Possible Future Events
in Spiritual Advancement
The big plan is fixed; Christ creates humanity, offers divine communion at his first coming, then returns to make final fulfillment at his second coming.
The details such as prosperity or chastisement, inspired leaders or anti-Christ’s are up to us. If we truly have free will, then everything that happens in the future, even the prophecy of the book of Revelation is not set, but conditional. Our free will is the reason that Jesus Christ himself could not know the date of his own second coming, (Mk 13:32).{110}
Christ has come and offered a sharing in his divine person and life. The next major progression is the general communion or the second coming of Christ, in which Jesus Christ will attempt divine communion with all of creation, bringing everything to its highest possible existence, as dimensions of his own person.
As we know, evil must be effected in our world, but in these final days (1Jn 2:28), Jesus Christ will also make efforts to promote his cause and prepare his people for his second coming.{111} These events are outlined in the gospel, the book of Revelation, prophecy of the saints, and apparitions of Jesus and especially the Virgin Mary.
Peace and prosperity in their many forms are the intended course of the future, and these do exist in our world. Such goodness will coexist alongside evil until the end of time.
However the book of Revelation, prophecy of the saints, and Marian apparitions usually focus on the catastrophic effects of sin. Spiritual perfection and prosperity were the norms of creation, deviation from perfection is easily accomplished, but it brings corresponding damage to creation.
Every person and event in history was intended by God as a goodness. There are no exceptions to this. God did not plan the anti-Christ as evil, but as an inspired leader/prophet who was to have prepared humanity for the second coming of Christ.
The general judgment which will occur at the second coming of Jesus Christ was intended as the general communion, with nobody failing to make this communion with Christ.
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The following outline is a construction of events as prophesied by the gospels, the book of Revelation, the saints, and Marian apparitions. Many Marian apparitions and prophecies of the saints place these events in the near future. The outline follows, then a more detailed examination. In general order:
The Great Tribulation is the degradation of morals and religion in all areas of life; intended to be the Great Advancement prior to the second coming of Jesus Christ.
The Great Outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon all persons; intended as various blessings and assistance for all persons in preparation for the second coming of Christ.
— The Great Warning
— The Great Miracle
— The Great Sign
— The Great Sealing
The Great Chastisement; evil must have its effect within creation, it cannot corrupt the divine nature of God or Heaven.
— War, flood, cosmic disasters, more
— The Great Darkness; no sun or electric lights for three
days, candles only.
The Great Pope
—The Great Conversion
—The Great Proclamation
The Great anti-Christ
— Opposed by prophetic incarnations of Elijah and Enoch
— Will claim to be the Messiah, will likely occupy the
Vatican, and claim the papacy
The Great Judgment
— The second coming of Christ
The Great fulfillment
— The Great Communion of all creation into Christ, the
End of creation and the beginning of eternity, (Rev 21).
Details of the above outline now follow:
The Great Tribulation or the great trial (for those of faith), is the sudden and large scale degradation of morals and religion that is prophesied before the second coming of Christ.
It will coincide with some genuine moral advances, but on the whole humanity will further distance itself from God. The Great Tribulation was intended as the Great Advancement. The great achievements of humanity would have furthered brotherhood and morality. Nationhood, political systems, economics, science, medicine, psychology, philosophy and morality would have worked only toward the highest ideals for humanity.
The Great Tribulation will take every form and it will be exceptional in its intensity and scope, Jesus himself speaks of it. The Great Tribulation will seem like the Great Advancement to many, but its product will be the Great Chastisement and the anti-Christ.
“For at that time there will be great tribulation, unmatched from the beginning of the world until now, and never to be seen again.”, (Mt 24:21).
The Great Outpouring of the Holy Spirit will likely take multiple forms, but it be given to all persons in some form. It could be admonition, encouragement, instruction, grace, blessing, even a sign. From Acts 2:17 we know that it will include at least visions and prophecy.
From Acts 2:17, "In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams.”
This great outpouring of the Spirit is (like every other event), intended as a goodness given for our spiritual advancement, ending in divine union with Christ.
The Great Warning prophesied by Virgin Mary at her Garabandal apparition, also by Blessed Anna Maria Taigi, and St. Edmond Campion. It is one form of the great outpouring of the Holy Spirit.
This great warning would have been originally intended as a sort of critique and instruction given to the people in a sinless world, to prepare them for the second coming of Christ.{112} It may still be this for many, for many others however it will be a sobering and needed wake up call. The Great Warning is spoken of as a worldwide interior revelation in which each person sees his standing before God.
Humanities response to the Great Warning will determine follow on events such as the severity of the tribulation, the chastisement and the anti-Christ.
The Great Sign spoken of in Marian apparitions, would be the most profound of the hundreds of public signs given by God. Jesus Christ speaks of such a sign in his gospels. From Matthew, 24:29-30;
“Immediately after the tribulation of those days: ‘The sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from the sky, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. At that time the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and all the tribes of the earth will mourn.”
The great sign might include some sort of sign on the person himself. Revelation 7:3 has this sign being given to all the faithful, and it has been standard issue for 4000 years starting at Mount Sinai; from Deuteronomy 11:18 we read;
"You shall therefore impress these words of mine on your heart and on your soul; and you shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as symbols on your forehead.”
The Virgin Mary speaks of a publically visible sign being given to the world in her apparitions at Medjugorje, (which are still under evaluation). Could this sign include the sign of the cross on the faithful, or the sign of the Holy Spirit — the living flame of God which appeared over the apostles at Pentecost? Revelation 22:4 has the name of Jesus Christ written upon the foreheads of the faithful. Whatever its form, the Great Sign would be another “outpouring of the Holy Spirit on all people”, (Acts 2:17).{113}
The Great Miracle is spoken of by Virgin Mary in her Garabandal and Medjugorje apparitions. It will be given for the purpose of our spiritual advancement toward the second coming, and it would validate her messages given at these places, and possibly at every site of her appearance. Such great miracles are not out of expectations, because they cultivate receptiveness toward God.
In these “end times”, which is the period after the birth of Jesus Christ, the saints have worked thousands of miracles because of their participation in the divine nature of Jesus Christ. These too are great miracles which cultivate faith.
The miracles of Jesus testified to his sharing in the life and abilities of God, (Jn 14:10-12). The anti-Christ will not declare himself in opposition to Christ, he will declare himself the Messiah with God’s authority to perform miracles, and these miracles will give supposed authority to his claims.
This claim of God’s authority to work miracles will have a basis of truth. The anti-Christ was intended as the ante-Christ, to prepare humanity for Christ’s second coming, and he is given the ability to work miracles, just as the old testament prophets were. These powers have apparently not been revoked.
The Great Sealing is taught by Jesus Christ in the gospels, and given more detail in the Medjugorje apparitions. It is a spiritual lock in and lock out. It is spoken of by Jesus in the teaching of the narrow door, (Lk 13:22-28).
“Make every effort to enter through the narrow door, because many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able to. Once the owner of the house gets up and closes the door, you will stand outside knocking and pleading, ‘Sir, open the door for us.”’…“But he will reply, ‘I don’t know you or where you come from. Away from me, all you evildoers!’”
The parable of the ten virgins, (Mt 25:1-13) is another “lock in/lock out” teaching. In it Jesus describes the final days, and some who are excluded because of presumption. The Virgin Mary’s Medjugorje message of August 15, 1985, Is based on these gospel teachings,
“…pray for unbelievers. People will tear their hair, brother will plead with brother, he will curse his past life lived without God. They will repent, but it will be too late. Now is the time for conversion…”{114}
This teaching of Christ is not pleasant, but he does teach it. Revelation 16:9 also speaks of extreme unrepentance, or perhaps the unproductive repentance, which the Virgin Mary speaks of at Medjugorje.
The Great Sealing is taught by Jesus Christ in the gospels, and it given more detail in the Medjugorje apparitions. Such an event will of course, be of great significance in spiritual advancement.
The Great Chastisement is the reverse side of the great tribulation, it is cause and effect. It is spoken of by Jesus Christ himself in his discourse on the last days in Luke chapter 21.
The Great Chastisement was of course intended as the Great Prosperity. Historically prosperity occurs at a more even rate, but is interrupted by periods of great chastisement, (war, famine, plague). God seems to hold off our self inflicted punishment until he no longer can.
The book of Revelation gives a detailed list of chastisements. And the whole of revelation, apparition and prophecy confirms this. The faithful will not be spared, and should use this period of martyrdom for their advancement of faith.
The Great Darkness is foretold of by Jesus in Matthew chapter 24. Follow on prophecy gives more details and essential instructions during this final chastisement.{115} From Matthew 24:29-31;
“Immediately after the tribulation of those days: ‘The sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from the sky, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken.’ At that time the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and all the tribes of the earth will mourn. They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven, with power and great glory. And He will send out His angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather His elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other.”
A dozen or more saints have spoken of the three days of darkness. St. Pio gives the most detailed account, which is widely available on the internet.{116}
A summation of revelation, prophecy and apparition tells of this series of chastisements culminating in the three days of darkness, giving way to a period of prosperity, brotherhood and reverence…but the anti-Christ is yet to come. The book of Revelation (Rev 20:3), and the prophecy of the saints, speak of this incongruous timeline.
Blessed Anna Maria Taigi was gifted with unmatched prophetic powers, she foretold events great and small and was never wrong, and she is specific in the timeline of the days of darkness, the Great Conversion and the anti-Christ;
“God will send two punishments: one will be in the form of wars, revolutions and other evils; it shall originate on earth. The other will be sent from Heaven. There shall come over the whole earth an intense darkness lasting three days and three nights. Nothing can be seen, and the air will be laden with pestilence which will claim mainly, but not only, the enemies of religion. It will be impossible to use any man-made lighting during this darkness, except blessed candles. The air shall be infested by demons, who will appear under all sorts of hideous forms.{117} He who out of curiosity, opens his window to look out, or leaves his home, will fall dead on the spot. During these three days, people should remain in their homes, pray the Rosary and beg God for mercy.”
“After the three days of darkness, Saints Peter and Paul, having come down from heaven, will preach throughout the world and designate a new Pope. A great light will flash from their bodies and settle upon the cardinal, the future pontiff. Then Christianity will spread throughout the world. Whole nations will join the Church shortly before the reign of the Antichrist.”
Why the big double blow to the faithful? A worldwide chastisement, then a period of peace before the coming of the anti-Christ…and the main event, the second coming of Jesus Christ, is still farther off.
The short answer is, “Because that is what the community of humanity brings upon itself by sin.” God’s plan was for the first coming of Christ, with many people making union in this life, then the preparation for Christ’s second coming in the various outpourings of the Holy Spirit, and finally the second coming of Christ. The Great Chastisement (caused by sin, which was never intended), is just a non intended bump in the road.{118}
The Great Chastisement was intended to be the Great Preparation, in various forms, for the second coming of Christ. Included in the Great Preparation was the great leader/prophet, who was to guide the world to union with Christ at the second coming. Because of original sin this great leader/prophet will be the anti-Christ, who will be animated by selfishness, and lead people away from God.
As noted earlier the exertion of evil in some worldly form may prevent the evil from having its full effect on the soul, thus preventing condemnation. This idea occurs in 1 Corinthians 5:5. The Great Chastisement and the Great anti-Christ were to have been blessings in some way. These two events remain part of God’s plan of creation, but they have been corrupted them into evils. Our prayers, faith and virtues also lessen these evils by remediation of evil into virtue, and shorten the period and intensity of the Great Chastisement.
The Great Pope is spoken of in the prophecy of Anna Maria Taigi, on the previous two pages, and in many other prophecies of the saints. This Great Pope will arise immediately after the three days of darkness. The remaining faithful, together with the outpouring of the Holy Spirit and the Great Pope, will make great spiritual progress. Reverence and brotherhood will finally be our predominant dispositions.
— The Great Conversion; “And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.” (Mt 24:14). There are also prophecies of the saints which confirm this great conversion.
— The Great Proclamation is a possible Marian dogma which Virgin Mary alludes to in several of her apparitions; “Coredemptrix”, “Mediatrix of all Graces” or “Incarnation of the Holy Spirit”, are all possible titles and dogmas. Any such title and dogma would be somehow contained in her apparitions, and it will become clearer in time. The Marian apparitions at Garabandal allude to a great dogmatic proclamation coinciding with the Great Miracle.
The Great anti-Christ is usually thought to be Satan acting through his human puppet.{119} He or she will certainly not proclaim himself evil, but good, and even God. He will claim to be the Messiah, will likely occupy the Vatican and claim the papacy.
As noted earlier, the Great anti-Christ was intended as a sort of John the Baptist figure, preparing humanity for the second coming of Christ. He will be given great powers of prophecy and miracles for this mission, even greater than the old testament prophets. These powers will allow him to deliver on his promises and fool many. He will construct some sort of church in parallel, which will make minimal demands, and offer great promises to its members, thus attracting many.
As to the sign or number of the anti-Christ, every person on earth already has a tax ID number from their country of citizenship. Would a newly invented DNA hand swipe and a facial ID scan complete it? Such people would be enrolled as citizens, and non-citizens would have no legal status, and no recourse against those who pillage and murder them. They would exist along with the stray cats and dogs in society.
The anti-Christ will be opposed by prophetic incarnations of Elijah and Enoch. The prophetic spirit of these two great prophets will be given to two existing humans, who will speak against the anti-Christ and for Jesus Christ.
The Great Judgment, or the second coming of Christ is made for the purpose of inclusion of all creation into his own person. Jesus himself says that his own person is the resurrection and the eternal life (Jn 11:25), and so he is.
What we call the general judgment was intended as the general communion, in which all of creation is reunited to Christ its creator. Christ will stick to his plan, but now with the onset of sin, not everyone may be able to make this inclusion into Christ. This judgment is described by Jesus in Matthew 25:31-43;
“When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne. All the nations will be gathered before him…”
“Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me…Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’”
“Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’”
All people, of every religion or no religion will be assembled before Jesus Christ, and will be judged according to their goodwill and selflessness.{120} Jesus speaks of this in Revelation 21:8;{121}
“But to the cowardly and unbelieving and abominable and murderers and sexually immoral and sorcerers and idolaters and all liars, their place will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur. This is the second death.”
The Great Fulfillment is the end of creation and the beginning of eternity. It is our permanent union into the divine nature of Jesus Christ, (2Pet 1:4). Furthermore, Christ will attempt union with all of creation, so that “God may be all in all”; and we read just this in 1Corinthians 15:26,28;
“The last enemy to be destroyed is death…And when all things have been subjected to Him, then the Son Himself will be made subject to Him who put all things under Him, so that God may be all in all.”
We were not intended simply to seek refuge in Heaven, after the onset of sin, death and Hell. Even our own divinization is not the whole of our intended fulfillment. We were intended to construct a worthy society that will exist for all eternity. The second coming of Christ will lock in what we have constructed, and this will be our new home forever. From Matthew 16:19,
“And I will give you the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven. Whatever you forbid on earth will be forbidden in heaven, and whatever you permit on earth will be permitted in heaven.”{122}
We will be completely satisfied, yet we will remember the past opportunities to perfect our faith by the trials of created existence, trials that we skipped out of. Trials in which we simply caved and waited them out. We could have done much better. From the book of Revelation chapter 21;
“Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, ‘Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”
“…Then he said to me: “It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End.”{123}
God’s great project of creation will have entered into eternity, as members of Jesus Christ.
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Angelic Members of the Body of Christ
The big leap in spiritual advancement is full divine inclusion into Christ, and it was first made by the angels. The first persons intended for divine inclusion into Christ were not Adam and Eve, but the angels. Those angels who were able to make communion with Christ, did so and are now full divine members of the body of Christ. This divine communion was made by the Son of God directly, since the human Jesus did not then exist. As we know, those angels failing communion with Christ were left behind in Hell, which is all the evil that could not attain union with God.
Just as Christ (the Son of God), planned divine communion with his human children (CCC 398), so too did Christ plan and make communion with his angelic children.
Sin was never a part of God’s plan, and this communion was to have proceeded without sin. No one (human or angelic) was to have failed this communion, Hell was not part of the original plan. Yet we know that some angels did fail this communion, and we now know them as the devils. The proof of this angelic communion is the existence of Hell and its failed members, the devils. We now call this originally planned communion, “judgment”. Those angels who did make their communion with Christ are now members of Christ (who is now the entire body of Christ).
We observe the difference between the human and angelic communions: Christ’s communion with humanity involved the remediation of sin into virtue, prior to communion. Christ’s communion with the angels does not seem to have involved remediation of sin, and those angels sinning simply did not make the communion.
The most commonly proposed idea for this lack of remediation is that