Heralds of the Second Coming: Our Lady, the Divine Mercy, and the Popes of the Marian Era from Blessed Pius IX to Benedict XVI

Excellent book. It basically does what the title says giving the reader the views of the popes from Blessed Pius IX to Benedict XVI on the last days and the end of the world. I particularly like a quote from Pope St.John Paul II on page 7: "Why should we have no fear? Because man has been redeemed by God. The power of Christ's Cross and Resurrection is greater than any evil which man could or should fear ("Crossing The Threshold Of Hope")."I found Appendix I to be interesting. It contains a prophetic vision of St. Hildegard which was approved by Pope Eugene III in 1147, and cited several times by Pope Benedict XVI. St. Hildegard said the voice of God the Father, the "Voice from Heaven" described the five epochs left in human history from her time until the end of the world. These epochs are described as "The fiery dog", "The yellow lion", "The pale horse", "The black pig", and "the gray wolf". These visions had me thinking of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse.Pages 19 and 21 contain a brief treatment of Jansenism. Unfortunately, the Foreward mentions Mary as having appeared in "Medjugorje in Bosnia ... and ... (in) Garabandal in Spain" along with a host of approved apparitions. Medjugorje and Garabandal were NOT given approbation by the local bishops there. IMO, Medjugorje is a moneymaking sham.

Popes since the late 19th century have made passing references to the end times, but they have not garnered much notice as they appear to have been obiter dicta whilst addressing some more lengthy topic. However -- Stephen Walford, a good editor with the instincts of a detective-- has researched and assembled every quote by every Pope since Pius IX and juxtaposed them against events of modern history. The resulting mosaic of warnings, observations, and prophetic predictions should inspire a sense of profound urgency to prepare for cataclysmic changes very soonThis book is for Progressive, middle-class American Catholics who dismiss "Marian Apparitions" as unnecessary to sound Christian faith-- and who do not think we are living in Chapters 8-13 of the Apocalypse right now.Prepare to live your faith or lose it. Prepare for martyrdom if it should be required of us. In our degenerate and post-Christian milieu it has never been easier to lose our souls without noticing in this culture of the great, and largely unnoticed, apostasy.

I have read many End-Times books from the Catholic perspective. Stephen Walford's book "Heralds of the Second Coming" is among the best I have read. He spent many years developing the many papal quotes, from Pius IX through Benedict XVI, relating to the "End Times", the "New Advent", the "New Era" and the "New Springtime for the Church". I often hear it said "if we are in the end-times how come the Pope's are not talking about it"? Once you read this book you will see that they are and they have been for nearly 150 years, with the message getting louder and louder to this very moment. I agree with another reviewer that Stephen did not elaborate in his book on the seemingly obvious conclusion: that after the current Tribulation of the Church, world wide chastisements and the reign of the anti-Christ,that the Eucahristic Reign of Jesus and the Reign of the Immaculate Heart of Mary would take place on earth for a long period of time. However, this did not take away from his indepth study that he provided in this book. It is a must read for serious readers on the subject of eschatology.

Stephen Walford's book gives eye opening details from the Popes linking the 3rd Secret of Fatima to the world. Although there is no mention of an Eucharistic reign in the book it is obvious from the writings of the Popes that this is a symbolic of the Wedding Banquet to come in eternity when the earth becomes heaven after the last judgement.Stephen Walford provides new details not seen before in other prophecy books.John Paul II explains it Dec. 1988 at the end of time, the saving power of the Eucharist will attain its full effect when the holiness of the Church will be complete and the entire universe will be perfectly restored in Christ, meanwhile we proclaim death of the Lord until he comes...Heralds of the Second Coming is highly recommended as one of, if not the best book written for our times today.A must read! The perfect gift for family and friends that share the Catholic faith...one will want to read it a second time.

I've read two other books about Catholic Church teachings regarding the Second Coming of Jesus because it does seem to be approaching very quickly. Walford's book was better than the others I've read in one important respect: he sticks to APPROVED apparitions such as Fatima & St. Faustina's Divine Mercy messages. The encyclicals of 20th century popes added a great deal to his book. The only confusing part of his book is that, everything he presents clearly shows that, while the Eucharistic Reign of Our Lord & the defeat of the Antichrist are imminent, Walford doesn't acknowledge this! He presents all the teachings on it very clearly, but then seems to deny the obvious conclusion! If you skip his conclusion, the book is worth reading.

I expected more "heralds" mentioned. Only Faustina Kowalska is named, besides the popes.But now I am meeting a group who do not believe that time is so short before Jesus second coming. They do not know about any profets or visionars. They hardly believe in Marian apparitions. Then, the words of the popes will be decisive for convincing them. In this sense, the book will help me a lot.I can add something else. The book has desappointed be in the end, because of its confusion about the way the second coming is going to happen. The author is afraid of millenarism, thinking that the popes have rejected it. But I do believe in it, according to how Jesus has explained his coming to Vassula Ryden

Currently about to publish a book on prophecy I found this book provided useful insights into the prophetic vision of recent popes which I think the author acknowledges doesn't tend to filter down to what the typical Catholic layman in the pew hears in priestly homilies. A challenge for lapsed Catholics to return to the fold certainly; too "Catholic" in tone and emphasis to challenge Christians currently outside the Roman Church but then that was not the book's aim.

interesting but repetitive

Excellent

A great insight but a good writer. As a non-catholic I found it very informative. Well done Stephen Walford, it must have taken a lot of work.

A very enlightening and interesting book. I wasn't sure what to expect and initially found it a bit daunting but gradually found the more I read the more I wanted to. It answered many grey area questions I had.