examination of the heart 548 2. Recall to mind the signs which shall precede that general judgment, according to the teaching of the Master of truth: “And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars;” He says, “and upon the earth distress of nations, by reason of the confusion of the roaring of the sea and of the waves” (Lk 21:25) [DRB]. Nation against nation, kingdom against kingdom, empire against empire will wage cruel wars; severe domestic revolts, tumults, and rebellions will arise (cf. Lk 21:9-10). Besides these things, the true sisters of war, pestilence and hunger, will torment mankind from all sides and everywhere so much that those whom the cruel power of war and sword shall not destroy, will be annihilated, as if poisoned, by the venom of infectious plagues and hunger. Moreover, the torment of the people shall be increased by the overflowing of the sea and by the unusual flood of waters, by which many islands and places near the sea, will be swallowed up with their cities, villages and inhabitants, enveloped in the immense flowing of waves. 3. Consider the changes of the heavenly bodies, their collisions, and destructions. For unusual thunders will be heard then, horrible flashes of lightning will be seen there, countless thunderbolts will fall from heavens, and they will kill men here and there and burn their dwellings. Shaken violently by a severe earthquake, the earth will rise up. Also the powers of Heaven shall be moved and the stars shall fall, the sun will darken, the moon shall not give its light (cf. Mt 24:29), and all will be thrown up and down into confusion by a sorrowful and lamentable transformation.281 This mournful and detestable state of all things will so violently 281 Ibid., p. 42 (#83): Jesus Christ revealed to St. Faustina something more about the signs preceding the end of the world and the Last Judgment: “[B]efore I come as the just Judge, I am coming first as the King of Mercy. 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.” Ibid., pp. 332-333 (#848): “[L]et all mankind recognize My unfathomable mercy. It is a sign for the end times; after it will come the day of justice.”
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