Ang Apatnapung Taon

The Forty Years

The Forty Years is the period of time from A.D. 2000 to late 2039 or early 2040, inclusive. This chapter was written to console and inform those faithful Christians who must suffer much during the greater part of the Forty Years. It is a small consolation compared to the great gifts, graces, signs, wonders, and miracles which God Himself will give in preparation for, during, and after this time of great suffering. God is going to punish the world, but He will also strengthen His people in the world, so that they can endure the sufferings which God will send.
The first several years of the Forty Years will contain fewer sufferings and could be considered a time of preparation. Next, God will give the world special graces to prepare for the punishments to come. Then various extraordinary sufferings will be sent upon the world, as described in the Book of Revelation, including war and famine. And God will give the world one affliction after another for the remainder of the Forty Years. Yet, throughout these years of suffering, God will bless His faithful children. The Church will increase in faith, holiness, unity, and love for God and neighbor. The worst of the sufferings will occur during the latter part of the Forty Years, especially the 2030’s.

The Beginning of the Forty Years

“I confirm to you that, by the Great Jubilee Year 2000, there will take place the Triumph of My Immaculate Heart, of which I foretold you at Fatima, and this will come to pass with the return of Jesus in glory, to establish His Reign in the world.”
These words were spoken by the Virgin Mary to Fr. Gobbi of the Marian Movement of Priests. The year A.D. 2000 was a Jubilee year. This year was also the beginning of a 40 year period of time which will transfigure the Church and the world to conform more closely—though not yet completely—to God’s will. That is why the Virgin Mary said that the year 2000 would be the Triumph of her Immaculate Heart. The year 2000 is the beginning of a period of time that will transform the Church and the world, through special graces from God and through a time of great suffering, to become closer to God.
You do not notice much in the way of change yet (2001), but by the end of this decade (by 2009 and 2010) it will be unmistakable. And about the time of the end of this decade and the beginning of the next, the events described in the Seven Seals in the Book of Revelation will begin. But the Forty Years is not the time of the end of the world, nor the time of the Antichrist, nor the time of the Second Coming of Jesus. However, it is the time of the sufferings described in the first part of the Book of Revelation.
After the Forty Years, there will be a respite from the sufferings, followed by a long period of time when sin and sufferings increase. Thereafter comes the time of the remainder of the sufferings described in Revelation. Thus the Forty Years is the beginning of a long period of time and a long sequence of events leading to the Return of Jesus Christ in glory and the establishment of peace and holiness on earth (in the mid 25th century). The Triumph of the Virgin Mary’s Immaculate Heart began in the Jubilee Year 2000 but will be completed only with the Return of Jesus in glory very many years later.


Why God Sends Sufferings Upon the World


“And the people of Israel again did what was evil in the sight of the LORD; and the LORD gave them into the hand of the Philistines for forty years.” (Judges 13:1).
In the book of Judges, as throughout the Old Testament, God blessed His people, Israel. But when they sinned, God punished them. Sometimes the punishment was to be defeated in battle or to be conquered in war. Then, after a time of punishment and repentance, God delivered His people, often by raising up a holy leader who had God’s blessing and help.
This verse from Holy Scripture (Judges 13:1) is a prophecy for the present time. Christians, who are the new Israel, have sinned much against God. God has been patient, giving blessings to sinners and restraining His punishment, so as to guide them to repentance. But many Christians persist in their sins. Therefore, God will make this verse come true for the present generation of Christians.
Many Christians throughout the world have abandoned the teachings of Christ and done what was evil in God’s eyes. Because Christians have committed so many sins, year after year without repentance, God will give them into the hand of the Arabs for many years, (beginning in the A.D. 2010’s). The Arab nations will be like a rod in God’s hand to punish and correct Christians for their many sins.
“He will raise a signal for a nation afar off, and whistle for it from the ends of the earth; and lo, swiftly, speedily it comes! None is weary, none stumbles, none slumbers or sleeps, not a waistcloth is loose, not a sandal-thong broken; their arrows are sharp, all their bows are bent, their horses’ hoofs seem like flint, and their wheels like the whirlwind. Their roaring is like a lion, like young lions they roar; they growl and seize their prey, they carry it off, and none can rescue.” (Isaiah 5:26-29).
God is going to punish the Christian nations for their many evil deeds by means of the Arab nations. The Arab nations will band together and then will invade and conquer the nations of Europe. They will succeed because it is God’s will. They will occupy Europe for many years and will greatly oppress Christians. Things formerly called “rights” and “freedoms” will not be permitted.


The Babylonian Captivity

The Forty Years is, for Christians, what the Babylonian Captivity was for the ancient Israelites. God punished Israel for its sins by means of war and a far-off nation. Yet, after a period of time, God’s wrath relented and the Israelites were set free.
At the beginning of the Babylonian Captivity for the Israelites, the First Temple of Jerusalem was destroyed. So also, at the beginning of the Babylonian Captivity for the Church, Rome and Vatican City will be destroyed (in July of 2013). As the Israelites did not build the Second Temple of Jerusalem until after their captivity ended, so also will the Church not be allowed by God to build a new Vatican City until after the Forty Years has ended.

Forty Years in the Desert

The Forty Years which the Church must endure is like the forty years which the Israelites endured wandering in the desert. God delivered the Israelites out of the slavery of Egypt to bring them into the Promised Land. Yet, between their deliverance from slavery and their entry into the land of peace and prosperity, Israel had to be tested and purified by suffering (Num 14:33; Ps 95:8-11). Likewise, the Church must endure forty years of trials and sufferings, before entering into the peace and prosperity which follows the Forty Years.

The Sins of Christians


“Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter!” (Isaiah 5:20).
Some Christians today not only commit many serious sins without repentance, but they also call their sins good. Many Christians say that what is sinful is their right or is a good thing. All manner of sexual sins have become accepted by many Christians, including: homosexuality, adultery, premarital sex, licentiousness in speech and behavior, contraception, and abortion. They do not even acknowledge that these things are serious offenses against God.
Some Christians not only commit the sin of abortion, but encourage others to do so. They proclaim this serious sin as if it were a God-given right. They are outraged at any attempts to outlaw abortion. They encourage others to obtain abortions.
Some Christians are offended by the teaching of the Catholic Church and Holy Scripture. They call evil good and good evil. They believe and follow any teacher who tells them what they want to hear. And they reject any teacher who tries to point out their sins.
Even some persons who are in the priesthood and the religious life, and some theologians and teachers of religion, argue against the teaching of the Bible and the Church. These false prophets defend serious sin as if it were good. They seek the approval of their listeners, but do not seek God’s approval.
Many Christians no longer attend church services. Many Christians pray little, and depend on money and friends and themselves, instead of depending on God. Many Christians put most of the effort of their lives into pleasing themselves. They don’t seek God, nor do they seek to know what is right and what is wrong. Greed and selfishness, lies and deception, cruelty and apathy abound among God’s people.
Are there any sins which are unheard of among Christians? I could list many more sins committed against God by those who think themselves to be faithful Christians, but the list would fill an entire book of its own.
People sin on one day and by the next day, God has not punished them. A few more days pass and still there is no punishment from God. So they begin to think that God will never punish them, that He doesn’t see or doesn’t care or even that He doesn’t distinguish between sin and virtue. But God’s punishment is about to begin.
Woe to the unrepentant and to those who love their sins. Woe to sinners everywhere. Woe to the whole earth. Woe to the Church on earth. Woe to Rome and to the Vatican. Woe to the leaders of the Church, the faithful and the unfaithful. Woe even to the faithful children of God.

False Prophets Who Proclaim Peace

Early in the Forty Years, just before war breaks out, false prophets will arise (in 2009) who will proclaim a time of peace. They will say that the prophecies of those who predict war and sufferings refer to a time far in the future. They will claim that prophecies of sufferings were conditional and have been changed because of repentance. But these prophesies of peace will be false prophecies, which are not from God (Ezekiel 12:26 – 13:23). Very quickly, war will break out. First, the small war among the Arab nations. Next, the great war of World War III. And God will cast down these false prophets from the lofty heights to which they have exalted themselves (Jeremiah 14:13-18). And it will be clearly seen that the prophecies of a time of war and punishments from God are true. Peace, true peace, is for a future time.

War during the Forty Years (Overview)

The Forty Years will occur from A.D. 2000 to 2039/2040. A brief war among the Arab nations will occur in A.D. 2009. This war will unite the Arab nations under the leadership of extremists, under the leadership of the leader of Iran and the leader of Iraq. After that small war, a great war occurs, World War III. (It begins in A.D. 2010, but will not be generally acknowledged to be a world war until 2011.) It will be a long and bloody war; millions will die. When the war is over (about 2018/2019), the Arab nations will occupy and subjugate a vast area (including Europe, parts of Eastern Europe and northern Africa, and the Middle East) for many years. Near the end of the Forty Years, in the mid 2030’s, there will be another war, World War IV, which will be shorter and more intense than the war by which Europe was conquered; that war ends about the year A.D. 2037 and is followed by a series of severe punishments from God (the first six trumpets of the seventh seal from the book of Revelation).

The Small War That Prepares for World War III ( see Warning on Medugorje secrets )

In the year A.D. 2009, extremist Arab leaders will fight against more moderate leaders, and the extremist leaders will win. Iran and Iraq will join together and will consolidate their power among the Arab nations. Those countries which cannot be overcome by internal coups and revolts, will be attacked in open warfare. There will be upheavals and changes in leadership within Arab countries. Extremist leaders will take control of various Arab countries, in place of more moderate leaders.
The book of Daniel describes a vision of a ram with two horns (Dan 8:3-4, 20). This symbolizes the Arab nations acting together as one force. The two horns represent the two leaders of Media and Persia (now called Iraq and Iran). One of the two leaders will be more powerful than the other. The leader who rises to power later than the other will have the greater power (Dan 8:3).
This small war unites the Arab nations under the leadership of two men, the leaders of Iraq and Iran. Next, these two men, and the other extremist leaders in each Arab nation who cooperate with them, consolidate their power within the Arab nations. They assert full control over their nation’s military forces. They increase their weaponry and the size of their armies. They prepare for an all-out war against the western nations.

The First Major War of the Forty Years (World War III)

World War III is described in the Book of Daniel (8:3-4,20). In this war the Arab nations, acting as one force, threaten and attack the United States, then threaten, attack, invade, and conquer Europe and Eastern Europe, and threaten, attack, invade, and conquer the northern part of Africa. It will be a long and bloody war; millions will die. Early in the war, the Arabs will attack the United States by using a nuclear bomb against New York City, sometime between June 1 and December 31, 2010 inclusive. (The attack on New York City with a nuclear bomb is one of the first attacks in the war.) The Arabs will also use a nuclear missile against Rome and Vatican City in July of 2013. The Arab forces will win World War III; they will occupy and oppress a vast area for many years.

The Arabs Will Be Unstoppable

“I saw the ram charging westward and northward and southward; no beast could stand before him, and there was no one who could rescue from his power; he did as he pleased and magnified himself.” (Dan 8:4).

Holy Scripture tells us that the ram charges westward and northward and southward and no one can stop it. Therefore, Iran and Iraq (and the other Arab nations) will first charge westward, attacking the United States. Then they will charge northward to Europe. Finally, they will charge southward to the northern part of Africa. No country and no person will be able to stop the Arabs from conquering all that God has ordained for them to conquer. Prayers for an end to this war will not soon be answered, because of the many sins of Christians. This war will bring great destruction to many countries. The Arab forces will attack and conquer one country after another. Neither NATO, nor the United States, nor any country or alliance, will be able to defeat the Arab forces at this time. It is God’s will.
However, the Arabs can only conquer those lands given into their hands by God. They can be stopped at or before the equator in Africa. They cannot invade or conquer any part of North America. They also cannot conquer to the East of their own lands. But in all else they will be victorious.

The Reasons for World War III and IV

The Virgin Mary said at Fatima, “Wars are a punishment from God for sin!” World War III also is a punishment decided upon by God. This war is a punishment from God because of the many sins of Christians, especially those who have abandoned the practice of the faith and those who are immersed in mortal sins of various kinds. During the Arab occupation of Europe, the Arabs will prohibit many sins which are now permitted by law and which are now widespread. That is why the Arab nations will, for a time, be unstoppable. Yet along with the war, God will give His people consolation, guidance, grace, and the strength to endure.
This war also prepares for a future time of peace and holiness, during the reign of the great monarch. The Arabs must conquer a vast territory, so that, when the great monarch rescues this territory (in World War IV), he can then rule over a vast empire and can bring peace and holiness to many peoples and nations. The great monarch will be able to bring Christianity to Israel and to the Arab nations. Where Christianity is now weak, then it will become strong. And Israel will become a Christian nation.
The kingdom of the great monarch then itself prepares for another future time. After a time of peace and holiness (beginning in A.D. 2040), the great monarch’s kingdom will be divided into four smaller kingdoms. Two of these four become the kingdom of the North and the kingdom of the South described in the Book of Daniel, in chapter 11. Then, in the 25th century, the Antichrist takes control of the North and fights against the South, preparing the way for his control over nearly the whole world. After the Antichrist’s reign is ended, Christ returns, the wicked are punished, and a great time of lasting peace and lasting holiness begins.
So, World War III and IV are part of a long process leading to the Church’s Crucifixion (the last half of the Antichrist’s reign), and to the Return of Christ, and to the Millennium of peace and holiness.

The Pope Will Be Martyred

“ ‘And the prince who is among them shall lift his baggage upon his shoulder in the dark, and shall go forth; he shall dig through the wall and go out through it.... And I will spread my net over him, and he shall be taken in my snare; and I will bring him to Babylon in the land of the Chaldeans, yet he shall not see it; and he shall die there.’ ” (Ezekiel 12:12.13).
“So the city was besieged.... Then a breach was made in the city; the king with all the men of war fled by night by the way of the gate between the two walls, by the king’s garden, though the Chaldeans were around the city.... But the army of the Chaldeans pursued the king, and overtook him.... Then they captured the king, and brought him up to the king of Babylon at Riblah, who passed sentence upon him. They slew the sons of Zedekiah before his eyes, and put out the eyes of Zedekiah, and bound him in fetters, and took him to Babylon.” (2 Kings 25:2.4-7).

This prophecy from Holy Scripture refers to the second Pope after John Paul II, to the Pope called “Peter the Roman” by St. Malachy. This Pope will have a short but holy reign. He will emphasize the authority and primacy of the Pope and of the Catholic Church. He will die a martyr.
At the beginning of the war of the Arabs against Europe, about the year A.D. 2011 or 2012, the Arab forces will attack Italy and Rome. At that time, in the year 2012, the Pope will be forced to flee the Vatican. (He will have waited too long to flee successfully.) He will carry his own baggage on his shoulder. He will flee under or through the walls of the Vatican by night accompanied by members of the clergy (“the sons of Zedekiah”) and guarded by soldiers. They are able to get away from Vatican City, but they will not reach safety. They will be pursued by Arab forces.
The Pope and the clergy with him will be taken captive by the Arab forces. They will be taken to Syria (Riblah is an ancient city in Syria) and put on trial. The leader of Iraq (“king of Babylon”) will pass judgment against the Pope and the clergy who were captured with him and also some members of the clergy of Syria. Then they will slay these members of the clergy as the Pope watches. Next they will put out the eyes of the Pope, so that the last thing he sees is the death of his fellow clergy. Then they will bind the Pope in fetters and take him to Iraq, where he will be imprisoned. The phrase “yet he shall not see it” means that he will be held prisoner without being able to see the country in which he is held captive because he has been blinded. The Pope will die in a prison in Iraq with no one to rescue him. This Pope will die a martyr for the Faith.
Notice that the leader of Babylon (Iraq) is holding a trial in Syria. From this I conclude that, during the small war among the Arab nations (prior to World War III), Iraq will invade and conquer and probably annex Syria.

The Pope whom Holy Scripture foretold would suffer and die in this manner is the second Pope after Pope John Paul II. Saint Malachy made a prophetic list of future Popes, each described by a phrase. Pope John Paul II is described with the phrase, “From the Labor of the Sun.” The next Pope is described with the phrase, “From the Glory of the Olive.” The second Pope after John Paul II is called, “Peter the Roman,” and his reign is described with a full sentence: “In the final persecution of the Holy Roman Church there shall reign Peter the Roman who will feed his flock amid many tribulations, after which the seven-hilled city will be destroyed and the terrible judge will judge the people.” [26]
Peter the Roman is the last Pope listed by Saint Malachy, but he will not be the last Pope for the Church on earth. There will be many Popes after Peter the Roman; those later Popes are simply not listed by Saint Malachy. Peter the Roman is the last Pope before the destruction of Vatican City.
That persecution of the Church which begins when Peter the Roman is Pope is called the final persecution. But this will not be the last persecution which the Church will suffer. Rather, this persecution occurs at the time of the beginning of the sufferings described in the book of Revelation. Those events unfold over a period of more than 400 years. This persecution is called the last persecution because it is the start of a long series of events (including much suffering for the Church) which, when completed centuries later, will bring an end to the reign of sin on earth and will establish Christ’s Reign of peace and holiness.
The seven-hilled city is Rome, which will be completely and thoroughly destroyed in the war between the Arab nations and Europe. But this is not the end of the world. The statement that “the terrible judge will judge the people” means that the events described in the Book of Revelation have begun, leading to a severe judgment and punishment of the world (in the late 2030’s) and eventually leading to the completion of the sufferings of the Church on earth (in the 2430’s), followed by the Return of Jesus in glory and the establishment of His Reign on earth during the Millennium of peace and holiness. Rome will again be destroyed before the worst of the sufferings of that later time (in the 25th century). So, the destruction of Rome, followed by God’s judgment upon the earth, occurs twice (during the Forty Years and in the mid 25th century).
The first Pope after John Paul II, the one just before Peter the Roman, is described with the phrase, “From the Glory of the Olive.” This has been interpreted to mean that this Pope will be a Benedictine, because a branch of the Benedictines is called “Olivetans.” This Pope will not be a Benedictine. But he will take the name Pope Benedict XVI. [And, like Saint Benedict the Black, he will be a black man from Africa. – This prediction that I made in 2001 turned out to be incorrect.] This Pope will reign during the time just before the terrible war between the Arab nations and Europe. He will constantly seek peace, the olive branch, between nations, between religions between Christian groups. But he will not be able to bring peace to the nations because peace is for a later time. The olive branch is a symbol of peace; the glory of the olive is peace. As his reign ends, war begins. This Pope’s reign will end before the time of war in Europe begins. The reign of Pope Benedict XVI will be brief. In the year 2009, he will suggest making three places in Jerusalem, a Church, a Temple, and a Mosque. But his plan will be superceded by war. He will die in either 2009 or 2010.
Peter the Roman becomes Pope after the small war among the Arab nations begins and not long before World War III, the war which results in the destruction of Rome. Since Vatican City is located within Rome, Vatican City will also be destroyed at that time. Peter the Roman is the Pope whose martyrdom was predicted with such startling detail by Ezekiel and Jeremiah. He will be captured by the Arab forces after they attack Italy, but before they utterly destroy Rome and Vatican City.

In this passage from Holy Scripture (Ezekiel 12:12.13), God is speaking through the prophet Ezekiel. These are God’s words; this is God’s plan. Thus, God says that the Pope is taken captive by “my net” and in “my snare.” It is God who wills this event. Why? Because the house of Israel is a rebellious house (Ezekiel 12:2-3). The Christian people are a rebellious people, and so this will be a part of the punishment from God for our sins, for the sins of Christians.
This same prophecy is found in several other passages of Holy Scripture. The second book of Kings (2 Kings 25:1-12) and the book of the prophet Jeremiah (Jer 39:1-10; 52:4-16) give additional details about these future events.
During the siege of the city of Rome by the Arabs, the Pope will flee “with all the men of war,” meaning with soldiers to guard him. The Arab army will pursue them and capture the Pope. He will be taken before the king of Babylon, and an unjust sentence will be handed down against him.
The ancient city of Babylon was located in what is now Iraq, near the present day city of Baghdad. Thus, the “king of Babylon” is the leader of Iraq. The unjust sentence will be given in Riblah, referring to an ancient city in what is now Syria; therefore, Syria will be captured and occupied by Iraq.
Holy Scripture says that they killed “the sons of Zedekiah before his eyes.” Zedekiah represents the Pope and so “the sons of Zedekiah” refers to the followers or assistants of the Pope. Thus, the king of Babylon (the leader of Iraq) will order that those who have accompanied the Pope, (his assistants, members of the clergy, perhaps some bishops or cardinals) be killed while the Pope watches.
The book of the prophet Jeremiah adds an additional detail. “The king of Babylon slew the sons of Zedekiah before his eyes, and also slew all the princes of Judah at Riblah.” (Jer 52:10). The members of the clergy (bishops, priests, religious) at that city where the unjust sentence will be handed down against the Pope, will also be slain at that time.
“He put out the eyes of Zedekiah, and bound him in fetters, and the king of Babylon took him to Babylon, and put him in prison till the day of his death.” (Jer 52:11).
The reason why the book of Ezekiel (Ezek 12:13) prophesies that the Pope will not be able to see the country he is held captive in is clear. After making him watch the death of his friends, they will put out the eyes of the Pope. The Pope will be blinded. Then they will bind him in fetters and take him to Babylon (Iraq), where he will die in captivity, a holy martyr to the Faith. This prediction from Holy Scripture refers to the second Pope after Pope John Paul II, the one Saint Malachy refers to as Peter the Roman.

The Destruction of Rome and the Vatican

“And he burned the house of the LORD, and the king’s house and all the houses of Jerusalem; every great house he burned down. And all the army of the Chaldeans, who were with the captain of the guard, broke down all the walls round about Jerusalem.” (Jer 52:1314).
Sometime after the Pope is taken captive, the Arabs will gain control of Rome and Vatican City. They will burn down the Lord’s house, meaning Saint Peter’s Basilica, and they will burn down the Pope’s house (the Apostolic Palace). They will break down the walls of the Vatican, and they will bring destruction on the city of Rome. They will also burn down “every great house,” meaning every church in Rome. Even so, this is not yet the complete destruction of Rome and Vatican City.

Nuclear Weapons

The war of the Arab nations against Europe will be a long and bloody war. Tens of millions of people will die, and millions upon millions will be injured. The Arab leaders will be able to attack and defeat Europe partly by using nuclear weapons. They will destroy New York City with a nuclear bomb, and later Rome and Vatican City, with a nuclear missile. These three great cities will be destroyed. New York City will be destroyed with a nuclear bomb in 2010. Rome and Vatican City will be destroyed in July of 2013 with a nuclear missile. I don’t know if any other cities will be destroyed with nuclear weapons during this war.
The Arabs will gain control of Rome in 2012, shortly after taking the Pope captive. They would not destroy a city with a nuclear missile while they were successfully occupying it. Therefore, they must at some point in time lose control of the city of Rome. Those countries which will be allied against the Arab nations will regain control of Rome. When the Allies retake Rome, it will seem like a great victory. But, because the Arab forces were not able to hold the city, the Arabs will decide to destroy Rome and Vatican City with a nuclear missile. This attack will kill the Pope of that time, the one elected after Peter the Roman; it will also kill an antipope who has widespread support. Both men will be in the City of Rome (or of the Vatican) at that time.
Though the Arabs will use nuclear weapons early in the war, there will not be, in World War III, an all out nuclear war; only a few such weapons will be used (only two that I know of). Some countries will then be afraid to fight against the Arab countries because they have used nuclear weapons. But the war will continue for many years. (However, many nuclear weapons will be used in World War IV.)

Europe Defeated

The Arabs will defeat and occupy France. The Christians of France will be particularly oppressed and persecuted as a punishment for their many sins. Italy will suffer greatly. All of the countries of Europe will fall to the Arabs. Some may decide to give up without a fight. I think that the United Kingdom will also be defeated and occupied. NATO will be defeated and disbanded. The United Nations will cease to exist. Some Eastern European nations will also be occupied. A large portion of northern Africa will be conquered by the Arabs, and all of the Middle East, except Israel. The Arabs cannot conquer Israel because it is not God’s will. The Israelis have nuclear weapons and the will to use them. The Arabs will not be able to conquer lands to the east of their nations. God places limits on what they can do.
The war will last for many years. Tens of millions of people will die in World War III. The Arabs will eventually, after much death, destruction, and suffering, win the war. They will occupy and control a vast territory for many years.

Changes in the Occupied Countries

Once this long war, World War III, is over, the Arab leaders will control and oppress the Christian nations of Europe. Though the war will have ended, there will be no real peace. The Arab occupiers will change the laws and the customs. They will require the use of the Islamic calendar. They will revoke many laws which people formerly considered rights and freedoms. They will enforce limits on dress and behavior. They will oppress Christians and oppose the Church. The Arab leaders will pressure the defeated Europeans towards their way of life.
Some of these changes will please God and others will not please God. The Arabs will not permit licentiousness in behavior, nor in clothing. They will not permit many of the sins that secular society sometimes calls rights. Such changes will please God. On the other hand, the Arabs will not permit freedom of worship by Christians and Jews. Christian Churches and Jewish Synagogues will be closed and the freedom of religion will be severely limited. And the oppression against the Christian faith will worsen as the occupation continues.
The Arab occupiers will behave arrogantly and will exalt themselves, as is written in the book of Daniel, “he did as he pleased and magnified himself” (Dan 8:4). But when God is finished using the Arabs as the rod of His punishment, God will severely punish those Arabs who behaved arrogantly and who committed crimes against God’s people.

Jerusalem under Siege

“ ‘And when you have completed these, you shall lie down a second time, but on your right side, and bear the punishment of the house of Judah; forty days I assign you, a day for each year. And you shall set your face toward the siege of Jerusalem, with your arm bared; and you shall prophesy against the city.’ ” (Ezekiel 4:6-7).
During the Forty Years (A.D. 2000 to 2039/2040), Jerusalem shall be under siege, surrounded by enemies on all sides. Since Holy Scripture says that Jerusalem will be under siege for forty years, I conclude that Jerusalem will be unconquered during the Forty Years. For once a city has been conquered, the siege has ended. Therefore, Israel will not be conquered by the Arabs during World War III.
Eventually, Jerusalem will be the seat of the Christian Church. Since Jerusalem will suffer for forty years, so also will the Church suffer for the same forty years. And Rome, as the seat of the Church, will also endure the same forty years of punishment from God.

The Four Horsemen of Revelation

The events described in Revelation as the first six seals of the scroll opened by the Lamb, and the first six trumpets of the seventh seal, occur during and at the end of the Forty Years. The first horseman (the first seal) is the war of the Arab nations against Europe (World War III). The second horseman (the second seal) is the time of violence and disorder which will follows after the war begins; but this violence is more widespread than the war. The third horseman (the third seal) is the great famine which will occur during the Arab war and occupation of Europe. The fourth horseman (the fourth seal) is the widespread death from various causes which will follow after the famine begins.

The Great Famine of the 21st Century

This famine will occur in what are now considered to be wealthy, developed countries in Europe and other areas. Many of these are now among the richest nations of the world. They shall be utterly crushed and brought low by God because of their sins. This famine will begin in 2013, but will not be acknowledged to be a famine until 2014. The great famine will be widespread by 2015.
This famine is the same great famine predicted by Jesus in the parable of the Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11-32). The prodigal son does not repent and return to his family until he suffers from a famine. Therefore, the Protestant Churches will not return to unity with the Catholic Church until this widespread and severe famine occurs. When the Protestant Churches repent and return to unity with the Catholic Church in the early 2020’s, then and only then, will the great famine end. The famine will begin to end in 2020 and will completely end by the year 2023 A.D. (Luke 15:23).

The 2000th Anniversary of the Crucifixion of Jesus

Jesus died in the year A.D. 19. The 2000th anniversary of Jesus’ death will occur on Good Friday, A.D. 2019. The few years leading up to A.D. 2019 are the 2000th anniversary of Jesus’ ministry. God will pour out His graces on the Church and the world during that time, so that Protestants and Catholics will move closer to God and to one another, in preparation for unity among Christians.
Those years will also be a time of suffering for the Church and the world. The great famine will be widespread by then (by 2015). The Christian nations in Europe will be under the occupation of the Arabs. In the midst of suffering, God’s grace will flow with great abundance.

The Unification of All Christians in One Holy Church

“ ‘But when he came to himself he said, “How many of my father’s hired servants have bread enough and to spare, but I perish here with hunger! I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son; treat me as one of your hired servants.’ ” ’ ” (Luke 15:17-19).
The Prodigal Son is the Protestant Churches. As Jesus indicated in this parable, the Protestant Churches will return to unity with the Holy Catholic Church during a time of famine. This unification occurs before the Great Persecution (of the 2030’s).
The process of conversion, which results in the unity of all Christians in one Church, takes place over many years. First there will be an increase in holiness among all faithful Christians, Catholic and Protestant. Then there will be many changes in society, including war and much suffering. Conversion often occurs in the midst of great suffering, as in this case.
The years preceding the 2000th anniversary of the Crucifixion of Jesus (A.D. 2019) will be a time of spiritual renewal and great graces from God (from 2015 to 2019). Many sinners will repent and be converted.
The Protestant Churches will unite with the Catholic Church during the early 2020’s. The process of unifying the Churches into one Church will take about 3½ years (A.D. 2020 to 2023). One Protestant Church will convert and unite with the Catholic Church first, then the others will follow. The Church will be restructured to have seven parts. There will be great joy in the midst of great suffering. God’s power over human hearts will be made manifest.

The Parable of the Prodigal Son

The Great Famine, which begins in the middle of the year A.D. 2013, will not end until all Christians are united in one holy Catholic Church in the early 2020’s. Nothing can end the great famine—not prayer, not fasting, not works of mercy, not political agreements, not changes in law, not government intervention, not money, not agriculture, not peace treaties—nothing at all can stop the famine, except the unification of all Christians in one holy Catholic Church.
This unification seems distant and unattainable today. There are some few committees who meet to discuss the similarities and differences between various Christian denominations. They make little or no progress. The impetus towards unification begins with the Day of Repentance. On that one day, God touches each soul on earth and offers to each soul the gift of repentance from sin. Many will accept this gift; some will reject it. This worldwide repentance plants the seed of Christian unification.
Still, unification does not occur until many years later. The year 2015 is the year of the 2000th anniversary of the beginning of Christ’s three and one half year Ministry. The year 2019 is the year of the 2000th anniversary of the Passion and Crucifixion of our Lord Jesus Christ. This time period is a fruitful time for making progress toward unification.
Recall the parable of the prodigal son. During a time of great famine, he lives loosely, using up all of his resources (Lk 15:13). The beginnings of the great famine occur in 2013, but many do not yet realize it is the start of a famine. Then the prodigal son begins to feel the affects of the famine (which had begun earlier), because he has used up the resources he might have used to feed himself (Lk 15:14). The great famine is now widespread and begins to be acknowledged as a serious problem in 2014.
The prodigal son suffers greatly from the famine with many others (Lk 15:15). The great famine reaches its height in 2015. The prodigal son continues to suffer from the famine, so he considers what to do (Lk 15:16). The great famine continues unabated in 2016, so people consider what to do. The Christian Churches begin to consider unification.
The prodigal son realizes that food (Lk 15:17) and family (Lk 15:18) are both to be found by reuniting with his father and elder brother. The Protestant and Orthodox Churches realize, in 2017, that relief from the famine is to be found through unification. And, in 2018, they realize that spiritual food can also be found through becoming a part of the Catholic Church. The prodigal son repents thoroughly of his differences with this father and brother (Lk 15:19). In 2019, the Protestant Churches repent of their differences in faith and morals with the teachings of Christ in the Catholic Church.
The prodigal son then approaches his family home, but is still at a distance from being reunited with his family. Yet, despite the distance, his father embraces him and blesses him (Lk 15:20). In 2020, the Protestant and Orthodox Churches approach the Catholic Church for unification. The year 2020 is the beginning of the end of the famine. But there is still substantial distance and obstacles to complete unification. Yet the Father in Heaven blesses this major advance towards unification and gives them great blessings, as does the Catholic Church. The prodigal son tells his father of his failings and his unworthiness (Lk 15:21). In 2021, the Churches admit to God, and to the Catholic Church, their errors of faith and morals, and their unworthiness to be forgiven and accepted.
The father then forgives his son and accepts him. He gives his son a robe and a ring and two shoes (Lk 15:22). In 2022, God forgives the errors of the various denominations. The Catholic Church accepts the Protestant Churches and makes them (now no longer protesting) full and equal partners in the one holy Church. The robe represents the robe of priesthood, meaning that many formerly Protestant ministers and laypersons will now become ordained Catholic priests. The ring represents the Bishop’s ring, meaning that some of the Protestant ministers and Protestant bishops become ordained Catholic Bishops, with the full authority and responsibility of that role. The two shoes represent the roles of missionaries, which is often filled by religious brothers and religious sisters (each has a different way of fulfilling that role). Some formerly Protestant ministers and laypersons will become religious brothers or religious sisters and will undertake missionary roles in the world.
The father then holds a feast for his son who has returned home (Lk 15:23). In 2023, the last vestiges of the great famine will be overcome, and there will be feasting and great rejoicing, to coincide with the final steps in the unification of all Christian Churches in one holy Catholic Church. The father rejoices in this new unity of his family and the feasting continues (Lk 15:24). In 2024, the Church continues feasting and rejoicing. The Church issues various documents and the people hold various celebrations and gatherings, all aimed at supporting and rejoicing in the accomplishment of Christian unification.
Then the prodigal son’s elder brother comes in from the fields and raises objections to his brother’s return and to all of the blessings given to him (Lk 15:25-29). In the late 2020’s (especially A.D. 2025 to 2029) Some Roman Catholics and some Eastern Christians raise objections to the unification of the Protestant Churches with the Catholic Church, especially to the various blessings given to the formerly Protestant Churches (such as roles of authority and leadership and teaching). The Church tries to correct these persons who object and to refute their objections, but they do not listen.
The father then corrects his elder son more definitively (Lk 15:30-32). In the early 2030’s (A.D. 2030 to 2032), the Magisterium of the Church corrects these objections to unification more definitively, by means of an Ecumenical Council, the first since unification.
This renewed and reunited Church will be fully a Roman Catholic Church, led by the Pope and faithful to all of the teachings of all the Ecumenical Councils and Popes throughout history. The Church at that time will have seven parts, five parts for the formerly Protestant Churches, one part for the Eastern Churches, and one part for the Latin Rite of the Roman Catholic Church. Soon after, a Pope will be elected who will not be a Roman Catholic; he will be from one of the formerly Protestant branches of the one Catholic Church. Some Roman Catholics will not be pleased with this choice for Pope, but it is God’s will. He shall rule with equity.
The political and social context of Christian unification is as follows. The famine spurs the Christian Churches to think about changing and to decide to return to unity. There is much persecution of Christians in the occupied lands (because the Arab forces won World War III and conquered Europe and parts of Africa). During unification, there is an end to the famine and some relief from the persecutions. But during the early 2030’s, the persecutions of Christians and the Church itself increases, reaching a severe level. By the mid 2030’s there are very many Christians being jailed or killed merely for practicing the Christian faith.

The Great Persecution of Christians

Under the Arab occupation, life and worship will be difficult for Christians. And, sometime after the unification of the Churches, there will be a severe and widespread persecution of Christians in nations under Arab control and influence. The persecution will be worst in Europe, especially in France. This great persecution will occur during the 2030’s.
Priests and religious will be hunted and put to death. Christians will be imprisoned, tortured, and killed. Very many Christians will be martyred. The blood of Christians will flow like the waters of the river Seine. Yet Christianity will be strengthened, not weakened, by the blood of these new Christian martyrs. The Church will increase in holiness over the course of the Forty Years.
This great persecution of Christians will be the worst which the world has ever seen until that time. Yet this great persecution is but a foreshadowing of that greater persecution, which is called the Passion and Crucifixion of the Church (in the 25th century A.D.).

The Loss of the Holy Mass and the Holy Eucharist

In the occupied territories, after World War III, churches will be closed, destroyed, or desecrated. The Holy Mass and the Holy Eucharist will be mostly taken away from the countries under Arab control. Mass will be held seldom and then only in secret. Those Christians caught attending Mass will be imprisoned, tortured, or put to death. This loss of the Holy Mass and the Holy Eucharist foreshadows the similar, more widespread and severe loss of the Holy Mass and the Holy Eucharist which will take place during the Church’s Passion and Crucifixion, under the reign of the Antichrist (in the 25th century). This temporary, widespread loss of the Eucharist has been predicted by the prophets for thousands of years:
“Gird on sackcloth and lament, O priests, wail, O ministers of the altar. Go in, pass the night in sackcloth, O ministers of my God! Because cereal offering and drink offering are withheld from the house of your God.”
(Joel 1:13).
A famine will accompany this loss of the Holy Mass and the Holy Eucharist (Joel 1:4, 11-12, 17-18). Other passages referring to this event include Joel 1:9-10 and Daniel 8:11, 9:27, 11:31, 12:11. This great famine is the third horseman and third seal in the Book of Revelation. A famine will also accompany the loss of the Eucharist and the Mass during the last half of the Antichrist’s reign.
But at no time does God allow the Holy Eucharist to be taken away from every place on earth. And the return of the Holy Mass and the Holy Eucharist is also predicted by Holy Scripture. “The LORD answered and said to his people, ‘Behold, I am sending to you grain, wine, and oil, and you will be satisfied; and I will no more make you a reproach among the nations.’ ” (Joel 2:19). The grain, wine, and oil represent the Holy Sacraments. The return of the Holy Mass and the Holy Eucharist occurs when the persecution of Christians ends, at the end of the Forty Years. Again, during the later persecution under the Antichrist, the return of the Holy Mass and the Holy Eucharist occurs after the Antichrist is defeated and Christ Returns.

The War at the End of the Forty Years (World War IV)

“And when he approached near to the ram, he was enraged against him, and he struck the ram, and broke his two horns, and the ram could not withstand him, and when he had cast him down on the ground, he trampled him, and no one was able to free the ram from his hand.” (Dan 8:7, CPDV).
The ram represents the Arab forces. They will be trampled upon by the forces led by the great monarch. He cannot lose, for God fights with him, just as God fought for David and the Israelites, just as God fought for Judas Maccabeus. He shall call upon God and His angels to assist him in fighting the Arabs. No one will be able to rescue the Arab forces from his power.
Because of the severe persecution and massacre of Christians by the Arab forces, the free world will agree to support the great monarch. Like Charles De Gaulle, he will save the French from their oppression. Like the French leader Charlemagne, he will rule over many nations, peoples and languages. He shall rise to great power from a humble beginning. He shall have the blessing and support of the Pope, the angelic shepherd.
The war of the great monarch against the Arabs will be fierce and many will suffer greatly. The sixth seal (Rev 6:12-17) describes the result of this war. Nuclear weapons, or similar devices, will be used. The allied forces will use pure fusion weapons (nuclear weapons without radioactive material), but the Arab forces will use nuclear weapons containing radioactive material (uranium or plutonium). The use of so many nuclear weapons is one of the causes of a nuclear winter about a year or so later (Rev 8:12).
By the end of this terrible war, the Arabs will be driven out of Europe and conquered even in their own lands. Christians will be freed from persecution and the Church will have much sway over the laws of the nations. The whole world will rebuild and be renewed. This is a foreshadowing of the Millennium of peace and holiness (in the 25th century).

The Great Monarch

The great monarch will be a devout and faithful Catholic. He will lead the free allied nations against the Arabs to put an end to the great persecution and massacre of Christians and to free the oppressed peoples. Swift and certain will be his attack. He will have the lesser forces, but he will have the favor of God. They shall achieve victory only with the help of God and His angels. They will defeat the Arabs everywhere, in Europe, and even into the Arab lands. This war will be both glorious and horrifying. Many will suffer unimaginable grief, loss, and pain. But in the end, the Christians will be victorious.
The great monarch is described in the book of Daniel. He is the one conspicuous horn (Dan 8:5), that is, the one conspicuous leader of the allied forces. He and his forces are represented in the book of Daniel by the hegoat (Dan 8:6-7). He will be made leader of all Europe and king of Greece (Dan 8:21).

God’s Purpose in the Forty Years

“Ah, Assyria, the rod of my anger, the staff of my fury! Against a godless nation I send him, and against the people of my wrath I command him, to take spoil and seize plunder, and to tread them down like the mire of the streets.” (Isaiah 10:5-6).
God will use the Arab nations as a rod to punish the Christian nations, which have become godless. Yet God does not excuse those Arabs who behave arrogantly, who think that their success in war comes from their own power (Isaiah 10:7-11).
“When the Lord has finished all his work on Mount Zion and on Jerusalem he will punish the arrogant boasting of the king of Assyria and his haughty pride.” (Isaiah 10:12).
When the time of the punishment of the Christian nations is completed, God will turn his wrath against the Arab oppressors (Isaiah 10:15). God will send a wasting disease upon the army of the Arab forces who are occupying Europe (Isaiah 10:16). God Himself will fight against those who are oppressing and persecuting the Christians. Yet only a remnant of the Christian people will remain, for the wrath of God against the sins of Christians will be brought to completion (Isaiah 10:21-23).


The End of the Forty Years

“Therefore thus says the Lord, the LORD of hosts: ‘O my people, who dwell in Zion, be not afraid of the Assyrians when they smite with the rod and lift up their staff against you as the Egyptians did. For in a very little while my indignation will come to an end, and my anger will be directed to their destruction.’ ” (Isaiah 10:24-25).
God is comparing the time of the Forty Years to the time when the Israelites were in slavery in Egypt. God will free the Christians from the persecution by the Arabs with great power, signs, and wonders, just as He did to free the Israelites from the Egyptians. God will turn His wrath against the Arabs who have invaded and occupied Europe. They will be driven out and utterly defeated.
At the end of the Forty Years, there will also be a series of severe punishments from God against sinners from every nation. These are the sufferings described in the book of Revelation, the first six trumpets of the seventh seal (Rev 8:1 – 9:21).

After the Forty Years

In the 2040’s, the Church and the world will rebuild. The Church will be led by the Pope known as the angelic shepherd. The great monarch will be the leader of many nations. These two will work together to rebuild the Church and the world. I think that they will also make adjustments to the Christian calendar. (See my book: Important Dates in the Lives of Jesus and Mary for more about suggested changes to the calendar.)
A new Vatican City will be built in Rome (in the 2040’s), to replace the one that was destroyed many years earlier. A beautiful Basilica will be built in Jerusalem. The laws of the nations will be rewritten in accordance with the teaching of the Church. There will be peace in the world. The faithful who have survived the great persecution will be very holy and devoted to God. Prayer will be their joy.
This time of holiness will last only a decade or a few decades. Then, the great monarch’s kingdom will be divided. Worldly people will begin to slip towards sin and self-indulgence. But the true children of God will continue to be holy: to pray, to suffer, and to do works of mercy.