62    The Bible and the Future of the World 

    There have been times, in one country or another, when Christianity was 

made illegal. This happened for a while in England during the 16th and 17th 

century, in China during the 19th century and again at the beginning of the 

20th century, in Japan during the 17th century, in Korea during the 19th 

century, in the Roman empire during the years of the early Church, and in 

other places and times. Priests were hunted and put to death. The Holy 

Mass was celebrated in secret and only in a few places, because the 

authorities tried to prevent it. Christians were treated as criminals. 

    Recall also how, during the 1930's and 1940's, in the countries controlled 

by the Nazis, Jews were persecuted and put to death for their religion. Is it 

so hard to believe that something similar could happen to Christians? The 

time of the Church's Crucifixion will be like the time when the Jews were 

sought after, persecuted, and killed by the Nazis, except that it will be the 

Christians who are the victims. 

    In  the lands occupied by the Arab forces after World War III, there will 

also be a great persecution of Christians. This persecution is not the time of 

the Church's Crucifixion, yet it foreshadows that time. Christianity will be 

made illegal. The Holy Mass will be made illegal. Church sanctuaries will be 

trampled over and destroyed. Few places in the occupied lands will have the 

Holy Eucharist or the Holy Mass.  Thereafter, many Christians will be 

martyred for the Faith (during the 2030's). These events are a foreshadowing 

of the time of the Church's great suffering, which will be a worldwide 

persecution of Christianity. 

Before the Cock Crows Twice (Mark 14:26 31.50, 15:66 72) 

     Peter said to him, `Even though they all fall away, I will not.' And Jesus 

said to him, `Truly, I say to you, this very night, before the cock crows 

twice, you will deny me three times.'   (Mark 14:29 30). 

     And they all forsook him and fled.  (Mark 14:50). 

     But he began to invoke a curse on himself and to swear, `I do not know 

this man of whom you speak.' And immediately the cock crowed a second 

time. And Peter remembered how Jesus had said to him,  `Before the cock 

crows twice, you will deny me three times.' And he broke down and wept.  

(Mark 15:71 72). 

    Peter's denials foreshadow the denials of some Christians and some 

leaders in the Church, who will deny and abandon the Faith, rather than 

remain with the Church during Her time of great suffering. Peter repented of 

this sin. Some of those Christians who deny Christ to avoid suffering will 

later repent (but they will also suffer much). And some who deny Christ will 

not repent (these will suffer more than those who repent).