring them to repentance, to save them from Hell fire.
The phrase “the illusions were removed from their arts” refers to their use of media to influence people away from truth and justice. The three days of darkness ridicules these arts, and removes their ability to deceive, partly by making all such things (television, radio, phones, and all electronic devices) non-functional for three days, and partly by showing them that God does intervene in human events. The media will ridicule the idea of the three days of darkness, but they will be corrected by the occurrence of this event itself. Those who confidently spoke against the three days of darkness will be covered in darkness and fear themselves.
“And, even if nothing unnatural disturbed them, yet being agitated by the passing of animals and the hissing of snakes, they died of fear, denying what they themselves saw even in the air, which no one thinks to be able to escape. For, while there may be apprehension with wickedness, it gives testimony to condemnation, for a troubled conscience always forecasts harshness.” (Wisdom 17:9-10)
Some of those unfaithful persons, who do not receive visions of sorrowful souls or visions of Hellfire, are nevertheless filled with such apprehension and fear, due to their wickedness and troubled conscience, that they die of fright upon hearing simple sounds such as the passing of animals. Notice that, even though every human being caught outside during the three days of darkness will be killed, the animals are generally unharmed. For them it is like a severe storm, which most will weather without dying. The three days of darkness will be like a severe supernatural storm, designed to kill any human beings outside.
“For fear is nothing else but unfaithfulness to thinking helpful things. And, while expectation is driven from within, the cause of this is supposing that one is great in knowledge, and as a result, conflict excels.” (Wisdom 17:11-12)
The Book of Wisdom gives some advice here for the faithful servants of God. During this fearful time, let your faith lead you to think helpful thoughts and to express those helpful thoughts to those around you. This will lessen fear and console. Fear is based on an expectation of unhappy things, but we should not suppose that we have such great knowledge as to know that unhappiness will result. Internal conflicts and fears come from a weakness in faith.
“Yet those who were truly powerless that night, being overcome by both the vilest and the deepest hell, were sleeping the same sleep, sometimes stirred up by the fear of unnatural things, other times sinking down in disgrace of soul, for a sudden and unexpected fear overcame them. Then, if any among them had fallen away, he was kept in a prison without bars which had been left open.” (Wisdom 17:13-15)
Although even the faithful will have some fear at that time, those who are truly powerless are the impious and unfaithful. They are sleeping the same sleep as those who are already in the Hell towards which they themselves are headed. They go from begin overwhelmed with extreme fear to being immersed in disgrace at their sinfulness. If any such persons, whose consciences convict them of serious sin, fall away, that is, if they die, they are sent to a prison without bars. The prison without bars is Hell, which, for these three days is left open so that the demons of Hell can scour the earth harming and killing any who are left outdoors.
“For if a farmer, or a shepherd, or a worker in a field of labor were suddenly overcome, he endured an inescapable necessity.” (Wisdom 17:16)
If someone who is a good person, even a holy faithful servant of God, is caught outside at the start of these three days, he will nevertheless be killed. Everyone outside during the three days will be killed. This is an inescapable necessity, to purge the earth of most evil and unfaithful persons. Any good persons caught outdoors will die and go to Heaven, directly or by way of Purgatory. But they will still die. This chastisement is inescapable.
“For they were all bound together with one chain of darkness. Or if there were a whistling wind, or the sweet sound of birds among the thick tree branches, or the force of water rushing excessively, or the strong noise of rocks crashing down, or the scattering of playful animals having been seen, or the strong voice of bellowing beasts, or the resounding of the highest mountain echo, these things made them sink down because of fear.” (Wisdom 17:17-18)
Everyone, good and evil, faithful and unfaithful, is affected in one way or another by the three days of darkness, worldwide. But the impious and the unfaithful sink down in fear at even the simplest sounds of nature, whether soft sounds or loud sounds.
“For the whole world was enlightened with a clear light, and none were being hindered in their labors. But then, the heavy night was placed over the sun for them, an image of that darkness which was about to overcome them. Yet they were more grievous to themselves than was the darkness.” (Wisdom 17:19-20)
The teaching of Christ gives spiritual light to the whole world. But those who reject these teachings are caught by surprise during the three days of darkness. The darkness that covers the faithful during this time is limited, for they can light blessed candles, and is temporary, for they can survive to live in peace and harmony. But for the unfaithful and impious, the three days of darkness is merely the beginning of the permanent darkness of Hell that will overcome them, if they do not repent. And their own inner darkness is more frightful to them than the darkness of those three days.
“But your saints were your greatest light, and they heard your voice, but did not see your form. And because they themselves did not also suffer the same things, they praised you greatly. And those who were wounded before, gave thanks, because they were no longer being wounded, and because they had petitioned for this gift, that there would be this difference. Because of this, they had a burning column of fire as a guide on the unknown way, and you displayed a harmless sun of a good hospitality. The others, indeed, deserved to be deprived of the light and to endure a prison of darkness, who watched for an opportunity to imprison your sons, by whom the incorruptible light of the law was beginning to be given to future generations. When they thought to kill the babes of the just, one son having been exposed and set free, to their disgrace, you took away a multitude of their sons and destroyed them all together in a mighty water. For that night was known beforehand by our fathers, so that, knowing the truth of the oaths in which they had trusted, they might be more peaceful in their souls. Yet your people received not only the salvation of the just, but also the destruction of the unjust.” (Wisdom 18:1-7)
After the three days of darkness, the Church will be a spiritual light to the whole world. The faithful will have great success in preaching the Gospel. Those few impious persons who remain will have no influence over politics or society or religion. A time of relative peace and holiness is given to the world, beginning after the three days of darkness. This is the time of the reign of the great monarch and the angelic shepherd (a holy pope).
Mankind Remains Unrepentant (Rev 9:20-21)
“The rest of mankind, who were not killed by these plagues, did not repent of the works of their hands nor give up worshiping demons and idols of gold and silver and bronze and stone and wood, which cannot either see or hear or walk; nor did they repent of their murders or their sorceries or their immorality or their thefts.” (Rev 9:20-21).
Even after such severe punishments from God, some of which are clearly supernatural, some people refuse to repent. Yet there will be also many faithful servants of God who have no need of repentance, or who have already repented of their sins. These include persons with the seal of God on their foreheads. Notice that not every unrepentant sinner is killed at this time, since many who survive remain unrepentant.
A Respite Between the Sixth and Seventh Trumpets
The events of the first six trumpets, which are all part of the seventh seal, occur in about the same time-frame. These events begin during or at the end of the war of the great monarch against the Arab occupation of
The Seven Thunders (Rev 10:1-7)
“And when the seven thunders had sounded, I was about to write, but I heard a voice from heaven saying, ‘Seal up what the seven thunders have said, and do not write it down.’ ” (Rev 10:4).
The events in between the sixth and seventh trumpets are symbolized by the seven thunders. Which events are represented by the seven thunders? I am not certain. These events are not written in the book of Revelation. (The seven thunders may refer to seven kingdoms: the great monarch’s kingdom, the four kingdoms that come from the division of his kingdom, the
The events of the first six trumpets will occur at the end of the 2030’s. But the events of the seventh trumpet will not begin until after the Church has suffered Her Crucifixion, after the nearly seven years of great suffering, the time of Antichrist’s reign. The seventh trumpet, like the fifth and sixth, represents supernatural punishments for the wicked (which the faithful do not suffer). This punishment of the seventh trumpet will occur in the 25th century A.D., after the Return of Christ.
The events of the sixth trumpet mark the end of the sufferings which will occur at the end of the Forty Years. By this time, the Arabs have been thoroughly defeated and driven out of
The punishments of the seventh trumpet (about 400 years later) will usher in the time of great holiness on earth, the Millennium. This is clear from the words of the angel, described by John, “...that there should be no more delay, but that in the days of the trumpet call to be sounded by the seventh angel, the mystery of God, as he announced to his servants the prophets, should be fulfilled.” (Rev 10:6-7). The events of the seventh trumpet will bring to fulfillment the prophecies of the Old and New Testaments about the punishment of the wicked and the establishment of God’s Kingdom on earth. The angel refers to a delay which has ended with the seventh trumpet call. This is the delay between the sixth and seventh trumpets, a delay of about 400 years.
Before the Seventh Trumpet (Rev 10:8-11 and 11:1-14)
The events which will occur just before the seventh trumpet are represented by the new scroll which is given to John to eat. “And I was told, ‘You must again prophesy about many peoples and nations and tongues and kings.’ ” (
The 3½ Years (Rev 11:1-3)
“ ‘...and they will trample over the holy city for forty-two months. And I will grant my two witnesses power to prophesy for one thousand two hundred and sixty days, clothed in sackcloth.’ ” (Rev 11:2-3).
This is the time of the Church’s Crucifixion, the last half of the nearly seven years of the Church’s great suffering. This time is described by Daniel as “half of the week of years” (Dan
These two witnesses are the two prophets of the book of Revelation, who were preceded and foreshadowed by Moses and Aaron. The plagues which Moses and Aaron brought upon
These two prophets will have power to prophesy during the last half of the nearly seven years that Antichrist will rule over almost the whole world. When Antichrist decides to intensify his persecution of Christians and the Faith, about midway through his reign, then God will send the two prophets to strengthen, console, and guide the faithful during this, the darkest of times.
The Plagues of the Two Prophets (Rev 11:4-6)
“They have 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 smite the earth with every plague, as often as they desire.” (Rev 11:6).
There will be an extensive drought and an associated famine during the time of the two prophets, which is the time of the Church’s Crucifixion. This drought was foreshadowed by the drought which was brought upon
Revelation also describes the two prophets as being able pour fire out of their mouths to consume their foes (Rev 11:5). This is a figure of speech meaning that by their words they can call down fire upon their foes to kill them. Fire doesn’t actually come out of their mouths, but real fire, along with many other afflictions, does kill people at their command.
They will also bring many plagues upon the earth by their words. Many will die as a result of these plagues. But the main purpose of the two prophets is to preach the truth (in opposition to the lies of Antichrist) and to convert sinners. They will have much success in preaching truth and in gaining conversions to God.
The Two Prophets Are Killed (Rev 11:7-13)
At the end of the 1260 days of their prophesying, the beast from the bottomless pit (that is, Satan) will be allowed to attack and kill them. This will perhaps be accomplished through Antichrist and his followers. Their dead bodies will lie in the streets of
“But after the three and a half days a breath of life from God entered them, and they stood up on their feet, and great fear fell on those who saw them. Then they heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, ‘Come up hither!’ And in the sight of their foes they went up to heaven in a cloud.” (Rev 11:11-12).
The End of the Antichrist’s Reign
After the two prophets go up to Heaven, there will be less than 30 days left to the 1290 days. At the end of this time period, the Antichrist attempts a fake Ascension to Heaven. He does this because he has lost credibility to his claim to be a god. The two prophets were able to preach against him for 1260 days. The Antichrist was unable to stop them from preaching and unable to kill or imprison them. When finally God allowed their deaths, they came to life 3½ days later and rose up to Heaven in the sight of the whole world. (The wicked of the world suffered such afflictions at the words of the two prophets that, when they died, they left their bodies in the streets of
As he ascends up into the sky (aided by technology and devils), the angel Michael smothers him and casts him down to the earth, and he is broken beyond repair, but not dead.
Then, the Church’s suffering ends, and a brief time for repentance follows (lasting about 45 days). Next Christ returns; the year is A.D. 2437. Then, as Christ teaches and leads the world, there is more time for repentance. Next, a time of intense sufferings and punishments will follow (in A.D. 2438). These very great afflictions are only for the wicked and the unrepentant; God’s faithful servants will be spared. These are the sufferings of the seventh trumpet, called the Seven Bowls of God’s Wrath.
Near the end of the Seven Bowls of God’s Wrath, the Antichrist and the false prophet gather an army of the wicked of the world to try to attack Christ and His faithful. But God destroys them without a battle and the Antichrist and the false prophet are thrown alive into the fires of Hell. This occurs at the end of the Seven Bowls of God’s Wrath (
The Seventh Trumpet (
“Then the seventh angel blew his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, saying, ‘The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he shall reign for ever and ever.’ ” (
“Then God’s temple in heaven was opened, and the ark of his covenant was seen within his temple; and there were flashes of lightning, loud noises, peals of thunder, an earthquake, and heavy hail.” (
The events of the seventh trumpet are briefly summarized at the end of chapter 11 of Revelation. Some of the sufferings are mentioned, including an earthquake and heavy hail. The establishment of God’s kingdom on earth, following the sufferings of the seventh trumpet, is proclaimed. The Millennium is the time when Christ’s kingdom is fully established on earth. This passage clearly refers to that time.
The Ark of the Covenant is a symbolic reference to the Virgin Mary. The Ark of the Covenant held the two tablets of stone with the Ten Commandments written on them. This was the covenant of the Old Testament. For the covenant of the New Testament, God gave us, not tablets of stone, but His only Son Jesus Christ. And Jesus came to us, not carried in an ark, but through the Virgin Mary, His most holy Mother. Passages in God’s Holy Infallible Scripture which tell us about the Ark of the Covenant are telling us about the Virgin Mary by the use of this symbolism.
A detailed description of the sufferings of the seventh trumpet is given in chapters 15-19. Recall that the sufferings of the seventh seal were divided and ordered into seven trumpets. Now, again, the sufferings of the seventh trumpet are divided and ordered into seven bowls (Rev 16:1). These punishments complete the seventh seal, and are the last before the time of great holiness, the Millennium.
Before the sufferings of the seventh trumpet, the Church must suffer Her Passion and Crucifixion, during the reign of Antichrist. The sufferings of the seventh trumpet occur after the end of Antichrist’s reign, in the late A.D. 2430’s, about the year 2438. Then, not too long after these sufferings have ended, the Millennium of peace and holiness begins.
The Church’s Great Suffering (Revelation, chapters 12-13)
These next passages go back to describe the time of desolation and suffering leading up to and including the 1260 days of the two prophets. These events occur in the 25th century A.D. This time of about 3½ years occurs in the last half of Antichrist’s reign over the world. This time is called the Crucifixion of the Church.
The Antichrist, as the king of the North (
The Woman Clothed with the Sun (Rev 12:1-2)
“And a great portent appeared in heaven, a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars; she was with child and she cried out in her pangs of birth, in anguish for delivery.” (Rev 12:1-2).
The woman clothed with the sun is the Virgin Mary, who represents the Church. But it is the Church, not the Virgin Mary, who is crying out in the anguish of giving birth. The fullness of Christ’s kingdom on earth is about to be born. In other words, the building of the Church on earth nears completion. The establishment of the
The Dragon (Rev 12:3-17)
“And another portent appeared in heaven; behold, a great red dragon, with seven heads and ten horns, and seven diadems upon his heads.... And the dragon stood before the woman who was about to bear a child, that he might devour her child when she brought it forth ... but her child was caught up to God and to his throne, and the woman fled into the wilderness, where she has a place prepared by God, in which to be nourished for one thousand two hundred and sixty days.” (Rev 12:3-6).
The dragon with seven heads and ten horns represents the kingdom of the ten kings at the time when this kingdom becomes the
The ten horns of the dragon represent ten kingships which will rule the world. Just before Antichrist comes to power, the world will be ruled by ten kings only, with each king ruling over their own area of the world. Then Antichrist will take over one of the kingships (the kingdom of the North, i.e.
The Woman and the Dragon (Rev 12:4-7, 13-16)
When the dragon tries to destroy the woman, God gives her a safe place to stay in a remote location: “and the woman fled into the wilderness, where she has a place prepared by God, in which to be nourished for one thousand two hundred and sixty days.” (Rev 12:6). Notice that the Church is kept safe for the same length of time that the two prophets prophesy, 1260 days.
During the worst suffering for the Church on earth, part of the Church will have a safe place on earth in a remote area. There the Church will be able to preserve the Faith and the Sacraments in safety. This will happen at the same time that Antichrist will try to destroy Christianity over almost the whole earth (beginning about the middle of his reign). This is the 3½ years of the Church’s greatest suffering.
At the beginning of this time, when the dragon tries to destroy the woman, she escapes by means of “the two wings of the great eagle” (
War in Heaven and on Earth (Rev 12:7-12,17)
“Now war arose in heaven, Michael and his angels fighting against the dragon; and the dragon and his angels fought, but they were defeated and there was no longer any place for them in heaven.” (Rev 12:7-8).
“Then the dragon was angry with the woman, and went off to make war on the rest of her offspring, on those who keep the commandments of God and bear testimony to Jesus.” (
After the devil and his fallen angels are defeated in the heavens, they will assist the wicked on earth in making war against the Church. Even though part of the Church will be kept safe during these 3½ years, there will also be a great worldwide persecution of Christians at the same time. Over almost the whole world, Christians will be persecuted, hunted, and killed. The
The Beast (Rev 13:1-4)
“And I saw a beast rising out of the sea.... One of its heads seemed to have a mortal wound, but its mortal wound was healed, and the whole earth followed the beast with wonder.” (Rev 13:1.3).
The beast is the same kingdom described in chapter 12 as the dragon. The dragon also represents the devil, who will support, empower, and lead the
This kingdom has ten horns with ten diadems representing the ten kingships into which the world will be divided. But there are only seven heads meaning that seven leaders will rule over those ten kingships. The head with a mortal wound is one of the seven leaders of this kingdom, the Antichrist. He will receive a fatal wound, but will not die. In this way, his fame and power before men will be increased.
The mouth of the beast is Antichrist; he will both rule and speak for the kingdom (Rev 13:2). That is why the term “the beast” is also used to refer to Antichrist, as well as to his kingdom. He will exalt himself and blaspheme against God (Rev 13:4-6).
People will worship the dragon and the beast (Rev 13:4). The beast will have a blasphemous name upon its heads (Rev 13:1). The kingdom will give a blasphemous title to each of the leaders, perhaps claiming that those leaders are in some way divine. This kingdom will not merely be a dictatorship. Its leaders will try to destroy the true worship of God in order to make the people worship the kingdom, its leaders, and the Antichrist.
The Forty-two Months (Rev 13:5-10)
“Also it was allowed to make war on the saints and to conquer them.... If any one has an ear, let him hear: If any one is to be taken captive, to captivity he goes; if any one slays with the sword, with the sword must he be slain. Here is a call for the endurance and faith of the saints.”
(Rev 13:7, 9‑10).
This time is the 3½ years (forty-two months) of the Church’s Crucifixion. God’s holy and faithful servants on earth will suffer much. Worldly power will be given into the hands of Antichrist and his kingdom. Christians must suffer much, as Jesus suffered, and be condemned by the world, as Jesus was condemned.
In these days, Christians must succumb to God’s will, and it is God’s will for them to suffer. When it is God’s will for some Christians to go into captivity, they must accept it. If any Christian tries to avoid suffering by use of violence during this time, he will be defeated. For it is God’s will that the Church suffer, even as Christ himself suffered. When it was time for Jesus to be crucified, He willingly carried His Cross and let Himself be nailed to it.
The False Prophet (Rev 13:1-15)
“Then I saw another beast which rose out of the earth; it had two horns like a lamb and it spoke like a dragon. It exercises all the authority of the first beast in its presence, and makes the earth and its inhabitants worship the first beast, whose mortal wound was healed.” (Rev 13:1-2).
This other beast rises out of the earth, not the sea, meaning that this is an individual person, not a kingdom. (Recall that God made mankind out of dust from the earth, Genesis 2:7.) The two horns of a lamb symbolize the two powers which religious leaders have, spiritual and temporal. So this individual will be a religious leader, who will also have worldly authority, but one who will speak like a dragon. The term dragon is used in Revelation to refer to the devil, and also to the
The false prophet is the Antichrist’s assistant for part of his reign of nearly seven years. The false prophet is a woman; she is to the Virgin Mary as the Antichrist is to Christ. She is an Antimary. She assists the Antichrist and often speaks on his behalf.
This false prophet will exercise the temporal authority of the first beast, who is Antichrist. And she will work false signs and wonders, to try to convince the people to worship Antichrist (
The false prophet will have an image of Antichrist made and try to convince people to worship the image. She will even be able to make the image of Antichrist appear as if alive, in order to deceive people into worshipping Antichrist and his image (
Recall the warning which Jesus Christ himself gave: “For false Christs and false prophets will arise and show great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the elect. Lo, I have told you beforehand.” (Mt 24:24-25). Here Jesus is predicting the arrival of the Antichrist and the false prophet, as well as all those lesser false Christs and false prophets who precede them.
Antichrist and the false prophet will work together to make the people abandon God’s will and worship false gods. These two will be a perverse imitation of Moses and Aaron. Aaron was able to work powerful signs in the presence of Moses, just as the false prophet will exercise power on behalf of Antichrist. Moses and Aaron worked signs and wonders to serve God’s purpose. Antichrist and the false prophet will work false signs and deceiving wonders to serve an evil purpose.
The two prophets of Revelation, who do God’s will, will be the holy adversaries of Antichrist and the false prophet. God will give the people of the world these two true prophets, who can work true signs and wonders, to assist people in recognizing that Antichrist and the false prophet are evil.
Saint Paul’s Description of Antichrist
“Let no one deceive you in any way; for that day will not come, unless the rebellion comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of perdition, who opposes and exalts himself against every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, proclaiming himself to be God.” (2 Thess 2:3-4).
The man of lawlessness is Antichrist. He is called the son of perdition, meaning “the lost one.” The rebellion is not a civil rebellion against a government, but a rebellion against Christ, His Church, and His teachings. After this rebellion against Christianity, that is, after the world rejects Christ and His teachings, Antichrist will have power over the world for a brief time. The day which will not come until the rebellion and Antichrist have had their time is the day of the Lord Jesus Christ, described in the previous chapter (2 Thess 1:7-10).
Antichrist will sit in the
“The coming of the lawless one by the activity of Satan will be with all power and with pretended signs and wonders, and with all wicked deception for those who are to perish, because they refused to love the truth and so be saved.” (2 Thess 2:9-10).
The Antichrist will have power to perform apparent miracles, signs, and wonders. Because he has power, many people will be deceived by him. The people who will go astray from God to follow Antichrist are those who have rejected truth, especially the truth of the teaching of Jesus’ Church. Even so, many of God’s faithful servants will remain true to Jesus Christ.
The Mark of the Beast: 666 (Rev 13:16-18)
“Also it causes all, both small and great, both rich and poor, both free and slave, to be marked on the right hand or the forehead, so that no one can buy or sell unless he has the mark, that is, the name of the beast or the number of its name.” (Rev 13:16-17).
No one will be allowed to buy or sell in this evil kingdom, unless they receive the mark of the beast (its name or number) on their right hand or forehead. This requirement is a perverse imitation of God’s holy seal given to His servants on their foreheads (Rev 7:3-4). Similarly, Antichrist will mark those who serve him and his evil purposes. And Antichrist will do other things in evil imitation of Jesus, the true Christ.
In the first verse of the next chapter (Rev 14:1), Holy Scripture reminds us that God’s true servants have Jesus’ name and His Father’s name written on their foreheads. You cannot serve two masters. You cannot be marked with both God’s name and the name of the beast. Serve God alone.
The Meaning of the Number 666
“This calls for wisdom: let him who has understanding reckon the number of the beast, for it is a human number, its number is six hundred and sixty-six.” (
The beast is Antichrist and the number of his name is 666. Antichrist’s name will have six letters in his first name, six letters in his middle name, and six letters in his last name. Antichrist’s name will have a total of 18 letters, divided evenly between his first, middle, and last names.
Many other incorrect interpretations have been given for the meaning of this number. But several things confirm that this is the correct interpretation.
The footnote which accompanies this verse states, “Other ancient authorities read six hundred and sixteen.” Many verses in Holy Scripture have more than one true and correct meaning intended by God. Likewise, in this passage, both of these numbers, 666 and 616, are intended by God to signify the name of Antichrist.
As is the custom, people often use their middle initial in place of their middle name. So the number 616 stands for the six letters of Antichrist’s first name, the one letter of his middle initial, and the six letters of his last name. This interpretation is simple and clear; it works for both versions of the number of his name.
Another confirmation that this is the correct interpretation is the total number of letters in Antichrist’s name. With his middle initial in place of his middle name, Antichrist’s name has 13 letters. With all the letters of his first, middle, and last names counted together, his name has 18 letters. The verse which gives the numbers 616 and 666 is
Yet another confirmation that this is the correct interpretation is found in Holy Scripture. In the Old Testament, the first and second books of the Maccabees describe the persecution of the Jews under Antiochus Epiphanes. That evil man was a foreshadowing of Antichrist. Antiochus Epiphanes’ evil deeds, torturing and killing the Jews and attacking their religion, were a foreshadowing of Antichrist’s evil deeds, torturing and killing Christians and attacking Christianity.
Antiochus Epiphanes’ name has 18 letters in it, just as Antichrist’s name will have 18 letters. But Antiochus Epiphanes’ name does not have the 18 letters divided into three parts, as 666. Thus, Antiochus was a symbol and pale precursor of Antichrist, but he was not Antichrist.
The Earth is Reaped (Rev 14)
“ ‘Fear God and give him glory, for the hour of his judgment has come; and worship him who made heaven and earth, the sea and the fountains of water.’ ” (Rev 14:7).
At the end of the 3½ years of the Church’s greatest suffering, God will judge the earth. Those who endured and stood firm, not denying Jesus Christ their Lord and Savior, will be saved. The souls called “first fruits for God and the Lamb” are given the number 144,000 (Rev 14:1‑5). This symbolic number means that a large number of people from each of the twelve parts of the Church remained entirely faithful to God during this time of great suffering. It is not an exact number of persons who are saved and many will be saved who are not holy enough to be counted among these first fruits.
The number 144,000 is also mentioned earlier in Revelation (Rev 7:1-8), but this is a different group of persons from the first fruits. The later group, called the first fruits, is even holier than this earlier group. Though the number 144,000 is used to describe each group, they are not made up of the same number of persons. This symbolic number means a large number of persons from every part of the Church.
The wicked who followed Antichrist and those who received the mark of the beast on their forehead or right hand will be severely punished by God. This punishment begins on earth with the “seven bowls of the wrath of God” (Rev 16:1). But the punishment of the unrepentant continues even after their death, for ever and ever in Hell.
“And the smoke of their torment goes up for ever and ever; and they have no rest, day or night, these worshipers of the beast and its image, and whoever receives the mark of its name.” (
The Seven Bowls of the Wrath of God (Rev 15-16)
“Then I saw another portent in heaven, great and wonderful, seven angels with seven plagues, which are the last, for with them the wrath of God is ended.” (Rev 15:1).
Recall that the seventh seal is divided into seven trumpets. The events of the first six trumpets will take place in the 21st century A.D., but the seventh trumpet, which completes the events of the seventh seal, will wait until the 25th century A.D., after the Church has suffered Her Crucifixion.
The seventh trumpet is also divided into seven parts, which are symbolized by the seven angels. These angels are given seven golden bowls full of the wrath of God. The angels who bring these seven plagues are “robed in pure bright linen, and their breasts girded with golden girdles.” (Rev 15:6). This symbolism indicates that these severe afflictions are an act of God’s justice. Heaven rejoices to see this time (Rev 15:2-4). With these punishments of the seven bowls, the events of the seven seals and the seven trumpets will be complete.
These plagues will fall only upon the wicked. The time of the Church’s great suffering will have ended. Some of God’s faithful servants will still be living upon the earth, those who have survived, and they will witness these great punishments upon the wicked. Those faithful servants of God who died before this time will witness it from Heaven.
The First Bowl of God’s Wrath (Rev 16:1-2)
“So the first angel went and poured his bowl on the earth, and foul and evil sores came upon the men who bore the mark of the beast and worshiped its image.” (Rev 16:2).
The punishment of the sores was foreshadowed by the plague of boils which God sent upon the Egyptians during the time of Moses and Aaron (Exodus 9:8-12). Those passages in Exodus, the Psalms, and other places in Holy Scripture, which refer to God’s great work of delivering the Israelites out of slavery in
The Second Bowl of God’s Wrath (Rev 16:3)
“The second angel poured his bowl into the sea, and it became like the blood of a dead man, and every living thing died that was in the sea.” (Rev 16:3).
This punishment differs from the punishment of the second trumpet (Rev 8:9), when only a third of the creatures in the sea died. Now everything in the sea dies; the oceans will be full of death. Notice that these punishments at the end of Antichrist’s reign are even more severe than the punishments at the end of the Forty Years (i.e. the first six trumpets of the seventh seal).
The Third Bowl of God’s Wrath (Rev 16:4-7)
“The third angel poured his bowl into the rivers and the fountains of water, and they became blood.” (Rev 16:4).
This punishment is again more comprehensive than the previous punishment of the third trumpet (
This punishment was also foreshadowed by the plagues of Moses and Aaron. They changed the waters of
The Fourth Bowl of God’s Wrath (Rev 16:8-9)
“The fourth angel poured his bowl on the sun, and it was allowed to scorch men with fire; men were scorched by the fierce heat, and they cursed the name of God who had power over these plagues, and they did not repent and give him glory.” (Rev 16:8-9).
This plague of intense heat is made worse by the previous two plagues. The fresh waters have been made undrinkable. And probably the waters of the oceans cannot now be used by people to cool themselves off.
Even with all of these sufferings, the wicked do not repent of their sins. Yet they realize that these punishments come from God, just as the Egyptians realized (Ex
The Fifth Bowl of God’s Wrath (
“The fifth angel poured his bowl on the throne of the beast, and its kingdom was in darkness; men gnawed their tongues in anguish and cursed the God of heaven for their pain and sores, and did not repent of their deeds.” (Rev 16:10-11).
This darkness was foreshadowed by the three days of darkness which God sent upon the Egyptians through Moses and Aaron (Exodus
The angel pours this bowl on the beast’s throne, not all over the earth. Only the wicked will be in darkness. Wherever God’s faithful will be, there shall be light, just as when God sent darkness on the Egyptians, the Israelites had light.
This event differs from the Three Days of Darkness at the end of the Forty Years (late 2039 or early 2040). This darkness in the 25th century (about the year 2438) is not accompanied by the death of all those outdoors. During this darkness, those who remained faithful during the time of the Antichrist will have nothing to fear. They will all be safe.
The Sixth Bowl of God’s Wrath (
“The sixth angel poured his bowl on the great river
The river
The Seventh Bowl of God’s Wrath (
“The seventh angel poured his bowl into the air, and a great voice came out of the temple, from the throne, saying, ‘It is done!’ ” (
The events of the seventh bowl complete the seven plagues of the seventh trumpet of the seventh seal. Thus, all of the events of Revelation are connected and are part of one plan by God to firmly establish His kingdom on earth, to bring an end to the reign of sin, and to punish unrepentant sinners. It is God who is saying, “It is done!”
The events of the seventh bowl of plagues includes extraordinary lightning, thunder, and noises. There is “a great earthquake such as had never been since men were on the earth, so great was that earthquake.” (
But the great city,
This earthquake changes the surface of the earth, destroying islands and leveling mountains. Compare the description from the sixth seal, “every mountain and island was removed from its place” (
And there is also a great hailstorm, with extremely large hailstones, “heavy as a hundredweight.” (
The Completion of the Seven Seals
All of the events of the seven seals take place within a period of approximately 430 years, about the length of time that the Israelites lived in Egypt (Exodus 13:40). The events of the first seal begin in the two year period of time: A.D. 2009 and 2010. The Arab nations will make war, first against one another, thereafter against the
There is a break in the sequence of sufferings within that 430 year period of time. The events of the first six trumpets occur at the end of the Forty Years (21st century), but the events of the seventh trumpet wait until the end of the Antichrist’s reign (25th century), approximately 400 years later. This period of time, between the sixth and seventh trumpets, begins with much holiness and peace for God’s people on earth. Gradually, sin and all manner of evil deeds increases. Those who seek God, who live in truth and holiness, will suffer much. Violence and war will again return to the world.
Finally, when the world is controlled by only ten kings, the events described by Revelation resume. Antichrist rises to power and persecutes Christians. At the end of the allotted time, God punishes all the wicked with the events of the seventh trumpet, which is divided into seven bowls full of plagues. Sometime, not too long after the end of these seven plagues, the Church will enter the promised land, the time of the Millennium, when there will be unimaginable holiness and peace and true worship of God all over the earth.
The end of the world does not occur until after the Millennium, which lasts for well over a thousand years (Rev 20:1-7). Then there will be the general Resurrection and a new Heaven and a new earth (Rev 21:1). The great peace and holiness of the time of the Millennium is difficult to imagine, for we live in a world filled with sin. Yet after that time, when God makes a new Heaven and a new earth, who can know how wonderful the world will be then?
The Great Harlot (Rev 17)
“And he carried me away in the Spirit into a wilderness, and I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast which was full of blasphemous names, and it had seven heads and ten horns.” (Rev 17:3).
The great harlot is the city of
The woman sitting on the scarlet beast is also the false prophet, a woman who assists the Antichrist in his evil works and who helps him exercise his authority. She encourages the world to worship the Antichrist. She is the antithesis of the Virgin Mary, who helps us worship Christ.
During Antichrist’s reign,
Yet, after this attack,
Why will they attack
Notice that the city of
Certainly, when God’s plan reaches its fulfillment,
The Fall of the Great City (Rev 18)
“And they threw dust on their heads, as they wept and mourned, crying out, ‘Alas, alas, for the great city where all who had ships at sea grew rich by her wealth! In one hour she has been laid waste. Rejoice over her, O heaven, O saints and apostles and prophets, for God has given judgment for you against her!’ ” (Rev 18:19-20).
The city called
The city of
The city of
The
“Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse! He who sat upon it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and makes war.... And the armies of heaven, arrayed in fine linen, white and pure, followed him on white horses.” (Rev 19:11.14).
“And I saw the beast and the kings of the earth with their armies gathered to make war against him who sits upon the horse and against his army. And the beast was captured, and with it the false prophet who in its presence had worked the signs by which he deceived those who had received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped its image. These two were thrown alive into the lake of fire that burns with brimstone. And the rest were slain by the sword of him who sits upon the horse, the sword that issues from his mouth....” (Rev 19:19-21).
Antichrist (broken, but still alive), his false prophet (the Antivirginmary), and the armies of their worldwide kingdom gather to make war against Jesus Christ and His servants. Perhaps they expect their fight against Jesus and His servants to be like previous wars on earth, waged with weapons and soldiers and battles. But the army which follows Jesus Christ is not an army of weapons of war.
Notice that no battles are described. The wicked are immediately overcome and defeated. Antichrist and the false prophet are thrown alive, body and soul, into Hell. Their army is slain, not with weapons of war, but with the sword from Jesus’ mouth, that is, with Truth.
This is the war which was prepared for by the sixth bowl of plagues, which dried up the river
This is the time spoken of by the Apostle Saint Paul in his letter to the Thessalonians. In that letter, God’s Holy Infallible Scripture says, “And then the lawless one will be revealed, and the Lord Jesus will slay him with the breath of his mouth and destroy him by his appearing and his coming.” (2 Thess 2:8).
When Jesus does Return from Heaven to destroy the wicked and establish His kingdom on earth, it is not the end of the world, nor is it the time spoken of in the Creed, which says, “He will come again to judge the living and the dead.” These things occur after the Millennium.
The Millennium (Rev 20:1-6)
“Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven.... And he seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the Devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years.” (Rev 20:1.2).
For over a thousand years, the devil will be restrained and confined, and have no power to do evil on earth. This time of over a thousand years is called the Millennium. It will be a time of unsurpassed holiness and unimaginable glory for the Church on earth. The Millennium will begin in the mid 25th century A.D. and will last for well over a thousand years.
The Church grows in holiness from the time of Christ to the beginning of the Millennium. Finally, during these thousand plus years, the Church will be mature in holiness. The Church will then be like the fully-grown bush which sprang from the mustard seed (Mt
The Millennium is the time when Jesus Christ’s kingdom is firmly established on earth. This time will follow the time of the Church’s Passion and Crucifixion. After the Crucifixion comes the Glory. Some people assume that all the intense sufferings described in Revelation mark the end of the world—not true!
The Church triumphs over persecution and all manner of evil. The Church goes on giving glory to God on earth for a long time after the defeat of the wicked. After so many centuries of struggling and suffering, when Christ’s Church is finally firmly established on earth, do you think that the Church on earth would then immediately come to an end? Not so!
The First Resurrection (Rev 20:4-6)
“They came to life, and reigned with Christ a thousand years. The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended. This is the first resurrection.... they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and they shall reign with him a thousand years.” (Rev 20:4.5.6).
Those who were martyred for God during the Church’s great suffering will come to life and share in this time of great holiness for the Church on earth. This will be an actual Resurrection of some of the dead. It is not the general Resurrection of all the dead.
Those who share in the first resurrection cannot end up in Hell, their place in Heaven is assured: “Over such the second death has no power....” (Rev 20:6; cf. Rev 14-15). The souls of the first resurrection descended from Heaven to be resurrected on earth. Since they were already in Heaven, they can never end up in Hell. (Some who are alive at that time might receive the benefits of the first Resurrection, without first dying and rising, just as will occur at the start of the general Resurrection.)
Whether any other persons, besides those recent martyrs, are resurrected at this time is unclear. In any case, those who come back to life join those brave survivors of the time of great suffering. They rebuild the Church on earth.
During the Millennium, Christianity will be the one and only religion on earth. Those faithful Christians who have survived the suffering, or who are resurrected after their martyrdom, will reign with Christ. They will reign with Christ in the sense that Christianity, faith in God, prayer, and holiness will be the guiding principles of life on earth. Christ will reign on earth during the Millennium by means of the Church, the Eucharist, and the faith and holiness of Christian leaders.
Second Ascension and Second Assumption
For a brief time before and after the first Resurrection, Christ teaches and leads the Church on earth. But Christ does not remain on earth to take the position of an earthly king or of a pope. Christ must return to Heaven. (When Christ returns to earth at the end of the Antichrist’s reign, the Virgin Mary returns with him.) Mary must return to Heaven also. Therefore, Christ ascends to Heaven for a second time and Mary is assumed into Heaven a second time.
Second Pentecost
A brief time after Christ ascends to Heaven, Christ sends the Holy Spirit to renew the Church and the world. This second Pentecost is the beginning of the time of true peace and holiness on earth. Everyone on earth is a Catholic Christian and all adhere to the one true faith. A Third Testament of Sacred Scripture is written. All receive the holy Eucharist and all obey the teachings of the one true Faith. The Millennium of peace and holiness continues for well over a thousand years. The earth becomes a place of great beauty and peace and harmony and insight and holiness, pleasing to God in a myriad of ways and for a very long time.
The End of the Millennium (Rev 20:3, 7-10)
The devil will be bound and thrown into the bottomless pit for a thousand years (Rev 20:1-2), “that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years were ended. After that he must be loosed for a little while.” (Rev 20:3). Thus there will be an end to the time of the Millennium. Even though that time is a time of great holiness and virtue on earth, a time of great glory for the Church, it must end so that God’s plan can reach completion.
“And when the thousand years are ended, Satan will be loosed from his prison and will come out to deceive the nations which are at the four corners of the earth, that is, Gog and Magog, to gather them for battle; their number is like the sand of the sea.” (Rev 20:7-8).
God gives the earth over a thousand years of holiness, a long period of time when Christianity and Christ’s teachings rule over all the earth. Yet when God allows the devil to present an alternative to goodness and holiness, many choose evil over good. Those who choose evil and who prepare for war against God’s people are called Gog and Magog.
The names Gog and Magog represent men and women. In English and in Hebrew, the words for male and female, or man and woman are related words, where one word is a subset of the other word. The names Gog and Magog mean that both many men and many women will go astray at that time and will fight against the Church.
At the end of the Millennium, the devil is allowed to again deceive and tempt people, but it will not be this time as it was before. When huge numbers of soldiers come up against the holy land of
The devil is then thrown into Hell forever, where Antichrist and the false prophet were thrown (
Judgment Day (
“And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Also another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, by what they had done.... and if any one’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.” (
This is the general Resurrection, when the dead come to life and are judged by God. And everyone is judged by what they have done. When a person dies, God judges that individual immediately, and sends them to Heaven, or to Hell, or to Heaven by way of Purgatory. But at the general Resurrection, all the dead are given their bodies to join their souls, whether their souls came from Heaven or Purgatory or Hell. Those from Heaven and Purgatory will rejoice anew to have their glorified bodies along with their souls. Those from Hell will suffer anew when their bodies join their souls in torment.
“For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the archangel’s call, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first; then we who are alive, who are left, shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air; and so we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words.” (1 Thess 4:16-18).
At Judgment Day, those faithful servants of God who have died will be resurrected. Yet there will be some Christians left alive on earth. These will not die, but will be judged by Christ, as it says in the Creed, “He will come again to judge the living and the dead.” Those faithful persons who are still alive on earth at the time of the general Resurrection will be given the benefits of the Resurrection without first having to die and immediately be raised from the dead. (This is the true and correct understanding of what some have called “the rapture.”)
Notice that Christ returns twice, once at the end of the Antichrist’s reign and again at the end of the Millennium of peace and holiness. And each time that Christ returns, He brings Mary with Him. Christ is assisted in all that He does towards our salvation by the Blessed Virgin Mary.
The End of the World
The end of the world would seem to occur at the time of the general Resurrection, for “from his presence earth and sky fled away, and no place was found for them.” (
“But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a loud noise, and the elements will be dissolved with fire, and the earth and the works that are upon it will be burned up.” (2 Peter 3:10).
Holy Scripture is here describing the end of the world, which occurs after the Millennium ends, when Jesus Christ comes to judge the world. Even though the Millennium was a time of great holiness and peace on earth, God still puts an end to that time and to that world. For God has something even better in mind.
“But according to his promise we wait for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.” (2 Peter 3:13).
So, even the end of the world is not the end of everything. After the world ends, God makes a new world.
A New Heaven and a New Earth (Rev 21:1-8)
“Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more.” (Rev 21:1).
Heaven and earth will pass away and be replaced by a new Heaven and a new earth. The sea which is no more is not an ocean or a sea of water. The sea is here a metaphor for Purgatory. This interpretation is confirmed by the subsequent passage: “and death shall be no more….” (Rev 21:4). One must first die in order to go to Purgatory. Since there is no more death, there is no more Purgatory. During that future time, the power of sin has been broken and so there is no more death and no need for Purgatory. The sea is used here as a metaphor for Purgatory because Purgatory is like a great sea of souls from every nation, language, and culture.
After the end of the world, God will make a new Heaven and a new earth. The end is only the beginning. Who can imagine how wonderful Heaven is now? Who could describe the great holiness and peace and love on earth during the Millennium? So when God makes a new Heaven and a new earth, what can anyone say? There are no words.
The Completed Church of Jesus Christ (Rev 21:9-27)
“And in the Spirit he carried me away to a great, high mountain, and showed me the holy city Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God, having the glory of God, its radiance like a most rare jewel, like a jasper, clear as crystal. It had a great, high wall, with twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and on the gates the names of the twelve tribes of the sons of
The
“And I saw no temple in the city, for its temple is the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb. And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine upon it, for the glory of God is its light and its lamp is the Lamb.” (Rev 21:22-23).
