Church of God News

Here are some comments from my book The Last Pope:

Apparitions Claiming to Be Mary May Be Involved in the End

Although many of the Catholic prophecies show that their Great Monarch will spread a version of “Catholicism” all over the world and a pope will do miracles, it perhaps should be mentioned that others indicate that some type of Marian image/apparition will be involved in insuring his success over non-Catholics:

R. Gerald Culleton (20^th century): During the reign of the Great Monarch and the Angelic Pastor the Catholic Church will spread throughout the world, conversions will be innumerable…The Blessed Virgin will be the chief one in gaining victory over all heresy and schism because of her power over the demons in the last ages of the world will be especially great. This will be recognized by her enthronement as “Mistress and Queen of Men’s Hearts.”

St. Louis-Marie Grignion De Montfort (18^th century): The power of Mary over all the devils will be particularly outstanding in the last period of time. She will extend the Kingdom of Christ over the idolaters and Moslems, and there will come glorious era when Mary is the Ruler and Queen of Hearts.

St. Louis De Montfort (died 1720): The training and education of the great saints, who will appear towards the end of the world, is reserved for the Mother of God…These great saints, full of grace and zeal, will be chosen in order to oppose the enemies of God who will appear everywhere. By their word and example these saints will bring the whole world to a true veneration of Mary.

Notice that this alleged “Mary” also has the power over the demons. As the Bible never indicates that the biblical Mary has this power, this is apparently a reference to a demonic manifestation/apparition claiming to be Mary. And notice that many are working for this apparition to put down those who oppose the extreme veneration of Mary.

Here is some of what the Roman Catholic academic Jean Guitton concluded in 1973 about what some of the apparitions were teaching:

One of the themes of Grignon de Monfort is that devotion to Mary would grow toward the end of time, that the progress of this cult would be a sign of the end times.

Also notice the following from Pope John Paul II:

Christ will be victorious by means of Her, because He wishes that the victories of the Church in the contemporary world and in the future will be united to Her.

The idea that “Mary” will be part of the end times is clearly within Roman Catholic literature.

Here is another Roman Catholic prophecy:

Anna-Katarina Emmerick (July 12, 1820): I had a vision of the holy Emperor Henry. I saw him at night kneeling alone at the foot of the main alter in a great and beautiful church…and I saw the Blessed Virgin coming down all alone…The wine was as red as blood, and there was also some water. The Mass was short. The Gospel of St. John was not read at the end. When the Mass had ended, Mary came up to Henry (the Emperor), and she extended her right hand towards him, saying that it was in recognition of his purity. Then, she urged him not to falter…

Catholic writer Yves Dupont (20^th century): Henry is the Great Monarch, chosen by God to restore all things to Christ…The Blessed Virgin urges him not to falter.

Here is what another Roman Catholic wrote related to “Mary”:

Blessed Mary of Agreda (17^th century): It was revealed to me that through the intercession of the Mother of God all heresies will disappear. The victory over heresies had been reserved by Christ for His Blessed Mother. In the last times, the Lord will in a special manner spread the renown of His Mother: Mary began salvation, and by her intercession it will be completed. Before the second coming of Christ, Mary must, more than ever, shine in mercy, might, and grace in order to bring unbelievers into the Catholic Faith. The power of Mary in the last times over the demons will be very conspicuous. Mary will extend the reign of Christ over the heathen and the Mohammedans…

It is interesting to note that several things attributed to Mary are the same or similar to those of the Great Monarch. Thus, perhaps the Great Monarch, or some of his followers like the last pope, will somehow claim to have seen and/or received help from “Mary.” Protestants who are starting to look more towards “Mary,” may help fulfill the Agreda prophecy above. There is a very high probability that in the future, one or more “Marian” apparitions will become public and mislead many (cf. Isaiah 47; 2 Thessalonians 2:9-12).

If more public “Marian” appearances come to pass, then these apparitions may be one of the many signs and lying wonders (cf. 2 Thessalonians 2:9; Matthew 24:24; Mark 13:22; Revelation 16:14) and even “sorcery” (Revelation 18:23; 19:20; Isaiah 47:9,12; Nahum 3:4) that will help persuade people to support the future King of the North. The Beast, which certain Catholic prophets seem to call the Great Monarch, will then help persuade the world to accept a more ecumenical form of Catholicism.

Some improperly consider that a non-biblical version of “Mary is our hope. She is…our sign”…Yet, the Bible warns that a certain virgin, lady, city, mother, and harlot, all make the same type of statements as all are condemned (Isaiah 47:1-14; Zephaniah 2:15; Revelation 17:1-18; 18:7-8), despite “miraculous signs” sometimes called sorceries being involved—all should be careful not to fall for them or their Babylonian system.

The Bible specifically warns about a “daughter of the Chaldeans” which considers itself “the Lady of the Kingdoms” that has “children” and long had sorceries and enchantments that mislead others (Isaiah 47:5-12) that will be punished (Revelation 18:7-8). This biblically condemned “Lady of the Kingdoms” makes nearly identical statements to a particular city (Zephaniah 2:15) and a harlot who is associated with the city on seven hills/mountains (Revelation 17:1-18; 18:7)…

The “Great Monarch” and the “miraculous last pope” seem to resemble quite closely the Beast of the Sea and the Beast of the Earth that the Bible warns about. Even if you see “miracles” associated with them or from apparitions that claim to be Mary, the Bible teaches that Christians are not to look mainly to outward signs:

7 For we walk by faith, and not by sight. (2 Corinthians 5:7, DRB)

Those who are aware of these matters prior to the time that they happen perhaps will have enough “love of the truth” that they, unlike others, will not end up being deceived (2 Thessalonians 2:9-12). (Thiel B. The Last Pope. Nazarene Books, 2013, pp. 106-111,112)