What is God saying in evil times?

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Let’s face it. It’s over. The days when anyone can be a lukewarm Christian are over. Either we are fully and enthusiastically on the side of Christ, where we might very well end up crucified, or we are vulnerable to the increased activities of demons, i.e., the hardships of evil times that God allows because of our sins. It might feel “safe” to have a mediocre, non-risky faith, but that’s only an illusion — and a dangerous one at that.

Lots of Warnings

All around the world throughout the 20th century and on into the current time, the Blessed Mother has been showing up in apparitions to warn and to cajole and to plead with sinners to repent. All around the world, saints and mystics have prophesied what would happen if sin became as widely accepted as it now is. And now, all around the world, the Holy Spirit is anointing many ordinary, faith-filled Christians to warn us and to prepare us for the inevitable results of the world’s unbridled sinfulness.

Here’s an example. After writing this article, one of the YouTube channels I subscribe to published a video in which the speaker (Ralph Martin) said the same thing I did at the top of this article. Cool, huh?! Here’s that video:

God will not hold back his justice forever. Demons know that God is soon going to do something tremendous to bring his justice into the world, and so they are desperately trying to cause as much damage as they can. They have upped their efforts to take to hell as many souls as they can before Christ intervenes.

For faith-filled followers of Christ, this is good news. The worse an evil gets, the bigger the blessings. Nothing happens that God has not chosen to allow, no matter how terrible or disruptive it gets, because he knows that it’s the best (perhaps only) way to turn stubborn hearts toward Christ and bring more souls to heaven. God is still and always will be in charge.

The bullseye of the devil’s target is the USA because it was built on Christian principles and, when it became the strongest nation in the world, it began exporting democracy and Godly principles to other countries. So of course the devil has been trying to export its own “good is evil and evil is good” principles via the US. (Legalizing abortion is an example of this.)

Democracy, with its freedom of religion, freedom of speech, and other freedoms, is a threat to demons. Communism and socialism are tools that demons can more readily use because their leaders and promoters have other gods. They can be more easily manipulated by demons to squash freedom and silence Christians. So of course the devil is trying hard to take down US democracy. We recently saw the Marxism-style destruction of statues of the heroes of democracy. It wasn’t long before Christian statues became targets.

It’s going to get worse before it gets better. We will have lulls that God provides so we can catch our breaths, but it’s going to get worse before it gets better.

What can we do?

I’ll never forget the day I entered church for daily Mass and discovered that the holy water had been taken away. The virus was coming and holy water was no longer safe (we were told). I was reminded of what exorcists have said: Holy water is very powerful in helping us stay safe from demonic interference. Demons flee from holy water.

Blessed Pope Pius IX (1792-1878) knew this. He said, “Holy water has a special power to defend us against all attacks of the devil.” And there is an additional benefit: “When we make the sign of the cross with holy water, we gain each time an indulgence of one hundred days.”

Did you know that?

It’s an ancient sacramental. Blessed Pius IX renewed it in 1876, under these conditions:

The sign of the cross must be made with holy water blessed by a Catholic priest.
We must say: “In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.”
We must have genuine contrition for our sins.
We must be in the state of grace. Therefore, be sure to do this immediately after every Confession or after Mass if you sincerely use the Penitential Rite and receive Jesus in the Holy Eucharist.

But what if Confession and the Holy Eucharist are not available to you because of the pandemic or any other valid reason? Make a heart-felt Act of Contrition privately before God, with the full intention of going to Confession as soon as possible. (Good News Ministries has provided this and a longer version adapted from from Daniel 9:4-24 at gnm.org/prayers/spiritual-communion-when-you-cant-go-to-mass/.)

What if holy water is not available? If you have access to a priest, you have access to holy water. Take a bottle of tap water from your home and go to a priest and ask him to bless it.

What else can we do?

Remind yourself often that what is terrible for the world is a glory for faithful followers of Christ who know how to lean on him in everything. “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future” (Jeremiah 29:11).

Now, during evil times, is the time to focus on learning how to lean on Christ in everything.

Pray: “Jesus, I trust in You. Take care of everything.”

Pray the Rosary every day. (We have several online rosaries at gnm.org/prayers/pray-the-rosary.) Increase your relationship with the Blessed Mother by praying this meaningfully. And develop a devotion to Saint Joseph, protector of homes and families. I add this to the end of the Hail Mary: “Holy Mary, Mother of God, and Saint Joseph, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death.”

Pray the Prayer of Saint Michael the Archangel.

Pray the Divine Mercy chaplet in reparation for the sins of the world.

Use the Prayers for Victory Over Evil that are on our website at gnm.org/prayers/#victory.

What is God doing?

Demons are working aggressively to weaken Christians, keeping as many faithful Christians as possible from receiving the Sacraments. God is using this to sift the wheat from the chaff, the lukewarm from the enthusiastic followers of Christ.

Demons are using lockdowns and safe social distancing to keep the community of true believers from gathering in prayer. Online prayers and virtual Masses are great, but they are not as powerful as when the faithful gather in person. The Church has been temporarily weakened by this, more than we know. We should not be surprised at all that the world has become more violent and crazier in recent days and weeks.

But look at what our Loving Father is doing about it! The scriptures for the Feast of USA Independence Day are very revealing.

(1) During evil times, God’s justice is chastising rebellious sinners in order to help them turn to him for healing and salvation. At the same time, he deeply cares about those of us who have to endure the chastisements of sinners.

For this is what the high and exalted One says—/ he who lives forever, whose name is holy:/ “I live in a high and holy place,/ but also with the one who is contrite and lowly in spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly/ and to revive the heart of the contrite./ I will not accuse them forever,/ nor will I always be angry,/ for then they would faint away because of me—/ the very people I have created./ I was enraged by their sinful greed;/ I punished them, and hid my face in anger,/ yet they kept on in their willful ways./ I have seen their ways, but I will heal them;/ I will guide them and restore comfort to Israel’s mourners,/ creating praise on their lips./ Peace, peace, to those far and near,”/ says the Lord. “And I will heal them.” (Isaiah 57:15-19 NIV)

(2) No matter how bad things get, the Lord has not abandoned us but is instead guiding us on the path to peace. The justice of chastisement and the truth about sin will produce peace like we’ve never seen it before.

I will hear what God proclaims;/ the Lord—for he proclaims peace./ Near indeed is his salvation to those who fear him,/ glory dwelling in our land./ Kindness and truth shall meet;/ justice and peace shall kiss./ Truth shall spring out of the earth,/ and justice shall look down from heaven./ The Lord himself will give his benefits;/ our land shall yield its increase./ Justice shall walk before him,/ and salvation, along the way of his steps. (Psalm 85:9-14 NAB)

(3) Today’s evil times might get worse before they get better, but we must remain strong in the Faith by leaning on Jesus every moment.

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:6-7 NIV)

Stop watching the bad news so much and focus more on the Good News of Jesus Christ. Take frequent breaks from reports about evil times, or it will steal your peace.

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you. (Philippians 4:8-9 NIV)

(4) True followers of Christ rely on the Holy Spirit, whom Jesus gave to us when he ascended to the throne of the Father. Peace is not possible without this gift from God’s caring heart. But to be a true follower of Christ, we need to purge sin from our own lives.

Jesus replied, “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them. Anyone who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me.

All this I have spoken while still with you. But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

You heard me say, ‘I am going away and I am coming back to you.’ If you loved me, you would be glad that I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I. I have told you now before it happens, so that when it does happen you will believe.” (John 14:23-29 NIV)

God is giving us some very important messages today about what’s coming, before it happens. We are living through the natural conclusion of unbridled sin, and so God is going to intervene supernaturally.