38    The Bible and the Future of the World 

    During a time of famine, the younger son suffers for a time, then comes to 

his senses and returns to his father. During a time of famine in Europe (and 

in other areas of the world as well), the Protestant Churches will complete a 

process of repentance and conversion; a process which began many years 

earlier. Many Christians will suffer greatly from that famine. Then the 

Protestant Churches will return to unity with the Catholic Church. 

    This famine will be widespread by the mid 2010's, (but may have its 

beginnings earlier in that decade), and will end by the year A.D. 2023 (Luke 

15:23). This great famine will not end until all the Protestant Churches 

return to unity of faith and leadership with the Catholic Church. This 

unification of all the Christian Churches will take about 3 years, beginning 

sometime in A.D. 2020 and ending sometime in 2023. 

      `And he arose and came to his father. But while he was yet at a distance, 

his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and embraced him and 

kissed him.'   (Luke 15:20). 

    Notice that the father had compassion on the younger son  while he was 

yet at a distance.  Thus, before the process of conversion to the Catholic 

faith is complete, God has compassion on the Protestant Churches. God 

gives them special gifts even before they have fully converted. 

      `Now his elder son was in the field; and as he came and drew near to the 

house, he heard music and dancing. And he called one of the servants and 

asked what this meant. And he said to him,  Your brother has come, and 

your father has killed the fatted calf, because he has received him safe and 

sound.  But he was angry and refused to go in.'   (Luke 15:25 28). 

    There will be great celebration and rejoicing when the Protestant 

Churches return to unity with the Catholic Church. There will be much 

mercy, forgiveness, and compassion. The Catholic Church will look with 

mercy on the Protestants who return to the Catholic faith. Oh, what great 

joy there will be in the Church on earth when that time arrives! 

    After the prodigal son returns to his family, they kill the fatted calf and eat 

and make merry (Luke 15:23). This feast for the prodigal son means that the 

great famine, which occurs before and during the conversion and return of 

the Protestants to unity with the Catholic Church, will end when the 

Protestant and Catholic Churches unite in one Church. 

    However, some Catholics, like the elder son, will be angry at the 

repentance, conversion, and return of the Protestants. They will refuse to 

join the celebration and will keep themselves at  a distance from the rest of 

the Church. But the father's words to the elder son are really God's words to 

those Catholics who do not want to accept the return of the Protestants. 

      `And he said to him,  Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine 

is yours. It was fitting to make merry and be glad, for this your brother was 

dead, and is alive; he was lost, and is found.  '   (Luke 15:31 32).