212    The Bible and the Future of the World 

    These words apply to the end of the Forty Years, during the late  A.D. 

2030's, when the worst sufferings which the world has yet seen will occur. 

There will be a terrible, bloody war and severe natural disasters as well as 

supernatural punishments from God. These events foreshadow the 

sufferings of the 25th century, which will be even worse. 

    The Virgin Mary is describing the end of the sufferings of the Forty Years 

and the beginning of the time of peace and rebuilding which follows it. This 

description also applies to that time of great afflictions at the end of the 

Antichrist's reign in the 25th century. In both cases, there is great suffering 

for God's servants, followed by God's supernatural punishment of the 

wicked, followed by a time of peace and holiness. In the case of the Forty 

Years, the sufferings are less severe and the time of peace and holiness is not 

as glorious or as long lasting. 

    During the Forty Years (especially the  A.D. 2030's), the just will suffer 

greatly. The prayers and sufferings of the just will help to bring an end to 

that time of many horrors. Amazingly, despite all the great evil upon the 

earth, many great sinners will eventually repent and beg God for 

forgiveness. The faithful will call upon the help of the Blessed Virgin Mary. 

    Notice that the Virgin Mary says  all the people of God  will plead for 

her intercession. This means that the Christians of the world will be united 

in their belief in the Virgin Mary. At the present time it is not so. Many 

Protestants do not consider Mary to be an important intercessor between 

God and humanity. But by that time there will be great unity among 

Christians, even before the end of the sufferings and the beginning of the 

years of peace. 

    The enemies of God will be put to death by Jesus Christ and His angels. 

This will occur by a supernatural act of God, not by human acts of war or 

violence, and not by a natural disaster. This is an act of God's mercy as well 

as His justice. I believe that Mary is here referring to the Three Days of 

Darkness and the killing of a third of humanity during those three days, as 

described by the book of Revelation (Rev 9:13 19), which occurs  in late 

A.D. 2039 or early 2040. Also, after the end of Antichrist's reign (in the 25th 

century  A.D.), God will again send out His angels to destroy the wicked 

(Rev 19:21). The Virgin Mary's words apply to both the Forty Years and the 

time of the ten kings and Antichrist. 

    During the holy years which follow the punishment at the end of the 

Forty Years, the whole world will not yet be Christian. But the Church will 

have much influence over the civil governments. And all Christians will be 

united in one holy Church. The Church will heal and grow, and the Gospel 

will be preached with great success over all the earth. The peoples and 

nations of the world will be strongly affected by the great punishments, 

signs, and wonders at the end of the Forty Years. And the increase in