Never before in history has sin become the norm. Today, sin rules throughout the world—even within societies that once called themselves Christian.

“And because wickedness is multiplied, most men’s love will grow cold.” (Mt 24:12)

“But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of stress. For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, inhuman, implacable, slanderers, profligates, fierce, haters of good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God.” (2 Tim 3:1-5)

“Also it was allowed to make war on the saints and to conquer them.” (Rev 13:7)

Today, scarcely any nations remain truly Christian. Europe—once the cradle of Christianity—has apostatized from its roots and is rapidly becoming Muslim. Throughout the world, the vast majority of the baptized are non-practicing. Even within the Church, many shepherds act like wolves in sheep’s clothing.

“Nevertheless, when the Son of man comes, will he find faith on earth?” (Lk 18:8)

“Let no one deceive you in any way; for that day will not come, unless the rebellion comes first.” (2 Thess 2:3)

“And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray.” (Mt 24:11)

Thanks to the tireless work of missionaries, by the nineteenth century the Gospel had reached practically every corner of the earth. The condition set by Christ is not that the Gospel be accepted, but that it be preached to all nations.

Today, only a few remote places remain where the name of Christ has never been heard. Yet there exists a religious congregation whose special mission is precisely to go to those forgotten corners of the world to proclaim the Gospel and thus hasten the Second Coming of Christ.

“And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached throughout the whole world, as a testimony to all nations; and then the end will come.” (Mt 24:14)

“And the gospel must first be preached to all nations.” (Mk 13:10)

It is true that wars have always existed; yet since the end of Christendom they have become far more widespread, ferocious, and continuous. In the twentieth century alone there were more than 130 armed conflicts, including two world wars. Geneva Academy of International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights (RULAC) portal records over 110 armed conflicts currently taking place around the world.

“And out came another horse, bright red; its rider was permitted to take peace from the earth, so that men should slay one another; and he was given a great sword.” (Rev 6:4)

“And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars.” (Mt 24:6)

“And when you hear of wars and tumults, do not be terrified; for this must first take place.” (Lk 21:9)

“So the four angels were released, who had been held ready for the hour, the day, the month, and the year, to kill a third of mankind. The number of the troops of cavalry was two hundred million; I heard their number.” (Rev 9:15-16)

After nearly nineteen centuries of diaspora, in 1948 the State of Israel was founded, and many Jews from around the world moved there. Although the majority still remain dispersed among the nations, the Jewish people once again have a homeland to which they can return.

“I will take you from the nations, and gather you from all the countries, and bring you into your own land.” (Ez 36:24)

“He will raise a signal for the nations, and will assemble the outcasts of Israel, and gather the dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the earth.” (Is 11:12)

“Behold, I will bring them from the north country, and gather them from the farthest parts of the earth.” (Jer 31:8)

“For the children of Israel shall dwell many days without king or prince, without sacrifice or pillar… Afterward the children of Israel shall return and seek the Lord their God, and David their king; and they shall come in fear to the Lord and to his goodness in the latter days.” (Hos 3:4-5)

The conversion of the Jews at the end of time is categorically prophesied by St. Paul and also appears in the Book of Revelation. About a century ago there arose a movement among Jews who recognize Jesus Christ as the promised Messiah. Though they lack Trinitarian baptism, this group has been growing steadily, and each day more Jews acknowledge Christ as their Messiah.

The ground for the massive and definitive conversion of Israel seems to be gradually being prepared.

“A hardening has come upon part of Israel, until the full number of the Gentiles come in, and so all Israel will be saved; as it is written.” (Rom 11:25-26)

“For the children of Israel shall dwell many days without king or prince, without sacrifice or pillar… Afterward the children of Israel shall return and seek the Lord their God, and David their king; and they shall come in fear to the Lord and to his goodness in the latter days.” (Hos 3:4-5)

“And I have other sheep, that are not of this fold; I must bring them also, and they will heed my voice. So there shall be one flock, one shepherd.” (Jn 10:16)

“And I heard the number of the sealed, a hundred and forty-four thousand sealed, out of every tribe of the sons of Israel.” (Rev 7:4)

The Antichrist will be a world leader. He will rule over the nations, and to do so he will need a global political and financial apparatus to establish his hegemony. That system is already taking shape in our own days.

The power of Great Money moves the gears of the world from the shadows, while humanity’s resources are increasingly concentrated in a few hands. The 2030 Agenda pushes the world toward complete globalization. Only a worldwide conflict remains for a single global governance to be consolidated.

“And they worshiped the beast, saying, ‘Who is like the beast, and who can fight against it?’ … And authority was given it over every tribe and people and tongue and nation, and all who dwell on earth will worship it.” (Rev 13:4-8)

“Thus he said: ‘As for the fourth beast, there shall be a fourth kingdom on earth, which shall be different from all the kingdoms, and it shall devour the whole earth, and trample it down, and break it to pieces.’” (Dan 7:23)

“Why do the nations conspire, and the peoples plot in vain? The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the Lord and his anointed, saying, ‘Let us burst their bonds asunder, and cast their cords from us.’” (Ps 2:1-3)

“But Jesus turning to them said, ‘Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children. For behold, the days are coming when they will say, “Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that never bore, and the breasts that never nursed.” Then they will begin to say to the mountains, “Fall on us”; and to the hills, “Cover us.”’” (Lk 23:28-31)

The phrase “Then they will begin to say to the mountains, ‘Fall on us,’ and to the hills, ‘Cover us’”, used here by Christ, appears again in the prophet Hosea and in the Book of Revelation, referring to the reaction of the impious before the Second Coming of Christ and the Final Judgment of God. There is no doubt, then, that the warning of Christ is both prophetic and apocalyptic.

From the creation of the world and in every culture, children were regarded as a blessing for a woman. Blessed was she who could bear many; barrenness was considered a curse. Such had always been the view everywhere. To those of ancient times, Christ’s words would have sounded like madness.

Yet after millennia, for the first time—and on a global scale—the trend has reversed. Thanks to feminism and gender ideology, the woman who bears many children is now deemed “cursed,” while the one who has none is called “blessed”: empowered, free, and happy. The prophetic words of Christ are being fulfilled before our eyes.

Finally, many things foretold in Revelation—once thought impossible—are now perfectly feasible.

For example:

• “‘Alas, alas, for the great city where all who had ships at sea grew rich by her wealth! For in one hour she has been laid waste.’” (Rev 18:19)

The total destruction of a great city in a single hour is today possible through the use of a nuclear bomb.

• “The number of the troops of cavalry was two hundred million; I heard their number.” (Rev 9:16)

An army of two hundred million, unimaginable in ancient times, could easily be fielded today by China alone—or by an alliance of Eastern nations.

• “Also it causes all, both small and great, both rich and poor, both free and slave, to be marked on the right hand or the forehead, so that no one can buy or sell unless he has the mark, that is, the name of the beast or the number of its name. This calls for wisdom: let him who has understanding reckon the number of the beast, for it is a human number, its number is six hundred sixty-six.” (Rev 13:16-18)

The number 666, symbol of the mark of the Beast, represents one of the most chilling mysteries of Revelation. The sacred text foretells that those who lack this mark will be unable to buy or sell anything—something that until recently seemed impossible to enforce globally.

Yet the constant digitalization of finance, the spread of virtual wallets, and digital identification have made such control entirely possible. Today, financial systems allow those in power to exclude any dissident, condemning them to total social and economic isolation.

A preview of this mechanism occurred in 2020 with the vaccination certificates, which restricted free movement and access to essential services. In some countries, subcutaneous microchips are already being tested as digital wallets, payment systems, personal IDs, travel permits, health records, and GPS trackers.

This system—already in existence—will continue to spread worldwide, until refusing to adopt it becomes synonymous with complete exclusion from social and economic life. Many other things foretold in the Book of Revelation—impossible for the ancients, and even unthinkable until just a few years ago—have now become entirely possible, thanks to the astonishing progress of technology.