Are we living in the End Times?

Now that would be sweet!!

 

I don't think the people of this generation think they're special at all. They are simply witnessing an exponential rise in depravity, looking at prophecy and are trying to make sense of it all.

 

Right.

Jesus Himself said to watch for the signs of the times. He said to be alert and ready, like the 10 virgins careful to keep their lamps lit. Better to think Jesus is coming during your generation than to assume it's still a long way off, I would think.

It's particularly interesting to me that Jesus made the point of saying to St. Faustina that His introduction of the Divine Mercy devotion is a "sign for the end times." He told us in the Bible to watch for such signs. To stay on one's toes spiritually, and to pray and sacrifice to save as many souls as possible while we still can, are some good fruits of watching for Christ's return.

 

In the year 1000 everyone thought Christ would return. As we approach the 2000 year anniversary of Jesus' crucifixion I think it is natural for us to long for His return. Or maybe better yet, as we grow in our faith it is natural that we long for the Beloved, as a "deer longs for running streams."
But if we are really in the end times where is Elijah and Enoch?

What do you think about Bartholomew Holzhauser? His are not apparitions but it's still approved private revelation. Also consider the revelations of Hildegard concerning the 5 beasts. I think a strong argument can be made that we are still in the age of the wild boar. And lastly the writings of St. Louis de Montfort. True, they aren't actual prophecies but his reasoning makes so much sense to me- the world has to fully appreciate and understand our Lady before her Son can return as Judge and I think this will be expressed in the Church declaring the last dogmas regarding her as mediatrix and co-redemptrix.

Something cool I found out the other day as a side note: St Vincent Ferrer was given the revelation that he was the 4th angel of the apocalypse and he performed a miracle to confirm that revelation. I wonder who the others are or will be.

 

The Lactantius Prophecy compressed

 

I remember reading about one of the Medjugorje visionaries (Mirjana?) who saw heaven and wished to go there. When asked about leaving her family she replied that she would prefer heaven.

 

I think from what I understand it will be a series of gigantic physical chastisements that will hit the USA.

In fact this has already started. For those with eyes to see.

 

I don't think we are in the end end times because a lot of prophecy has not occurred yet. One example is St. John Bosco vision:

"Try to picture yourselves with me on the seashore, or, better still, on an outlying cliff with no other land in sight. The vast expanse of water is covered with a formidable array of ships in battle formation, prows fitted with sharp spear-like beaks capable of breaking through any defense. All are heavily armed with cannons, incendiary bombs, and firearms of all sorts - even books - and are heading toward one stately ship, mightier than them all. As they try to close in, they try to ram it, set it afire, and cripple it as much as possible.

"This stately vessel is shielded by a flotilla escort. Winds and waves are with the enemy. In this midst of this endless sea, two solid columns, a short distance apart, soar high into the sky: one is surmounted by a statue of the Immaculate Virgin at whose feet a large inscription reads: Help of Christians; the other, far loftier and sturdier, supports a [Communion] Host of proportionate size and bears beneath it the inscription Salvation of believers.

"The flagship commander - the Roman Pontiff [the Pope]- seeing the enemy's fury and his auxiliary ships very grave predicament, summons his captains to a conference. However, as they discuss their strategy, a furious storm breaks out and they must return to their ships. When the storm abates, the Pope again summons his captains as the flagship keeps on its course. But the storm rages again. Standing at the helm, the Pope strains every muscle to steer his ship between the two columns from whose summits hang many anchors and strong hooks linked to chains.

"The entire enemy fleet closes in to intercept and sink the flagship at all costs. They bombard it with everything they have: books and pamphlets, incendiary bombs, firearms, cannons. The battle rages ever more furious. Beaked prows ram the flagship again and again, but to no avail, as, unscathed and undaunted, it keeps on its course. At times a formidable ram splinters a gaping hole into its hull, but, immediately, a breeze from the two columns instantly seals the gash.

"Meanwhile, enemy cannons blow up, firearms and beaks fall to pieces, ships crack up and sink to the bottom. In blind fury the enemy takes to hand-to-hand combat, cursing and blaspheming. Suddenly the Pope falls, seriously wounded. He is instantly helped up but, struck down a second time, dies. A shout of victory rises from the enemy and wild rejoicing sweeps their ships. But no sooner is the Pope dead than another takes his place. The captains of the auxiliary ships elected him so quickly that the news of the Pope's death coincides with that of his successor's election. The enemy's self-assurance wanes.

"Breaking through all resistance, the new Pope steers his ship safely between the two columns and moors it to the two columns; first to the one surmounted by the Host, and then to the other, topped by the statue of the Virgin. At this point something unexpected happens. The enemy ships panic and disperse, colliding with and scuttling each other. Some auxiliary ships which had gallantly fought alongside their flagship are the first to tie up at the two columns.

"Many others, which had fearfully kept far away from the fight, stand still, cautiously waiting until the wrecked enemy ships vanish under the waves. Then, they too head for the two columns, tie up at the swinging hooks, and ride safe and tranquil beside their flagship. A great calm now covers the sea."

Very grave trials await the Church. What we have suffered so far is almost nothing compared to what is going to happen. The enemies of the Church are symbolized by the ships which strive their utmost to sink the flagship. Only two things can save us in such a grave hour: devotion to Mary and frequent Communion. Let us do our very best to use these two means and have others use them everywhere."

 

Also, we have not seen the time of the Great Monarch yet either:

There have been many prophecies about the Great Monarch from many saints and blesseds; St. Francis De Paul, St. Hildegard, Bl. Anne Catherine Emmerich, Methodius of Olympos, St Thomas Becket, to name only a few. But what do these saints and blesseds say about the Great Monarch? Of course, not every prophecy is the same. Some say he will be a Roman Emperor, extending his territory all the way from England to the Holy Lands. Others say that he will be a knight from the west (specifically coming from St. Thomas Becket). Others say that he will be a French King who will restore the Church and Christ. But they all have one thing in common, and that is that the Great Monarch will be a king, and he will cause a mass conversion to Christianity, and that for as long as he reigns there will be peace and justice. To give an example, here is a prophecy from St. Methodius.

“A time will come when the enemies of Christ will boast: ‘We have subjected the earth and all its inhabitants, and the Christians cannot escape our hands.’ Then a Roman Emperor will rise in great fury against them, drawing his sword, he will fall upon the foes of Christianity and crush them. Then peace and quiet will reign on earth, and the priests will be relieved of all their anxieties.”

This prophecy goes slightly more into detail. The foes of Christianity will rise up against the Church, and all of the Church’s strong leader’s will be silenced, either through persecution or persuasion. The Christian faithful will despair, thinking that there will be no escape. Then at that moment, and that moment only, the Great Monarch will rise up and free the people of God. He will convert many to Christianity, as other prophecies say, “He will cleanse England, and his army will crush the Islamists.” However, this does not mean that the Great Monarch will go about trying to tell people to convert, and if they refuse he will kill them. That would be no better than before. Rather, I think when the saints say this, they mean that they will kill the evil inside of them, not the person being evil. Everyone should have the chance to convert, even if it takes years. They will cleanse that person, and he will turn towards God. Of course, this is just speculation, but it could hold some truth to it. Ultimately the one in control is not any king, but God. And God is the true Great Monarch, who will save us from every evil and despair, even when we are in the most hopeless situations. For though our enemies may try to refute God, they will only end up refuting themselves, and God will be the victor.
The Great Monarch:
• He will be a legitimate king, possibly of French or Spanish descent, who will rise after a great war.
• He will be a righteous and virtuous leader with special charisms from the Holy Spirit.
• He will defeat "infidels," "heretics," and "tyrannies" with the help of his "holy Cross-bearers".
• His influence will spread globally, and he will eventually restore the Holy Roman Empire.

The Angelic Pastor:
• A saintly pope will reign at the same time as the Monarch.
• He will be instrumental in the global conversion of peoples.
• The Great Monarch will be the first king to be crowned by a pope in centuries.

The outcome:
• The prophecy culminates in a worldwide era of peace and a flourishing of the Church.
• It foresees the end of heresies and a return to Catholic tradition and values.
• This era of peace will be followed by a decline in faith, the rise of the Antichrist, and ultimately, the Second Coming of Christ.

 

I'm sure I would prefer Heaven (I even already have 5 children there waiting for me), but I wouldn't want to leave my small children here if God prefers me finish raising them. My husband and I try our very best to provide a God-centered shelter for our children to flourish in...It would be so difficult for my husband to do that alone.

But of course I think of the Martin family and many others and know that God knows best and will always provide.

 

That sounds like Pope John Paul I and II! Or just in general the popes having to fight their way through these spiritually dark last several decades. I know that things at the top don't look good, but they are the leftovers from an earlier time. The young priests transforming the Church from the ground up are the fruits of St. John Paul II and Pope Benedict, and represent the turn of the tide, IMO.

 

It is interesting how different the details are for each prophecy. I've wondered if the prophesized "Great Monarch" figure was conditional. What if he would have arisen if people had listened to Mary at Fatima and the consecration of Russia had happened right away?

I wish such a great monarch was mentioned in any approved apparition. I do want it to be true!

 

St Hildegard
(1098–1179) prophesied a "Great Monarch" who will emerge during a time of immense church corruption and social chaos, restoring order and aiding the Church, according to traditional Catholic eschatology. She envisioned this leader as a powerful, pious ruler who will rise after a period of severe persecution and just before the rise of the Antichrist.

 

I was surprised in reading that from the visionary. I thought she would prefer to remain with her family. It made me realise just how beautiful heaven must be.

 

I love reading about NDEs and the most common similarity in all of them is they never want to leave where they are and are deeply saddened when Jesus tells them they have to go back. It makes sense to me. I love my family but that love can't come anywhere close to the love you feel when with Him.