Just before Christ left this world for the final time and ascended into heaven in the sight of his apostles, they asked him: "Lord, has the time come? Are you going to restore the Kingdom of the world to Israel now?" He sternly answered them: "It is not for you to know that time or that date, for that time has been decided by the authority of the Father." (Acts 1:7) Rather, Christ had warned them earlier that: The Great Temple must be entirely destroyed, "so that there will not be one stone left upon another", and the Jews "must be scattered unto every pagan country, and Jerusalem must be trodden underfoot by pagans, until the age of the gentiles is completely over." (Luke 21:6 & 24) "But, brethren, I do not want you to be ignorant of this mystery: the Jews are not cut off for ever!" (Romans 11:22 & 25) "If God has grafted you, who are the unnatural branches onto the olive tree, how much more easily can he graft them back onto the tree from which they came?" (Romans 11:24) "Think of how much the gentile world has benefited from the fall and defection of the Jews! Now, think of how greatly the world will benefit by the conversion of them all!" (Romans 11:12) "When that day comes I will pour out my Spirit on all mankind!" (Joel 2:28)
 
 

Christians have almost felt protected by a false assumption that the antichrist must come before the GREAT TRIBULATION of the end times. (Dan. 12:1; Matt 24:21) But, they have wrongly assumed that the greatest tribulation which has ever been since the beginning of the world or ever will be again, consists only in the persecutions of the antichrist. The reality is that the greatest tribulation of all time faces the world now!

The greatest tribulation of all time will precede the reign of the antichrist! (Rev.6:17) "That day will be sprung on every person living on the face of the earth like a trap!" (Luke 21:34) This great tribulation will consist in a celestial cataclysm which will cause men's hearts to fail them in fear, and by the eruption of a war which will have consequences of unprecedented global devastation. Our own civilization now, as it is, faces: "the period of distress unparalleled since nations first came into existence". (Dan 12:1) It will be a baptism of fire for those who survive it. (Rev.7:17, Zech.13:9) "If those days were not shortened - no one would have survived, but that time will be shortened for the sake of the elect." (Matt.24:22)

"It will be a day dark with cloud, the end of an epoch for the nations." (Ezek.30:3) "The sun will be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood before the great Day of the Lord.  But whosoever calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved." (Joel 2:31, or Joel 3:4) "Immediately after the tribulation of those days, the sun will darkened and the moon will not give her light and the Sign of the Son of Man shall appear in the heavens." (Matt.24:29; Joel 2:10) The great tribulation will conclude in a great darkness over the whole earth, and finally by a great sign of the cross in the heavens, which will be seen as a portent by every survivor in the whole world.

After this chastisement the world will be granted a period of peace; the final outpouring of the Holy Spirit, and the conversion of the Jews. This will be the completion of the coming of Christ's spiritual reign on earth. "When these things begin to happen, stand erect and hold your heads high, for your redemption is at hand!" (Luke 21:28) Know then "that the kingdom of God is near." (Luke 21:31) "When that day comes, a fountain shall be opened, and I shall rid the country of the spirit of impurity." (Zech.13:1)

In the age after the great tribulation, after the redemption of Israel, will arise the the final false prophet, who is the antichrist.  The very final plagues, (Rev. Chap:16), and the persecutions of the antichrist, will only occur after the greatest tribulation than has ever been. The supernatural deceptions of the antichrist will be the final trial for Church, and the final test of Israel. This will occur only immediately before the final coming of Christ and the Last Judgment at the end of the world.
 
 

We are now living in the 'age of the Gentiles'.  It is clear that there must be an end to this epoch. The age to follow the greatest tribulation which has ever been since the beginning of the world, or ever will be, must include the conversion of God's chosen people, Israel. They will be admitted to Christian salvation, and will be grafted back onto the vine. (Romans 11:24-26) This is clearly prophesied by Saint Paul, in his epistle to the Romans: Chapter 11; vs 11-32. The conversion of the Jews must occur before the end of the world. This will complete of the supernatural coming of the perfection of Christ's kingdom on earth. "Think of how much the gentile world has benefited from the fall and defection of the Jews! Now think of how much more the world will benefit by the conversion of them all!" (Romans 11:12)

The conversion of the Jews will only occur after the greatest tribulation that has ever been or ever will be. (Dan.12:9) This tribulation is the marker of the "end of the age of the gentiles". The conversion of the Jews will cause the supernatural completion of the coming of Christ's kingdom on earth. (Rev.19:7)  Perhaps, the miraculous conversion of the Jews will occur because of what the nation of the Hebrew people will see themselves - when the great portent of the cross appears in the sky.

While the rest of the whole world will see only an awesome portent in the heavens of a huge cross radiating great lights: "They will look upon him whom him who they have pierced, and they will grieve over him as for an only child, and as an entire people they will weep for him as for a first born son." (Zechariah 12:10) Thus, the Jews, who in the hardness of their hearts, demanded such a great sign from Christ, when he walked among them, will finally be given to see such a great portent as an entire nation. In the darkness that will cover the earth after the greatest tribulation of all time, the Jews will see this great sign of the crucified Christ, as it is prophesied in Zechariah. They will then be filled with divine enlightenment. The greatest tribulation that has ever been, or ever will be, shall end the 'age of the gentiles', (Luke 21:24), but it will begin the final epoch, which will include an outpouring of the Holy Spirit (Joel 2:28, or 3:1), the triumph of the saints, (Rev.18:20), and the final conversion of the Jews. (Romans 11:26)

The world is on the brink of the fall of modern civilization. In the Bible, this is termed The Fall of Babylon the Great (Rev. 18:20). Every hour the world is moving closer to the "end of the age of the gentiles." "It will be a day dark with cloud, the end of an epoch for the nations." (Ezek.30:3) The world must pass through the completion of the horrific prophecies of Ezekiel, Chapter 38, and Revelation 20:8. The old testament prophets clearly foretell a tribulation of fire which faces this decadent modern civilization. "Day of darkness and gloom, day of cloud and blackness, such has never been seen before, such as never will be again to the remotes ages. Before it, a fire devours; after it the flame consumes." (Joel 2:2) Even John the Baptist spoke of this day: "I baptize you with water, but the one who will come after me will baptize you with the Holy Spirit, and with fire." (Luke 3:16) "The day of wrath is coming to root out the sinners from the earth. On that day, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give her light." (Is.13:10) "That day will be sprung on you suddenly, like a trap! It will come down on everyone living on the face of the earth!" (Luke 21:35) "Immediately after the tribulation of those days, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give her light. The sign of the son of man will appear in the heavens." (Matt. 24:30) The sign of the the Son of Man, is the great portent of the cross in the heavens.

This event is clearly prophesied by one of the only true messages ever given to the world: "If the sins of mankind increase in number and in severity, the Eternal Father will punish the world with a chastisement worse than the deluge <of Noah>. A great fire such as has never been seen before will fall from the sky and destroy a great part of humanity. The only consolation of the survivors will be [prayer] and the Sign that [Christ] shall leave." --From the officially Church approved message given at AKITA, JAPAN in 1973.

The Book of Revelation refers to the survivors of this tribulation is in this way: "I saw a great multitude, and I asked the angel who are these? He answered: these are the ones who have survived the Great Tribulation. The one who sits on the throne will shelter them. The sun, or any flame or heat shall not strike or scorch them again, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes. (Rev. 7: 14-17)

"Does not the whole Church expect Christ to come and reign over all the earth and to judge the living and the dead?  But, no one knows exactly how, or in what manner, or when this will come to pass. However, we do know that God, whose thoughts are further from ours than heaven is from earth, will come at a time and in a manner least expected, even by the most scholarly of men and those most versed in Holy Scripture. We believe that towards the end of time, and sooner than we expect, God will fill many with the Holy Spirit, and he will set up the spiritual Kingdom of Jesus Christ upon the RUINS of this modern, corrupt civilization, which is the great earthly Babylon.' (see Rev.18:20)  [Louis DeMontfort: #58 & #59]

Through the final outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the Church after the Great Tribulation, Christ will come, but supernaturally. He will come spiritually, through the outpouring of the Holy Spirit and the final conversion of the Jews. It is this supernatural 'coming', which will complete the final redemption of His Body, the Church on earth. "When that day comes, a fountain shall be opened, and I shall rid the country of the spirit of impurity." (Zech.13:1) This will CERTAINLY NOT consist in any literal period of a thousand years! It will barely last one generation before the completion of ALL of the rest of Biblical prophecy. "I tell you solemnly, before this generation has passed away all these things will take place." (Matt.24:35) Those words of Christ also specifically refer to his final coming and to the end of the world.

"The day of wrath is coming to root out the sinners from the earth. On that day, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give her light." (Is.13:10)

"After that great and terrible day, and the darkening of the sun and moon, I will pour out my spirit on all mankind." (Joel 2:28)

This mystery has been made clear only now, because "these words were to remain secret, and sealed, until the the time of the end." (Dan.12:9) It has been assumed that this Great Tribulation primarily consisted in the persecutions of the antichrist, but this is a mistake! The scriptures are explicit: at the time of the Greatest Tribulation that has ever been, or ever will be, those written in the book of life will survive! (Dan 12:2)  [The various Bible translations use these words: King James, Revised, NIV: will be delivered; Jerusalem, New Jerusalem: will be spared; New Revised Standard, New American Standard: will escape, Douay Rheims: will be saved.] Jesus himself says: "those days will be shortened for sake of those who are chosen." (Matt. 24:22) On the other hand, in complete contrast to this, all the translations are very clear that during the persecutions of antichrist, as many as who refuse to pay him homage, or to accept his mark, will be killed.  The antichrist: "will cause anyone who refuses to worship the image of the beast, or to take his mark, to be put to death." (Rev. 15:15).

There is a distinct scriptural contrast between these two periods! In 'the tribulation greater than has ever been, or ever will be: those written in the book of life will be spared, ... will escape, ... will be delivered, ... will be saved!' But, during the persecutions of the antichrist, those written in the book of life will not be "spared", or "delivered" or "saved"; rather, they specifically will be put to death!  It is a mark of special favor and predestination to survive the period of the Great Tribulation, while it is a mark of special predestination to be granted the glorious crown of martyrdom, by choosing to die for Christ, and for refusing to take the mark of the beast. (Rev.14:9)

God permitted this misconception about the time of the antichrist, because it created a "great diversion."  In spite of all the present theories Jesus gave a stern warning: "I tell you solemnly: the master will come at an hour the SERVANTS do not expect, and at an hour THEY do not know!" (Matt: 24:50) Christians have been fooled in their supposed "understanding" of the end times. The reason the blinders have now come off is only because the tribulation is actually now at hand and the secrets of the scrolls are open.  Christ is coming like a thief - but not in the way the world expected.

His coming like a thief will consist in, (1), the sudden cataclysmic global chastisement of the human race. This is 'the great day of the anger of the Lamb." (Rev.6:16)  After this, the evidence of his coming will be the great portent of the sign of the cross in the heavens left in his wake. This surprise "coming" will conclude in, (2), the final supernatural, spiritual redemption of his mystical body, the Church on earth. Thus, Christ's coming will come "like a thief", through the miraculous outpouring of the Holy Spirit, the perfection of his Church, and by the admittance of the Hebrews to salvation through Christ. (Romans 11:26)

Thus, Christ will come like a thief through his Church, which will be perfectly sanctified and 'redeemed' by the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, and by the conversion of the Jews. "Think of how much the gentile world has benefited from the fall and defection of the Jews! Now think of how much more the world will benefit by the conversion of them all!" (Romans 11:12) It is this spiritual "coming like a thief" which has been reserved as a great mystery for these last days. (Rev.11:15)  With the blinders off, it is clear is that this day will take the world suddenly, almost by complete surprise. It will probably come before the year 2005. It may even begin this very year.

"That day will be sprung on you suddenly, like a trap! It will come down on everyone living on the face of the earth!" (Luke 1:35) Those days will be exactly like it was at the time of Noah, no one will be expecting anything - everyone will be eating and drinking, and giving and taking in marriage right up until the very day when the flood came and swept them all away." (Matt.24:39)

"There will come upon the world a period of distress unparalleled since nations first came into existence." (Dan 12:1) "No one will be expecting anything ... right up until the very day!" (Matt.24:39) "Just when they are saying, "peace and security," sudden disaster will come upon them, like labor pains upon a pregnant woman, and there will be no escape." (1 Thes.5:3) This tribulation will be even more cataclysmic than the flood of Noah. Most importantly, there is no arrival of the antichrist to prepare the world for it's sudden impact. It will be the a swift visitation of judgment from God, which will come like a thief.

On his way up Mount Calvary, carrying his cross, Christ issued this dreadful threat: "Do not weep for me, but for yourselves and for your children, for the generation to come that says:  'we prefer not to bear children, and that our breasts not nurse'... that generation will flee in terror into the mountains and into the hills to try to survive the terrible day of the Lord's anger." (Luke 23:30; Rev. 6:15)  This threat clearly points to our present civilization, which promotes the murder of hundreds of millions of it's own innocent children; through the universally accepted abomination of the murder of children within their mother's wombs.

This is the mystery which was sealed up as a secret, within the "little scroll" of the "Seven Thunders" in the Book of Revelation (Rev. 10:1-10).  No one can know exactly what is concealed behind this mystery; but it most certainly culminates in the triumph of Christ's mercy in this world. (Rev. 11:15) These mysteries include a sudden war and astronomic cataclysm, and the completely unexpected divine intervention, which will remain a mystery until it is fulfilled!  Within these "Thunders" is concealed the warning issued by Christ to his own friends and servants: "I tell you solemnly: the master will come at an hour the servants do not expect, and at an hour they do not know." (Matt. 24:50) These events will dramatically change the course of human history. They will conclude with the destruction of this corrupt and apostate modern civilization, and will finally result in a triumph for the saints, for the Church, and by the conversion of the Jews.

"Then, I saw another powerful angel coming down from heaven, wrapped in a cloud, with a rainbow over his head; his face was like the sun, and his legs were pillars of fire. In his hand he had a small scroll unrolled; he put his right foot in the sea and his left foot on the land. He shouted so loud that it was like a lion roaring! As he did this, seven awesome claps of thunder resounded from heaven. I was preparing to write down the meaning of the seven thunders, but a voice from heaven stopped me! It said: "Seal up the meaning of the seven thunders! Do not write them down!" Then, the angel that I had seen standing in the sea and on the land, raised his right hand to heaven, and swore by the One who lives for ever and ever, who made the heavens and the earth and all that they contain:

"The time of waiting is over! When the seventh angel sounds his trumpet, THE SECRET INTENTION OF GOD will be fulfilled, just as he announced in the Good News told to his servants the prophets." (Rev. 10:7)

Then I was told to take the scroll out of the hand of the angel standing in the sea and on the land. He said: "Take the scroll and eat it. In your mouth it will be as sweet as honey, but it will be bitter in your stomach." So I took the scroll from the angels hand and swallowed it. It was as sweet as honey in my mouth, but after I had eaten it my stomach turned sour." (Rev. 10:1-10)

To understand this most mysterious of scriptural passages, it is essential to realize that it is intimately related to the prior passages of Revelation, Chapter's 8 and 9. These describe the earth shattering plagues of Seven Trumpets. The first 3 of these "Trumpets"  concern one event in three different aspects. It describes the cataclysmic devastation of the earth by a "great mountain all on fire, which burns up a third of the land, and is then cast into the sea" as a "huge star that fell from the sky." (Rev.8:8) This is most certainly the same event predicted by Christ, (Luke 23:30) which is also mentioned earlier in the Book of Revelation: "The whole population of the world, rich and poor, will flee into the mountains, saying: the great day of the Lords anger has come and who can survive it?" (Rev.6:15)

This "great mountain all on fire" is probably an asteroid, or a comet, which will collide with the earth. The plagues which almost immediately follow this, describe a horrific nuclear war. (Rev. 9:18) It is this devastating asteroid, followed by nuclear war which will be the "greatest period of distress that has ever been since the beginning of the world, or ever will be again after that" (Matt.24:21) The chastisements prophesied by these seven trumpets have been all but over looked by scholars, as if they were somehow secondary, or metaphorical:  when in fact they are terribly literal.  Their very title, "Trumpets", clearly indicates that they must precede, and will herald the final coming of Christ, which is still yet to come.

Of the comet, the Lord says: "men's hearts will fail them in fear of what is threatening the earth, for the powers of heaven will be shaken." (Luke 21:26) The continental tidal waves forecast by impending impact will cause: "nations of the earth to literally die of fright as they await what menaces the world - undone by terror of the ocean and it's waves." (Luke 21:25) "The whole population of the world, rich and poor, will flee into the mountains, saying: the great day of the Lords anger has come and who can survive it?" (Rev.6:15) In the chaos surrounding this event - mankind will begin to destroy itself in a nuclear holocaust which will prove even more destructive than the comet. Of this nuclear war, Our Lord said: "If those day's were not shortened - no one would have survived - but that time will be shortened for the sake of the elect." (Matt. 24:22) Thus, there shall be survivors of these two cataclysms of fire: "These are the ones who have survived the Great Tribulation. The one who sits on the throne will shelter them. The sun, or any flame or heat shall not strike or scorch them again, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes. (Rev. 7: 14-17)

There may perhaps be several astounding mysterious divine interventions which will save the world from total destruction: "those days will be shortened for sake of the elect, for if they were not shortened no one would have survived." (Matt.24:22) These mysteries are presented by an angel with the rainbow above his head . (This 'rainbow' is a reference to the God's covenant with men to never again completely annihilate life on earth.) The events, and the divine interventions sealed up as secrets within the scroll of the seven thunders, is the greatest mystery of the Bible. Exactly WHAT they will consist in cannot be clearly known, but they certainly refer to "thoughts above our thoughts". "I tell you solemnly: the master will come at an hour the servants do not expect, and at an hour they do not know." (Matt. 24:50)

We know that there are great, unexpected mysteries to come, for when the prophet Daniel asks about the outcome of the great tribulation, the angel tells him: "go on your way, these words are to remain secret, and sealed until the time of the end." (Dan. 12:9)   If the ending of the Great Tribulation IS in fact the FINAL RETURN of CHRIST ... then the passage: "these words are to remain secret and sealed until the time of the end" are no mystery at all. But, the prophet Daniel makes it clear that this period of "Great Tribulation" is NOT the final end of the world! The words of scripture must be fulfilled: "the end can not come until the Jews enter in, and the kingdom of this world becomes the kingdom of our God, and of his Christ." (Romans 11:25, Rev. 11:15)

The "Secret Intention of God" and the "Seven Sealed Thunders" are a mystery, because the incredible events they contain that have NOT been anticipated. The Great Tribulation, and the Lord's unexpected intervention will NOT be telegraphed to the world by the takeover of the antichrist!  Every student of scripture knows that the reign of the antichrist has a very specific time limit. If the timing of the Great Tribulation  refers ONLY to the period before the Lord's final return, at the end of the reign of antichrist: then the LORD'S COMING WILL BE NO SURPRISE AT ALL!  In fact, most certainly, when the plagues of the antichrist finally arrive, Christians will be longing for coming of the Lord. They will literally be counting down the days! This is hardly: "an hour the servants are NOT expecting." To the contrary, the moment the antichrist begins his reign, the servants of Lord will know exactly to the day when the Lord will "return to slay him with the breath of His mouth at his glorious appearance." (2 Thes.2:6)

Herein lies the mysterious inconsistency between the words of Christ: "I assure you, the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect" (Matt. 24:44) and the words of St. Paul: "<The 'Final Coming' > of the Lord can NOT come before the great apostasy and the appearance of the <antichrist>, whom the Lord will slay with the breath of his mouth at the glorious appearance of his coming." (2 Thes.2:4) But, both of these scriptural passages are true BECAUSE THEY REFER TO DIFFERENT EVENTS!

These two passages contain a seemingly irreconcilable mystery. How can the "Son of Man come at an hour the servants are not expecting" - when the servants KNOW that the coming of the Lord will occur almost immediately after the reign of the antichrist? What is concealed, is that it is the cataclysmic Great Tribulation itself which will come "like a thief". This tribulation will be followed by a completely unexpected Divine Intervention - which will include the complete darkening of the heavens and the great portent of the cross which will be seen in the heavens. This global tribulation, and the divine intervention of the Sign of the Cross in the sky which follows, is surely part of the "secret intention of God"  (Rev. 10:7). If the out come of this tribulation results in the conversion of the Jews, and the complete fulfillment of Christ's earthly Kingdom come, it will perfectly fulfill the Lord's reference to His "coming like a thief in the night", at "an hour His servants do not expect" - without compromising the absolute certainty that the Lord Jesus will return after the reign of the antichrist.

Christians have wrongly assumed that the great tribulation consists solely in the persecutions, and the plagues of the antichrist. Certainly, the period of the antichrist, will be a great tribulation for many, and it will consist in the horrendous persecutions, and the stunning divine plagues described in the Sixteenth Chapter of the Book of Revelation. But those tremendous final plagues, and the persecution of the antichrist will not be any real surprise to Christians. It is the Lord -- not the antichrist -- who will come like a thief in the night!

At first, the antichrist will be known privately to be a prodigy.  He may, in fact, be already be born. He is destined to grow up within the newly converted Jewish nation. Publicly, he will be first be welcomed as a man of valor with profound wisdom and virtue. Later, he will publicly contradict the doctrine of salvation through Christ, and will lead many astray. By amazing miraculous power, he will assume a divine-like, messianic esteem:  first within Israel, then throughout the whole world. He will insinuate himself to be the true messiah. At some point, he will enforce some financial means, by which the whole world will feel forced to accept his financial system, which by it's very nature will explicitly give him divine homage.

Tradition is very clear about this fact: the Antichrist will first come as a  personality exclusively from within Israel. He will be no obvious, illusive fraud like the Maitreya. Nor will he be some "Bill Gates" type of personality. He will, in fact, act very much like Christ himself acted. He will even in some way resemble Jesus Christ, physically: with the exception that he will be familiar with both war and valor. Initially, he will seem to be endowed with great wisdom and compassion. "He will resemble the lamb." (Rev.13:11) The moslem nations, in fact, await - "Jesus - the messiah" - who will come to "destroy the "cross", and refute the article of faith about the "divinity of Christ" - which they regard as "antichrist".

Finally, he will demand apostasy from the Christian faith, and will perform unbelievable miraculous which will make his religious demands seem to come from the Almighty God himself.  He will work such astounding false miracles that the very elect will be deceived, if this were possible. He will lay claim to the divine right of kingship over the world as the true messiah. Jesus specifically addresses the Jews when He says: "I came in the name of my Father, and yet you did not accept me. But, there will be another who will come in his own name, and you will accept him". (John 5:43) Thus, the antichrist will firstly be publicly acknowledged, and accepted as the messiah by the Jewish nation itself, whose new found faith in Jesus Christ will then be severely tested - as will the faith of the whole world.

But, now, we are still speaking of the Day of the Lord.  It is not the day of the antichrist, which shall come like a thief! The Lord shall "visit" the world suddenly and unexpectedly! By a surprise intervention, he shall manifest his divine power in the midst of the cataclysm of the asteroid, and the horrific events to follow. These cataclysms, before the rise of the antichrist, will be "the period of distress unparalleled since nations first came into existence." (Dan. 12:1) While it is very true that the persecutions of the antichrist will consist of great tribulations for Christian people, the Great Tribulation per se does not refer to the time of the antichrist.

It is the world of today that must be spiritually prepared, for "these days are exactly like the time of Noah: everyone is eating, and drinking and giving and taking in marriage, no one is  expecting anything, - nor will they, right up until the very day!" (Matt 24:39) The antichrist will come in the post cataclysmic age. He will come to the generation recovering from the "greatest tribulation that has ever been...or ever will be" The fact that the world will continue AFTER this great tribulation is illustrated by the words: "or ever will be" (Matt 24:22) It is in the generation "after", that the antichrist will come. "The Lord will slay him with the breath of his mouth at the glorious appearance of his coming." (2 Thes.2:7)

After the cataclysmic impact of the asteroid, and the devastating effects of nuclear war, the earth will be covered in a supernatural darkness which will be a veil for:

"The day of wrath is coming to root out the sinners from the earth. On that day, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give her light." (Is.13:10)

"It will be a day dark with cloud, the end of an epoch for the nations." (Ezek.30:3)

"Immediately after the distress of those days, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give her light. The sign of the son of man will appear in the heavens." (Matt. 24:30)

"The time of waiting is over: the secret intention of God will be fulfilled." (Rev. 10:7)

"The sun and moon grow dark, and the earth quakes on the great and terrible day of the Lord ... but wait! Perhaps even yet he will turn away and relent? Who knows if he will not leave a blessing in his passing?" (Joel 2:10-14)

"Then the earth quivered and quaked, and the foundations of the heavens trembled. He bent the heavens and came down, a dark cloud under his feet. Darkness he made a veil to surround him, a dense cloud enshrouded him." (2 Sam.22:12)

"Then I will gather together many men of every language. They will come to witness my glory. I will give these a sign to bring back, so that they may convert the survivors of the nations." (Is. 66:18)

"After that great and terrible day, and the darkening of the sun and moon, I will pour out my spirit on all mankind." (Joel 2:28-31, or 3:1-4)

These mysteries can can ONLY be properly understood when one realizes that the Twenty Fourth chapter of Matthew, and the Twenty First chapter of Luke, do NOT describe ONLY ONE period, but SEVERAL!  Both of these Gospel passages are crafted blendings which refer to several very distinct periods. The first period refers to the future Destruction of Jerusalem by the Romans in 70 AD.  The second period refers to SUDDEN GREAT TRIBULATION . The FINAL period refers to the conquest of the antichrist.

Scholars have overlooked that there is a significant time lapse in Matthew between the appearance of the the Sign of the Son of Man (the cross) ..in the heavens; and the final coming of Christ at the end of the world! What appears to be the immediate FINAL COMING of Christ, is NOT in fact immediate. What the scripture says is, that "the sign of the Cross in the heavens will immediately follow the tribulation of those days." Though in the Gospel of Matthew, the sign of the Son of Man in the heavens seems to be immediately followed by the parousia, the actual reference to the parousia, i.e.: "then they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven" (Matt. 24:30, Luke 21:27) is simply a statement of fact - but it does not necessarily describe an immediate chronology - or the final coming of Christ to judge the living and the dead. e.g.: Then, (30 years later), they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven. (See: Luke 21: 27, Matthew 24:30, and Thes.2:8)

If anyone scoffs at this, or doubts it, let him look carefully at the passages of Luke, Chapter 21, verses 20-27. The early Church fathers clearly understood that the first part of this passage (Luke 21:20-24) applied specifically to the invasion and the desolation of Jerusalem by the forces of the Roman General Titus, under the rule of the emperor Vespasian in 70 AD. At that time great wrath did come upon Jerusalem, it WAS surrounded by armies, and Jerusalem was WAS laid desolate. It's great Temple was destroyed, the people who stayed within the walls of Jerusalem were reduced to cannibalism, and were annihilated. Finally, the Great Temple was burned to the ground amidst the noise of a most terrible shrieking-wail by the remaining Jews, and finally the city of Jerusalem was utterly destroyed. As Christ had predicted, it's great temple was torn down so that there was barely one stone remaining upon another at that holy spot. Then, the surviving Jews were scattered unto every corner of the earth, just as Jesus, in the gospel of Luke predicts.

What is more, Jerusalem HAS been trodden under-foot by pagans for nearly 2000 years - even to this very day. But, that is changing now! In fact, current events point clearly to apocalyptic events which must take place in the middle east [Ezek. Chap 38]  At the conclusion of this, the "age of gentiles will be completely over." (Luke 21:26)

The Gospel of Luke, Chapter 21, clearly contains two meanings. It continues, in verses 25-27: "and then they shall see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven...",  as if the desolation of Jerusalem is immediately followed by the final coming of Christ, which did not happen!  Really, the passage is a prophetic scriptural blending of times and ages of the world. These two events, written almost in the same sentence, occur in times that are separated by thousands of years! These two events, prophesied by Christ, are millennia apart! It is possible that again Jerusalem will be surrounded by armies, before men die of fright at the clamor of the oceans, when the very powers of heaven will be shaken.

In this exact same shrouded and mysterious context, Matthew 24:29-30, implies that the Second Coming of Christ will occur immediately after the sign of the cross in the sky: but again, this is not the case! Just as the prediction of the Roman armies surrounding and destroying Jerusalem was not immediately followed by the Second Coming (Luke 21:20-24): neither do the events described by Matthew concerning the Great Tribulation, mean that Christ's Second Coming will occur immediately after the sign of the cross in the sky. In fact, Matthew uses the very same identical words that Luke uses: "and then they shall see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with great power and glory" (Matt. 24:30).

These two passages are prophecies of future events, but in neither case do they indicate that the final coming of Christ is immediate. In each case, the scenario's which precede the apparent final coming of Christ are different, and the actual outcomes are not clear. This is exactly what the angel indicated to the prophet Daniel, when Daniel asked: 'but what will be the outcome of the Great Tribulation?'  'No,' replied the angel, 'you go on your way, that is to remain secret and sealed right up until the very time of the end'. (Dan 12:10)

The reader need only to look at both of the Gospel passages to see their great similarity.  In reality, the confusion that these two passage create, permit the fulfillment of the secret intention of God. (Rev.10:7)  This is the mystery concealed within the secrets of the seven thunders. "Seal up the meaning of the seven thunders. Do not write them down! The time of waiting is over! When the seventh angel sounds his trumpet, the secret intention of God will be fulfilled, just as he announced in the Good News told to his servants the prophets." (Rev.10:7)

This mystery is that the Great Tribulation will be "shortened lest no one would have survived", and that God will miraculously accomplish the conversion of the Jews, and set up his spiritual kingdom upon the ruins of this Great Babylon for a brief period of time, before the final coming of the antichrist. (Rev. 11:15, Rev. 18:20, and Rev 19:7). This spiritual reign shall be the time prophesied in Joel, after the darkening of the sun and moon, when the God says: "Then, I shall pour out my spirit on all mankind." (Joel 2:28 or 3:1)

'Babylon the Great' is this wealthy, worldly, immoral, corrupt, apostate, formerly Christian civilization in which we now live. It is the fabulously wealthy Christian civilization of the first Great Apostasy "drunk on the blood of the Martyrs". (II Thes.2:3) These Christian nations have become, as it were, a "Great Harlot" (Rev.17:2), 'which has corrupted the whole world.' (Rev. 17:5)  If one studies Ezekiel, Chapter 16, it becomes clear that God chooses an identical metaphor to describe the nation of Israel. The people of Israel also apostatized from the laws of God, to embrace practices of idolatries and fornication. In Ezekiel, Chapter 16, the prophet describes how God raised Israel into a beautiful woman, adorned her in silk and precious stones, and placed a splendid crown upon her head. But, she becomes a great harlot. The metaphorical parallel of the apostate Israel, to an apostate Christianity is obvious. This passage even predicts the future apostasy of Christianity. "Those who quote proverbs will use this proverb against you: 'Like Mother, like daughter'." (Ezek.16:44) Christianity IS that daughter!

In the same way that God portrays Israel in Ezekiel 16, he portrays Christianity in Revelation Chapter 17.  Both are his chosen people who have abandoned his laws to become great harlots: dressed in silk or scarlet, adorned with precious stones. The baptized Christian nations, the formerly 'Christian Civilization' has definitely become a corrupt and powerful influence of scandal, immorality to the whole world, which make it 'Babylon the Great'. This corrupt Christian civilization has literally 'intoxicated the whole world with the spirit of fornication with it's tantalizing, decadent allure.' (Rev.18:3) The nations of Christianity have scandalized the whole world! They have indeed led the whole world astray! (Rev.18:3) Babylon the Great is no particular Christian Church. It is Christian culture as a whole. It is seated on Rome, only because the Roman Church is the mother of all Christianity. It is definitely NOT symbolic or the Roman Catholic religion, but rather of all apostate Christian culture. Both Catholics and Protestants, share the guilt of participating in the sins of this scandalous, decadent civilization. True Christians should take no part in the immoralities of this corrupt culture - or they will soon have it's punishments to bear in full rigor! (Rev.18:4)

In many ways, the West IS exactly the horrid moral influence which the Arab countries claim it to be. There are not massive Gay Pride parades in every city of the Moslem nations, or in the atheistic Chinese cultures. These are NOT Babylon the Great - but they are symbolized as the "Beast" that will burn Babylon to the ground. (Rev.17:16) "God will use them to fulfill his purpose." (Rev.17:17) Because the Moslems themselves reject Jesus Christ as the Son of God, and follow Mohammed, who taught that it is an horrible abomination to say that "Jesus is the Son of the Almighty" -- they are definitely a type of antichrist! Mohammed, whom they follow, is the false prophet par excellence'. (Rev.20:10) Not only did Mohammed teach that the doctrine of the divinity of Christ was an abomination, Moslems teach, and believe, that before the end of the world: "Jesus" will return to 'BREAK THE CROSS', (that is to publicly denounce that salvation is attained through his death on the cross); and that he will proclaim to the whole world that he is NOT the 'Son of the Almighty'. This is what Moslems believe! This is the pure spirit of the deception of antichrist and the false prophet! (Rev.20:10). Each religion calls the other's notion about Christ - antichrist. The Moslems believe that the teaching that "Jesus is the Son of the Almighty' is itself "antichrist." The foolish "ten kings" may be a part of the Western Civilization - but only insofar as they will contribute to the nuclear holocaust of fire which will ultimately destroy modern civilization.

These Moslem nations, like the atheistic Chinese, do serve the "Beast"! (Rev.17:16) The Body of the 'Beast', is a contrast to the true Body of Christ. The 'Beast" is symbolic of all civilizations in which Satan's version of religion has held total dominion. (See: Rev. 17:10) Scripture says that 'The Beast' will be used by God, (Rev.17:13) to do his work unto the destruction of the modern day, apostate Babylon the Great. (Rev.17:17) 'Babylon will be hurled into the sea like a giant millstone!' (Rev.18:21)

Thus, the mysterious intention of God consists in the sudden global catastrophes in which will God will come like a thief, and in the mysterious divine interventions by which he will save the world from total destruction.

"The sun and moon grow dark, and the earth quakes on the great and terrible day of the Lord ... but wait! Perhaps even yet he will turn away and relent? Who knows if he will not leave a blessing in his passing?" (Joel 2:10-14)

Another awesome event is indicated: in the supernatural darkness which will then cover the earth after the impact of the asteroid, there may be some sort of precursor to the Last Judgment! The scripture is clear: "After that tribulation unparalleled since nations first came into existence: many shall rise from their graves, some to everlasting life, others to everlasting disgrace." (Dan 12:2-3) This unexpected judgment may be part of the of the "secret intention of God ... just as he announced to his servants the prophets" i.e. the prophet Daniel himself.  (See: Rev. 10:7). This is why, when "the prophet" Daniel asks: "But what will be the outcome of this tribulation?" The answer is "Go on your way ... that knowledge (of the unexpected visitation, and special resurrection) is to remain sealed, and secret, right up until the time of the end!" (Dan 12:9)

There could even be some sort of unexpected rapture, but it would certainly not a permanent removal. "One will be taken, one will be left." (Matt 24:41) "I will gather men of every language. They will come to witness my glory. I will give these a sign to bring back to convert the survivors of the nations." (Is. 66:18) Ultimately, all the true children of God in the whole world will then be converted to the Christian faith and there will be "one fold and one shepherd." The prophecy foretold in Joel will now be fulfilled: "After <the great and terrible day of the Lord, and the darkening of the sun and moon> I will pour out my spirit on all mankind. Your old men will dream dreams, and your young men will have visions." (Joel 3:1)

In his mercy, Christ's miraculous intervention will have averted the total destruction of the world by the "great mountain all on fire ... the huge star that fell from the sky". (Rev. 8:8-10) "That time will be shortened lest no one would have survived ... but the time will be shortened for the sake of the elect." (Matt 24:22) The "Day of the Lord" is indeed a day of judgment, but it is not what the world imagines that it will be. This cataclysmic chastisement will be a surprise for this modern day Sodom and Gomorrah.  This is the civilization of the "Great Apostasy". The luxuriously wealthy, but corrupt Christian civilization termed: "Babylon the Great."

"The day of wrath is coming to root out the sinners from the earth. On that day, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give her light." (Is.13:10)

"But the children of Israel written in the Book of Life will survive." (Dan 12:2)

Seven hundred years ago, St. Malachy, the abbot of a great monastery in Ireland, produced a prophetic list which he gave as a royal gift to the King of France. In this list, he gave a cryptic name to each of the popes who would reign over the Roman Church from that time until the until the end of the world. The short names have been remarkably accurate describing the circumstances of each of the popes which have come. There are only two remaining on the list after Pope John Paul II. The pope before John Paul II, John Paul I, was named: "Mediate Lunae" or "Of the term of the moon." He reigned exactly 30 days: the term of the moon! The current Pope, John Paul II's cryptic name on Malachy's list is: "Laboris Solis" or "The labor of the sun." This likely refers to the passage: "and the sun will be darkened, the moon will not give her light, for the powers of heaven will be shaken." (Matt.24:29) From this it becomes clear the TIME OF TIMES will actually occur during the reign of the present pope: John Paul II !! The pope to follow John Paul II, is termed: "Gloriae Olivae" or "The Glory of the Olive", which refers to a period of world peace, and to the reconciliation of Israel. The LAST Pope on the list of St. Malachy is termed "Petrus Romanus" (Peter the Roman). Malachy's only written comment is on this last pope: "Finally shall come Peter the Roman, HE shall lead the Church into to the final persecution of the antichrist, after which the terrible Judge will return to judge His people."

Sadly for humanity, even after the collision of the asteroid, the plagues to follow, and then the darkening of the sun, and the awesome sign of the cross in the sky (which will be the evidence of Christ's having come like a thief), mankind will not change it's ways for long.  Perhaps only a dozen years will pass, when many will forget the cataclysmic chastisement the world had undergone; they will dismiss the spectacular portent of the cross that had been seen in the sky by millions. Many will actually harden their hearts to the final preaching of the gospel by the spirit-filled Christians of the last age. Incredibly, many of the survivors will ultimately "not give up their murdering, or witchcraft, or fornication, or stealing." (Rev. 9:21) This is what is meant by the prophecy: "Take that open scroll and eat it. In your mouth it will be as sweet as honey, but it will be bitter in your stomach."

After the celestial cataclysm and holocaust, and the subsequent sweet outpouring of the Holy Spirit, the bitter reality will be that only a decade or two will pass when men's hearts will become hardened again. There will be a final great apostasy. Like their ancestors before them, who blasphemed after witnessing the parting of the Red Sea, so - many of the surviving Jews and Christians who witnessed the astronomic cataclysm, and the great portent of the cross in the sky, will fall away one final time. This will be the absolute fulfillment of the "Great Apostasy". Those who fail to embrace the faith in it's fulness, will be totally deceived by the amazing false miracles of the antichrist who is to come. These will embrace his deceptions and completely abandon the true faith, and embrace him as their messiah. The conversions of final preaching of the gospel, and the final outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon the whole world will seem short-lived. The bitter reality is that "the <antichrist> will be permitted to come working lying wonders with the full power of Satan, to completely deceive the sons of disobedience! Because they would not believe the truth, God will send them a powerful delusion to make them believe what is untrue. They will be condemned for refusing to believe the truth and for preferring wickedness instead." (Thes. 2:12)

The final Kingdom of God on earth shall primarily consist in the spectacular interior conversion in the hearts of the Christians who survive the great tribulation. But man's redemption will be thereafter be completed in a most perfect way. "When you see these things begin to happen, stand firm, and hold your head up high: for your redemption is at hand." "When that day comes, a fountain shall be opened, and I shall rid the country of the spirit of impurity." (Zech.13:1) The final conversion of the Jews to Christianity, which is clearly foretold by St. Paul in the eleventh chapter of Romans will begin immediately after the great portent of the Cross in the sky. Then, "the age of the pagans will be completely over." (Luke 21:24)

Of this age of peace the angel proclaims: "Behold! The kingdom of this world will become the kingdom of our God and of his Christ" (Rev. 11:15) Within the few short years to follow, the technologies and modern economies will be revived and continue to exist much as they do so now. These years, of "the Glory of the Olive" will be an incredible "period of peace". But it shall not be any 'thousand years'. What it lacks in duration, will be made up for in miracles of grace given to the world through final outpouring of the Holy Spirit, and the conversion of the Jews. Sadly, "it shall be sweet in the mouth ... but bitter in the stomach" (Rev.10:9). The financial technologies implemented during this period of peace will finalize the necessary platform for the world conquest of the antichrist.

After the death of Pope John Paul II, and the great tribulation of the asteroid and nuclear holocaust, their shall be only two popes before the coming of the antichrist. "This generation will not pass away until all these things have come to pass." (Matt.24:34) The Holy Pontiff referred to in the Prophecy's of St. Malachy as the "Glory of the Olive", will preside over the Church during the 'period of peace', a spiritual kingdom of Jesus Christ set up upon the ruins of the corrupt kingdom of this great earthly Babylon. Though it shall be short, it will be a wonderful period of Christian reconciliation. After the death of next Pope, in the last years of the final epoch, the antichrist will openly assume a heroic role within a newly converted and extremely powerful Israel. Israel will be restored with great power in it's conversion after the period of the Great Tribulation. The antichrist himself is the "little horn" whom will be enthroned, first within Israel by apostate Jews, as the messiah. (Dan 7:24) He will make conquest of the infidels in Israel masquerading as the true messiah. After he has captured the nation of Israel through his false miracles, he will commence the rapid conquest of the rest of the world.

It will be during this time that the specially preserved prophets of old, Enoch and Elijah, will return to preach against the reprobate religion of the antichrist. "I will send my two witnesses to prophecy for those 1260 days." (Rev.11:3) To the gentile world of Christians, the prophet Enoch will arise to denounce the reception of the mark of the beast! He will rally the Christians to keep their faith unto the death, even if must be: "Captivity for those who are destined for captivity; the sword for those who are to die by the sword." (Rev. 13:10) And to Israel, locked in the final battle of the chosen people between good and evil: "Behold, before the great and terrible last day, I will send you Elijah the prophet ... to reconcile the faith of the present generation with the faith of their ancestors." (Malachi 1:25) "And what shall the final conversion of the Jews mean? Nothing less than the resurrection of the dead!" (Romans 11:15)

To complete his total dominion, the antichrist will incapacitate the United States, (already devastated by the brunt of the Great Tribulation), with another nuclear attack. (Rev. 17:17)  He will then enforce his conquest upon the remainder of Europe and Asia by promises of peace and overwhelming threat. In a flamboyant and extra-terrestrial deception, he will appeal to all who have not been fully converted to Christianity as an awesome, divine, messiah. He will then assume a role of total control over most of the world. The exact time of his absolute reign will be three and one half years. (Rev.13:5, Dan.12:7, Dan 12:11, Rev. 11:3 Rev. 12:6) Elijah will then unearth the lost ark of the covenant. (2 Maccabees 2:7)  He will place within it the Blessed Sacrament ... and "the glory of the ancient Shekinah will return" (2 Maccabees 2:7)  as a witness to the Hebrews of the divinity of Jesus Christ. At the end of this, the remnant of the west will unite most notably with China. These will engage the "Universal Kingdom of Israel" of the antichrist, in the final war feared as Armageddon. The ultimate devastation of this war will be so great that the survival of all life on earth shall be will made impossible. Under that circumstance ... namely the poisoning of atmosphere: "Behold ... the end has come." (Rev. 16:17) Christ will soon return in unimaginable glory accompanied by all the armies of heaven for the final time, and the Last Judgment will be held.  That shall be the end of the world!

"If the sins of mankind increase in number and in severity, the Eternal Father will punish the world with a chastisement worse than the deluge <of Noah>. A great fire such as has never been seen before will fall from the sky and destroy a great part of humanity. The only consolation for the survivors will <prayer> and the sign that <Christ> shall leave. --Message given at Akita