206    The Bible and the Future of the World 

from much injustice and many evils will come upon them. This happens 

because they refuse to worship God, from whom comes all that is just and 

true and good. 

    Again, these words apply mainly to the time of the reign of the ten kings 

and the time of Antichrist's reign in the 25th century. They apply to a lesser 

extent to the sufferings during the Forty Years, when there will be war and 

civil disorder, especially in Europe. 

15.   The holy Father will suffer much. I will be with him until the end to 

receive his sacrifice.  

16.   The wicked will make an attempt several times on his life without 

power to do harm to his days; but neither he, nor his successor [who will not 

reign long,] will see the triumph of the Church of God.  

    What sacrifice is it that the Virgin Mary will receive from the Pope? It is 

the sacrifice of his martyrdom. Mary is telling us that the Pope will endure 

much suffering and then give up his life for Christ. Many of the Popes of the 

early Church also died as martyrs during times of persecution. During any 

time of persecution, it may be that one Pope after another will suffer death 

for Christ. 

    Do not be dismayed to learn that the Popes will suffer  much. True 

servants of God must suffer as Christ suffered. How could it be otherwise? 

And those Popes who suffer much for God will have the special help of 

Jesus and Mary. 

    The wicked will make several unsuccessful attempts on the life of the 

Pope. The  phrase  without power to do harm to his days  could also be 

translated:  without being able to shorten his life.  They will fail to shorten 

his reign and his life because it is God who sets the limit on how long each 

Pope reigns. But when God wills it, then each Pope goes to his death. If any 

Pope dies a martyr at the hands of the wicked, it is by God's will and 

Providence. 

    During the early Church, one Pope after another went to his death as a 

martyr. So it will be again. During the Forty Years, one Pope after another 

will be martyred or will have a short reign. Then again during the time of the 

ten kings (late 24th/early 25th century), to a much greater extent, one Pope 

after another will suffer martyrdom for the Faith. 

    The Pope will not see the triumph of the Church of God because the Pope 

will be killed  (about  A.D. 2430) just before the Antichrist takes control of 

nearly the whole world. During the nearly seven years of the Antichrist's 

reign, there will be no Pope in the Church. Then, when Christ returns, no