THE HOUR OF DECISION: AS CHAOS SWIRLS AROUND PARTS OF THE WORLD, PURITY OF SOULS WILL DICTATE FUTURE EVENTS

While many have pointed to Isaiah 9:10 as especially relevant, when it comes to terror (it's argued that this passage pertains to situations such as September 11), at least as relevant is 2 Kings 17.

In that chapter, Scripture informs us how in the ninth year of Hoshea, the king of Assyria -- now known as northern Syria and Iraq -- took Samaria and deported the Israelites "because the Israelites sinned against the Lord, their God, Who had brought them up from the land of Egypt, from under the domination of the Pharaoh."

They had "built high places in all their settlements, the watchtowers as well as the walled cities." They "provoked" the Lord" by "serving idols" -- as we in our own time have many idols (particularly the dollar bill, as well as the Hollywood "idols") and as we in our own time see horrid things being done in exactly this part of the world: northern Syria and Iraq (see: ISIS).

ISIS is clearly diabolical (that word has been used in recent days by both a priest who is a scholar on Islam and Prince Charles). Obviously, while there are many good Muslims, even saintly ones, there is in the roots of this religion real evil, for savage killings take place no matter what the country and local culture may be, as long as appreciable Islamic populations are present. The Koran itself has a passage (8:10) that says, "When your Lord revealed to the angels: I am with you, therefore make firm those who believe. I will cast terror into the hearts of those who disbelieve. Therefore strike off their heads and strike off every fingertip of them."

As we all know, this is what the savages in northern Iraq -- and elsewhere -- are now doing (including to Christian children).

Why does Islam have an evil side? Is it the "jinn" (demon spirits) that Islam teaches? Is it how Jesus is relegated to being a "prophet"?

No use denying it harbors darkness, and no use denying the goal among radicals: to annihilate Christianity.

It is part of ongoing signs and "chastisements."

Look at the signs. A Muslim  group has a "Shariah patrol" -- in a German city. A poll shows one-third of Americans want "God" taken out of the Pledge. There's the spread of euthanasia.

So much in  the news...

Tumult has long been prophesied. It is now creeping up on all sides. There are riots. There are eruptions of war (little wars, for now). There is all the weather/seismic stuff. There are epidemics, and droughts. Nor is it coming just from alleged Marian seers and Evangelical prophets who claim "words of knowledge." Those who have glimpsed the other side during near-death experiences have come back with similar predictions.

Said one: "The world will experience tremendous upheaval. Great suffering will occur because humans are breaking the laws of the universe. Like a man arrogantly defying the law of gravity, humanity will experience great suffering as a result of breaking these laws. Humanity is being consumed by the 'cancers of arrogance, materialism, racism, chauvinism, and separatist thinking.' A cleansing of the world will result. Humanity will become 'born anew.' It will be a painful process, but humanity will emerge humbled, educated, peaceful, and unified."

Noted another (who saw mountains lying on their sides): "These catastrophes are not for our punishment; they come as natural results of our choices. We determine our own destiny and will face the good or evil that we create. I was told that denying our Creator, Who is God Himself, would be the foremost cause of these consequences. I was given to know that calamities need never occur if we bring ourselves into harmony with God and the universe."

Catholic mystic Maria Esperanza said much the same.

"I think, yes, well, maybe, yes, some of this will come," she said. "But I don't want to think that the Lord is going to abandon us and give the power of the devil to men so that they completely disintegrate. It can't be that way. A very difficult moment will arrive, but there will remain good because the Light and the Grace of the Holy Spirit will always illumine a few people who still desire justice in the world -- the truth and the recognition of Jesus with His Love throughout all time. This is at least a little bit of hope for people, because people can get panicked."

No need for that.

Those who seek the Blessed Mother find protection. They are also forewarned.

Esperanza said it was "the hour of decision for man."

She felt the interior of the earth -- its core -- was "out of balance." She'd also said (see The Bridge To Heaven): "Be careful, especially when all seems to be peaceful and calm. Russia may act in a surprise way, when you least expect it. I feel great responsibility right now," she added, "because something great is coming."

Good as well as bad. (Nothing God allows is "bad." These are, Maria said, "good tests.")

"At this moment, right now," she said, just like one near-deather, "man is punishing himself through egoism, through his lack of charity, through his lack of consciousness."

Purifying our own selves adds light to the world and mitigates what may otherwise transpire.

We all have this duty: inner purity. Confession (regularly).

We think of such things as September 11, which Maria predicted, again approaches.

Odds are always against something repeating on such-and-such day -- coming as the focus of the world is on a particular date.

But it is an acute memory, as ISIS now takes over the work of al Qaeda, and then some, so brazenly killing -- beheading -- poor Americans, in the name of religion.

[resources: The Bridge To Heaven and The Harbinger]

[See also: Retreats: signs of the times: Los Angeles and Santa Barbara and Announcing a retreat in Louisiana]