26    The Bible and the Future of the World 

are not alarmed  (Mt 24:6). He also talked of enduring to the end and of 

preaching the Gospel to the world. But now He says,  flee.  

    The suffering of this time is greater than earlier sufferings. And, if it 

occurs in winter or on a sabbath, the suffering will be increased all the more. 

There will be great suffering in any case, but the sufferings could be lessened 

by prayer. Jesus doesn't say which way it will turn out. We must pray to 

obtain the lesser amount of suffering. 

    This time of great suffering is the time described in Revelation, the nearly 

seven years of the reign of Antichrist over the world. It will occur in the  

25th century  A.D., during the 2430's by the current Christian (Gregorian) 

calendar. The Antichrist defeats the king of the South in A.D. 2430. He then 

puts down two more kings, without a major war, in 2430/2431.  Then, in 

A.D. 2431, the Antichrist becomes ruler of all ten kingdoms. Nearly the 

whole world is in his power. 

      `And if those days had not been shortened, no human being would be 

saved; but for the sake of the elect those days will be shortened.'    

(Mt 24:22). 

    That the days will be shortened means that this great weight of sufferings 

is less than what humanity deserves. 

      `For false Christs and false prophets will arise and show great signs and 

wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the elect. Lo, I have told you 

beforehand.'   (Mt 24:24 25). 

    Again, Jesus warns about false saviors and false prophets, but notice the 

difference. This time the false prophets are able to show great signs and 

wonders. They have powers which seem miraculous. If anyone says that 

Christ has arrived during those days, even if they can perform apparent 

miracles, do not believe it. 

      `Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be 

darkened, and the moon will not  give its light, and the stars will fall from 

heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken; then will appear the 

sign of the Son of man in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will 

mourn, and they will see the Son of man coming on the clouds of heaven 

with power and great glory; and he will send out his angels with a loud 

trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one 

end of heaven to the other.'   (Mt 24:29 31). 

    This passage describes the order of events after the Church's great 

suffering. At the end of the greater tribulation, the  Antichrist is defeated, 

(but there is a space of time for repentance). Then, Jesus appears on the 

clouds of Heaven; this is the Second Coming of Jesus Christ, which has been 

anticipated by the Church for so long. Finally, the suffering of the faithful is 

over, but the suffering of the wicked has just begun.