Expert: Charlie B - 11/29/2007

Question
Dear Griff,

                     I have a calling to become a nun still. I thought I didnt at first and now it is tugging at my heart I am trying to ask my mom if her and I can one day go on a retreat together, for a weekend. Or to visit a convent for a day. I have a calling to Poor Clares of Perpetual Adoration sisters the order of St. Joseph. I feel drawn there for some time at first I thought I was called to become a dominican nun but then now I found my home.

The Poor Clares of Perpetual Adoration are a branch of the Poor Clares, a contemplative order in the Franciscan tradition. The PCPA was founded in France in 1854 by Marie Claire Bouillevaux. The best known poor clare sister is Mother Angelica from TBN. I looked at there schedule and it fits me well with what I was looking for:


Schedule of the Poor Clare nuns
5:00       Arise    
5:45      Office of Readings/Morning Prayer    
7:00      Mass/Roasary    
8:00      Breakfast/Household Duties    
9:00      Work    
11:30      Little Hours    
12:00      Lunch    
1:00      Free Time    
2:00      Franciscan Crown    
2:30      Lesson/Study    
3:00      Work    
4:30      Evening Prayer/Spiritual Reading/Meditation    
6:00      Supper    
7:00      Recreation    
7:45      Novitiate Prayers    
8:00      Night Prayer/Grand Silence    
10:00      Lights Out   

I have a few friends that are nuns and pastors/priest. They help me in discerning my calling a lot. My dearest friend Sr. Jo anna S. is a saint to me she has been there with me since I founded my parish from day one. I love her so much. I have great respect for her.

I have a question for you though? Are the dramatic events we have witnessed in Iraq--since “Iraqi Freedom” brought about dramatic changes there--the ignition of Armageddon? With the many signs of the biblically prophesied end of the age now storming at our generation on history’s horizon, we must examine the things involving the place called the “cradle of civilization” carefully. What is the catholic view point of this notion?"Armageddon" is the biblical term most everyone thinks of whenever war begins to look imminent in the Middle East. Even the mainstream news organizations bring this troubling name into their reportorial mix at times when war seems to loom. Armageddon is prophesied in Revelation to be an incrementally stepped-up war, rather than a single battle. It will be a conflict that progressively involves more and more nations until the military forces of all nations of the world come together in a triangular valley called Jezreel, near an ancient place called Megiddo. There is a peace treaty that is starting now is this the start of the war in Megiddo the ancient valley of a world war three?

A reasonable question for those who truly seek world peace is this: Why is Israel always at the center of the problem that threatens to involve the whole world in thermonuclear war?

World leaders cannot understand the answer God’s Word, the Bible, gives to this “reasonable” question. This is because the leaders of the world reason in line with Satan’s thinking, not in line with God’s thinking, which comes from His perfect foreknowledge. Today’s world leaders believe they can find the formula for peace totally apart from taking into consideration God’s explanation of the supernatural causes involved.

Concerning the obstacles Israel presents to Middle East and world peace in our time, God, through revelation given in symbolic language to the prophet John, tells about ancient hatred that spawned and perpetuates the problem:

"And there appeared a great wonder in heaven; a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars: And she being with child cried, travailing in birth, and pained to be delivered. And there appeared another wonder in heaven; and behold a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon his heads. And his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven, and did cast them to the earth: and the dragon stood before the woman which was ready to be delivered, for to devour her child as soon as it was born. And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and to his throne. And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and threescore days" (Rev. 12:1-6).

Revelation, chapter 12, tells about a “woman,” which refers to Israel, the Jewish people out of whom the Deliverer, Jesus Christ, will come. The great red dragon with seven heads, ten horns, and seven crowns, whose tail draws one-third of the stars, refers to Satan. The stars are the angels who rebelled and followed Lucifer, who was cast out of Heaven.

Satan hates Israel because it is the nation chosen by God to bring the Savior into the world. The Devil, as he is also called, is prophesied to do all within his considerable power to destroy that people. Antichrist will be the Devil’s world dictator who will try to carry out Israel’s destruction, as outlined in Daniel, chapters 7, 8, 9, and 11, and in Revelation chapter 13.

So again we ask the question: Are the dramatic events we have witnessed in Iraq since “Iraqi Freedom” brought about dramatic changes there the ignition of Armageddon? Saddam Hussein and most all other dictators in the Middle East have long been blood-vowed to completely destroy Israel. They have stated they want every Jew drowned in the Mediterranean or to meet an even more terrible fate. At the same time, the answer is “no;” the dynamic drama playing out in Iraq won’t be the thing that sets the Armageddon war campaign in motion. We have God’s Word on it. Jesus Christ, who was and is God the Son, said, ““And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet” (Matt. 24:4).

The world has been in this time of “wars and rumors of wars” throughout history. Jesus here did, however, strongly imply that there will be a great increase in the number of wars and rumors of wars as the end of the age draws near. There will be, Jesus prophesied, wars and rumors of war with greater frequency and intensity. Certainly, the 20th century was the bloodiest of all centuries, with millions of people killed in war. Certainly, too, with the fear of thermonuclear war and the horrific destruction it would bring, “rumors of wars” were more pronounced than at any other time. “But the end is not yet,” Christ said. The war with Saddam’s genocidal forces was but one more of the “rumors of war” that became a war in fact.

Iraq/Babylon?

Is there anything of prophetic significance we can make of the second war against Saddam Hussein’s Iraq? Does the Bible have anything to say about end-time Iraq?

As a matter of fact, yes. Quite a bit. But Bible prophecy speaks of Iraq as being in an apparently changed form from the Iraq of today. Prophecy again calls that region Babylon, and it is in big trouble with God. Jeremiah the prophet foretold Babylon’s end-time plight:

"The word that the LORD spake against Babylon and against the land of the Chaldeans by Jeremiah the prophet. Declare ye among the nations, and publish, and set up a standard; publish, and conceal not: say, Babylon is taken, Bel is confounded, Merodach is broken in pieces; her idols are confounded, her images are broken in pieces. For out of the north there cometh up a nation against her, which shall make her land desolate, and none shall dwell therein: they shall remove, they shall depart, both man and beast" (Jer. 50:1-3).

The prophet said further:

"Therefore, behold, the days come, that I will do judgment upon the graven images of Babylon: and her whole land shall be confounded, and all her slain shall fall in the midst of her. Then the heaven and the earth, and all that is therein, shall sing for Babylon: for the spoilers shall come unto her from the north, saith the LORD" (Jer. 51:47-48).

Babylon's Last-Days Role

It becomes obvious, if one believes Bible prophecy should be taken literally, that the area now called Iraq is mentioned prominently as having a role to play in history yet to unfold. We can be sure the prophetic Scriptures haven’t yet been fulfilled because the region has never been rendered completely uninhabitable like foretold by Jeremiah:

"And the land shall tremble and sorrow: for every purpose of the LORD shall be performed against Babylon, to make the land of Babylon a desolation without an inhabitant" (Jeremiah 51: 29).

Does the prophecy above indicate that nuclear devastation is prophetically scheduled for the area presently occupied by the nation called Iraq? Radioactivity that contaminates the land to the point it cannot be inhabited seems to fit such a scenario.

Prophecy Scholars Differ On Babylon

When it comes to the subject of Babylon in prophecy, excellent prophecy scholars hold different views. Some believe that an actual city will be rebuilt on the very real estate once occupied by ancient Babylon. This, they believe, will be the great religious and commercial center that will be destroyed in one hour, as indicated in Revelation: And the kings of the earth, who have committed fornication and lived deliciously with her, shall bewail her, and lament for her, when they shall see the smoke of her burning, Standing afar off for the fear of her torment, saying, Alas, alas, that great city Babylon, that mighty city! for in one hour is thy judgment come" (Rev. 18:9-10). Are we seeing the last days now? Why arent young children today answering there call from God to go to priesthood or become a religious brother or sister?Although Saddam Hussein began rebuilding a city on the site of ancient Babylon, it is at this time many, many years away from even having a chance of again becoming a great world commercial and/or religious center. It is scarcely more than a tiny, token symbol of the magnificence that once occupied that area. Some believe that even the United Nations might be moved to a rebuilt Babylon as a gesture of world community and harmony. It will be Israel’s agreement with the Antichrist to sign that peace covenant that will begin the tribulation, or apocalypse. This also sets in motion a progressive series of conflicts that grows into the war called Armageddon. It is happening now!If you look at the land of Israel we're our catholic religion started, since Israel’s rebirth in 1948-2007 how many years is this 59 years a generation is 40 years. This is more then a generation Griff!With the ancient biblical prophecies involving the city of Babylon for the wrap-up of human history, it is incumbent upon every student of Bible prophecy to examine news coming out of that land where God said the first human beings were created. Reading Zechariah Chapter 5 leads the believer in Bible prophecy to observe that wickedness/evil is scheduled to return to the place called “Shinar.” That’s present-day Iraq! Wait a minute—isn’t the Peace Treaty (the “Covenant”) the commencement of the 70th Week of Daniel’s Prophecy?From now until the latter part of 2008, many prophecies are going to begin to be fulfilled, especially the Seven Thunders of the Book of Revelation, which the apostle John saw but was restricted from recording. Those thunders are revealed in this book, as well as detailed accounts of the final three and one-half years of man's self-rule on earth, which are recorded in the account of the Seventh Seal of Revelation.


Some of these prophecies concern the demise of the United States over the next year, which will be followed by man's final world war. This last war will be the result of clashing religions and the governments they sway. Billions will die! This time will far exceed even the very worst times in all human history.

If you look at events now, These events will begin with more acts of terrorism, along with natural disasters, that will far exceed the devastation of 9/11 as it came to pass. The magnitude of these events will lead to the demise of the United States and the United Kingdom, which will lead to World War III. All people of earth of God and the ungodly: You need to know what is coming and why!I think antichrist Satan is trying to rebuild the Tower of Babel which some believe is a 1 world government. He has had many players helping including some US presidents & politicians. The current Pope today is concerned to warn others about this figure! And he said to be a watch tower!'THE' antichrist will appear to do what NO MAN has ever been able to do before. Bring Peace to the MiddleEast. For this reason MANY in the nation of Israel will believe him to be their long awaited Messiah. Many believe he will be a JEW. Whoever he is, he will hold great sway and power over the muslems so He well could be Muslem.Possibly someone like the President of Iran.Watch for a 7 year peace treaty.Why did Martin Luther, Roger Williams, John Calvin, John Wesley, Melancthon, Huss, Jerome, all Baptist, Methodist, Prysbeterian, and Lutheran founders all identify the office of the Pope as the "Son of Perdition" and the Vatican as the "Anti-Christ Beast"? Could they all be wrong? I mean maybe these founders are the antichrist not the pope for heaven's sakes! I feel that God is telling me something because in some ways I feel like time is speeding up so fast that its like crazy! The anti-Christ is here Jesus told me. And he will declare a state of emergency around November of 2008, in order to stay in control of the U.S.Here they go again calling the pope/antichrist God.

God said dont call his faithful the antichrist that is disrespect!If the Roman Catholic Pope is "Jesus Christ's Vicar On Earth", then why on earth discriminate him he is a Good person!Our lady told us for years over! For I am a true catholic and I say now here he here he let us dress in our christian armor and fight for God for We CHRISTIANS are ON God side! Merry Christmas and Happy Advent season!  

Answer
Jacqueline,
Thanks for your post!  First, call me Charlie (vs. Griff).  

My first question is a question to your statement: "..since I founded my parish from day one."  You founded a Catholic Parish?  Tell me more about that ...is there a ordained Priest serving you?  What part of the world are located?  I'm curious to hear more--

I'm familiar with Poor Clares order, and you are on a path, which I'd encourage continuing -- to your question: Are the dramatic events we have witnessed in Iraq--since “Iraqi Freedom” brought about dramatic changes there--the ignition of Armageddon?

The answer is open to interpretration, as both the media and individuals can speculate all they want about what the "signs of the times" mean.  Let me explain more --

The answer is "yes."  The signs are self-evident for anyone who wants to look at the many that are present. Since 1973, having aborted over 49 million (that's a fifth of the US population) is a pretty clear sign.

Yes, there is an invisible, spiritual war being fought on many fronts.  One example of a visible one is good media vs. bad media.  The new movie, "The Golden Compass" is an example of very bad media, seeking children as their targets to "create your own deamon" on the movie's website.  To get the whole story, go to www.dads.org and click on top right for Golden Compass by Steve Wood of St. Joseph's Convenant Keepers.

An example of good media, in my opinion, is what a ST. Joseph's Communications 2-year old spinoff, called www.lighthousecatholicmedia.com is doing.  If you visit the site, decide to order one of their several, excellent CDs, put in promo code: 1528.  Bishop Fulton Sheen, Dr. Scott Hahn and many other superb speakers on topics like confession, contraceptions, apologetics, teens to anger & forgiveness are featured.  Check it out ...

Are we in the "end-times?"  If we're not, we're on the doorstep or cusp.  As a former soldier and graduate of West Point, I've studied history and see the Middle East as a very challenging situation that has the potential to explode very easily... let's pray it does not.  

If you want two books to read about prophecy and end-times, read Michael Brown's The Final Hour, or the book, The Thunder of Justice.  Those two books alone was a major part of my conversion as a Protestant to Catholicism.

Keep up the path and work!  God bless --
Charlie
www.breedingtrust.com or www.thepepcoach.com