28    The Bible and the Future of the World 

sufferings. The third decade (2021 to 2030) will include the unification of all 

Christians in one Church, but amid many sufferings. The fourth decade 

(2031 to 2040) will include a widespread persecution of Christians (Mt 

24:9 13). Also in the last decade of the Forty Years, there will be another 

war, worse than the first one, but shorter. And, at the very end of the Forty 

Years, a series of unimaginable sufferings upon the whole world as a 

punishment from God (the first six trumpets of the seventh seal). 

    After The Forty Years,  there will be a time of relative peace and 

prosperity (in the A.D. 2040's). The Church will have great success in 

preaching the Gospel worldwide. This time will last for decades. 

    Gradually, the world and many members of the Church will slip into 

greater and greater sinfulness. As Jesus said,  And because wickedness is 

multiplied, most men's love will grow cold.  (Mt 24:12). There will be wars 

again and increased suffering all over the earth; the 24th century will  be 

particularly bad. There will be widespread persecutions of Christians (Mt 

24:9 13).  By  the late 24th  century  A.D., the ten kings spoken of by the 

prophet Daniel (Dan 7:24) and by the book of Revelation (Rev 17:12) will 

rule over the whole world. 

    Next, the worst persecution of Christians that the world will ever see will 

occur, during the nearly seven years when Antichrist rules over the world. 

The desolating sacrilege, the abomination, will occur during the reign of 

Antichrist, which follows the reign of the ten kings. Antichrist's reign occurs 

in the 25th century A.D. The Antichrist's reign over nearly the whole world 

will begin in the year A.D. 2431 by the Christian (Gregorian) calendar. The 

Church will bear Her greatest sufferings during this time (Mt 24:15 28). 

    The reign of Antichrist over the world lasts nearly seven years. It is ended 

by the power of God in the year A.D. 2437. God then punishes the wicked 

with a time of intense sufferings (Mt 24:29 31). After God destroys His 

enemies with great power, Christianity will reign supreme over all the earth 

for more than a thousand years.