The Forty Years    135 

to feed himself (Lk 15:14). The great famine is now widespread and begins 

to be acknowledged as a serious problem in 2014.  

    The prodigal son suffers greatly from the famine with many others (Lk 

15:15). The great famine reaches its height in 2015. The prodigal son 

continues to suffer from the famine, so he considers what to do (Lk 15:16). 

The great famine continues unabated in 2016, so people consider what to 

do. The Christian Churches begin to consider unification.  

    The prodigal son realizes that food (Lk 15:17) and family (Lk 15:18) are 

both to be found by reuniting with his father and elder brother. The 

Protestant and Orthodox Churches realize, in 2017, that relief from the 

famine is to be found through unification. And, in 2018, they realize that 

spiritual food can also be found through becoming a part of the Catholic 

Church. The prodigal son repents thoroughly of his differences with this 

father and brother (Lk 15:19). In 2019, the Protestant Churches repent of 

their differences in faith and morals with the teachings of Christ in the 

Catholic Church. 

    The prodigal son then approaches his family home, but is still at a 

distance from being reunited with his family. Yet, despite the distance, his 

father embraces him and blesses him (Lk 15:20). In 2020, the Protestant and 

Orthodox Churches approach the Catholic Church for unification. But there 

is still substantial distance and obstacles to complete unification. Yet the 

Father in Heaven blesses this major advance towards unification and gives 

them great blessings, as does the Catholic Church. The prodigal son tells his 

father of his failings and his unworthiness (Lk 15:21). In 2021, the Churches 

admit to God, and to the Catholic Church, their errors of faith and morals, 

and their unworthiness to be forgiven and accepted. 

    The father then forgives his son and accepts him. He gives his son a robe 

and a ring and two shoes (Lk 15:22). In 2022, God forgives the errors of the 

various denominations. The Catholic Church accepts the Protestant 

Churches and makes them (now no longer protesting) full and equal 

partners in the one holy Church. The robe represents the robe of priesthood, 

meaning that many formerly Protestant ministers and laypersons will now 

become ordained Catholic priests. The ring represents the Bishop's ring, 

meaning that some of the Protestant ministers and Protestant bishops 

become ordained Catholic Bishops, with the full authority and responsibility 

of that role. The two shoes represent the roles of missionaries, which is often 

filled by religious brothers and religious sisters (each has a different way of 

fulfilling that role). Some formerly Protestant ministers and laypersons will 

become religious brothers or religious sisters and will undertake missionary 

roles in the world. 

    The father then holds a feast for his son who has returned home (Lk 

15:23). In 2023, the last vestiges of the great famine will be overcome, and