The Crucifixion of the Church    71 

contrast, the part of the body commonly referred to as the wrist (where one 

would wear a wrist watch) is technically the distal end of the forearm. 

The Two Thieves (Luke 23:39 43) 

     One of the criminals who were hanged railed at him, saying, `Are you 

not the Christ? Save yourself and us!' But the other rebuked him, saying, 

`Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of 

condemnation? And we indeed justly; for we are receiving the due reward of 

our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong.' And he said, `Jesus, 

remember me when you come in your kingly power.' And he said to him, 

`Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise.'    

(Luke 23:39 43). 

    Jesus was not crucified alone, but with two robbers. Therefore, the 

Church will not suffer alone, but other sinners will be persecuted along with 

Christians. 

    Some of those who suffer with the Church during Her Crucifixion will be 

saved with the Church. And some will not. The good thief represents those 

sinners who are outside the Church, who will suffer with the Church and be 

converted and saved. The other thief represents those whose suffering does 

not yield the fruit of repentance and salvation. 

The Three Hours of Darkness (Mark 15:33) 

     And when the sixth hour had come, there was darkness over the whole 

land until the ninth hour.  (Mark 15:33). 

    The three hours of darkness symbolize the worst part of the Church's 

great suffering, which will last over three years. These are the years when 

Antichrist wages war against Christianity, with the help of some traitorous 

Christians. In the Gospels, Judas Iscariot's betrayal of Christ is a 

foreshadowing of those Christians who will assist Antichrist in fighting 

against Christ Jesus and His Church. 

    The three hours of darkness when Jesus was on the Cross also foreshadow 

the Three Days of Darkness at the end of the Forty Years (2039/2040). And 

it foreshadows the punishment of darkness, the Fifth Bowl of God's Wrath, 

(Rev 16:10), which will come upon the Antichrist's kingdom after his 

downfall. This last time of darkness is different, though, because it may last 

more than three days  and it  afflicts only the wicked, not the faithful 

members of the Church. It is God's just punishment, swift and sure.