Theology of History
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Times of the Antichrist - V
When Will the Antichrist Come?
Over the course of History God has sent mankind many Prophets and Saints to help save souls. If I had the authority, I would add Rev. E. Silvester Berry to that list. In 1921, he did a marvelous job writing The Apocalypse of St. John to help readers better understand The Apocalypse.
The Apocalypse, which St. Jerome aptly describes as "having as many mysteries as words or rather mysteries in every word," is written as a series of symbolic visions, rather than recounting purely historical events. In a few pages it presents a resumé of many centuries, thus embracing the entire History of the Church from the time of Christ until the consummation of the world.
Catholics who have been exposed to The Apocalypse often become discouraged because they do not understand its mysterious words. Through the years, even scholars of the Apocalypse have disagreed about its content. Some believe that the Apocalypse was written for the early centuries and that in 64 AD Nero was the Antichrist.
On the other hand, other scholars believe that it was written for the end times and they place almost everything a little before the end of the world. This school believes that the battle with Antichrist will take at the close of History.
We believe that Fr. Berry’s book is enlightening and worthy of study for our epoch, the most dangerous time of Church History. He proposes that the Antichrist will come in the Latter Times, before the great victory and miraculous intervention of Heaven that will lead to a long period of peace where God will be duly glorified.
As the 20th century progressed, it has been noted how true many of Fr. Berry’s interpretations of the Apocalypse were coming true:
Indeed, for those who can remember the ceremonies and rituals in the Catholic Church previous to Vatican II, it certainly appears that an opposite Church has been constructed.
This observation is confirmed by other mystics.
Anne Catherine Emmerick, who bore the stigmata of Our Lord, recounted this vision of the future in 1820:
“I saw a strange church being built against every rule. No Angels were supervising the building operations. In that church, nothing came from high above. I saw the secret sect relentlessly undermining the great Church. Near them I saw a horrible beast coming up from the sea.”
Jeanne de Royer, a holy Sister of the Nativity, made the following prediction in the 18th century:
“When the reign of Antichrist draws near, a false religion will appear which will deny the unity of God and will oppose the Church. Errors will cause ravages as never before.”
Three periods in the History of the Church
It is customary to divide the Apocalypse into seven visions with a prologue and epilogue. Instead, Fr. Berry breaks the Apocalypse into three parts which correspond to the three successive periods in the History of the Church: The time of the Church, the time of the Antichrist and the Universal Reign of Jesus Christ and Mary.
We believe we are quickly approaching the end of the period of the Antichrist, which will terminate with the destruction of Rome (here and here), and other cities and a final battle between the Church and the powers of darkness.
This seems plausible to us because it appears that, with Vatican Countil II and the Popes who have implemented it, we have seen the arrival of the Antichrist and his False Prophet, the “abomination of desolation,” the return of Paganism and the deception of nations.
Did you miss the Antichrist?
Fr. Berry questions how so many scholars can accept that the reign of the Antichrist would be a prelude to the Last Judgment at the end of the world. According to Fr. Berry, a careful reading of the Apocalypse shows clearly that Antichrist will appear long centuries before the Last Judgment and the end of the world.
For example, in Chapter 20, article 4, of the Apocalypse, St. John writes: “And I saw seats; and they sat upon them; and judgment was given to them; and the souls of them that were beheaded for the testimony of Jesus, and the word of God, and who had not adored the beast nor his image, nor received his character on their forehead, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.”
St. John sees the souls of those who will participate with Christ in the government of His Church during the thousand years of His Reign and who rejected the Beast from the Sea and his False Prophet.
An Angel exhorts all to turn to the God of Heaven and Earth because the Day of Judgment is at hand. This is not a reference to the general Final Judgment at the last day, but the Judgment of Nations that is about the fall upon the Antichrist and his followers, as predicted.
A second Angel announces the approaching fall of Babylon (Rome). Under the leadership of the False Prophet, Rome will seduce other Gentile nations to worship the Antichrist. For the infidelity of the Popes who implemented Vatican II, the See of Peter – Rome – will be destroyed.
A third Angel threatens all of the followers of the Antichrist with eternal damnation. They shall be punished with all the rigors of God’s infinite justice untampered by mercy.
Thus, many Catholics who may not even realize the Antichrist has come may follow him and the false opposite Church that is established.
Are you a follower of the Antichrist?
Do you believe all souls go to Heaven after their deaths? You have heard people say such things in our days: "Now so-and-so is looking down on us," or "We should be happy she's in a better place now." This is the message of Antichrist!
Progressivism says that Heaven, Hell and Purgatory are not actual places. Do you believe this?
Do you believe that man is god, that is, that divinity exists in mankind? This is a teaching of Progressivism.
Progressivism also teaches that non-Catholic sects are a means of salvation. Do you believe this?
Progressivism affirms as well that non-Catholic sects have saints and martyrs. Do you believe this?
Progressivism also holds that non-Catholics can receive Communion. Do you believe this?
Now then, since St. Paul affirms that one of the characteristics of the Antichrist is to fight against everything that is from God (2 Thes 2:3-4), that is, His Church, His Doctrine and Sacraments, it seems that the Antichrist will be a promoter of Progressivism.
If your answers to the previous questions are positive you also are characterized as a progressivist and a follower of the Antichrist. In this case please consider what was clearly stated by the third Angel.
Let us recall that Our Lord communicated to Sister Lucy of Fatima, “It will never be too late to have recourse to Jesus and Mary.”
Let us do what Our Lady instructed us to do at all the apparitions of Fatima: that is, to say the Holy Rosary daily.
I would also suggestion your read this article: Devotions for the First Five Saturdays and Nine First Fridays.
To be continued
The Apocalypse, which St. Jerome aptly describes as "having as many mysteries as words or rather mysteries in every word," is written as a series of symbolic visions, rather than recounting purely historical events. In a few pages it presents a resumé of many centuries, thus embracing the entire History of the Church from the time of Christ until the consummation of the world.
Worthy of study for our epoch
On the other hand, other scholars believe that it was written for the end times and they place almost everything a little before the end of the world. This school believes that the battle with Antichrist will take at the close of History.
We believe that Fr. Berry’s book is enlightening and worthy of study for our epoch, the most dangerous time of Church History. He proposes that the Antichrist will come in the Latter Times, before the great victory and miraculous intervention of Heaven that will lead to a long period of peace where God will be duly glorified.
As the 20th century progressed, it has been noted how true many of Fr. Berry’s interpretations of the Apocalypse were coming true:
- That Satan would seek the Pope’s destruction at any cost: “The Papacy will be attacked by all the powers of Hell.“
- That the final battle against the Church and the Papacy would be inaugurated by “apostate bishops, priests and peoples.”
- That neither the magnitude of the Arian crisis nor that of the Protestant Revolution could hold water to “the numbers seduced by Satan in the days of the Antichrist.”
- That Chapter 13 of the Apocalypse affirms that the Antichrist and his False Prophet will introduce ceremonies to imitate the Sacraments of the Church. In fact, there will be a whole organization, a "Church of Satan," set up in opposition to the true Church of Christ.
Sister Jeanne de Royer: 'A false religion will appear that will deny the unity of God'
This observation is confirmed by other mystics.
Anne Catherine Emmerick, who bore the stigmata of Our Lord, recounted this vision of the future in 1820:
“I saw a strange church being built against every rule. No Angels were supervising the building operations. In that church, nothing came from high above. I saw the secret sect relentlessly undermining the great Church. Near them I saw a horrible beast coming up from the sea.”
Jeanne de Royer, a holy Sister of the Nativity, made the following prediction in the 18th century:
“When the reign of Antichrist draws near, a false religion will appear which will deny the unity of God and will oppose the Church. Errors will cause ravages as never before.”
Three periods in the History of the Church
It is customary to divide the Apocalypse into seven visions with a prologue and epilogue. Instead, Fr. Berry breaks the Apocalypse into three parts which correspond to the three successive periods in the History of the Church: The time of the Church, the time of the Antichrist and the Universal Reign of Jesus Christ and Mary.
We believe we are quickly approaching the end of the period of the Antichrist, which will terminate with the destruction of Rome (here and here), and other cities and a final battle between the Church and the powers of darkness.
This seems plausible to us because it appears that, with Vatican Countil II and the Popes who have implemented it, we have seen the arrival of the Antichrist and his False Prophet, the “abomination of desolation,” the return of Paganism and the deception of nations.
Did you miss the Antichrist?
Fr. Berry questions how so many scholars can accept that the reign of the Antichrist would be a prelude to the Last Judgment at the end of the world. According to Fr. Berry, a careful reading of the Apocalypse shows clearly that Antichrist will appear long centuries before the Last Judgment and the end of the world.
For example, in Chapter 20, article 4, of the Apocalypse, St. John writes: “And I saw seats; and they sat upon them; and judgment was given to them; and the souls of them that were beheaded for the testimony of Jesus, and the word of God, and who had not adored the beast nor his image, nor received his character on their forehead, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.”
A Church of Satan will emerge in Rome
An Angel exhorts all to turn to the God of Heaven and Earth because the Day of Judgment is at hand. This is not a reference to the general Final Judgment at the last day, but the Judgment of Nations that is about the fall upon the Antichrist and his followers, as predicted.
A second Angel announces the approaching fall of Babylon (Rome). Under the leadership of the False Prophet, Rome will seduce other Gentile nations to worship the Antichrist. For the infidelity of the Popes who implemented Vatican II, the See of Peter – Rome – will be destroyed.
A third Angel threatens all of the followers of the Antichrist with eternal damnation. They shall be punished with all the rigors of God’s infinite justice untampered by mercy.
Thus, many Catholics who may not even realize the Antichrist has come may follow him and the false opposite Church that is established.
Are you a follower of the Antichrist?
Do you believe all souls go to Heaven after their deaths? You have heard people say such things in our days: "Now so-and-so is looking down on us," or "We should be happy she's in a better place now." This is the message of Antichrist!
Progressivism says that Heaven, Hell and Purgatory are not actual places. Do you believe this?
Catholics praying with heretics
Progressivism also teaches that non-Catholic sects are a means of salvation. Do you believe this?
Progressivism affirms as well that non-Catholic sects have saints and martyrs. Do you believe this?
Progressivism also holds that non-Catholics can receive Communion. Do you believe this?
Now then, since St. Paul affirms that one of the characteristics of the Antichrist is to fight against everything that is from God (2 Thes 2:3-4), that is, His Church, His Doctrine and Sacraments, it seems that the Antichrist will be a promoter of Progressivism.
If your answers to the previous questions are positive you also are characterized as a progressivist and a follower of the Antichrist. In this case please consider what was clearly stated by the third Angel.
Let us recall that Our Lord communicated to Sister Lucy of Fatima, “It will never be too late to have recourse to Jesus and Mary.”
Let us do what Our Lady instructed us to do at all the apparitions of Fatima: that is, to say the Holy Rosary daily.
I would also suggestion your read this article: Devotions for the First Five Saturdays and Nine First Fridays.
To be continued
Posted June 4, 2021
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