The Book of Truth: A Critical Review

by Michael Shimpert

Will the Second Coming of Jesus happen in our lifetime?

In a series of alleged messages given to an Irish seer who goes by the anonymous name of “Maria Divine Mercy,” Jesus says that His Second Coming is close, and that it will happen in this generation. The messages, given to Maria on an almost daily basis beginning 8 November 2010, contain prophecies of events that will commence very soon in our lifetime, leading up to the Second Coming of Jesus. 

The complete messages are found in this  website and compiled in a 5-volume book set entitled “The Book of Truth”. The books can be purchased in the Philippines via the Book of Truth Philippines online store.

Are the messages authentic? Are they a hoax? Or worse, could they be fabrications by the Evil One himself in an effort to confuse us? This article attempts to give an overview of the messages as well as provide an opinion regarding their authenticity.

---

---

Can we trust private revelation?

The fact is, throughout history, God has always communicated to His people through “private revelations”. Moses, Isaiah, Ezekiel, Noah, Daniel, Revelation as revealed to St. John – all of these are private revelations no different from those happening today. The only difference between the private revelations of the past and those of the present is that that those in the past were documented in the Bible.

If we simply ignore these modern-day prophecies without, at the very least, studying them and sincerely asking the Lord for the grace of discernment, we will be no different from the people during the time of Noah. They jeered Noah and scorned his prophesied Great Flood – and ultimately paid the price (Luke 17:26-30). 

In the “Graces and Mercy” prayer book, Pope Urban VIII (1623-44) is quoted as saying: 

"In cases which concern private revelation, it is better to believe than not to believe, for, if you believe, and it is proven true, you will be happy that you have believed, because our Holy Mother asked it. If you believe, and it should be proven false, you will receive all blessings as if it had been true, because you believed it to be true."

The Purpose

Jesus says to Maria that the purpose of the Book of Truth is to prepare our current generation for His Second Coming. If the Second Coming took place tomorrow, Jesus says that most of humanity will not be saved, since many will be unprepared. In His great Mercy, He is communicating with us through Maria to help prepare us. Below is the first message of Jesus to Maria dated 9 November 2010:

"I am returning to earth as foretold. That time is drawing so quickly that many will not be prepared. So many will be shocked and taken unawares that they will not believe it is happening. There is not much time now for My prophets to help prepare mankind for this Great Event." 

In a message given on 20 May 2011, Jesus explains clearly what the Second Coming means:

"Much confusion exists in the world regarding this event. Many people believe that My Second Coming indicates that the end of the world has come. That is not the case for, instead, it will mean the End Times when Satan and his followers who create untold misery in the world will be banished from earth for 1,000 years.

"This New Paradise I have promised will come about when Heaven and Earth merge to become one. This new life I bring to all My devoted followers is one of love and glory. You, My followers, will have to endure much suffering, however, while this transition takes place. To help prepare the world for this great event, I am bringing a great gift of My Mercy beforehand. The Great Warning, which will give each and every one of you the chance to see your sins and how they offend Me, will enable you to see the Truth…

"…My daughter I will rule the earth for the 1,000 years. Make no mistake for I am now in charge of events as they now unfold in the world…"

One World Group and the Antichrist

Jesus reveals to Maria that several important events will occur before the Second Coming, the most prominent being the emergence of the Antichrist and the False Prophet, and the Great Warning.

Jesus says that there is an elite, one-world group of powerful men who, behind the scenes, orchestrate all the major global events of today: the financial crisis, the banking collapse in Europe, wars in the Middle East. This powerful group is embedded in every corner of the world and all levels of power: the government, media, business, and even within the Catholic Church. It is led by the Antichrist, a powerful global political figure, a “leader in waiting,” who is still currently hiding, but will supposedly soon emerge. Jesus explains further the nature and the agenda of this “global elite group” in His message to Maria dated 5 October 2011:

"The global leaders I speak of, who through cowardice hide where you cannot see them, are increasing their plans for global domination. They are building armies, weapons and poisonous substances all with one goal in mind, to destroy My children... They have even managed to infiltrate My Church from within... On the outside they will be seen to offer the world salvation in the guise of humanitarian efforts. Their creative solutions to make life easier for you will be in the form of unifying your money, your food, your health, your welfare and your religion as one, all under one domain, the domain of the antichrist."

The Antichrist will be a charismatic global leader whom the world will adore and proclaim a “savior”. Jesus describes the Antichrist in numerous instances throughout the messages:

"His cunning will be hidden behind a handsome, charming and articulate exterior, but when My children look into his eyes they will see darkness for he has no soul. He was not created by the Hand of God the Father." (6 October 2011 message)

"He will be seen as the messenger of love, peace and harmony in the world. People will fall to their knees and adore him. He will show you his power and you will believe it is of a divine source. But it’s not… He will strut and show what will appear to be true compassion and love for all. Behind this facade he is full of hatred for you, My beloved children... He will wreak havoc in the world and will murder many." (15 November 2010 message)

2 Thes 4:9 speaks of the Antichrist as follows: 

"This one will oppose and exalt himself against everything that men adore and call God… The lawless one will come by the power of Satan, with all the force of false miracles and pretended wonders. He will make use of every kind of wicked deception, in order to work harm."

Fulfilled Prophecy: Pope Benedict XVI Resigns

In a message dated February 11, 2012, Jesus said to Maria Divine Mercy: "My poor Holy Vicar, Pope Benedict XVI, will be ousted from the Holy See in Rome. Last year, my daughter, I told you of the plot, within the corridors of the Vatican. A plan to destroy My Holy Vicar was devised in secret on the l7th March, 2011, and this will come to fruition, for it has been foretold."

Exactly a year after, on February 11, 2013, the unthinkable happened:  The Vatican announced that Pope Benedict XVI was “resigning” his office effective February 28.  The reason cited was his “old age” and “incapacity” to fulfill his obligations.  Pope John Paul II maintained his post all the way until old age, even until the time when he could not visibly fulfill his duties because of Parkinson’s disease.  

If this was a resignation done with the voluntary will of the Pope, why done so soon and so quickly?  The announcement was made February 11, 2013 - a mere two weeks after, the Pope will officially have resigned his post.  Why was such a monumental transition done in such great haste? This was clearly not an ordinary occurrence. What was predicted in the messages to Maria Divine Mercy as early as 2011 in numerous messages has finally happened. 

Critics will argue: But the Pope voluntarily resigned, he was not really "ousted".  We encourage the reader to watch the video below, and judge for himself/herself if this prophesied "evil plot" to oust Pope Benedict XVI is believable.  

A few hours after the announcement of Pope Benedict's resignation, an extremely rare event occurred: lightning struck the Vatican.  Was this a mere coincidence? Or a warning/sign from God?

Liberal Prelates Admit Existence of a “Mafia Group” that Plotted the Demise of Benedict XVI

The election Pope Francis was the fruit of secret meetings that liberal cardinals and bishops, organized by Carlo Maria Martini, held for years at St. Gall in Switzerland.  This is what is claimed by Jürgen Mettepenningen and Karim  Shelkens, the authors of a just published biography of the radical, progressive Belgian Cardinal Godfried Danneels.

The book reveals that the Cardinal was a regular member of a secret pressure group of Churchmen that opposed Pope Benedict XVI. Danneels said that what was officially but discreetly labeled “the Sankt-Gallen group” was referred to by its members as “the Mafia”. Its self-imposed aim was to achieve a drastic reform of the Church, to make it “much more modern”, and for Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio to head it.

The group met every year since 1996, and together they organized the secret “resistance” against Cardinal Ratzinger, who at that time was the right-hand man of John Paul II. Their goal at the time was to elect a “reformer” pope to eventually replace John Paul II, in view of his nearing death, and to prevent at all costs the election of Cardinal Ratzinger as Pope.

The False Prophet

The most controversial aspect of the messages given to Maria Divine Mercy is the prophesy that the pope who will follow Pope Benedict XVI will be the “False Prophet” of the Book of Revelation. The False Prophet will rebel against the “last true Pope” (Benedict XVI) and establish  a “new” and “modern” Catholic Church. He will appear to be a loving and holy figure, and will be considered by many people as a living saint. But the reality is that he is allied with the Evil One. He will merge the Catholic Faith with all other faiths to form a false, one-world religion. Jesus warns priests, bishops and cardinals about the “False Prophet”:

"My Holy Vicar Pope Benedict needs your prayers. Pray for him daily for he needs protection on every level to take him through the torment that lies ahead. It is important that My followers keep alert to any new Pope that may come forward for he will not be from God... You must acknowledge that the False Prophet is about to seduce you. Charm you. Convince you that he represents the truth. You must now show your allegiance to Me, and My Eternal Father... "(7 June 2011)

In another message, Jesus elaborates on the coming partnership between the False Prophet and the Antichrist:

"...watch with clear eyes the False Prophet who will attempt to lead My Church for he does not come from the House of My Eternal Father. He will seem like he does. But this will be false. Watch too for the friendship he will display with the Antichrist for they will be two of the most deceitful followers of Satan – dressed in sheep’s clothing. They will have powers, which will seem like the miracles of old but these powers will be Satanic... pray for the graces of discernment so that you may see this False Prophet for what he truly is. A demon sent to distract you, from the depths of Hell." (19 February 2011)

According to Jesus, the False Prophet will change the interpretation of the Holy Mass, and will deny the real presence of Jesus in the Eucharist. Together with the Antichrist, he will persecute those priests, bishops and cardinals who will remain loyal to the one, true Catholic Church. Loyal priests will be forced to hold Masses in secret. It will be the most severe persecution in Church history.

This abolition of the Eucharistic Sacrifice to be perpetuated by the Antichrist and the False Prophet is prophesied in the Bible in passages referring to the End Times, particularly the Book of Daniel (12:9-12):

"Go, Daniel," he said, "because the words are to be kept secret and sealed until the end time. Many shall be refined, purified, and tested, but the wicked shall prove wicked; none of them shall have understanding, but the wise shall have it. From the time that the daily sacrifice is abolished and the horrible abomination is set up, there shall be one thousand two hundred and ninety days. Blessed is the man who has patience and perseveres until the one thousand three hundred and thirty-five days."

The Gospel of Matthew likewise speaks of this prophecy:

"When you see standing in the holy place the abomination that causes desolation spoken of through the prophet Daniel – let the reader understand – then those who are in Judea must flee to the mountains, a person on the housetop must not go down to get things out of his house, a person in the field must not return to get his cloak – for at that time there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until now, nor ever will be. And if those days had not been shortened, no one would be saved; but for the sake of the elect they will be shortened." (Matthew 24:15)

Finally, in her messages to Fr. Gobbi (which carry the Imprimatur from numerous cardinals and bishops), Our Lady explains this “horrible abomination” prophesied by Daniel:

"Beloved children, in order to understand in what this horrible sacrilege consists, read what has been predicted by the prophet Daniel... The Holy Mass is the daily Sacrifice, the pure oblation which is offered to the Lord everywhere, from the rising of the sun to its going down. The Sacrifice of the Mass renews that which was accomplished by Jesus on Calvary. By accepting the Protestant doctrine, people will hold that the Mass is not a sacrifice but only a sacred meal, that is to say, a remembrance of that which Jesus did at his Last Supper... And thus, the celebration of Holy Mass will be suppressed. In this abolition of the daily Sacrifice consists the horrible sacrilege accomplished by the Antichrist, which will last about three and a half years, namely, one thousand two hundred and ninety days."

Unprecedented Crisis in the Church

Since the election of Pope Francis, the Catholic Church has been plunged into a great crisis - perhaps the greatest it has ever faced in its history.  We are now witnessing the prophecy of Akita unfolding right before our very eyes: “The work of the devil will infiltrate even into the Church in such a way that one will see cardinals opposing cardinals, and bishops against other bishops.”

The controversial Synod on the Family witnessed a battle between progressive, liberal cardinals on one hand (like Cardinal Kasper), and faithful, loyal prelates on the other hand (like Cardinal Burke).  The progressive cardinals, with the encouragement of Pope Francis, wanted to revolutionize the Church’s teachings on sexuality, Eucharistic communion, and marriage.  The post-synodal Apostolic Exhortation Amoris Laetitia was subsequently published.  After its publication, 45 theologians and priests distributed and published a letter addressed to all the Cardinals of the world, petitioning them to correct the numerous errors contained in the document.

In September 2016, four Cardinals -  Cardinals Walter Brandmüller, Raymond Burke, Carlo Caffarra, and Joachim Meisner - wrote a letter to Pope Francis, asking him to answer a series of 5 “yes” or “no” answers to help clarify errors and confusion that have resulted because of Amoris Laetitia.  When the Pope ignored their letter, the four Cardinals went ahead and published their letter in November, with Cardinal Burke saying that it may be necessary for the Cardinals to make a “formal act of correction” if Pope Francis doesn’t answer a letter from four cardinals asking him to clarify aspects of Amoris Laetitia.

Numerous controversial statements have likewise been spoken by Pope Francis that seem to be contradictory to the teachings of the Catholic Church.

The Great Warning

It is because of the machinations of the Antichrist and the False Prophet that the Blessed Trinity will intervene in a powerful way. Simply put, if the Lord did not intervene, the one world group will succeed in destroying much of humanity and eradicating Christianity.

The Heavenly Father will intervene with what Jesus calls “the greatest event since the Resurrection”. This event is the “Great Warning” or the “Illumination of Consciences”. It must be noted that this same event has been prophesied in many other modern-day revelations such as those to St. Faustina and Fr. Gobbi; and apparitions like those of Our Lady in Kibeho (Rwanda) and Garabandal (Spain), among others.

In His message to Maria, Jesus explains the nature of the Great Warning…

"This Great Warning, out of Mercy and Love as a last Gift to My children, will happen soon. Every single one of My children will be shown their lives, their sins, their wrong doings and every single insult they were responsible for against their brothers and sisters, all during a mystical experience. Not one man, woman or child on this earth will be excluded." (22 November 2010)

… and of the great signs will appear in the sky: 

"My daughter you must do everything you can to warn the world because this great event will shock everyone. They will see great signs in the skies before The Warning takes place. Stars will clash with such impact that man will confuse the spectacle they see in the sky as being catastrophic. As these comets infuse, a great red sky will result, and the Sign of My Cross will be seen all over the world, by everyone. Many will be frightened. But I say rejoice, for you will see, for the first time in your lives, a truly Divine Sign that represents great news for sinners everywhere... Welcome the Warning. For then you will be given the proof of Eternal Life and know how important it is." (5 June 2011)

In Matthew 24:29-30, Jesus describes the signs that will immediately precede His Second Coming. 

"And immediately after the tribulation of those days, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. And then the sign of the Son of man shall appear in heaven. And then all tribes of the earth shall mourn. And they shall see the Son of man coming on the clouds of heaven, with great power and majesty."

In her diary, St. Faustina revealed this message given to her by Jesus regarding a “sign in the heavens” that will appear before the Day of Judgment: 

"Before the day of justice arrives, there will be given to people a sign in the heavens of this sort: All light in the heavens will be extinguished, and there will be great darkness over the whole earth. Then the sign of the cross will be seen in the sky, and from the openings where the hands and the feet of the Savior were nailed will come forth great lights which will light up the earth for a period of time. This will take place shortly before the last day."

The message to St. Faustina and the account in the Gospel of Matthew parallel Jesus’ message to Maria Divine Mercy: comets colliding (“stars will fall from heaven”) and the cross appearing in the sky (“the sign of the Son of Man shall appear in heaven”).

A Call to Prayer and Eucharistic Devotion

Jesus invites all humanity to prepare for His Second Coming through much prayer. He has encouraged the formation of prayer groups to recite the various “crusade prayers” He has given through Maria. These crusade prayers are very short prayers that are usually directed to the Heavenly Father, and are very specific in nature: prayer for protection against the Antichrist, prayer to help prepare us for the Warning, etc.

Jesus encourages frequent attendance to the Holy Mass, and emphasizes the importance of praying the Rosary and Chaplet of Divine Mercy daily:

“Let Me remind all My children everywhere to recite My Divine Mercy chaplet every single day. Pray too, and I include all Christian faiths, the Holy Rosary to My Beloved Mother for this powerful prayer will weaken Satan’s power over My children.” (13 June 2011)

His message on 10 August 2011 says thus: “Patience, silent prayer daily, the formation of prayer groups, daily recital of the Divine Mercy Chaplet, fasting, and the Holy Rosary to My Beloved Mother combined, act as the perfect formula for saving souls.”

Jesus also emphasizes the importance of Eucharistic devotion: “...the miracle of the Holy Eucharist, present in all tabernacles all over the world, exists today and is there to fill your poor undernourished and empty souls with My Presence”.  (14 April 2011)

Who is the Real Source of the Messages?

Could these messages come from Satan? Or if not directly Satanic in origin, could these messages be mere fabrications by the seer, influenced by Satan?

The messages talk about orthodox Catholic teachings and devotions: belief in the real presence of Jesus in the Eucharist, loyalty to the Pope, daily recitation of the rosary and the Chaplet of Divine Mercy, fasting, self-denial, the importance of the afterlife, the reality of Satan. Satan has nothing to gain and everything to lose by emphasizing these things repeatedly.

Fulfillment of the Prophecies will Validate the Messages

Many of the messages are prophetic in nature, and are consistent with Biblical prophecy, as well as those revealed to various credible private seers. The fulfillment of the prophecies is, in reality, the only way to truly, objectively validate their authenticity. A similar case is the apparitions of Our Lady in Garabandal, Spain. These apparitions have neither been approved nor disapproved by the Church – primarily because most of the content of the messages are prophetic in nature and cannot be proven or disproven at this point in time. The Church is suspending judgment, pending the actual occurrence of the prophesied events. 

Jesus also explains that the Warning will be the ultimate proof for the authenticity of the messages contained in the Book of Truth:

"The world...is being given this special Gift - the Book of Truth - to show My children what they now need to do in order to prepare for The Warning, the Illumination of Conscience, which is being given to mankind to help prepare them adequately for My Second Coming...When this event takes place, after these Messages are given to the world, people will understand the authenticity of My Words given through you, My daughter, to save mankind." (28 January 2011)

Personal Discernment

The Lord Jesus implores those who are doubtful to pray first for the grace of discernment from the Holy Spirit before passing judgment on the messages. He says:

"For those of My followers who denounce these messages, I implore you to pray to the Holy Spirit to ask for the gift of discernment before you dismiss My Holy Word. To those of you who insult My visionary and recipient of these messages you must ask this question: if it is Satan who you believe influences these messages, then why would he ask you to pray, to seek forgiveness, to receive the Holy Eucharist? Then you will know that this is impossible." (5 July 2011)

If we sincerely ask the Holy Spirit for this grace of discernment, He will heed our prayers and plant in our hearts the True answer.

---

---

Click here to return from Book of Truth to Second Coming.