From the mailbag:
A TIME FOR DISCERNMENT AS WITNESSES REPORT RUMBLINGS AND SIGNS IN THE SKY
By Michael H. Brown
As I have been saying in recent days, it's always tough to completely evaluate a mystical experience. Because humans are involved, there are questions about virtually all of them. Initially, most are controversial. In most cases, there's contamination. Aspects of the experience may be valid while other aspects are subject to rejection. This is why Scripture tells us to test the spirits and then take from such a revelation only what is good (and it is why we put "for your discernment" on items that may contain useful material but that have question marks).
The same goes for signs of the times. We remain open but discerning. For example, we continue to be flooded by e-mails from those who in recent weeks have had unusual dreams or have seen things in the sky. We don't know what it's all about, but folks across America are also reporting an inexplicable "rumbling" -- as if there is agitation in the spirit world. Such reports have come from Maine, Pennsylvania, Upstate New York and other places. One man wrote that he heard what sounded like a fleet of garbage trucks -- but there were none around. Another writes:
"In Michigan we have also heard this 'rumbling.' Many times I have stopped to comment to my husband or children and we all hear, but cannot decipher the low long rumble. You spoke of a Wednesday experience and we had heard the rumble here on that Wednesday. I, too, would say it was 'close.' But how can it be "close" to so many in so many places. We cannot explain it."
And then there
are the signs in the sky. "Last Friday, while driving west I happened to look south and saw a perfectly shaped cross lying on its back with the top facing
west," writes another viewer, Gloria Bishop. "Then on Saturday between 4:00 - 4:30 pm (EDT) I was mowing the grass in our backyard. I thought I heard loud car beeping sounds and turned towards the road (we live on 1 1/2 acres -- and with a lawnmower running thought how strange to even hear a cars horn). I turned and happened to look up -- there was another cross in the south -- this time facing north, but the top part above the cross-beam was broken off and lying a few
'feet' away. Then to the right was a long 'cloud' and bright gold and red colors shown in the middle. I thought it was the sun, but the sun was in the western sky -- quite a distance from this
'cloud.' I was home alone and had no one to tell. The lights faded, but ten minutes later, reappeared. This lasted another few minutes, then faded again. I usually pray as I mow the lawn or work in the yard. I was praying prior to and after this happened.
Also, waking up at 3:00 or 3:33 a.m. is not unusual either. I have such a strong urge to pray -- I pray until I fall asleep. I keep
'hearing' pray, pray, pray!"
And then there are the
northern lights. We're hearing from folks from Virginia to California --
to Alaska.
"Read your article," says Jackie Minatra, "and before I even read it thought I would e-mail to tell you what I saw last night. I was driving home from Anchorage along the Chugach mountain range, when as I looked to the west over the range I saw a red 'glow,' as if something on the other side was on fire. The next thought was that I was fairly certain the sun had not set over that direction, as I confirmed the faintest dusk light coming from the opposite direction. I just kept driving along. Then suddenly I'm looking at huge sections of the sky in deep red, some portions a little lighter in color than others. I finally parked the truck and got out to see what was going on. I looked up and from one side of the range to the opposite was like a huge red rainbow, shaped in the arc only, and all red. Immediately I thought of the bizarre aurora the Sister Lucia [the Fatima seer] had witnessed in 1938. It was ALL red, no hues of green or yellow or anything other than variations of red. In all my years in Alaska where the aurora is so active, I've never seen anything like it. I didn't experience any fear, but certainly felt as if it is a foreshadowing warning... I am at peace, yet I know that this is a call to further and upscale my prayer schedule even more."
Says another, Lisa Shelton: "I used to live in Northern Finland, where the Northern Lights were a regular occurrence. They are beautiful, and have always fascinated me. I heard a story there once that the Lapps, the native inhabitants of the region, in the past had became fearful whenever the lights glowed red: This was known as a harbinger of war, or other evil events. The northern lights, I was told, had been extremely bright red just before the outbreak of World War II. I was not told the date of those particular lights, but I feel they may have been the same northern lights that were viewed all over Europe before World War II, the same ones Sister Lucia saw from her convent in Portugal that she took as the sign Our Lady told her about... Several sightings of the northern lights were made in the Southeast, all the way down to South Carolina! Most comments I read stated that the lights were RED in color."
And lastly another writer:
"I was fascinated by your recent article entitled, 'Rumblings, signs in the sky, and once more folks waking at 3 a.m.' It was interesting to note that people have been awakened to pray at the 3:00 A.M. hour. We have all heard of the 3:00 P.M. Divine Mercy hour, but 3:00 A.M.? As you are probably aware, one of the visionaries from Rwanda, Ernest Rutaganda, was allegedly instructed by our Lord to pray at 3:00 A.M. a prayer called the 'Rosary to the Glory of God the Eternal Father.' Jesus said: 'It should be recited at 3:00 a.m. in the prayer corner or chapel in your home, but at 3:00 p.m. it should be recited in a church.' If however, you cannot go to church at 3:00 p.m. because of your work, go after work to any church and while meditating, ask God to accept your 'time' as being 3:00 p.m. His time. Apparently, our Lord gives an explanation as to why this rosary should be recited at 3:00 P.M. and A.M. Why should we recite this rosary at 3:00 p.m. and at 3:00 a.m.? This rosary should be recited in order to console both the Eternal Father and Our Lord Jesus Christ because of the numerous sins that are being committed at 3:00 pm, the very hour when Our Lord Jesus Christ expired. Because of all these sins, God the Father feels that He could destroy the world, for 3:00 p.m. is the hour that His Son Jesus has obtained for us our salvation, the hour in which Jesus has shed his blood to the very last drop. But because of His deep love for us, He accepts the suffering and will not destroy the world.
"We recite it also at 3:00 a.m. because it is the hour in which Peter denied
Jesus three times. Those who sin at that hour cause both the Eternal Father
and Jesus Christ such deep suffering. Due to the numerous sins being
committed at this hour, the Eternal Father feels that He could destroy the
world but because of His great love for us, He will not do so. Reciting the Rosary to the Eternal Father does not exclude devotion to the
Divine Mercy but rather compliments it for while the Chaplet of Mercy is
intended to appease the wrath of God, the Rosary to the Eternal Father is
meant to console Him and fight the Antichrist. One should follow the other.
"It is interesting that the Rosary to the Glory of God the Eternal Father is
meant to console our Lord and fight the Antichrist. Can the many people
arising at 3:00 A.M. to pray possibly indicate that we are nearing the time
of the Antichrist? Not sure. Please let me know your thoughts. God bless you
and yours always!!"