The Forty Years    121 

    You do not notice much in the way of change yet (2001), but by the end 

of this decade (by 2009 and 2010) it will be unmistakable. And about the 

time of the end of this decade and the beginning of the next, the events 

described in the Seven Seals in the Book of Revelation will begin. But the 

Forty Years is not the time of the  end of the world, nor the time of the 

Antichrist, nor the time of the Second Coming of Jesus. However, it is the 

time of the sufferings described in the first part of the Book of Revelation. 

    After the Forty Years, there will be a respite from the sufferings, followed 

by a long period of time when sin and sufferings increase. Thereafter comes 

the time of the remainder of the sufferings described in Revelation. Thus the 

Forty Years is the beginning of a long period of time and a long sequence of 

events leading to the Return of Jesus Christ in glory and the establishment of 

peace and holiness on earth (in the mid 25th century). The Triumph of the 

Virgin Mary's Immaculate Heart began in the Jubilee Year 2000 but will be 

completed only with the Return of Jesus in glory very many years later. 

Why God Sends Sufferings Upon the World 

     And the people of Israel again did what was evil in the sight of the 

L

ORD

; and the L

ORD

 gave them into the hand of the Philistines for forty 

years.  (Judges 13:1). 

    In the book of Judges, as throughout the Old Testament, God blessed His 

people, Israel. But when they sinned, God punished them. Sometimes the 

punishment was to be defeated in battle or to be conquered in war. Then, 

after a time of punishment and repentance, God delivered His people, often 

by raising up a holy leader who had God's blessing and help. 

    This verse from Holy Scripture (Judges 13:1) is a prophecy for the present 

time. Christians, who are the new Israel, have sinned much against God. 

God has been patient, giving blessings to sinners and restraining His 

punishment, so as to guide them to repentance. But many Christians persist 

in their sins. Therefore, God will make this verse come true for the present 

generation of Christians. 

    Many Christians throughout the world have abandoned the teachings of 

Christ and done what was evil in God's eyes. Because Christians have 

committed so many sins, year after year without repentance, God will give 

them into the hand of the Arabs for many years, (beginning in the  A.D. 

2010's). The Arab nations will be like a rod in God's hand to punish and 

correct Christians for their many sins. 

     He will raise a signal for a nation afar off, and whistle for it from the 

ends of the earth; and lo, swiftly, speedily it comes! None is weary, none 

stumbles, none slumbers or sleeps, not a waistcloth is loose, not a sandal 

thong broken; their arrows are sharp, all their bows are bent, their horses'